Some Last-Minute Baking...

As the month of August comes to a close, it is time for me to accept that some significant changes are about to take place:

- As of this coming Monday (September 1st), my new, even more intense dance-training schedule will begin (**Note: I promise to post about my dancing in a little more detail when it gets closer to competition time**)

- As of this coming Tuesday (September 2nd), the new school year (filled with five classes) will officially begin.

So, undoubtedly, my already-busy/on-the-go schedule is about to become even busier, more active, and more chaotic; but in a "fun way," since I do thoroughly enjoy dancing, and am actually looking forward to all five of my classes this semester.

Despite all of this busyness, I can assure you that I will still do my best to bake as often as possible, and to continue blogging, so that I can keep VeggieGirl alive. Never fear, I will still be here! :0)

Luckily, I was able to engage in some last-minute baking this past week, since I am not quite sure when my next opportunity to bake will be. I already knew what I wanted to bake (which is rare, since I am so indecisive, haha), and apparently the bananas on my kitchen counter knew what I wanted to bake as well, since they were perfectly overripe - yes, that's right, I wanted to bake yet another banana bread.

Wait, wait!! Please do not click away from my blog just yet!! If you have been reading my blog for a while, then you should know by now that I always try to keep things interesting by experimenting with different ingredient and flavor combinations, even when baking a familiar treat. So, what type of banana bread did I bake this time?



After "playing around" with some ingredient combinations, I created a loaf of Cinnamon-Agave Banana Bread (using my favorite banana bread recipe from Veganomicon as a guideline, of course).

Now while I realize that this flavor-/ingredient-combination is not entirely innovative or "new," I can assure you that its taste, texture, and aroma were all new, inviting, and tantalizing. At least, that was my personal experience with this loaf - but here is what my "taste-testers" (my parents, grandfather, dance partner, and The Co-Worker) thought:



My parents each loved the banana chunks present throughout the loaf, as well as the extra banana slices on top (which were generously coated/tossed in agave nectar and cinnamon); my grandfather loved how chewy and sweet it was; my dance partner ate his slice so quickly that all he could manage to say about it was, "YUM!" (haha); and here is what The Co-Worker thought about it:



**Here is The Co-Worker's official review of this Cinnamon-Agave Banana Bread** :


CABB…. What’s that you ask? Well, it's yummy - plain and simple; it’s banana bread with a big twist… a hint of cinnamon and made with agave.

What do you taste… bananas of course… but also just a slight hint of cinnamon… the agave is almost invisible… but the moisture of this banana bread is out of this world. If you’re looking to add some spice (no pun intended), try this wonderful alternative & tasteful version to the traditional banana bread.

Then… grab yourself a glass of milk, coffee or afternoon tea and have a 10-minute break that will leave you feeling a bit healthier, filled up and full of CABB goodness.





I am overly delighted that my most recent baking experiment was yet another hit with my "taste-testers" (and with myself! haha), especially since I am not sure how soon I will be able to bake again. Hopefully I will be able to squeeze in some last-minute baking, between classes, dance practices, running errands... oh goodness, this will be an interesting challenge ;0)

Make It Vegan, Gluten-Free... and "Kick It Up a Notch!"

While it may seem rather puzzling and/or ironic, I am not ashamed to admit that one of my greatest sources of inspiration for cooking (and especially baking) is the Food Network channel.

Sure, none of the chefs featured on this channel are vegan (or even remotely vegetarian), but so what? I admire their passion and enthusiasm for the type of food/cuisine that they do prepare/specialize in, as well as their varying personalities (some more favorable than others, haha); and their non-vegan recipes give me the opportunity to use my imagination/creativity, in order to figure out appropriate, "vegan-friendly" substitutions - being adaptable is an important skill for a cook/baker/chef to have, in my opinion, so I continue to work on gaining this skill by continually watching my favorite Food Network chefs "do their thing."

Although I enjoy watching the majority of the chefs on Food Network, one of my all-time favorite chefs has to be Emeril Lagasse. Far from being "just a chef," Emeril has built an incredibly successful empire over the years, and is involved in several different business ventures (everything from restaurants and cookware, to television shows, magazines, and more).

Despite his renowned successes and heightened celebrity status over the years, Emeril is still mostly known for his unapologetically-indulgent and comforting style of cooking (which he has been doing since the beginning of his career), as well as his famous catchphrases (with my personal favorites being, "BAM!!" and "KICK IT UP A NOTCH!!").

