Getting Creative: Heirloom Tomatoes Three Ways!

Have you ever had an heirloom tomato, or an heirloom vegetable of any kind?  If not, you’re seriously missing out on some of the most imperfectly perfect, tasty produce known to man.  What does one mean when they say “heirloom” vegetable?  Heirloom vegetables are specialty varieties whose seeds have been passed down for at least 50 years.  Most of you may not know that today, many heirloom varieties that are still available are in danger of becoming extinct.  It’s a good thing there are folks like my friends Bob & Jen Borchardt who are committed to growing such varieties to keep them alive for future generations.

Jen + Bob Borchardt | Photo property of Harvest Moon Farms

As we near the end of tomato season I was lucky enough to be gifted with two beautiful boxes of heirloom tomatoes by the Borchardts.  Bob and Jen own & operate a beautiful farm located in Viroqua, WI called Harvest Moon Farms.  For the past several weeks I've gotten an inside glimpse at the wide variety & beauty of the produce they grow out at the farm, as I've been working with them on creating newsletters for their CSA Program, now in its second to last week for the summer.  CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.  In a CSA, participants essentially buy a share in a farm upfront; then, for a scheduled amount of time, they receive weekly boxes filled with a mix of fresh, seasonal produce.  In the case of Harvest Moon Farms, produce received by members is also often organic and/or heirloom produce - AKA the best stuff around!  The idea of a CSA is not only to learn to eat seasonally, and therefore more sustainably, but members are also supporting local farmers, producers, their community & their economies.

Finding the little galley kitchen in my one-bedroom apartment filled with vibrant heirlooms, I knew I couldn't let these babies go to waste.  Yes - learning how to can things is on the top of my “learn how to do” list; however, with a family wedding in Iowa last weekend (lots of travel) and so many of after-work activities lately, finding the time or obtaining the means to can was just not in the cards for me this time around.  So, what to do with all the goods?  I brought many of the tomatoes to work and gifted them to those coworkers I knew were fellow foodies & home chefs.  I also gave some to family members, but still left myself with more than enough to enjoy.  After a few consecutive (and delicious) evenings of traditional BLTs, I mixed it up to get creative with my use of the produce.  I now present to you three different & easy ways to enjoy heirloom tomatoes (in addition to a traditional BLT!):

1) Mediterranean Heirloom Tomato & Quinoa Salad

This is a healthy & filling recipe that also works well as leftovers to enjoy for lunch (travels well to work) or dinner.  Lots of nutrition here and it's vegetarian - make it vegan by simply omitting the cheese. Makes enough for about 3 servings.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup cooked quinoa (see more on how to prepare quinoa here)

- 2 tbsp olive oil

- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

- 1 tbsp lemon juice

- about 3 heirloom tomatoes, diced

- 1/2 c cucumbers, diced

- 1/4 c red onion, diced

- 1/4 c diced Kalamata or mixed Greek olives

- fresh basil - about 4 large leaves (you can use the rest in the Caprese Salad recipe below!)

- 1/4 c diced mozzarella cheese (part skim; could also use crumbled feta cheese)

- sea salt & ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Cook quinoa and set aside to let cool.  For vinaigrette, using a whisk mix together oil, vinegar & lemon juice in a small bowl.  Prepare all ingredients (vegetables, herbs & cheese).  In a large bowl add the cooled quinoa, vegetables, herbs, cheese and vinaigrette.  Season with salt & pepper to taste.  Serve immediately or refrigerate to enjoy later.

2) Open-Faced BAT (Bacon, Avocado & Tomato) with Honey

This is my twist on your traditional BLT.  The substitution of avocado for lettuce still keeps it healthy, and the little drizzle of honey mustard and honey on top make it feel sinful.  Making the sandwich "open-face" takes away one-half of the bread but leaves all the taste.

