Last week we were in Chicago for The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, to get ideas for our house. We drove there Tuesday morning with two of Chad's brothers. We walked through the show during the day, and did a little shopping and sightseeing in the late afternoon and evening. Tuesday night we visited a relative that lives in the area, and went to Mon Ami Gabi for dinner. It was a little French bistro located in a hotel. It had a dark, cozy feel to it and the food was delicious. They brought out bags of hot, fresh French bread, which we quickly ate and asked for seconds. For the entrée, I selected the chef's choice for the night, which was Mahi-mahi served over asparagus, with a citrus butter in the bottom of the bowl. It was topped with a dollop of crème fraiche. I had some chocolate mousse for dessert, which was very rich and yummy.
Friday was just catching up on some things, along with a meeting with our architect, to go over some things with the house plans. Saturday was a relaxing day, making my French toast with banana syrup for an early afternoon brunch. We went to visit some friends in the late afternoon, then back home and to my in-laws for some pizza. I spent several hours making crème brûlée, and we didn't make it to bed until the wee hours of the morning.
Sunday evening we had Chad's family and some long time family friends over for dinner. I spent most of the day preparing the meal. First there was an appetizer, which was smoked salmon and goat cheese bruschetta, and I served my recipe for punch, which I'll post here soon. The main course was herb roasted chickens. I used parsley and thyme, and no rosemary. The side dishes consisted of creamy herbed potatoes (SO yummy!) roasted asparagus, toss salad dressed with red wine vinaigrette, parmesan knots, and cranberry sauce... the kind that you slice from a can, of course! We finished up with dessert - crème brûlée and macerated berries. Sugar was added to an assortment of berries, along with vanilla extract, lemon and orange zest. I used strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries. I had never prepared the berries like this before, and was happy with how they turned out.
Tuesday night we had my family and grandparents over for dinner. I made a simple chicken and pasta dish, and my mom and sisters brought some sides and dessert. Nothing too complicated there, but still very tasty!
And then just as I was recovering from all the business... I came down with some type of flu on Wednesday. Stomach ache, achy bones, headache, fever, etc. I stayed in bed most of the day and felt pretty miserable. Thankfully it only lasted for one day, and I felt completely normal when I woke up yesterday!
Now I'm looking forward to a relaxing day of rest tomorrow!
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. - Exodus 20:9-11
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| (A sneak peak at our dining room table on Sunday) |
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