Nowadays, however, I am quite pleased to see that Emeril is expanding his culinary expertise beyond the "meat, potatoes, and grease" realm. As a newbie to the equally-new Planet Green channel (which features programming focused on "generating conversation and motivating individuals to take action when it comes to improving the environmental status of our planet"), Emeril is hosting a show called "Emeril Green." Here's a description of the show, from the website:

"Emeril Green is a fun, new series starring Chef Emeril Lagasse that unleashes all the information you've ever wanted to know about Whole Foods Market and green cooking!

Picture an ultimate foodie fantasy store, then drop in some real people who have real culinary challenges and watch as America’s most beloved chef comes to their rescue, offering educational information on how everyday cooking can be healthy, organic, and eco-friendly."


This show sounded far too good to be true (Emeril cooking at Whole Foods? Come on now, how perfect is that?!), before I actually caught an episode on television; and now I make sure to record every single new episode when it airs, so that I don't miss one!

One particular episode that caught my attention was entitled "No Wheat, No Nuts? No Problem!" In this episode, Emeril helped prepare fun recipes/meals for a man who suffers from wheat, gluten, dairy and nut allergies.

Since I suffer from the first 3 out of the 4 allergies mentioned, I was obviously interested in seeing the recipes; and when I found out that one of the recipes was for a gluten-free, dairy-free (and also egg-free!) brownie, I knew that I had to check out the recipe for myself - after all, this sounded like it would be the first recipe ever, from Emeril (and any Food Network chef, period) that I would not have to veganize. Was I dreaming? Could this really be possible? There was only one way to find out!

I made quite a few substitutions to the original recipe (such as using a different gluten-free flour, incorporating a liquid - hempmilk - and some flavor "extras," etcetera), so I figured that I could share my version of the recipe with you:




VeggieGirl's Cranberry-Apricot-Banana Brownies

**(based off of this recipe)**


• nonstick cooking spray

• 1 ¼ cups applesauce

• 1 cup cocoa powder

• 1 cup unrefined sugar (I used organic turbinado sugar)

• 1 medium or large banana, chopped into small chunks

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1 1/3 cups gluten-free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill GF All Purpose Baking Flour)

• 2 cups vegan, gluten-free chocolate chips (I used the Enjoy Life brand of allergen-free chocolate chips)

• 3/4 cup dried cranberries

• 3/4 cup apricot preserves

• 3/4 cup-1 cup hempmilk (or another nondairy "milk" of your choice), adding more to the mix if necessary




Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180°C), and coat an 8"x8" pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients, in the order that they appear in the ingredients list. Pour mixture into the prepared pan.

Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the pan comes out clean.


Makes 16 brownies.



My "taste-testers" for this new gluten-free baked good were my parents, grandfather, dance partner/instructor, and The Co-Worker (yes, he is finally back! Haha):

My parents and grandfather all agreed that these brownies are "extremely dense and fudgey"; my dance partner/instructor (who suggested adding the dried cranberries and apricot preserves!! Nice suggestions!!) could not stop saying "MMMM!!," so I am pretty sure that he loved them (haha); and now, let us find out what The Co-Worker thought of the brownies:



**Here is The Co-Worker's official review of these Cranberry-Apricot-Banana Brownies** :



VERY moist. There's the banana first. You taste the banana, but the cranberry and apricot are mixed in, which seems to make it so moist.

Boy that's a lot of brownie -- it's heavy. Very chocolaty. This is not a "grab 2 or 3 Brownies and sit down" kind of treat.

The apricots and cranberries don't stand out but they're there swirling around. This is a good dessert bar, not a snack bar. If you're not a big chocolate fan, stay away. Just got a chunk of apricot -- so it's chunky fruit.

Good! I'd have another one if there were any left. Recommended.



Since these brownies were undoubtedly favorable, I will for sure make an extra batch next time - even I, the "Carob Queen," thoroughly enjoyed these rich, indulgent, delicious brownies! This recipe has already been filed in the front of my recipe binder, and will be used again and again.

I must give special thanks to my favorite Food Network (and now Planet Green channel) chef, Emeril Lagasse, for creating a vegan, gluten-free, sensational baked good recipe. I hope he continues to "kick it up a notch" for years to come!