Ingredients: (for 2 BLTs)

- 2 heirloom tomatoes, sliced

- 4 pieces of cooked bacon (may also substitute turkey bacon)

- 1 medium avocado, sliced

- 2 pieces whole wheat bread, toasted

- 2 tbsp light olive oil mayo

- honey mustard

- honey

- salt to taste

Toast bread; top each slice with 1 tbsp light mayo.  Pile on top the tomato and avocado.  Season with a bit of sea salt, then add the bacon slices.  Drizzle honey mustard and honey over top to your liking.  Enjoy!

3) Heirloom Caprese Salad

This is your classic caprese salad, but the use of heirlooms significantly ramps up the flavor profile.  Use good quality olive oil, sea salt & ground black pepper to get the best seasoning results.

Ingredients:

- 2 heirloom tomatoes, sliced

- fresh basil, torn into small pieces (about 3 large leaves)

- fresh mozzarella, sliced

- olive oil (good quality)

- sea salt & ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

Prepare ingredients.  Layer slices of tomato with slices of mozzarella.  Top with the torn basil & generously drizzle with olive oil.  Season to your liking with sea salt & ground black pepper. Enjoy!

※ ※ ※

A Little Time in the Country

I traveled back to Iowa this past weekend to hang with family.  Friday night led us out to my aunt & uncle's farm in Shellsburg where yard games, a pig roast, gigantic bonfire & some s'mores makin' ensued.  My sisters & I also took a nighttime spin on the giant merry go-round, but quickly realized we were becoming dizzy much faster than we did two decades ago.  We followed my cousin's adorable little kids, Nadia & Nash, around the property as they led us to see the old red barn lit up at night.  Our attention quickly turned to the huge, orange-hued harvest moon to our left, sitting comfortably among thousands of stars in the sky.  Little miss Nadia gasped, "I've never seen the moon look like that before - we have to tell every body!"

I love being out in the country, feeling like you're in the middle of nowhere; a gentle reminder that there's a whole big world to discover out there...

"Wherever you are, be all there"
- J. Elliot

Little miss Nadia

merry go-round  #pumpfaster

uncle Gene & aunt Lynn posing with dinner | love these two! #pigroast #farmlife

Aunt Lori & I | Shellsburg, Iowa  #campfirevibes

my new whip | vintage car show | Palo, Iowa

※ ※ ※

A Rhubarb Jam For All

This recipe is for all you rhubarb naysayers out there - I challenge you to try rhubarb again by making this recipe for homemade rhubarb jam.  The flavors of this jam are tart & sweet, but not too much of either.  If you enjoy strawberry jam then I think this jam has a fighting chance of pleasing your taste buds - the natural tartness of the rhubarb has a similar taste when it’s cooked down to spreadable form with sugar, water & lemon juice.

Although I've always enjoyed rhubarb, prior to this past weekend I’d never cooked anything with this often misjudged ingredient.  Knowing full well that a large, ripe rhubarb bush grew so loyally in the backyard of my parents’ property in Iowa every May, I was bound & determined to pick some and attempt a recipe with this palatable plant.  I knew an easy but tasty recipe would be jam - something pretty much everyone would be willing to try on their wheat & rye toast on Sunday morning.

Natural beauties

Good Food Festival Chicago Delivers a Hearty Dose of Innovation & Inspiration

The Good Food Festival Chicago - founded by Jim Slama of Family Farmed - was brimming with passionate & knowledgeable folks sharing their products and ideas, and I can honestly say after participating in the Festival my life has been forever changed for the better. I can also confirm that after speaking with many other people throughout the course of the weekend, I’m not the only one who feels that way. The Festival - held March 14-16 at the UIC Forum - created the most incredible sense of community. From the moment you walked in you immediately felt at home. Even first-time conversations with perfect strangers had you feeling like you were at a family gathering or neighborhood block party. The buzz of artisans, brewers, farmers, crafters & chefs all coming together to share and connect was simply infectious.

