Milkshakes, Errands + Fundraisers

Saturday started out with errand adventures to Dick's Sporting Goods, Chick-Fil-A(where my life was put to risk)and then an impromptu trip to Oberweis. It ended in high heels at a fundraiser - gala for the Riverside Foundation!

Marc and I can be doing the most mundane things like grocery shopping or going to a sporting store and we manage to laugh and have a blast. Such was the case at Dick's Sporting Goods as we strolled through the store testing out punching bags and picking out backpacks for an imaginary trip we're going on. 

Our next stop was Chick-Fil-A. I had never been there before but I have no issues with chicken nuggets so we devoured the chicken and waffle fries and it was pretty good! As Marc was finishing up I noticed on the box they proudly advertised that their chicken was fried in 100% peanut oil… This is not what someone with an allergy to peanuts and no Epi pen wants to hear. I started chugging water and iced tea and luckily didn't get anything more than a tingly lip and tongue.

After my brush with death I decided I needed something to wash it down with so naturally we went to Oberweis for cookie dough milkshakes and a rousing game of chess. If you've never been to Oberweis and you've always wanted to experience a 1950's ice cream parlor vibe, than this is the place for you!! All we were missing was a leather jacket and poodle skirt. 

Fast forward 4 hours and we found ourselves at the Annual Riverside Foundation Gala. My entire Domanico family attends every year to help raise money for the assisted living home where my Uncle Paul lives. The night consists of a silent auction, live auction, trip raffle, open bar, dinner and dancing in a beautifully tented room at the Marriott Lincolnshire. 

Marc, myself and my parents.

Marc and I started wandering through the tables with the silent auction items with NO intention of bidding on anything, however we happened to find an Amazon HD Fire tablet that had a reasonable bid price of $55. We got excited and placed our bid at $70 and as we pressed the button we felt a little adrenaline but it was immediately met with defeat when we were outbid by the first bidders maximum bid of $100. Our joy was short lived but none the less fun!

When the live auction began Marc and I took a paddle for fun and watched money fly around the room. One item in particular sent the room into a frenzy, 18 person suite at a Bulls or Blackhawks game. It got down to 2 men, at the same table that were clearly trying to show each other up and it sold for $10,000. Absolutely INSANE!!! For a girl who doesn't really care for sports and doesn't have $10,000 to throw around, the thought of biding on that item is mad!

My mom however did walk away with a great silent auction item, a curator led tour of the Art Institute for 4 people. I of course quickly volunteered Marc and I to be her plus 2 for the day!

This fruit tart deserved its own shot out!

The food at this event is always pretty good so I was of course excited to feast on the meal… until the first course came, a walnut + apple salad. I'm allergic to walnuts and I'm kind of allergic to apples so I ate a leaf or two because I'd already let my life hang in the balance once that day and I still wanted to dance that night so I waited for the main course. 

I knew the main course was going to have red meat and fish portion so I let Marc have a second helping of filet mignon. When desert came and Marc couldn't eat another bite, I gladly stepped in and fell on that berry lemon sword and helped finish both our deserts!

The night ended with everyone on the dance floor and watching my dad boogie to B-52's Loveshack. 

They raised over $128,000 for the foundation and we had an amazing night.

Olives + Orzo… What More Do You Need?!

One thing you should know about me is that I love orzo and I will find any excuse to cook with it! If you've never had orzo, shame on you, but it is a small rice - shaped pasta that cooks quickly and is great for a lot of dishes.

Having lived in Milan for 3 months a lot of the dishes I made at home consisted of mozzarella, pasta and olives. Sounds kind of plain but the pasta in Milan was so rich in flavor and the fresh mozzarella and olives were a perfect compliment to the pasta. So I stumbled upon this recipe on Bloglovin and the dish was so abundant in color and reminiscent of my meals in Milan that I  had to give it a go…

:INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 whole Lemon (juiced)

1 clove Garlic (Minced)

Salt and Pepper 

12 oz Orzo Pasta

1 cup Red Grape Tomatoes

1 cup Yellow Grape Tomatoes

1 cup Kalamata Olives

1 cup Chickpeas

1/4 of a Red Onion

2 TBSP Fresh Parsley
1 cup Crumbled Feta

:ASSEMBLY:

1. Bring the water to a boil and throw the orzo in. Usually cooks within 8-10 minutes.Drain it then set it aside.

2.Use a cutting board to dice the tomatoes, olives, onions and parsley into small pieces. 

3. Open the chickpeas and drain all the water then set to the side until you combine all the ingredients. 

4. In a jar combine the olive oil, lemon juice, salt/pepper and garlic. Shake until well combined. 

5. In a LARGE bowl toss in the orzo and all of the ingredients. Then evenly drizzle the dressing over the mixture and combine until it is evenly distributed. 