**One more thing, before I am officially done with this blog post (you should know by now that I am long-winded, haha):

Since my version of these brownies fuses the luscious flavors of chocolate & fruit, I thought that they would be a wonderful entry for the Monthly Mingle August 2008: Fruit & Chocolate event, hosted by the lovely Meeta, from the "What's For Lunch Honey?" blog.

VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style: Part IV

As the saying goes, "time flies when you are having fun" - this definitely was the case for my parents and me, since the fourth and final day of our trip to Chicago arrived so soon! But instead of dwelling on the fact that we would be leaving the city the next morning, we decided to remain upbeat and make the most out of our final day in Chicago.

So, without further ado, I bring you the fourth and final installment of the VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style series. Read on, and enjoy!



Tuesday, August 5th



Believe it or not, my parents and I still had some sightseeing to do, since the city is so massive - it is quite difficult to cover every inch of territory in just four days, but we were determined to do so.



As you can see behind me (in the above photograph), several different styles and eras of architecture/buildings are represented throughout the city. For example, the Water Tower Place shopping center represents a more "modern/contemporary look," while the church right next door represents a more gothic style of architecture. It is quite fun to just stand back, look around, and observe the quality and style of each building around you, while in a big, metropolitan location.



In addition to observing the different styles of architecture that are represented in Chicago, it is also interesting to stand aside and "people-watch." Just think about how many people you pass on the street, not really knowing at that moment if you will ever see them again - it really illustrates just how many people are on this planet - so incredible!! Haha, yes, I am definitely a "deep-thinker" ;0)

With all of the sight-seeing and "people-watching" that my parents and I did that morning and early afternoon, it was already time to head to our lunch spot for the day: The Lobby restaurant at The Peninsula Hotel. Now you may be thinking, "Wait a minute - didn't you three go to The Lobby for dinner on the first night of your trip?" Well, yes, that is correct - but since our meals were so delectable on that first night (and the chef was so accommodating and personable), we knew that we had to return for yet another pleasant dining experience before leaving Chicago.



Once again, Joelle (the chef, whom I fondly refer to as our "personal chef," haha) was able to deliver with yet another elegantly-plated (and satisfying) Vegetable Platter. This time, it was composed of a very generous helping of sautéed swiss chard, broccoli, baby bok choy, and loads of roasted garlic (vampires, beware!). This dish was definitely "VeggieGirl approved," and incredibly filling. I sure hope that Joelle remains as the Executive Chef at The Lobby, so that when my parents and I return, we already know where to go for an undeniably delicious meal, and top-notch service.

After lunch, my parents and I spent the remainder of the afternoon shopping and relaxing at the hotel - after all, we wanted to save our energy for our respective dinner plans that night. Yes, you read that correctly - my parents would be sharing a meal together at one restaurant while I ventured off to a different location.

We did this during last year's trip as well - since my parents are extremely supportive and willingly go to any restaurant that I suggest/wish to go to, I like to make sure that they get to have a meal together at a restaurant of their choice.

So, while they enjoyed dinner at the Ralph Lauren Restaurant, I headed back to Karyn's Cooked , to have dinner with some friends:



I was quite excited to dine with Miss Eating Bender and our "Mystery Friend" (who wishes to remain anonymous, so we made sure to protect her identity in this photograph, haha) on my last night in Chicago, since it would undoubtedly be a wonderful way to end the trip. This gave us a chance to catch up, have fun, and eat great food in each other's company.

For my dinner selection, I wanted to take advantage of the Combination Plate option, by ordering a few side dishes of my choice to compose a meal. So, I went with the following:



A large side of steamed broccoli (no exaggeration - I have never seen broccoli stalks that huge before!)...



A hearty bowl of Pinto Beans (perfectly spiced!)...



And lastly, a plate of Lentil "Meatballs" with Marinara Sauce (soy-free, gluten-free, flavorful, protein-rich - what more could you ask for?). They were so good when I ordered them for lunch (when I went to Karyn's Cooked with my parents, the day before) that I wanted to eat them again! Quite a satisfying meal, for sure.

But let me tell you (and my dining guests that night can verify this as well!), it was not easy when it came to ordering my dinner that night. Our waitress was new (strong emphasis on "new"!), and just could not comprehend the fact that I wanted to order the broccoli, pinto beans, and lentil "meatballs" as part of the Combination Plate meal option - she thought that I was trying to substitute items from a different dish (which the restaurant frowns upon - it boldly states on their menu, "NO SUBSTITUTIONS").