photo courtesy of http://goodfoodfestivals.com

I was lucky enough to partake in the Fest as a member of the Tiny But Mighty (TBM) Popcorn team. Going into the Festival I felt I had a pretty good sense of how far this popcorn had spread; still, I wasn't completely aware of just how big of an impact it's had on so many lives up to this point - and the good word (and taste!) continue to spread. Hundreds of people stopped by our booth throughout the weekend - some who were brand new to our popcorn - and many who were repeat customers. 

clockwise starting top left:
Me & my uncle, Farmer Gene | TBM Festival exhibition table | TBM crew at the Festival | TBM's COO, Kevin
Sabo and his wife Laura

New Year's Resolution: Do More to Follow My Dreams

Happy weekend - I hope you're all settling nicely into 2013.  The transition has been a tiny bit bumpy for me, as I still have a touch of the cold I started fighting almost two weeks before Christmas - yuck.  This coming from someone who lives a pretty darn healthy life too - regular exercise, healthy eating (most of the time), vitamins - although, I suppose I'm one of those people who could certainly use more sleep.  But then again, couldn't we all?!

Merry Christmas!!!

Hi all - Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!!!  My wish came true to have a white Christmas - my siblings & I have been at our parents' house in Iowa since Friday night and we've been laughing, eating, cocktailing, snowmobiling, listening to old Christmas music, gathering by the fire, watching Christmas movies, playing games & loving every minute of it.  I've uploaded a few pics of our winter adventures so far - check them out below.  I am so lucky to have such an amazing & fun-loving family!

I hope you all have been able to spend time with the people you love - family, friends, loved ones - safe travels to all who are flying or driving & cheers to a very Happy New Year!!!

My parents have five 30 ft. evergreens in their front yard that my dad puts old fashioned
colored lights on each year - they are especially breathtaking after a fresh fallen snow!

You Can Take the Girl Out of the Country, But You Can't Take the Country Out of the Girl...

I love that I grew up in Iowa.  Iowa has a huge chunk of my heart, and it always will.  I love that I grew up with two hard working & loving parents, four crazy siblings, dogs, four-wheelers, snowmobiles, ice hockey, rope swings, tree houses, epic games of capture the flag, ice skating, both sides of my extended family in Iowa, paintball, timber runs, lawn mowers, a huge stone fireplace, snow plows, boats, fishing, clay pigeon shooting, gravel & dirt roads, fireworks, muggy summers, massive snow storms/snow drifts, BBQs, bonfires and 80+ acres of land to explore.  I was (and still am) very lucky.

I'm still in the chapter of my life where I've not yet partnered up with anyone for good, so I get to head back to Iowa for any holiday I please - and yes, I'm pretty spoiled in that respect.  I must admit that, although I look forward to building & sharing a life with someone someday, I do somewhat selfishly cling to my independence at times...but I think that's OK to do right now...and down the road, OK in moderation.  It will be a challenge to one day let go of the abundant time with my family, particularly at the holidays, but I'm sure the love I'll get from my other family & my other half (whomever they may be) will surely make up for it.  In the meantime, you'll find me in Iowa for the holidays - outdoors shooting clay pigeons on Thanksgiving, tearing up the ice in hockey skates at Christmas, or inside cooking & baking up a storm!

This year my parents hosted Thanksgiving and I was lucky enough to have my grandma Betty show me how to make her famous stuffing.  Watching, listening & going through the motions with her - those moments to me are priceless.  There are many more of her original recipes I plan on asking her to walk me through for a first go - her famous kolaches, dill gravy & potatoes, and chicken noodle soup to start - recipes I plan to carry with me & keep passing down for generations to come.

