Grandma’s Strawberry Rhubarb Cake

June 17, 2015June 2, 2016 / AvasMom / Leave a comment

Fireflies, freshly sprouting corn rows and rhubarb were always a sign that summer was beginning in the country. Both grandmothers and my own mother loved including rhubarb in everything from sauces to cakes, they made many different recipes with this somewhat odd perennial vegetable. It grows year after year in my mom’s garden ready for us to use in some of our favorite desserts. A favorite classic is Grandma Neisendorf’s Strawberry Rhubarb Cake.

Filling

3 cups diced rhubarb
1 small package of strawberry jello

Crust

1 cup flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
4 tablespoons butter
1 egg beaten
4 tablespoons milk

Crumble Topping

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup butter
a pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Directions

Combine rhubarb and jello in bowl and let stand.
Combine dry crust ingredients. Add egg beaten with milk.
Pat crust into greased glass 9 x 9 pan, bringing up on sides.
Pour rhubarb mixture on top.
Mix crumble topping together and put on top of rhubarb mixture.
Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Ada Street

December 28, 2014December 28, 2014 / AvasMom / Leave a comment

Tonight we tried three year old, Ada St. restaurant near Elston and North Avenue in an industrial park in Chicago. When you step out of the cab and look to the south you will see the Hancock, Trump and Sears Tower in plain view. It seems like the most hidden restaurant we have found in the city.

The two hostesses were very friendly, greeting us in a dark hallway that left us wondering where exactly we were headed. As on of them walked us to our table we passed the wine storage hallway with carefully displayed, very moderately priced wine. She pointed out that the music being played in the restaurant was all vinyl records that we could peruse, pick out and hand to our waiter to be played. We chose one of the first records we came across, “Hot Legs” by Rod Steward in memory of my cousin’s favorite song.

As we entered the main dining room filled with probably 10-15 tables we noticed the kitchen was small and the bar big. There were 4 sous chefs and one head chef working in unison in the tiny kitchen. We ordered a bottle of wine from Sonoma that hit the spot. The entire wine list is very reasonably priced, with the most expensive bottle in the $70 range.

Our waiter Spencer was a true delight. He was full of excitement for this hidden gem and was excited to create a wonderful first experience for us. We ordered a variety of small plates and a dessert. Everything was flavorful, thoughtful and enjoyable. The atmosphere, service and food puts Ada St. at the top of our list of great Chicago restaurants. Definitely a must try this winter for all our Chicagoan friends!

We recommend…

Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings with a Cucumber & Daikon Salad
Braised Pork empanadas with a Tomatillo Creme
Pan-Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Lemon, Chiles and Garlic
Orcchiette, spicy Merguez Sausage with Rapini Pesto and Parmesan
Wagyu Hanger Steak served over Potato Puree and topped with Baby Arugula
Chocolate Genache with Tuscan Olive Oil, Sea Salt and Toast

Top Chef Restaurant – Mexique

December 11, 2014December 11, 2014 / AvasMom / Leave a comment

Last night we tried Mexique for the second time and were once again blown away by the incredible cuisine. Chef Carlos Gaytan of “Top Chef” fame opened this hidden West Town gem in 2008. Last year, Mexique was awarded a Michelin star for its award winning Mexican-French fusion cuisine.

The space is very understated, but the service and food are both exceptional and at a great price-point. For $75 you can do a six-course tasting menu or order a variety of small and large plates to share. What really stands out here are the sauces – both flavorful and exotic. The presentation of the food is artistic, but filling, with just the right portions. Here’s a few of our recommendations. Head over to Open Table and make a reservation for your next night out with friends!

Trio of Sopes
Escargots & Chimichurri Butter,
Fried Shrimp, Agave Nectar, Avocado
Sweet Plantains, Young Coconut, Xico

Asada
NY Steak, Spicy Tomatillo Goat Cheese Fondue and Truffle Root Vegetable Puree

Enchiladas
Crepes Filled with Chocolate Ganache, Toasted Walnuts, Ancho-Chile Chocolate Fondue served with a Creme Anglaise Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

XO,
Amber

{Some photos courtesy of Yelp Reviewers due to my husband being a bad photographer during dinner}

Favorite Chicago Date Spots

December 4, 2014December 4, 2014 / AvasMom / Leave a comment

As a kid, I remember that a couple of times a month Mom would hire a fun, teenage neighborhood babysitter so that her and Dad could spend a few hours out with friends. They enjoyed their time with my brother and I, but always remembered to spend time together. Having time without the children might be one of the reasons that today they are celebrating 32 years of marriage! My husband and I try to do a date night a few times a month so that we can enjoy one another and have some good conversation. Here are some of our favorite go to date night spots.