She literally returned to our table about six times, asking what I wanted to order, and kept telling me that I "could not substitute ingredients in the dishes." I even showed her a photograph on my camera, of my lunch meal from the day before, to prove to her that the lentil "meatballs" existed (she also kept thinking that I wanted lentils, not the lentil "meatballs")!! And thankfully my friends helped me out as well, since it did not look like I was going to get any dinner that night, haha.

After the manager came over to our table, and the situation was explained to her, she herself took our dinner orders (especially mine!) and sincerely apologized for the extreme (and time-consuming) confusion that took place. I also made sure to tell the manager that my waitress the day before was excellent, and knew the menu (and policies) well.

So, my friends and I, especially, learned the hard way that it is much more desirable to dine at Karyn's Cooked for lunch, rather than during the dinner hours.

Since it was late by the time we finished dinner, Miss Eating Bender, our "Mystery Friend," and I said our goodbyes, and returned to our respective homes/hotel rooms. It was so lovely getting the chance to spend time with them before school starts back up, and I look forward to meeting up again soon!

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, time definitely flies when you are having fun - my parents and I still cannot believe how quickly our trip to Chicago came and went! Thankfully, we spent every single minute the best way we could, ate amazing dishes, and visited with great friends.

I do hope that you enjoyed reading the four-part VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style series as much as I enjoyed writing it! :0)

VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style: Part III

Despite the fact that my parents and I were able to cover a lot of ground during our first full day in Chicago (second "actual day" of being in the city), we still had a lot left to explore (which is why Chicago is such an exciting, fulfilling location to visit - it is nearly impossible to suffer from boredom while in the heart of the city!).

Day three of our trip involved a lot of walking around, shopping, sightseeing, and revisiting favorite dining locations - read on to find out more details about day three/part three of the VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style series.



Monday, August 4th



After getting to bed relatively early the night before (since we had a full, busy day on Sunday), my parents and I were up early and ready to embark on new adventures in the city. We already knew where we would be having lunch, and planned on walking there (despite the far distance from our hotel) - but with so many unique shops and galleries located along the way, we figured we could begin our day with shopping and sightseeing, eventually ending up at our lunch destination with a good appetite.



While out on our "shopping/sightseeing tour," I could not help but snap a photograph of my parents. I love traveling with them so much, and having them in my life. They support all of my decisions and everything that I do, and make me feel so blessed every single day; and they just look so cute together, so it is nice to show photographs of them. Okay, I am done with the sappy, deep reflections for now, haha ;0)

One of the shops that we stumbled upon was full of brightly-colored, innovative, crafty items, handmade by a woman who graduated from the Art Institute in Chicago. Everything in her boutique was truly the epitome of being one-of-a-kind and creative, and I knew that I could not leave without making a purchase - after all, the woman only has one store location (no website or catalog, even!), so this was basically my only chance to own one of her masterpieces. I decided to purchase the item that grabbed my attention as soon as I walked through the door:



A jewel/trinket-encrusted treasure chest!! When I was toddler, I used to love playing "dress-up," and adorning myself with layers and layers of neon-hued costume jewelry - I literally shimmered like a disco ball (Liberace would have been quite envious of my appearance). So when I saw that treasure chest, covered in the same types of jewelry that I used to prance around in when I was a little girl, it brought back a lot of nostalgia; and I had been looking for a new storage item for my bedroom back home, so this chest was obviously a fun choice (and purchase).

A little after 1:00pm, my parents and I made it to our lunch destination: Karyn's Cooked. Since we enjoyed our meals at this restaurant so much, when we ate there last year, we knew that we would return for another (hopefully) enjoyable meal.

Not much had changed on the menu or with the restaurant's decor since our last visit, which we considered a positive thing; and another positive thing was that the service seemed even more knowledgeable and friendly than last time. Would the food be just as good as we remembered? It was time to find out.

My parents both searched the menu for what they ordered last time, since they loved their dishes so much (now you should know exactly why I am a "creature-of-habit" - my parents are too!! Haha):



My mom ordered the Southern Comfort dish, which was composed of a generous portion of pinto beans, brown rice, collard greens, and a slice of cornbread. This dish was "just as tasty as when I had it last year," my mom proclaimed. I am glad that she was not disappointed!