If you need a stuffing recipe for any upcoming holiday I've included my grandmother's amazing recipe below, along with some fun photos from Thanksgiving day this year & Christmas day a couple years ago when we had a massively charming white Christmas in Iowa.  Fingers crossed for the same thing this year!  Enjoy :)

Simple ingredients make one amazing stuffing

The New Star of the Holidays: Sweet Potato Soufflé

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!  I certainly did, back home in Iowa with my siblings, parents & extended family - we're one loud & crazy bunch and I wouldn't have it any other way.  With over 20 people under my parents' roof on Thanksgiving day, there were many stories told, so much amazing food shared & many laughs had by all.  With each new holiday comes the chance to make new memories; many of mine include waking up early to have coffee with my mom, discussing our game plan for the day.  What time is everyone coming over?  What time should we start to put the casseroles together?  When should she make her famous crust-less pumpkin pies?  And...when shall we pour our first mimosa? :)

Usually at Thanksgiving I make a pumpkin swirl cheesecake with a gingerbread crust (email me if you'd like the recipe!) but this year, I took the savory (and still fairly healthy) route.  Most of the main dishes were already covered by my mom, grandma or aunts & uncles, except for one: the sweet potatoes.  I knew I wanted to put a spin on things to try and get those non-sweet potato lovers to actually try and really enjoy sweet potatoes, so I came up with a delectable little recipe for a sweet potato soufflé.  After the entire casserole dish was practically wiped clean by the end of our dinner, it has officially been requested that I make the soufflé for all Thanksgiving dinners going forward - a sure sign of success!

Check out the recipe & photos below - though I made this for Thanksgiving, it would be good anytime of the year for any holiday!

Gorgeous spuds

Jenny + Garald | 10.20.12 | Best Day Ever...

On Saturday, October 20th at 3:30 pm, in the cozy little village of the Amana Colonies, one of my dearest (and oldest) friends married her best friend & love of her life - and it really was the Best Day Ever...

Best Day Ever

It was a gorgeous Saturday in rural Iowa - the sun was shining and there was a slight nip in the air...a perfect fall day.  As we walked into the lower level of the Iowa Theater Artists Company, we were greeted by soft lighting, smiling faces, wooden beams, colorful mums & music quietly playing in the background...a room so cozy and full of anticipation.  As soon as the guests were all seated, two of Jenny's brothers stood at the front and began strumming their guitars, softly singing their own amazing acoustic rendition of the song "Lullaby" - instantly, the love in the room was palpable.

Maid-Rite Hits Chicago - Loose Meat Changes People's Lives

Have you ever heard of Maid-Rite?  If you're from or have spent time in the Midwest, chances are you have...but if you haven't been to one yet & you find yourself wandering the streets of Chicago, then you should definitely go check it out. Maid-Rite just opened its first Chicago location in the heart of Lincoln Park at 2429 N. Lincoln Avenue. Conveniently located across the street from Lincoln Hall, it's a tasty & affordable option for a quick bite before or after a show (they're open until 3am on Fridays & Saturdays!) and a viable Lincoln Ave. option to Qdoba and Micky D's.  Keep scrolling down for some mouth-watering photos & an explanation of this fascinatingly tasty Midwest classic... 

Chicago Maid-Rite | 2429 N. Lincoln Ave.

A Little Autumn in Iowa...And a Healthier Crab Wonton Recipe!

Happy October, everyone!  I know, I'm a couple days late - but life happened...and it will continue to happen.  While it does, don't forget to stop & take a look at the beauty that is also happening all around you - yes ladies & gents, fall is in the house! Pumpkin spice lattes are brewing, temps are falling, leaves are changing and so are people's wardrobes - have you busted out your boots, jeans & cozy sweaters yet?!?

This past weekend was spent in Iowa surrounded by family & friends and I couldn't have been happier about it.  I was home to celebrate our good friend Jenny's wedding shower/bachelorette party, and my parents were kind enough (no surprise there) to let us use their house for the festivities.  Before the party kicked off Saturday afternoon, my friend Angie & I embarked on a Super Target run in the morning with my mom (standard), then settled-in back at the house to watch the Iowa game with my folks.