The Bristol is our favorite date night spot. We belly up to the bar – a glass of wine for the Mrs. and a whiskey concoction for the Mister. Its a given that we start with their amazing garlic dill butter monkey bread. The atmosphere is dark, small and friendly. The menu features small and large plates perfect for sharing a salad, appetizer and an entree. If you don’t believe me that its pretty darn tasty, check it out on The 38 Essential Chicago Restaurants List.

Mastro’s bar area is our favorite downtown date night spot. The bar area is lively, the service exceptional and of course, the food is the amazing. The wine is served at the right temperature and the crab legs chilled just right. Perfect to enjoy an appetizer and end with their famous butter cake.

Summer House Santa Monica is a LEYE restaurant that looks and feels like you are dining in sunny California. Its a great spot for Chicagoans to escape to in the winter months because of its glass roof, palm trees and warm feeling. The menu is a great mix of seafood, Italian and American cuisine. Don’t miss the roasted cauliflower with jalepeno pesto and parmesan and the fresh burrata on house made bread. The menu is so diverse that you can go back over and over and find new favorites.

Find time once a month or once a week if you can to get an hour or two out with your spouse for a drink, appetizer or dinner. Or if all else fails, I’ve never turned down a date night invitation to Dairy Queen with baby and dog in tow.

XO,
Amber

Christmas Traditions for Kids

November 25, 2014 / AvasMom / Leave a comment

Christmas has always been a wondrous, magical season for me. The memories I have as a child looking at the Christmas lights strung about homes in my neighborhood, candlelit Christmas Eve service at church and the excitement of waking up on Christmas morning are all so fond. Here are a few ideas to help create new traditions for your children or grandchildren to keep the magic of Christmas alive within their little hearts and eyes.

25 Books Under the Tree

A dear friend recently shared this great idea for kids ages 2 to 10 years old. Buy 25 of your favorite Christmas books you read as a child and wrap each of them in various Christmas wrapping paper. Place the wrapped books under the Christmas tree and allow the kids to pick out one each day of December to read before bed. You can use the same books every year to enjoy reading your favorite Christmas stories together next to the Christmas tree as a family.

Ornaments from Grandma

Each year my Grandma bought her 15 grandchildren a Christmas ornament from the Hallmark store or Avon, where she was a representative for years. The ornaments sometimes had our names engraved, other years, she wrote our names and the year with a Sharpie marker. This year we will celebrate our first Christmas without Grandma and without receiving a new ornament. As I put up our tree this year, I realized how special it was to receive these small tokens of Christmas annually from my dear Grandma. I think this is a great tradition for grandparents to share with their grandchildren. Trust me, its means a lot.

Christmas Cookie Baking

There’s something sweet and old-fashioned about taking a day to bake Christmas cookies with your kids. Buy a fun, seasonal apron and maybe a baker’s hat to get in the spirit. Turn up the Christmas music and spend the day making a variety of cookies and then boxing them up to share with neighbors, colleagues and family. We get so busy in life that its easier to just buy cookies to bring to a holiday party, but I urge you to pull out your mom, uncle or grandma’s recipe box and make some old favorites and try a few new ones too!

XO,
Amber

The Best of Our Napa Adventures

November 24, 2014November 30, 2014 / AvasMom / Leave a comment

We recently completed our fourth trip to Napa, California. In 2010, we fell in love with the beauty of the scenery, the sunny fall weather and of course the delicious wine. Each time we are in wine country we discover new wineries, restaurants and stops that rival previous trips. With over 400 wineries and countless new restaurants opening every year, we will continue to go back to our favorite weekend getaway for years to come.

Getting There

Since reading about Napa Bee Driven in Frommer’s four years ago, we have used their services every time and have recommended them to numerous friends! For $50 per hour (limos in Napa are on average $90/hour and big tour buses sound miserable) Napa Bee Driven drivers will drive your rental car for you from winery to winery. A full day of wine drinking gets you tipsy, so it’s always best to have a designated driver and this is the perfect way for everyone in your party to have fun. Napa Bee Driven will even help you make your winery appointments (which are required at all the places we’ve visited).

Best Views

Amizetta Estate Winery is located at the very top of a mountain in St. Helena. Three very handsome sons run the winery named after their mother, Amizetta. The hospitality rivals the views mixed with great wine at a great price point. We enjoyed a beautiful dinner in the wine cave prepared by a private chef. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, talk to Amizetta Winery about customizing your experience! Cave Tour and Tasting is $50, but waived if you buy 6 or more bottles. Also, if you’re so inclined, they have a helipad for those who want to go from winery to winery via helicopter.