My dad actually went with the Grilled Vegetable Sandwich this time (which was a little different from what he ordered last time), which featured grilled mushrooms, romaine lettuce, onions, peppers, zucchini, and eggplant on a toasted whole-grain bun, with a side of coleslaw and baked potato wedges. He liked this sandwich just as much as the other one; and maybe even more so! :0)



I ordered a completely different dish from what I had last time, since I wanted to try something new - I ordered the Buddha Bowl (which featured a heaping portion of grilled vegetables, smothered in teriyaki sauce); and for extra protein, I ordered a side of the Lentil "Meatballs" with Marinara Sauce (which the waitress informed me were both gluten-free and soy-free - score!!). This meal was quite filling, delectable, and energizing.

Once again, dining at Karyn's Cooked turned out to be an appetizing, all-around positive experience - we already knew that we would be back again soon!

The rest of the afternoon went by rather quickly, as we walked around (and shopped) even more; and the weather was not looking too promising, so my parents and I headed back towards the hotel, so that we would not be too far away from shelter if the rain started to pour or anything.

Well, the rain did end up plaguing the skies; and it poured hard. Thank goodness that my parents and I were in a store while this nightmare of a storm occurred - the storm was so major/damaging, that it even made the news!!

While waiting (and praying) for the horrid storm to pass, we browsed around one of my favorite stores - one that I was definitely looking forward to returning to, on this trip to Chicago: the NikeTown store.

This massive, beautifully-constructed store is filled with every single Nike product that you could ever think of (or dream of), and dedicates each section of the store to a different sport (so that it is easier to find exactly what you need for your respective activity - talk about convenience!). I never leave this store without a purchase, that's for sure, haha.

As soon as we entered through the doors, there was a large mannequin display, in honor of the 2008 Olympic Games:



More specifically, this display showcased the U.S. Men's Basketball team versus the China Men's Basketball team (since they played against each other, in the first game). Up front and center is none other than Kobe Bryant, aiming to make a basket. The display was life-size, so it was pretty impressive; but I had to sneak around to take this photograph (looking down from the balcony area, on the third level of the store), since the store does not allow photographs - shh, don't tell!! ;0)

Even though the storm still had not let up any, my parents and I did not want to stay in NikeTown all night (shocking, I know; but we were getting tired, and wanted to return to the comforts of our respective hotel rooms) - so we did the unthinkable, and ran down the street towards our hotel. Needless to say, we were literally soaked/dripping with water as we entered the building. Members of the hotel staff handed us towels to dry off, which we greatly appreciated (and needed, since we looked like we just went swimming, haha) - my oh my, what a storm that was! We will certainly never forget it.

After yet another eventful day, my parents and I realized that the following day would be our last in Chicago, for this trip. Stay tuned for the fourth and final installment of the VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style series! More adventures are surely in store.

VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style: Part II

Since my parents and I spent most of Saturday driving into the city, we did not have much time to "officially" start our trip to Chicago that day. So, we were determined (and looking forward) to spending the next three days as best as we could, to get the most out of being in Chicago (one of our favorite locations to visit, by far). Read on to find out what occurred in part II of the VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style series.



Sunday, August 3rd


After a good night's sleep and a light (yet nourishing) breakfast, my parents and I were ready to begin our first full day in Chicago. We kept our morning activities "low-key," since we had to leave the hotel around 12:00pm for our 30-minute commute to our lunch destination: The Chicago Diner.



My parents and I knew right away, when we decided to return to Chicago this year, that we would be dining at this 100% vegetarian (and "very vegan," as their website states) restaurant - our meals (and company!) were absolutely perfect during last year's trip, so we were anxious to find out if we would have a repeat of our great experiences.

Since we actually arrived at the restaurant a little earlier than expected, we waited outside for our "special lunch guest" to arrive. I took this as a perfect opportunity to get some sunshine (have to absorb that Vitamin D!), and practice my "pretzel-esque pose":



As someone who is extremely active, you will never find me sitting or standing like a "normal person" ;0)

When our "special lunch guest" finally arrived (traffic was a nightmare where he was coming from, since a Cubs game was about to begin), we headed inside to get a table, and satisfy our appetites!