6. I like to add the Feta cheese last so that it stays fresh and doesn't get too soggy. 

7. Lastly add salt and pepper to taste but because the olives are already pretty salty, add cautiously!

The end result is a delicious, vibrant and fresh salad. It's nearly effortless to make and it's great to pack for a smart lunch! 

We Are Ready For Our Oscar Ballots...

What would you do with $50 worth of iTunes gift cards?! Go on a film binge, DUH! At least that is what Marc and I did this past week. In exactly one week we consumed 6 films and 11 short films.

We discovered the world of short films on Saturday night after dinner and Gameworks and we are oh so grateful! We watched our first short film Feast and as the credits were rolling we both turned to each other and somehow both realized we had just entered the world of short films and it felt like an exciting black hole with endless possibilities.  

We hesitantly rented Gone Girl. I wasn’t as reluctant to see it but Marc doesn’t care for Ben Afleck but it was supposed to be a good film so we bit the bullet and rented it. Neither of us really knew what it was about, Marc was under the impression from just the cover that it was going to be a 2 hr. movie about a detective (Ben Affleck)in search of a little girl… We were both WAY off on the mark. I won’t spoil it for anyone that hasn’t seen it yet but it sent us for a loop to say the least. The ending of Gone Girl sent us both on a rant spiral for a good hour after the film. Does justice exist anymore in movies?! Do bad guys just get away with everything these days?! Seriously! That film took a toll on us and even made us a bit defensive the next night during Birdman…

You will be glad to know that we made a swift recovery and were able to fully enjoy all of short films!

Feast was probably my favorite (5/5 stars) and it also won Sunday night for Best Animated Short Film! If you watch Feast you MUST watch The Damn Keeper, so beautifully made and the whole concept and result was stunning!

We found that each short films more than likely will always have a twist ending and each time they surprise me! After watching so many short films Marc and I were ready to fill out our Oscar Ballots and were sitting by the phone waiting to called upon to be jurors at the next Cannes Film Festival. Needless to say we are confident in our short film judging skills.

: Films we watched :

Fury

Birdman

Nightcrawler

Gone Girl

Gattaca

John Wick

: Short Films we watched :

Feast

The Damn Keeper

A Single Life

Me and My Moulton

The Phone Call

Boogaloo and Graham

Sweet Cocoon

Cosmic Love

Picture Paris

Aya

Black Angel

*Ranked from Favorite to I could’ve gone without that in my life.*

Mint Green Giant…Smoothie

I will be the first to admit that I probably do not eat as many vegetables as I should. Now I know how this looks, there are chocolate chips in there but I wanted to make a sweeter breakfast smoothie and WHY NOT?! It has soy milk which I love and greek yogurt which I could eat by the barrel. 

The final result was a yummy mint green smoothie that was quick to make and smelled like summer!

RECIPE…

3/4 cup greek yogurt

1/4 cup fresh mint

1 cup soymilk

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

1 cup baby spinach

1 TBSP maple syrup

1 1/2 cup crushed ice

5 Things I Learned From Living In Milan

1. Milan never runs short on street markets. Every day of the week you can find a different market tucked away along the cobble stoned streets of the city. The weekday markets sell a variety of fresh produce, flowers and designer goods. You can go there looking for eggs and vegetables for dinner and leave with a live chicken. The flowers are always fresh and vibrant while the vendors that line the streets are friendly and always offering a smile.

The BEST market is held at the end of every month on Saturday and Sunday when vendors and locals flood the streets of Navigli with the most beautiful antiques, art and vintage clothes that will have you wandering up and down the canal all day. Luckily the streets are also equally as vibrant with their cuisine where you can find the best pizza and aperitivo for when your vintage hunting makes you hungry!

Mama Farina Via dei Valtorta 44 Milano

2. Carbs are your best friend. I actually already knew that before I lived there, but I definitely took advantage of it every single day in Milan. In Italy you just need to embrace carbs and appreciate every delicious bite of that brick oven pizza or penne arrabiata. In Italy you are expected to finish a whole pizza by yourself so when you sit down you better be up for the challenge! Mama Farina was one of my favorite local places to eat dinner near my apartment. I would have gone there every night but I wanted to make it seem like I had somewhat of a life so I would stagger my meals there to 1-2 times per week. The streets of Milan offer plenty of delicious options and sometimes in the most unassuming places, so don’t be afraid to wander and you might stumble upon the best pizzaiolo!

 

Milano Centrale 

Venezia

3. Milan is great hub to travel through Northern Italy.  Milan is a great city to use as your base for traveling around northern Italy. Every city from Cinque Terre to Venice is within a few hours reach. Even a bullet train to Florence will get you there in an hour! A beautiful train ride through the Swiss Alps isn't even out of the question for a weekend adventure. The main train station in Milan, Centrale, You could start your morning in Milan eating sfogliatella on your way to the train station and by the afternoon you could be walking down the streets of Verona eating 10 scoops of crema gelato. Who wouldn't want to spend their weekend exploring historic cities and devouring pastries and culture?