CADE Winery sits atop Howell Mountain and features truly breathtaking views. The building and infinity fountain are contemporary concrete in design, but seem to still blend in well with the rustic setting. A basic tasting is $40 or try the cave tour and tasting for $70.

Domaine Carneros replicates a grand French Chateau that sits atop a hill with the road to Napa on one side and Sonoma on the other. This is the perfect winery to start your morning in Napa by enjoying a variety of sparkling wines and artesian cheeses. Hosted tastings on the patio start at $30.

Best Wineries

Del Dotto Historic Winery & Caves is a small family owned and operated winery that sells mostly premium red wines aged in french oak barrels. Try the Historic Cave Tour and Barrel Tasting. The cave, which was dug out by Chinese immigrants in the 1800’s, is candlelit and lined with hundreds of barrels of wine. Your tour guide will encourage you to sample 10-12 straight from the barrel tastings of upcoming releases. A very unique experience that is best for the end of the day, as you leave here quite tipsy. The tour guides get a bit silly with you and serve up some fun humor. Tastings start at $60 and are worth every penny.

Quintessa is situated in the heart of Rutherford Valley, one of the best areas to grow exceptional wine due to the sun positioning, elevation for drainage and special Napa dirt. We enjoyed the Quintessential Quintessa Tasting experience for $125 person which is a private tour of the land and cave and ends with sampling their recent vintages. They have fine tuned the art of white wine making in concrete eggs which gives it a unique flavor. Who knew!? Most of their wines start at $125 per bottle. If you’re looking for a special occasion winery this is your spot!

Darioush exudes persian historic influence with its grand pillars and miniature coliseum like amphitheater for small concerts. We enjoyed the wine and cheese tasting for $75. Darioush is on the wine list at our favorite steakhouse in Chicago – Mastro’s. When our guide realized it was our mini-honeymoon he gave us a complimentary bottle making this large, commercial winery feel very in tune and generous to its customers.

Best Value

Regusci Winery combines casual service, a never ending picturesque view and good wine at a reasonable price point. Tastings start at $20 per person.

Frog’s Leap Winery is just fun. It’s set in what looks like a beautiful old home that opens up to a big back porch where you can enjoy tastings inside or outside. A great Syrah is only $40 per bottle and tastings start at $15. Plus, they have a variety of lawn games that you can play while sipping wine with friends to just stay a while and enjoy the view.

Paraduxx is part of the premium wine family, Duckhorn. It’s a newer winery that is small and offers attentive service in a quaint outdoor area. For $30, you can enjoy a tasting of some great mid point priced wines. Add in another $25 for a charcuterie platter filed with local favorites.

Best Dining

Mustard’s Grill was recommended by a few colleagues back in 2010 as can’t miss, casual spot. Its been a Napa staple for 30 years, serving sophisticated comfort food paired with great wines from the area. Bobby Flay did name its Mongolian Porkchop in an episode of the Best Thing I Ever Ate – Grilled. When in Napa, Mustards is a must stop!

Bottega is Food Network’s Michael Chiarello’s restaurant in adorable downtown Yountville. It exudes California style and cuisine with both indoor and outdoor dining areas. If you’re looking for a nice dinner after a day in wine country, you must try Bottega! The service, wine and food are top notch.

Auberge Du Soleil is a luxurious Relais & Châteaux property that includes a beautiful hotel and restaurant set atop the mountainside with a 300 degree sprawling view of wine country. We have not tried the famous French Laundry Restaurant, so this is my recommendation for a celebration dinner while in Napa. The service, wine, and tasting menus live up to its Michelin rating.

Honorable Mentions

Tra Vigne is Michael Chiarello’s first Napa restaurant. A staple for over 25 years in St. Helena that continues to serve up Italian and Northern California cuisine to perfection under beautiful tree strung white lights.

The Girl & the Fig combines French cuisine with a hint of California to make a warm and cozy spot that seems to be the favorite in Sonoma. Don’t miss the lavender creme brûlée.

Morimoto is Chef Masaharu Morimoto of Iron Chef fame’s restaurant located in downtown Napa on the river walk. The sushi, wagyu beef and signature drinks are consistent with Chef Morimoto’s entire line of restaurants – the best quality and creativity combining asian and western cuisine.

Celadon is known for its “global comfort food” as it states on its website. It’s a cozy place where the locals and tourists in the “know” dine for a casual meal with a diverse menu where everything tastes great. Don’t miss the uniquely prepared pork belly and calamari.

James Cole Winery is my husband’s favorite winery. James and his family live on their small Napa vineyard producing the most bold, deep red wine varietals we’ve ever tasted. If you like big red wines, give James Cole a try!

