Something Savory

Sweets are my biggest weakness!  I am obsessed with chocolate and ice cream. This past weekend I was asked to make something for a bake sale to benefit Women For Stronger Neighborhoods (the PAC/non-for-profit mentioned in a post several weeks ago). I was at a loss. Honestly, I am not much of a baker. The one time I decided to focus on baking, I gained 10 pounds in a month and quickly realized it was time to take a break from cupcakes and banana bread.

For this task, I was inspired to make something savory rather than sweet after seeing Martha Stewart on The Today Show making savory pies from her new book, Martha Stewart Pies and Tarts. (As you can see, I’m being really productive in my retirement!)

Below is a simple recipe I received for a Ham and Leek Tart from my friend Malia’s French Au Pair. Using crème fraiche instead of eggs makes it absolutely to die for!

Ham and Leek Savory Tart

Ingredients:

1 package of pre-made piecrust

2 heads of leeks chopped finely

1/2 -1 package of chopped ham

1 teaspoon of dry mustard (curry is also delicious alternative)

2/3 - 3/4 tub of crème fraiche

1/2 block of Gruyère cheese shredded

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350^o

Boil the chopped leaks for 15-20 minutes and strain. Sauté the ham for two to three minutes to burn off some of the excess fat. (This is optional)

Line a thin tart pan with a piecrust and fill with leeks, ham and mix in the crème fraiche. Add dry mustard and a dash of salt and pepper. Top with Gruyère.

Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until cheese is brown and bubbling on top. Slice and serve.

Cold leftovers are also tasty. We sold cold slices during the event last night and they went like hot cakes!  

Reinventing Retirement

I have been referring to my time off of work to “reinvent myself” as my “retirement.” Last week I took this to heart and went to Vero Beach, Florida where my grandparents retired in the early 1970’s and where my mom has spent the last four winters. While this is the third year I’ve made the trek down to visit my mom, it was the first time since my grandmother was alive that I’ve had more than a few days to explore.

Vero Beach was long referred to as “Dodger Town” since the Dodgers conducted spring training there from the late 1940’s until 2008. I wasn’t sure how much excitement it offered spring training had moved to Arizona and was pleasantly surprised by the fashionable hotels and good shopping.

Located on Florida’s Atlantic coast, Vero Beach is at the northern tip of what is referred to as the “Treasure Coast” – about an hour and a half drive north from West Palm Beach. I’ve always stayed on Orchid Island, a coastal barrier island between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean. In my opinion, the beaches of Vero Beach rival Martha’s Vineyard and Harbour Island in The Bahamas among the most pristine and beautiful in the world.  The town has always attracted fisherman and water sports lovers.

After a bit of research, I booked myself a massage at Costa d’Este, a boutique hotel refurbished by Gloria Estefan and her husband, which opened in 2008. In the mid-1990’s I did PR for several hotels in Miami’s burgeoning South Beach and always loved grabbing a drink at Cardozo Hotel -- one of the first boutique hotels to open on Ocean Drive. Ironically, Costa d’Este is located on Vero Beach’s Ocean Drive and its opening also marked a hospitality renaissance for Vero Beach.  The resort’s contemporary décor gives the 1950’s property a fresh and fun atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoyed my hot lava shell massage, but sadly, couldn’t enjoy the cool pool area due to the rain.

Another evening, we headed to The Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, operated by Kimpton, for dinner. The newly built resort offers a selection of condominiums and resort accommodations right on the beach and steps from the downtown shopping district. We had a drink on the patio near the wonderful fire pit and an excellent dinner at Cobalt. The West Indian-style interiors give Cobalt an elegant feel and the food is delicious! I had the duck and the scallops also get rave reviews.

For those who prefer more relaxed dining and activities, Vero Beach still has plenty to offer.  Bobby’s Restaurant and Lounge, where my grandmother had a burger every Sunday night is still operating and if you’re lucky, you might spot a retired Dodger player while you’re there.  

 

Pictured above are the patio bar area at the Vero Beach Hotel & Spa and the beach near my mom's house. 

Women Making a Difference

Tomorrow is International Women’s Day and there is nothing more powerful than women coming together to make a difference, whether it’s supporting one another when family members are sick, helping in a child’s classroom or organizing events to benefit a worthy cause.

Last week I met with 10 fantastic and inspiring women to discuss community issues that are most important to us. We decided to tackle these challenges locally first by forming a political action committee (PAC), Women for Stronger Neighborhoods.

We are committed to investing in the community to maintain diversity and create safer, more vibrant neighborhoods, and will support programs and individuals who will

·      Foster favorable environments for small businesses

·      Ensure the availability of quality after school programs

·      Advocate for the licensing of homeless shelters

In the interest of full disclosure, the initial cause we will support is James Cappleman’s campaign for 46^th Ward Alderman. James is a personal friend and I was very involved in his 2007 campaign for the same position.

As old the old saying goes, all politics are local and I believe James is the man to make a difference in this Chicago north side neighborhood. He is social worker who has taken on these issues in the neighborhood for years and will continue to do in the city council. And to quote another old saying, behind every great man is a great woman – and James has many!

We are hosting our first fundraiser this Thursday, March 10 at Fontana Grill. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the door. Enjoy food, wine and conversations with wonderful women. 


For more information or to get involved, visit the Women for Stronger Neighborhoods’ Facebook page or email us here. While we were formed by a group of women, we welcome involvement and input from everyone.

I am excited to continue working with these women to support more causes and issues that will make Chicago’s neighborhoods stronger.

The Latest Routine

I have to admit – I am a very fickle exerciser. I get into one routine exhaustively, and then ultimately get bored and need to switch it up. These phases usually last for a year or so and as the boredom sets in, I completely fall off the exercising bandwagon.  I usually have a mix of one or two things as part of my workout, yoga and running, spinning and running or Pilates.

For the past year I’ve been taking classes at The Dailey Method, a one-hour workout class created by Jill Dailey that combines exercises with light weights, Pilates, ballet barre work and stretching. I love that it works every muscle group in the body with an emphasis on your abs (my problem area) and stretching. (FYI … I am the least nimble person I know.)  The variety of activities in the class keeps me from getting bored.  I love it!  For now, at least..

The newest activity I’ve added to the mix is swimming -- something I haven’t done regularly for close to 10 years, but it’s been a favorite of mine since childhood. Like The Dailey Method, I love that it works the entire body and is a low impact exercise unlike running or tennis.

I hope that the combination of these two activities, with a bit of tennis with my husband Mike thrown in when the weather gets warmer, will help me get back in shape, lose weight and look leaner and meaner.  My biggest worry with this plan is that it does not incorporate a regular running routine, but Mike – an avid and obsessive runner – does enough running for both of us.

I have a love-hate relationship (mostly hate, to be honest) with running. When I really get into it, I enjoy it.  But most of the time, it’s just pure and unadulterated suffering. I do it because I know it burns a lot of calories. The last time I was high on  running was about five or six years ago. One of my biggest challenges overall is the tightness of my hamstrings and running does not help this.

Can I regain the dancer-esque flexibility I once had in high school and college, lose weight and look fabulous in time for summer without incorporating a major calorie blaster activity like running into my routine? Time will tell, and I’m sure I will be raving or complaining about the experiment here.