Bears v Packers: My First NFL Game

I've recently given up the fantasy football life. But that doesn't mean that I gave up on football. SO when my awesome sister-in-law gave Bryan and I the opportunity to go to an NFL game, I said ok. When we found out it was a Bears game at Soldier Field, we said yes! When we found out it was a Bears/Packers rivalry game, we said heck yeah!

On the train up north

Game day

Go Bears

Nothing like beer at the game

NF-SELfie!

No, thank you

So the season opener turned out to be a loss for the Bears. But it's ok, it was worth it to see people tailgate, laugh at the crazies in our section, and watch a game live and be part of the environment. My first NFL game was fun and a great experience. GO BEARS!

-Akemi-chan

Cauli-fredo

I have been trying to play in the kitchen more. I have less creative cooking time lately. Many of my meals are spontaneous thanks to a more regular schedule. I'm understanding the typical exhausted-from-work-now-I-have-to-cook mentality. Not to mention the I'm-off-work-but-starving-so-I'm-gonna-eat-a-hot-dog, moments.

So from now on, I'm going to focus on one deliberate dinner a week. The rest can be improvised and cheat meals. Let's start with a fun way to eat your vegetables: Cauli-fredo.

Yes, my friends, Alfredo sauce made from cauliflower. I know, it's crazy, but you won't even know there are veggies in here. It's just good. 

1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets 

2 tbsp butter

3 tbsp chopped garlic

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup parmesean

1 cup caramelized onions (optional)

Salt and pepper

In a large pot, boil cauliflower until tender. Meanwhile, in a small pan, sautee garlic in butter until fragrant. When garlic is done, pour into blender, along with the boiled cauliflower. Save the boiling water, just in case you want to loosen up the sauce. 

Blend cauliflower, butter, garlic, milk, onions, salt and pepper until smooth. Add water from boiled cauliflower to get to right consistency. Pour into container and stir in parmesean. Serve over noodles or whatever you feel like. 

You could do risotto, potatoes, I would even use this as dip for veggies. Delicious. 

Enjoy!

-Akemi-chan

Weekend in Chicago with Brother

As the sun sets on my time at American Eagle, another door opens. Thanks to my new office job, I get weekends off and have the opportunity to see little brother while he was visiting for work. Onto the Windy City for some brotherly love.

Chicago, here we come

After a three hour drive up to the city, we picked up little bro and headed out for some dinner downtown. We wondered around and found Tippling Hall, an industrial pub with drinks and food. Sounds like fun.

Love this menu quote

Prosciutto and peach pizza and jalapeno hummus

Croque Madame

Bacon-wrapped dates and deviled eggs

After stuffing ourselves full of meat and cheese, we walked down the street to Headquarters Beercade. When i heard of a vintage arcade game bar, I was expectin something low key and funky. The funky was provided, but this was anything but low key. Upbeat and fun with beer, pinball and arcade games. Everything from Mz Pacman and Donkey Kong to Mortal Kombat. Not to mention about 2 to 3 dozen pinball machines. Challenge accepted.

Pinball and vintage video games 

Happy to see lil bro

Don't grow up it's a trap

We had all worked a full day, so off to bed we went to sleep off the buzz. The next morning, we caught the train to downtown and met for another full day of fun.

Early morning train

Lunch at Gibson's Steakhouse, classic

Gumbo

Chicago cut

Starbucks stop after all this walking

Beers at Sky Terrace at Ivy hotel

Yes, I drank beer. Yes we were on a rooftop drinking beer, enjoying the sun and just talking, for hours. Nothing like chilling out with family and just catching up on new stuff and remembering old times.

Rooftop baby

New babies, of course I went to the Disney Store

We had dinner at Portillo's, a classic Chicago Italian Beef shop, but we devoured it, so no pictures. We spent the rest of the night, chilling out, drinking beer and shooting pool before heading back down south on the train.

Late night train home

I'm so happy we got to hang out with my brother while he was in the state. I don't often get to see family and they are always a welcome sight. It's the first time we got to all hang out since Bryan and I got married and it was tons of fun. The beer didn't hurt either. Although, I'm pretty sure it hurt the next day. Too old for this stuff.

-Akemi-chan