The cozy, "diner-esque" atmosphere (with a "punk rock" twist) is quite inviting, making the dining experience for customers that much more enjoyable. No wonder this place fills up so quickly, especially on the weekends (don't worry, the place did fill up after taking this photograph - no empty tables, for sure!).

Before reviewing the menus and ordering our lunches, we made sure to take a photograph that included our "special lunch guest" (who dined with us last year, as well): Dave!



As I mentioned in last year's post, when we visited the Chicago Diner, my dad and Dave have known each other since high school; and since Dave (and his wife, who unfortunately was not able to meet us for lunch, due to a prior commitment) happens to live in Chicago, we made sure that we pay him a visit while in town. The Chicago Diner is a perfect "meet-up" spot for us, since we all love the food, service, and atmosphere so much.

Despite the fact that the restaurant was filling up with patrons and newcomers rather quickly, our food was delivered to the table promptly, correctly (no mistaken orders!), and at the proper temperature. What did we all order, you ask?



We started off our meals with the Hummus & Pita appetizer, which featured hummus, pita bread segments & fresh vegetables. Although my dad did not care for it (he isn't a fan of hummus), the rest of us enjoyed it as a "lite bite" before our main meals.



My mom ordered the same exact lunch that she had last time, and actually said that she had been looking forward to it ever since we decided that we would all return to Chicago this year, haha: The Red Pepper Ravioli. The raviolis are composed of a zucchini, tomato, red pepper & onion filling, topped with a "creamy" tomato-vodka sauce, and served with a pesto-vegetable sauté & garlic bread. Unsurprisingly, my mom was pleased with this lunch.



Dave ordered the Grilled Vegetable Panini, which featured tomato-ciabatta bread stuffed with pesto-sautéed onions, mushrooms & squash, melted "cheese," & "veggie bacon." His "side of choice" was the macaroni & "cheese." Dave was impressed with this sandwich (and with the vegan mac & "cheese"), and loved the flavors.



Like my mom, my dad ordered the same lunch that he had last time, since he enjoyed it so much: the Grilled "Cheese" Sandwich. Piled on seven-grain bread was an abundance of melted "cheese," sprouts, carrots, onions, lettuce & tomato, along with a side of oven-roasted sweet potato fries. Yet again, this meal was voted as a true winner.



And what did VeggieGirl order? Well, I went for a completely different entrée from what I ordered last year: the Polenta Fiesta (which featured tender sun-dried tomato polenta topped with oven-roasted sweet potatoes, garlic-sautéed spinach & onions, & spicy black beans, along with a side of marinara sauce). This was a new dish for me because (as with the bok choy from Saturday night's dinner) I had never eaten polenta before! So, did I like the polenta (and the meal, in general)?



Judging by the looks of my plate (yes, that is my plate, shown above), I think it is safe to conclude that I thoroughly enjoyed my first taste of polenta (and the remaining "tastes" after that, haha); and as a sweet potato fanatic, I certainly enjoyed those oven-roasted sweet potatoes immensely, as well.

Believe it or not, the four of us were just too full (well actually, we were "perfectly satisfied") from our lunches to order anything for dessert - I know, I know, this is practically a sin; but hey, at least we did order dessert last time, so there is always next year's trip to experience the sweet treats that the Chicago Diner has to offer :0)

After our leisurely, delightful lunch at the Chicago Diner, the four of us headed across town for our scheduled guided "interior tour" of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. The website provides an excellent summary of what the tour entailed:


"Frank Lloyd Wright used his first home to experiment with design concepts that contain the seeds of his architectural philosophy. In his adjacent studio, Wright and his associates developed a new American architecture - the Prairie style. Trained interpreters offer insights into Wright's family life and architectural career."




As an interior decorator, my mom is particularly captivated by Frank Lloyd Wright's work - so it was a real treat for her (and for the rest of us, as well) to tour his home and studio (pictured above).

I am going to backtrack a bit, to right before the tour, since something unexpected (and exciting!) occurred:

While I was waiting in line for the restroom at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Museum Shop, I felt a tap on my shoulder. A girl (who was "the tapper," haha) said, "I have sort of a weird question... Do you have a blog?" A bit taken aback, I said, "Why yes I do." She then asked, "Are you VeggieGirl?" and I replied, "Haha, yes I am!" She then said, "I read your blog a lot!!"