Besides fall candles in almost every room of my parents' house (wonder where I get it!), another staple of fall in the Arp household are the bowls of candy corn + peanuts you'll find in the kitchen, living room & family room.  If you have never tried this trusty little combo, it is a must do in the months of October & November.  I don't love candy corn on its own, but paired with the peanuts it is a match made in sweet & salty heaven.

Game day snacks | Candy corn + peanuts

Cozied up in my parents' family room, I felt so happy and at peace - being home during the fall is especially wonderful.  I treasure those simple days spent doing a whole lot of nothing - football watching, laughing, laying around and dozing off on the couch as the smell of food in the oven & fall candles fill the air.  Halftime of the Hawkeye game found me on the four-wheeler, zipping around my parents' land trying to capture the best shots of the gorgeous fall foliage that I could possibly get. Being out in the fresh country air & feeling free as a bird is like a mini-reset to the soul.

Foliage | Arp Compound

Autumn Spice, Game Day Chili & Everything Nice...

Saturday marked one of my favorite days of the year - the first official day of fall.  As I've mentioned, I'm a sucker for the seasonal changes that come with living in the Midwest.  I grew up in a home where the different seasons were signified & celebrated by changing decor, scented candles, cozy fires and baking - traditions that are still deeply rooted in my own life today.  There are so many wonderful things to love about fall - some of my personal favorites include:

} pumpkin & spice scented candles | crisp fall temps | CHAI LATTES |  football  | acorn squash | spiked apple cider | BOOTS & JEANS | pumpkin spice doughnuts | the wood burning fireplace in my cozy apartment | apple orchards |  pumpkin patches  | BONFIRES | candy corn & peanuts | cinnamon in my coffee | PUMPKIN SWIRL CHEESECAKE | sweaters | decorative gourds | baking pumpkin bread | CHILI | hayrack rides | changing leaves {

A little throw-back fall photo: a trip to the pumpkin patch with my siblings & cousins - circa 1992.  Since then many more cousins & another sibling of mine were added to our huge, hilarious family...

L-R: my cousins Ben, Jordan, my little brother Andrew (red hoodie), my cousin Aaron
(yellow coat), my older brother Ian (glasses), our hilarious uncle Matt, my cousin Nate,
Me (next to Ian), my sister Abbey (huge grin) and my cousin Jaelynn (pink coat)

Some of the best fall days are spent watching football, whether it be at a rowdy bar, in the comfort of your home or if you're lucky - at the actual game.  Saturday I had some family over to watch the Hawkeyes - who unfortunately lost by one point last minute, but we won't focus on that right now - rather, we'll focus on the high points of the day...  

It was a crisp 55 degrees outside and the sun was shining.  I had my pumpkin & autumn spiced candles burning, and cinnamon sticks boiling in a small pot on the stove - the air smelled heavenly.  My brother & sister-in-law showed up just in time for kick-off, bags of goodies & a mini-pumpkin in hand as a gift for the host - they know me so well!  As I put the last of the ingredients for the chili in the stock pot to simmer (recipe below!), my brother busted out his shakers & impressive ingredients and proceeded to make the most decadent, over-the-top delicious bloody marys from scratch.  

We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing, talking, eating & laughing - yet another great day filled with the simplest of pleasures.  I get so much joy out of hosting - a trait I definitely acquired from my mother & grandmother - and I love almost nothing more than spending quality time with family.  We are lucky to have days like yesterday, as my brother & his wife recently relocated to Chicago after spending 4+ years in Austin, TX.  Austin is a fantastic city and I know they miss it dearly, but they are happy to be closer to family & we are thrilled to have them closer too.  

I look forward to many more days like yesterday - in the meantime, I share with you a few snapshots of how I'm representin' Fall in my apartment, and the recipe for the easy & healthy chili I made Saturday...enjoy!

