Cool as a Cucumber

So far this September has put new meaning to the term "Indian Summer." With temperatures reaching 90 degrees for days on end I have put off fall recipes in favor of anything that involves ice cream, ice and fruit. Thankfully the farmers markets are still in full swing which offers lots of fresh fruit and veggie options.

This week I picked up some flowers for my room, amazing peaches which got eaten before they could be photographed and cucumbers. Toying the line between fruit and vegetable, cucumbers are one of my go-to summer picks. Like watermelon, they have a high water content which make them refreshing in all this heat. They have a perfect kinda sweet but not sugary taste that goes well with a variety of additions.

My favorites are a cucumber salad like this one which acts a lighter side to grilled meat or lunchtime sandwiches. Even easier is to simply slice them and dip in the hummus of your choosing, a healthy snack that will satisfy hunger and prevent wilting. Now that's cool.

Tourist for a Day - Navy Pier

Growing up in close proximity to Chicago, Navy Pier is one of the places I have seemed to avoid over the years. Talking to many other city natives and they feel as I do. It screams tourist trap, aka "let me take your money!" in an outdated cheesy voice. Other than rushing to the Shakespeare theatre, the last I frequent the famous pier was on a school field trip. And it was in the middle of winter. However a recent trip with my family gave me the opportunity to set aside my skepticism and seek out any hidden gems within the famous spot. 

This made me laugh while fitting my expectations. Good 'ol McDonalds. 

The details on this carousel were lovely, reminding me of something from Coney Island. 

The highlight of the experience however was this beauty from a little place called The Churro Factory. It was a small walk up building that had a whole menu devoted to varieties of the famous fried dough delicacy. Normally it takes me forever to decide what to order but after reading Churro Fiesta, I was immediately sold. Two fresh churros (churri?) were drizzled with sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup and then nestled between whipped cream and topped off with plenty of sprinkles for full fiesta effect. 

 In conclusion, I have decided to cut Navy Pier some slack. While it still has the potential to clean out your wallet in a matter of minutes, there are some quality aspects that even a well experienced Chicagoan can enjoy. And if you just go for a Churro Fiesta, I wouldn't blame you. 

A Sailor's Life for Me

A few weekends back was the Tall Ships Challenge at Navy Pier. It was as if Pirates of the Caribbean had a meeting in Chicago - minus the pirate flags, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom or fish creatures. Okay, so it wasn't really like Pirates at all, but it was pretty sweet and they did have some very tanned sailors.

The detail on the ships was incredible, they were all historically accurate (with modern GPS and tracking of course). I have always been intrigued by the meaning and thought that goes into the names of the ships, a tiny piece of poetry.

If you don't hear from me for a while, it's because I have joined the calling of the high seas...