This was quite a surprise, and hilarious at the same time - I've been spotted! Haha ;0) I believe she said that her name was Kat (I apologize if I am spelling the name wrong!), so I would like to give a shout-out to Kat! Thank you for reading my blog!

After the tour, my parents and I said goodbye to Dave (and promised to meet up at the Chicago Diner during our next trip, of course!), and spent the rest of the day shopping, sight-seeing, and just having a great time. Since we were pretty exhausted by the end of the day, nothing "noteworthy" occurred for the rest of Sunday; but we still fully enjoyed ourselves!

As evidenced by our delectable lunches, Frank Lloyd Wright tour, spending the day with Dave, and the "VeggieGirl sighting" (haha, so fun), it is no surprise when I say that our first full day in Chicago was a success. Just two more days in the city!! Stay tuned for parts III and IV of the VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style series, to find out how my parents and I spent the remainder of our trip.

VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style: Part I

I am officially home from Chicago, and back to blogging. Visiting the "Windy City" was definitely a whirlwind of a trip (sorry, I will try to resist using more bad puns, haha), and just as enjoyable (if not more so) than last year's trip. Not only did I have the opportunity to return to some of my favorite dining spots and explore more of the city, but I got to spend time with friends (both old and new!) as well.

I do not want to overwhelm you by sharing all of the details of my trip in one long post, so I will post about the trip in four installments/parts. So without further ado, I bring you Part I of the VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style series. Sit back, relax, and start reading :0)



Saturday, August 2nd


After we packed our bags and loaded up the car, my parents and I set off on our 6+ hour journey to Chicago. Although we prefer to fly when traveling, the airports (especially the lines at the security stations) are simply too crowded and chaotic these days - so, we opted for driving to our destination this time. This gave us an opportunity to observe and enjoy the scenery as we crossed state lines.

Although we hit some traffic coming into the city (due to the crazy Lollapalooza music event), the road trip was relatively smooth; and time seemed to pass by rather quickly (which is a "plus" with impatient folks like myself, haha). As soon as we arrived, we checked into our hotel, got settled in, and then immediately headed outdoors to start exploring the city - after all, it had been a year since my parents and I last visited Chicago, so we were more than ready to discover new (and familiar) sites.

After walking around for a few hours, admiring the architecture and doing some shopping, we wanted to make one last stop before heading back to the hotel, before dinner:



Located just three blocks from our hotel was Whole Foods (or, as I like to refer to it, "Heaven on Earth/My Second Home"). I was beyond elated when I found out that a Whole Foods was located within walking distance of our hotel, since my parents and I always like to stock up on fruits and other foods while traveling (to have on-hand for breakfasts and snacks). I was mesmerized as I made my way down each isle, admiring all of the products that were not available at my local Whole Foods - as always, the food-shopping trip was a success.

The afternoon quickly flew by; and before we knew it, it was time to head over to The Lobby (a restaurant in the Peninsula Hotel, located about one block from our hotel) for dinner.

You may recall from my previous blog post series about Chicago that my parents and I dined at The Lobby, which is known for its afternoon tea selections (it even offers a vegan tea menu) and exquisite cuisine. Although the main selections on the menu are based around animal products, I did not have an issue ordering a simple vegetable dish last year - so did I have any luck with this year's dinner selection?

I am pleased to report that this year's dinner selection at The Lobby was even more delectable than the one that I ordered last year; and the chef was new (and better) as well. Joelle (whom I referred to on the trip as my "personal chef" at The Lobby, haha) was extremely accommodating, stating, "even if we do not list a certain vegetable on the menu, I will personally make sure that you get exactly what you want for dinner." The fact that she came over to the table (despite the restaurant being very busy) and took all of our food orders shows just how much she cares about her customers'/diners' needs. If only all chefs at highly-rated restaurants (or all chefs, period) were like her!

To satisfy my intense craving for vegetables (not surprising, considering I am VeggieGirl), I ordered a vegetable platter composed of an abundance of sautéed swiss chard, broccoli rabe, baby carrots, roasted garlic, and a vegetable that I have never tried before: bok choy.



Despite constantly reading about the nutritional benefits of bok choy, I have always been too intimidated to cook with it (and hence, eat it) - thank goodness that I took advantage of this opportunity to try bok choy, since I absolutely loved it! This vegetable has definitely been added to my list of favorite produce varieties.