Mantle above my fireplace

Autumn Spice soy candle in the bedroom

A vintage photo of my mom (circa 1972) sits on a side table in my living room

Dining table: mason jar of matchbooks, bowl full of gourds &
the pumpkin my brother & sister-in-law brought me

Ashley's Autumn Chili

Feeds about 6 people

Ingredients

- 1 (1 lb.) pkg. extra lean ground beef
- 1 diced green pepper
- 1 diced red pepper
- 1 diced yellow pepper
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small red onion diced

- 1 can reduced sodium kidney beans

- 1 can reduced sodium black beans

- 1 29 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1 14.7 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 3 tblsp cumin
- 3 tblsp chili powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup stout or pale ale beer

Directions

Combine beef, all peppers, garlic and onion in a large pot on the stove.  Saute until beef is cooked.  Add all remaining ingredients to pot (beans through beer) and stir well.  Simmer on medium-low heat for 45 minutes, making sure to stir the chili every 5 minutes or so, to ensure it doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pot.
Top chili in individual bowls with a shredded, reduced fat cheese of your choice & a dollop of fat free Greek yogurt (in place of sour cream).  Serve with a side of French bread.

Chili spread

Cultivate Fest is Almost Here!! Be There, or Be Square...

Have you heard of the Chipotle Cultivate Festival?  If not, you're probably not alone - but you better recognize! The second annual festival kicks off this Saturday (9/15) at 11:00 am and runs until 7:00 pm.  Cultivate is an amazing, eye-opening festival (only in Chicago & Denver) focused on farm to table food, locally sourced products, farmers, famous chefs and they have a craft beer tent and great music.  Mayer Hawthorne headlined last year and G. Love & Special Sauce is headlining this year - and did I mention that it's FREE admission?!  That's right, you only need to pay for the food & drink you consume and the products you buy - the music & experience are free.

The festival also holds a special place in my heart because my Aunt & Uncle's Popcorn - Tiny But Mighty Popcorn - will yet again have a booth showcasing their amazing product.  Now, I know it could easily seem that I am just biased, but after learning about the product and consuming it for many, many years I can honestly say I would support it regardless of who was growing and selling it, because it is that AMAZING!!!  However, I am incredibly lucky enough that the popcorn is a product planted, grown, packaged & produced all by my amazing Aunt Lynn & Uncle Gene Mealhow.  I couldn't be happier for them and their hard work & dedication over the last decade+ is really starting to pay off!

You can read more about their full story here on their website.

2011 Cultivate Festival: me, Uncle/Farmer Gene, my sister Abbey

Table Talk...and Touches that Make a Place Your Own

A little over a year ago I moved into the apartment I now call home.  It's currently my fifth year living in Chicago & my fourth apartment...some people have said that I'm crazy for moving so much, but experiencing the different areas of the city has been an exciting part of every move, and I don't regret any of them...no matter how many times my past roommates & I said "we're never doing this again!"

With about five months left in my last lease (with roommates, and I should mention they are two of the most awesome girls I know), something just...clicked.  It was as if I woke up one morning feeling totally ready for more independence...I was completely ready for a place of my own.  After finding my one bedroom, eclectic little gem in LP I was excited to settle in and set the mood of my new place.

One of my most favorite things about getting into a new space is making it your own.  Giving it those personal touches that not only make it a home, but make it your home.  Over the years my style has morphed into a mix of vintage & new, with a healthy sprinkling of personal touches - it's cozy & inviting & interesting.  I typically don't hang things on the walls unless I made them (like the prints I did in Venice when I was 20), or someone I know made them (like one of my uncle Matt's prints he did in college); I have numerous vases, dishes & jewelry from my mother, grandmother & great-grandmother; black & white original photos of my grandparents from the 1950's; my late grandfather's hand drawn blueprints framed above my bookshelf; and a headboard made by my incredibly talented Aunt Jo (she should seriously have her own HGTV show).

Papa's blueprints & family photos