So, I've been back home for a few days and when I wasn't at work I was making tomato sauce and doing laundry. I did go to the farmers' market on Sunday, but unfortunately there is no photo as I didn't have a camera here. I spent 8 hours on Sunday doing this with tomatoes. I don't really have words for how tired I was afterwords. I don't know how those pioneer women did it. This year I prepared 30 meals worth of sauce, unbelievable that I made dinner for one month, in one day.
Chicago was fun as always and it's great to enjoy old favorites as well as new pleasures. Highlights of our trip included the new German U Boat exhibit at the Science and Industry Museum - it's inside now - and yours truly got to enjoy the Harry Potter exhibit by myself there. There are many costumes on display and props from the movies. I even got to throw a bludger! The detail of the props is AMAZING and I would have loved to have brought home a replica of the Marauder's Map if only it hadn't cost $45. (!!!!!! for a piece of paper !!!!!!)
One of my favorite parts of the trip was visiting the Old Town Oil Shop. It's my idea of heaven - casks upon casks of oils and vinegar to try and bring home.
You can taste as much as you want, then when you decide what you'd like, your oil or vinegar is poured into a lovely bottle from these silver casks. That way you know exactly what you're getting. I brought home some olive oil and an amazing black current balsamic vinegar.
There's so much more. I've been reading so hopefully I'll get to reviewing books in the next day or so. There are also new books to share. But for now, I'm going to celebrate the first day of school by treating myself to a movie - Julie and Julia. Originally, I had quietly boycotted this film. While I loved Julia's book, I actively disliked the few chapters I read of Julie's. In addition, from what I've read and heard, Julia was not a fan of Julie - she had no interest in her project. So....is it a bit insulting to Julia that the film we now have of her life includes Julie? I'm not sure. But, now the reviews are so good, I've decided to go anyway. C'est la vie.
Photo from Seasoned Solutions Culinary Tours.
13 comments:
Your Chicago trip sounds great! Glad to see the new school year is starting off well. Second grade is a great year!
I feel guilty reading your posting. I have so many tomatoes. I made sauce but in such low quantities and the desire to do more is just gone! I seem to be gardened out this year. Your recipe looks great. Maybe I will be inspired and try more this weekend!
Chicago is great. There is just so much to see and do there.
Hope you enjoy the movie! I enjoyed the movie but could have done without the Julie part myself.
That sauce looks great. We don't have as many tomatoes this year but still enough that I'm kept busy making ratatouille for the freezer for winter. I might try your sauce when I pick the tomatoes *again* tomorrow.
Aw second grade - I hope the girl enjoys it! I loved second grade. We learned math facts and had a class teddy bear. :)
Kathy, yes, it was fun! I have fond memories of 2nd grade, too.
Heidi, lucky you with so many tomatoes! Mine have been a bust - I bought mine at the farmers' market.
Ti, I think so too! I did like the film, and liked the Julie parts more than I thought I would.
Cath, what a great thing to have in the freezer! A taste of summer in the middle of winter is always divine.
Jennysbooks, what a memory you have!
I didn't realize that Julia Child was indifferent to Julie's project. I'm pretty unaware of Julia Child in general, but I have been looking forward to the book/movie of this story. I have heard the movie is better....
Hope the girl had a wonderful first day!
And, it sounds like you guys had a great time in Chicago - how fun! I haven't been to Chicago in several years but it's just such a great place isn't it.
I was never interested in reading the book Julie & Julia but am interested in the film - probably because of Meryl Streep! :)
Rebecca Reid, she was, and I was glad to see that mentioned in the film. I did like the Julie part of the film and didn't like the book. The Julia book it is based on is wonderful!
Iliana, thank you, she did! Chicago is fabulous, yes, always something fun and new to discover. Got to love Meryl!
I have three tomato plants. I've harvested ONE tomato. And it wasn't terribly good. On the other hand, my farmer's market has had the MOST delicious tomatoes and corn this year. Nothing better than homemade wheat bread (mine!) with three thick tomato slices and a smear of mayo for lunch. MmmmMmmm.
How did you like Julie & Julia, Tara? My book club read the book and a bunch of us went to the movie. I LOVED it! Laughed and cried. I thought it was wonderful and I hope to own a copy as soon as it comes out on dvd. Streep is fantastic. I hope you had a good time. And I hope your second-grader is enjoying her second week of school. Such a fun age.
Les, that is really disappointing about your tomatoes. Sometimes I have good luck with the ones from the market, other times not so much. The few I've grown here at home (all small varities) have tasted awfully good. Your lunch sounds good! I really, really liked Julie and Julia - the movie! Loved the stuff in France, and wound up liking the Julie stuff more than I thought I would. It's an interesting movie - there's nothing superfluous about it. Having read Julia's book, I know that the script was very close to what was written. It's a movie I'd like to own myself and I see an Academy Award nomination for Streep for this. Second grade is going well! She is adjusting nicely to the teacher and I can tell she's really taking things in. Take care!
Oh, I hope the exhibits you saw at the Science Museum are still there in the spring. I'm going with my daughter's orchestra and I'd love to see the Harry Potter exhibit.
I was also boycotting the film because of Julie's book but you're right, the reviews are so good that now I can't wait to have time to see it. Hope you liked it on your day to yourself.
Bree, I'm not sure if it will be there - check the website. It was great! I wound up liking the film and Julie more than I thought. I still won't try her book again but the film was well done.
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