Jordan Vineyard & Winery is located in the Sonoma Valley (about 1.5 hours from downtown Napa). The winery building is as big as at the White House. Its a large production winery that offers a beautiful library tasting with wine and cheese for only $40. The 1,000+ acres of this winery includes olive trees, cattle and organic vegetable gardens. A must try if you’re in Sonoma.

Lancaster Estate is located in the Alexander Valley region of Sonoma. It boasts the youngest winemaker ever hired, Jesse Katz. He was listed in Forbes 30 Under 30: Food & Wine Edition for receiving 90+ points by Robert Parker on every Lancaster wine he created. Plus, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel had him create a special blend for their wedding!

If you haven’t been to Napa yet, I hope you can go soon and experience the beauty of the wineries, people and wine!

XO,

Amber

{Photo credits: Louis Cerone + Amber Nolan}

Quick Weeknight Stir-fry

November 12, 2014November 12, 2014 / AvasMom / Leave a comment

During the week I attempt to cook healthy meals. Since we just came back from a very gluttonous weekend trip, I thought this meal would be perfect for tonight to get some good veggie vitamins. While I always have cooked stir-fry regularly in our meal rotation, the idea to use light salad dressing for the flavor came from my mother-in-law while she was helping to care for all of us after the birth of our daughter. The vegetables below are our favorites, but you can use any vegetables you like or have in the house. Try it – its easy, healthy and filling!

Ingredients

1 c. quinoa
2 c. water
1 medium yellow zucchini
1 medium green zucchini
1 red bell pepper
1/2 c. fresh peapods
1/2 c. fresh broccoli
2 cloves garlic minced
1/3 c. Asian Sesame salad dressing
2 chicken breasts
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions

Add one cup quinoa and two cups of water to sauce pan and begin boiling. After water reaches a boil turn to low heat to simmer with lid on for 15 minutes.

Mince garlic and dice vegetables to desired size. Heat olive oil in large wok on stove and add minced garlic for 2 minutes. Add all vegetables and sear for 6-8 minutes on medium-high heat. While vegetables are cooking dice chicken into small pieces and add to heated, separate pan coated with olive oil. Sprinkle salt and pepper for taste. Thoroughly cook chicken until it is golden brown and no longer pink. Add chicken to vegetable mixture. Add Asian Sesame salad dressing. I prefer the Kraft Lite version, however Whole Foods sells Annie’s Organic Asian Sesame dressing which works well too. Let chicken, vegetables and dressing cook together on medium for 2-4 minutes. Place cooked quinoa in serving bowl and add stir-fry mixture over quinoa. Enjoy!

Tip: You can cut your effort in half by making a double batch – setting aside half of the uncooked vegetables and half of the uncooked chicken. Place in separate freezer bags to dethaw and make on a busy weeknight.

XO,
Amber

Top 5 Baby “Must Have” Products

October 20, 2014October 20, 2014 / AvasMom / Leave a comment

So many friends and family shared their favorite baby products from the best washcloths to lotions to diapers. After four months of being a new mom, here’s my list of favorite products I’ve tried and tested.

Merlins Magic Sleepsuit is magical. After our daughter couldn’t be swaddled anymore because of the risk of rolling over in her crib, a friend recommended this hilarious contraption. It looks like a snowsuit, but isn’t too warm. It actually makes them feel cozy, safe and comfortable and hinders that darn newborn startle reflex.. It is safe to say my husband and I are nutty about this product and literally stop people on the street with babies and tell them about the magical suit. We attribute our restful nights and sanity to this suit. And yes, we realize she looks like the kid from A Christmas Story. *Thanks to Jen for this recommendation*
Baby Boppy Newborn Lounger. It’s the boppy, but without a hole. Our baby napped in this safely (always supervised) for the first few months. It’s perfect to put on the floor or on the couch (again supervised) to keep the new baby close to you for cat naps during the day. *Thanks to Megan and Jeanne for this recommendation*
Muslin Blankets. I always had peace of mind when our daughter accidentally pulled the Aden and Anais muslin swaddle blankets over her head. They are lightweight, comforting and breathable. We have 8 laying around the house and use them all day long. I also love their sheets, burb cloths and bibs. Everything this company makes rocks. *Thanks to Mike for this recommendation*
Super Lightweight Stroller to keep in the car for errands. The Chicco Keyfit Caddy stroller makes running errands a breeze. It’s lightweight and easily holds our carseat (Chicago Keyfit 30 carseat). I’ve never had to lug around the carseat because its easier to just insert the carseat into this stroller and go! *Thanks to Anne for the recommendation*
City Stroller for walking everywhere throughout Chicago. The Bumbleride Indie is not only a great jogging stroller, but its a great stroller to walk miles and miles throughout the city, zoo or anywhere. Its pretty lightweight in comparison to how sturdy and easy to maneuver it is. And no, we’ve never ever used it to jog. Its on my someday list. *Thanks to Mike for the recommendation*XO, Amber