Luini : Via Santa Radegonda 16 

4. Luini Panzerotti will change your life. Every day people crowd the small street near the Galleria anxiously shuffling through the line to get his or her hands on these famous panzerotti. They take it so seriously that there's even a bouncer in full suit and tie ushering people through the lines as if they're escorting the president through the airport. Luini’s runs like a well-oiled machine. Once you get to the front of the line you have 10 seconds to order, pay and move along. If you have never indulged in panzerotti before I compare it to an empanada but about 10 times better. The dough is crispy and fluffy, while the inside is filled with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. It’s exciting and always a fun mid day adventure.

That's right, I MADE this!

The Mag Cafe in Navigli

5. Cappuccinos run through your veins in Milan. Espresso, real coffee is a lifestyle in Italy. My first day at the showroom I said, "of course I know how to make cappuccinos, yeah I'll make them for our high profile clients!" I had no clue what I was doing but by the end of my internship I had become a full-fledged barista. Starbucks would have been honored to hire me. The cappuccino culture there is borderline religious. The espresso is rich and the foam is always perfect. I could easily sit along the canals of Navigli at The Mag Cafe enjoying coffee, free wifi and reading material. 

Barcelona + The First City I Fell in Love With

Almost 14 years ago I first discovered Barcelona and I've been back twice to experience and explore the unique culture and architecture. 

My first time in Barcelona I remember I was 11 years old and crabby from just having experienced my first bout of jet lag and then we came up from the metro and I saw Sagrada Familia and my eyes bugged out with excitement. All of a sudden I no longer felt tired and irritated, I felt like an explorer who had just discovered an entirely new world and I couldn't get enough of it. 

At the top of Parc Güel you can take a survey of Barcelona's short skyline but what pops out is Sagrada Familia, whose construction began in 1882 (13 years after my house was built!)and it is STILL under construction. It has taken so long because the funding for it comes strictly from donations. 

Casa Batlló

Throughout the city you will find BEAUTIFUL, unique and kind of crazy architecture and its all most likely done by Antonio Gaudí. Probably my favorite building he designed was Casa Batlló. It is colorful and weird and looks like an exotic lizard. 

Colors are constantly exploding across the city whether it is in the architecture or on the street performers along Las Ramblas.

The Mercado de la Boqueria is tucked away along Las Ramblas and if you don't look hard enough you might pass up one of the most vibrant and lively staples Barcelona offers. When I studied abroad in Barcelona for 5 weeks I would visit the market once or twice a week just snapping pictures of the changing environment and of all the colorful fruits and candies most of the stalls sold. 

Had I not lived with a host family, I would like to imagine that this market would have become a part of my daily routine, shopping for that nights dinner or grabbing a snack before class because who can pass up Haribo candy?! 

Please excuse the tourist that got in my way!

If you didn't already figure it out, this market is one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in Barcelona because its not too touristy and you get the feeling like your a local doing your daily errands in this beautiful and colorful market. 

Barcelona will always spark a light in me and it seems that when ever I do talk to people about this city I get excited and passionate about describing the streets and culture and architecture. 

Capetown + Kalk Bay

My exploration through Capetown led me to find some unique and interesting pieces. I discovered a lot of markets and small co-ops that exceeded my expectations and made me feel like a kid in a candy store. While I still visit candy stores at the age of 24 and get more excited than I should, navigating through these markets and boutiques was always a fun and wonderful adventure!

At Mungo & Jemima on Long St. in downtown Capetown I found this beautifully hand made necklace with a little fringe on the end of it and I'm a complete sucker for anything with fringe or a tassel on it. The nicest women worked there and even recommended a great Ethiopian restaurant for us to try that night. 

I can not say enough of about how much I love the Kalk Bay Co-Op. I stepped into this store and felt like I had entered an entirely different world.

Baked Garlic Nuts + Living on the Edge with My Nut Allergy

I would never say I'm naturally gifted at cooking but I like to try and I don't even mind when I make mistakes. I was gifted this book The Forest Feast for christmas and I absolutely love it. It's a vegetarian book and while I do now eat poultry and fish, I haven't eaten red meat since 2005, except for a small slip up of a cube of bbq pork in Hong Kong and that was so that I wouldn't appear rude! The author created these incredible recipes and even more beautiful photos that fill every page with color and amazing composition.

My first attempt from The Forest Feast is the Baked Garlic Nuts. I should also point out that I am deathly allergic to nuts but I wanted to try the recipe out for my boyfriend who loves them so I kept my epi pen nearby just incase a freak accident occurred, which would happen to me seeing as I took a nasty fall two days ago and sent my phone slow motion flying through the air. I saw hit the ground hard and I still had time to look up and watch my phone doing summersaults and finally bounce a few times before landing under a car. We both survived though. 

