I went to Chicago about 5 weeks ago in a combined trip to Michigan and Ohio. I'm only getting to the Chicago leg now.Chicago to me is massive, chic, metropolitan city. I've only been there a few times, usually as a kid when our family would make a weekend trek from North Chicago/Great Lakes. My... Continue Reading →
Obsession with cake at the age of five
My cousins, brother and I (partly obscured) entranced by cake at my fifth birthday party. At my fifth birthday party I clearly remember having two cakes: one for the adults (a yellow cake with chocolate, fudgy frosting) and a cake for the kids (some kind of white layer cake). I remember coveting that yellow cake... Continue Reading →
A few things I discovered about Cleveland
This is far as I get into Lake Erie.1. Lake Erie is one polluted lake.For the longest time, Lake Erie, the lake which Cleveland sits on, had the reputation of being the most polluted of all of the Great Lakes. I don't know if that's still the case but there are beaches along that lake... Continue Reading →
Cleveland dessert porn
I need to start getting through the wrap up of my trip. So in an effort to expediate the process, I'm posting photos of dessert I had in Cleveland's Little Italy. Specifically, Corbo's Bakery. As mentioned, Corbo's Bakery is located in a small area of Cleveland known as Little Italy. It seems like most cities... Continue Reading →
The fastest way to Puerto Rico via Cleveland
My last visit to Cleveland was March '07. It seemed to be about 30°F and my California winter coat did nothing to protect me from the brutal lake winds. On this visit, it was days away from the official start of summer and despite the downpour when we first arrived, it was sunny (although a... Continue Reading →
It grows wild in Michigan
In Haslett, Michigan, wild rhubarb runs rampant in "the woods." I don't know if people gather it wild and use it for home consumption but the idea of just being "in the woods" freaked me out just a little. This is the Southern California girl in me talking, of course.Also seen in Michigan was my... Continue Reading →
Battle Creek, Michigan — It’s GR-R-REAT!
Those cereal box designers had a great audience when I was growing up. Before there was the internet and cable television to steal my attention at the breakfast table, I had the cereal box. Every morning after pouring myself a heaping bowl of Apple Jacks, part of my nutritious breakfast and the cereal of preference,... Continue Reading →
Burning Kitchen Goes To White Castle
When I'm on vacation, I try to avoid fast food establishments as much as possible. The plan once we arrived in Chicago was to hop in the rental car and get myself a Chicago dog with all the fixings before heading off to East Lansing, Michigan. But the storm changed things around. Mother Nature is... Continue Reading →
Diverted to Indianapolis
The trip to Chicago last Sunday wasn't as smooth as I hoped it would be. I knew something was wrong when the pilot attempted to make two attempts at landing at Chicago's Midway airport and each failed attempted made me a little more nervous. Or maybe it was the turbulence. But after the second attempt,... Continue Reading →
Airplane survival kit
So I'm off to the airport tomorrow for a weeklong vacation. If I wasn't so harried, I would have packed myself a nice breakfast to take on the plane. I am flying Southwest Airlines on a 4-hour nonstop flight to Chicago and the most I expect is a measly little snack pack. But since I'll... Continue Reading →
My Burning Kitchen... on the road 