Write to Your Kids

October 17, 2014October 17, 2014 / AvasMom / Leave a comment

Do you remember that google commercial a few years ago showing the Dad writing to his newborn daughter? My husband and I remembered it simultaneously when anticipating the upcoming arrival of our first child back in June. We decided that we should start writing to our unborn child and keep it up throughout his or her childhood. We failed at writing to the unborn child, but recently signed her up for an email address and started writing. I think she’ll thank me later, since I scooped up a good email address that she can use professionally when she’s older. Here’s a few ideas to get you started, no matter what age your children are.

Encourage your spouse to write often too. Letters from both parents will mean a lot to the child.
If you wish, share the email address with grandparents, God parents, aunts, uncles, etc. so the child receives various stories and well wishes from many people in their lives.
Write about the day they were born. Not the gory details, but the feelings you felt when you met him or her, who came to visit and the love of that first meeting.
Tell them your love story – you know, how you met and fell in love with your spouse.
Family History – share your parents love story, funny things that happened when you were growing up, etc.
Divulge your opinions on life, politics, religion, etc.
Share videos, pictures and funny one liners from their first few months of life. Keep it up until they are in their teens.
Dare them to dream. Write about your wishes for them at every stage of their life.

Hopefully when they are having a tough time in life, they can look back on these emails and remember you’re always here for them and are truly their number one fan.

Make it a point to write to them once a month. Put it in your calendar – life gets busy.

XO, Amber

Amber’s Famous Lasagna

October 17, 2014October 17, 2014 / AvasMom / 2 Comments

The past week in Chicago has been a dreary, rainy start to fall. This usually signals Chicagoans to start their hibernation mode, and start baking hearty, warm meals! The weather got me in the mood to make my “famous” lasagna. Well, I think its famous and maybe my best friend does a little too. I use a few tricks that I learned on our honeymoon in Italy at Mamma Agata’s Cooking School on the Amalfi Coast. First, when you can, make your own sauce. My parents always have an abundance of tomatoes from their garden, so I try to put them to good use making a lot of tomato sauce in the summer. Secondly, use fresh herbs and flavorful cheese. I always use torn up basil in the layers of the lasagna and add in smoked provolone sparingly to give the lasagna an added layer of flavor.

Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

30-45 Roma Tomatoes (sliced longways in half)
12-20 Cherry Tomatoes
Salt & Pepper
Sautéed Garlic
5-7 large basil leaves

Directions

Roast tomatoes with generous salt and pepper in the oven flesh side down for 1 hour at 325 degrees. After they are cooled, mix tomatoes, sautéed garlic and fresh basil in food processor. Add canned tomato paste if you prefer a thicker sauce. Use now or freeze for later.

Amber’s Famous Lasagna

Ingredients

Olive Oil
Lasagna Noodles (the no bake kind)
1.5 lbs organic ground beef (85/15 mix)
4-5 spicy italian sausages (casing removed)
2 T. fresh minced shallot
3 T. fresh minced garlic
1 bunch fresh basil torn
1 bunch organic italian parsley chopped
16 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese
8 oz. freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 egg (lightly whisked)
1 tsp. fresh black pepper
2 lbs fresh whole milk mozzarella
6-8 oz smoked provolone
4 jars homemade or organic store-bought marinara sauce (buy the good stuff, no Ragu!)

Directions

Mince shallot and garlic. Add to large pan with generous helping of olive oil to cook.
After 3 minutes, add ground beef and italian sausage. Cook until meat is not pink.
Drain excess fat off of meat and add tomato sauce. Mix thoroughly and set aside meat sauce.

In large bowl, mix egg, ricotta, parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Mix well.
On cutting board slice up smoked provolone.

To assemble, spray with non stick cooking oil and add a generous amount of sauce to bottom of pan. Add lasagna noodles. Spread ricotta mixture on noodles evenly to cover whole noodle. Add smoked provolone chunks and shredded mozzarella and top with meat sauce. Add torn up basil. Repeat 2 times. On last layer only add noodles, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Bake covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes; uncover and bake for 15 more minutes more to brown top cheese. Enjoy and remember this freezes well uncooked. Make small portions and easily take out of freezer the night before to thaw in the fridge for a home cooked meal in no time!

XO, Amber