I've NEVER seen or peeled this much garlic in my entire life, I thought the 20 garlic cloves might have been a misprint but that's what the recipe called for. However I will say you could easily get away with half and it would still taste just as delicious and leave you with half the potent breath!

RECIPE

20 peeled cloves of garlic *

1 T finely chopped fresh rosemary

2 t olive oil

1/4 t truffle salt**

1 cup unsalted raw mixed nuts 

First: Mix and roast the everything BUT the nuts on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until garlic is soft and golden.

Second: Mix the nuts into the garlic mixture on the baking sheet and roast another 5-7 minutes. Then transfer to a bowl and add kosher salt to taste!

* Like I said before 20 cloves is a little intense so I would do maybe 10, but hey if you love garlic then go crazy!

** I didn't have truffle salt nor did I find it at the supermarket so I used regular kosher salt.

Then thats it and your kitchen smells super delicious afterwards! This is a super easy snack to make for everyday life or dinner parties, or if your like me a "lethal" snack to make and handle for your boyfriend. So if your allergic like me and like to live on the edge try making this great snack. Thank you Erin Gleason for this BEAUTIFUL book!

Getting Lost in Travel Magazines

Afar, Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler have evolved to be staples in my reading list. They all help inspire me to travel to the furthest reaches of the globe, let my Carmen San Diego-ness flourish and capture beautiful memories with my camera. 

Afar Magazine fell into my lap about 2 years ago and I could not be more grateful. Everything about Afar is so unique and different from other travel magazines that I read, even just the texture of the cover is kind of exciting! 

Being buried in these magazines every month keep my curiosity of the world growing and evolving and I would recommend to everyone I know to read them and explore the world and learn about different cultures. Even if you don't like reading much, the photography alone could catch the attention of a goldfish! I'll admit I have fantasized about some of my photography featured in these magazines.

Afar Magazine fell into my lap about 2 years ago and I could not be more grateful. Everything about Afar is so unique and different from other travel magazines that I read, even just the texture of the cover is kind of exciting! My favorite articles to read every month is following one of their writers as they're thrown into an adventure with 24 hours notice. They send them to sometimes obscure rural areas and then other times they get off the plane and are surrounded by the lights of Macau. It's always fun and has me on the edge of my seat to hear how they deal with new environments and language barriers and new experiences!

Lemon Berry Cake… or something like that

I'll be straightforward and tell you right now that shortly after I assembled this masterpiece of yummy fruit and buttercream for days… it started to unravel and we quickly had to sing happy birthday to my sister and serve the cake!

While we sang happy birthday to my now 21 year old little sister I could see the cake buckling from the weight of the fruit I suppose so I tried singing faster in hopes the crowd would catch on but instead it felt like they slowed down.

With that disclaimer out of the way, the cake was DELICIOUS!!! How could it not be though with that much butter, cream cheese and fruit? I think I discovered my mistakes and I'll let you know to to not meet the same fate if you try and bake it! I definitely encourage you to make it because it was ridiculously easy and tastes so fresh and sweet!

RECIPE

Lemon Cake:

1 box white cake mix

3 eggs

1/3 cup melted butter, cooled

Zest of 2 lemons

1/3 cup lemon juice

2/3 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup sour cream (or plain yogurt)

2 cups blueberries

Raspberry Buttercream*:

1/2 cup butter, softened

8 oz. cream cheese

2 T. raspberry puree(pureed in a blender) 

strained to remove seeds

3 1/2 - 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Lemon Buttercream*: 

1 cup butter, softened

8 oz. cream cheese

Zest of 2 lemons

1 T. lemon juice

3 1/2 - 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

* Let both butter creams cool in the fridge before assembling cake so that the cake doesn't fall apart mid Happy Birthday song.

How to make it…

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease three 8-inch pans.

2. Sift cake mix into a small bowl and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, buttermilk and sour cream until smooth. No electric mixer necessary, just a good old fashion hand stir!

4. Stir in cake mix and blueberries.

5. Divide batter between the three pans.

6. Bake for 17-22 minutes or until a toothpick come out clean.

7. Let the cakes cool completely.

8. Raspberry buttercream: In an electric mixer beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Stir in pureed raspberries; gradually add powdered sugar until it reaches a desired consistency.

9. Lemon buttercream: In an electric mixer again beat the butter cream cheese and lemon zest. Stir in lemon juice and gradually add powdered sugar. 

10. To assemble the cake, stack the layers spreading the raspberry buttercream between each layer. Cover the entire cake with the lemon buttercream then top with fresh berries!

ENJOY!!

Recipe credit to Make it with a CAKE MIX by Lizzy Early