Time again that everyone is making resolutions for the new year. I did OK on my goals set last year. This year though I wanted specific action items to tackle. Some big, some small, some easy, some hard, some a bit more vague then the others, but they all work towards a better me. Here…
Author: Jacky Hackett
Winter Spring Summer or Fall — 2010
I love the end of the year recaps. List of top albums, top news stories, all of it. Here are the highlights of the year we had in our house… Ringing in the New Year is always a chilly event in Chicago. Though never too cold to visit the beach. Before I knew it, it…
Year-end Reading Update
I did not get through all the books I intended to this year, December was an especially light month of reading. Though I did finish To Kill a Mockingbird. It was as good as all the other times I read it. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Completed Everyone really should add this…
Doggone!
We sure do miss our pooch, this is the first time in ten years she won’t be there for Christmas. Which for my youngest makes it the first Christmas without her. They have been asking a lot lately for a new dog. Now they are working the Santa angle tt. But since neither of them…
Worked Half to Death
No, not me, I had the day off. It was my food processor that I may or may not have killed. I had another productive day in the kitchen, but the Cuisinart may have paid the price. I got to work on some homemade gifts from my kitchen for the holidays. But first, we went…
Charred Chile Oil
Most of my gifts to family and friends this year will be homemade. I knew I wanted to do something with the leftover dried chilies I had from the Marx Food Chile Challenge. A big sale on grapeseed oil caught my eye and the outcome was a charred Chile oil gift. Charred Chile Oil makes…
Garlic Bread Soup
This past weekend we ventured out for our annual evening of Christmas caroling. We totally lucked out with the weather, it was in the mid-30’s which was like a heat wave. And thank goodness we didn’t get the snow, wind, and cold that came to town on Sunday. Christmas caroling is a riot, there are…
Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the garden fresh tomatoes are still delightful!
I have hoarded the canned tomatoes, green beans, and beets from sister-in-law for just the perfect dish. With this winter blast we got yesterday and the frigid temperatures today I though garden fresh tomatoes were just what the doctor order to avoid the winter blah. The tomatoes were so red and delicious, it was a…
You Can’t Win Em All!
My recipe didn’t win the A Chile & A Spoon challenge, but thanks to everyone that voted and solicited votes for me! I came in 5th, not bad for my first attempt. Moms have nothing on social media. My mom blasted a email to everyone near and far and was even willing to go to…
Girl and the Goat
Last weekend we hit up Girl and the Goat for my birthday dinner. I am so glad I had the sense to make reservations way in advance. It was AWESOME. For those that watch Top Chef you all know Stephanie Izard was a big winner and then opened this restaurant in Chicago. It has been…