After a long day of driving and beginning our exploration of the city, my parents and I were ready to retire to our respective hotel rooms and call it a night. After all, we wanted to be well-rested and energized for the remainder of our trip, which was bound to be fun-filled and exciting. Stay tuned for the next installment of VeggieGirl - Chicago-Style

It's Simply Unnecessary!

Yesterday (Thursday), I had exactly one hour to spare - I have not had an hour with absolutely nothing to do/nowhere to be for quite some time now!! Since I have not had a chance to bake or post about anything in a while, I knew exactly what I needed to do during this free hour: catch up on updated blog posts from fellow bloggers (thank goodness for Google Reader blog subscriptions!) and... bake!

Not only have I not had time to bake lately, but I have not been as anxious to do so either - this is due to the fact that I have felt quite intimidated by the gluten-free baking process (i.e. creating flour mixtures, using enough/a certain ratio of each ingredient so that the baked good actually bakes/is edible, etcetera). My fears quickly disappeared, however, after discovering a "life-saving" product (well, life-saving in my opinion): Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose Baking Flour.

A mixture of garbanzo flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, sorghum flour, and fava flour, this product can be substituted for gluten-containing flours in a 1:1 ratio/equal amount - how wonderful is that?! I knew right then and there, as I stood in the baking aisle at Whole Foods (where I stood for almost 20 minutes, trying to figure out which gluten-free baking products I should purchase, haha), that I found the perfect baking tool to begin my journey as a gluten-free baker.

Since I first posted about my newfound wheat/gluten allergy, I have received numerous emails from fellow bloggers, providing helpful tips and recipes (thank you to everyone! you know who you are!); and I have even started subscribing to Living Without magazine, which is a "lifestyle guide for people with allergies and food sensitivities" (in other words, an incredibly beneficial publication).

With so many recipes to choose from (thanks to fellow bloggers and Living Without magazine), the decision as to what my first gluten-free baking experiment would be was rather difficult; but I finally chose to go with the Chocolate Apricot Bars recipe from the magazine. Despite the fact that there were a lot of steps in the recipe, I thought that this would be a fun baked good to make. So I took a deep breath, stepped into the kitchen, and prepared myself for this gluten-free adventure.

Since the hour that I had to bake was quickly dwindling, I decided to adapt the recipe instructions quite a bit. I skipped the steps that involved cooking up/making a filling as well as using a food processor - so, the bars had a whole new texture/quality to them (as compared to what the "original bars" were supposed to look like):



Due to their "interesting" appearance, I renamed these treats "Don't Look, Just Eat" Bars (you should have seen what the batter looked like before I put the baking pan into the oven - not pretty at all!). However, I have learned not to judge a baked good solely on its appearance - after all, it really is the taste that matters the most, in my opinion. I could not wait to taste-test these bars, and to find out what my "customers" thought about them as well.

My "customers" for my first gluten-free treat were my parents and my dance partner/instructor - The Co-Worker picked a bad week to be out of the office!! Oh well - he will be back to review my next baked good, for sure :0)

Everyone (including myself) agreed that these bars were luscious, chewy, "nutty," and just simply delectable - a pleasant surprise, for sure. My dad said it best though: "Wow, what a mouthful! I definitely tasted major nuts in there and the chocolate. The apricot flavor was not as strong. Overall I really liked the texture and the blend of flavors. Very filling though. I only ate part of one small piece, and I'm done for now. Definitely a recipe worth revisiting and baking again."



I am so relieved that my first gluten-free baking experiment was a success - it is a true pleasure to be able to taste-test my own baked goods again, and to now know first-hand that gluten is simply unnecessary in baking!

Another great thing about these bars is that they are portable - this is a must, considering that my parents and I are leaving for our trip to Chicago tomorrow (Saturday) morning. So, we can easily tote these bars along with us, to snack on :0)

Since I will be in Chicago until the middle of next week, there will obviously be no baking for a while; but when I return, you can expect a full report on my dining adventures and other highlights of this trip. In the meantime, you can enjoy reading about my trip to Chicago from last year (which was reported in a three-part series), if you would like - just click on the links below:



Vegan-Dining in Chicago, Part I


Vegan-Dining in Chicago, Part ll


Vegan-Dining in Chicago, Part lll




I am anxious to find out how this year's trip to Chicago will compare to last year's - stay tuned to find out!