Official start of my 2010 New Year goal to loss 20 lbs by Memorial Day began yesterday. The weigh in saw me tip the scale at 225lbs. I figured the best way to stay on track is to share my daily progress with respect to exercise, food and drink. The weight updates will only come once a week with a summary of the weekly diet/exercise regime.

So, what did I do on day one to begin losing weight?

• Exercise
  • Nothing (except walk dogs around block twice)
• Food
  • Breakfast-Apple cinnamon danish (not so good, but I only had one)
  • Lunch-Chicken noodle soup and some pretzels (good)
  • Dinner-Grilled chicken and onion sandwich w/baked potato chips (not bad)
  • No desert or drinks other than water and 1 cup of 25 cal. hot chocolate (coffee is a given-everyday!)

What do you think of my start so far? Have anything you doing that you want to share? Want to give me some words of encouragement? Do be shy, leave a comment.

Look forward to Day 2 update tomorrow!

I’m not really a big one on resolutions, but there are several things that made me decide to publicly declare mine this year. Instead of list my New Year’s resolutions you can hear about them.

This is my Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza as written down about 26 years ago while watching  Jeff Smith on the Frugal Gourmet describe his best guess at Pizzeria Uno‘s Chicago classic deep dish pizza. As you can see, this was well before I could get online and search for recipes. There was no Tivo, to play back something if I missed it. But I can say I have made this many times over the last 26 years and always get great reviews.

2            pks        Yeast

2            C            Tempered Water

½          C            Salad Oil (Peanut or Cottonseed)

4            T            Olive Oil

3            C            Flour

½          C            Cornmeal

2 ½       C            Flour

2            pks         Mozzarella (sliced)

3            Cans       Italian Plum Tomatoes 28oz. (drained and crushed)

1            pinch      Salt

2            cloves    Garlic

Basil

Oregano

Meat

Veggies

Parmesan Cheese

Romano Cheese

Mix yeast into tempered water and let sit for about 10 minutes. Add salad oil, olive oil 3 Cups of flour, cornmeal and salt. Knead for about 10 minutes. Gradually add the remaining 2 ½ Cups of flours and knead for 15 minutes. Let dough rise to twice it size.

This will make two pizzas, so divide dough in half and spread across bottom of the pan and up the sides. Cover bottom of dough with slices of mozzarella. Drain, crush and drain remaining fluid from plum tomatoes and spread over cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste, along with garlic, basil and oregano. Add toppings. Top with Romano and/or Parmesan. Bake in preheated 475 degree oven for 30-40 minutes.

Some final tips and suggestions:

Don’t expect to get the exact Uno pizza when you make this, unless you are lucky enough to have one of their seasoned pans. What I have found works very well is to use a deep dish pizza baking stone. This provides for a nice finish to the crust and helps absorb any excess moisture that may result from the tomatoes. Also, for the mixing and kneading I can’t imagine doing it without the KitchenAide Artisan mixer with the dough hook attachment. (ps If you buy when clicking this link through Amazon, I will get paid and may make enough to buy a cup of coffee.) I usually reserve some of the Parmesan and Romano cheese and top with about 10 minutes left to cook, so it doesn’t burn.

Let me know how it turns out for you or if you have your own variation that I should try.

After 5 years since the Vernon Hills Chili’s Bar and Grill closed, a new Chili’s is proposed at the Aspen Pointe shopping center on Route 60. This is exciting news for me. I love fresh, authentic chips and salsa, but Chili’s chips and salsa is consistently good, even though it certainly doesn’t qualify as authentic. With the closest Chili’s being in Waukegan, we don’t go out to dinner there too often. But with the return of Chili’s and summer I’m especially excited about the outdoor dining area as reported in the Lake County News Sun :

The new Chili’s will have seating for 184 people in the dining room and bar, 96 parking spaces, and a Chili’s To Go area for pick up items. An outdoor dining area also is planned between the Chili’s and Buffalo Wild Wings.

The location of Aspen Pointe shopping center is just east of Butterfield Road on Route 60 (Townline Rd.). The restaurant is propsoed to be located right next to the existing Buffalo Wild Wings.

In addtion to the chips and salsa, my personal favorite is the Margarita Grilled Chicken. How could I not like anything with margarita in it?

Construction will start in the spring and should be completed by August 2010. Just in time to enjoy the outdoor patio with some chips and salsa and a margarita (on the rocks, no salt).

And as always, if I can help you buy or sell a home in Vernon Hills, please let me know!

Our first Lake County Tweetup will be held on November 11, 2009 from 5:30-7:30pm. The Hotel Indigo Chicago/Vernon Hills has graciously agreed to be our host for this event.

Who’s invited?

Anyone is welcome.  Dont’ let the word “Tweetup” frighten you. It’s a gathering of Twitter users, or Tweeps, that get together. You don’t have to be on Twitter, or even know what Twitter is, but you will get to meet local Lake County people, have a good time and most likely sign up for a Twitter account before you leave! REGISTER

Where’s it at?

The Hotel Indigo Chicago/Vernon Hills is located at 450 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills, IL  60061

View Larger Map

How much does it cost?

Nothing, zip, free! Bring yourself and some money to spend at the beautiful Indigo bar and lounge. It’s a cash bar and they have a Indigo Martini special for $5.99!

We hope to see you there! Please register to let us know if you are attending. We have limited space and need to make other arrangements if we have enough interest.

10/28/2009 Update-

We would like to thank @garrettpopcorn and @elischeesecake for making our first Tweetup  a little more special!

Looks who’s coming so far:

Yes (9)

@chemgk
@ChildrenParties
@DaisyKnez
@ewaresocial
@farrah77
@hlesztriblocal
@kstoudt
@northeastclng
@tamcdonald

Maybe (3)

@djshelly
@FellerBus
@warnerthuston

Are you interested in sponsoring our event?  Just let me know!

Downtown Libertyville will be losing a store by the end of the year. According to an email I receive from them, Vintner’s Cellar Winery of Libertyville will close before the end of the year. Co-owner, Vanessa Oien, plans to embark on a new journey–she has begun work on her masters of wine degree. The store closing means some great savings.

This paragraph from their email summarizes the savings and offerings:

“With this announcement, starting tomorrow, Thursday, October 22nd, everything in our store which includes merchandise and fixtures will be up for sale. Wines by the bottle will be 30% off and we have several batches in production that will be available for 30% off as well. If you are looking for reasonably priced gifts for the holidays, you now can purchase a customized bottle of wine for as low as $8.50. Also, if you know any home wine makers, we are willing to sell the juice, yeast and other packets bundled with a carboy.”

For more information I would suggest calling the store at 847-918-9463.

I wish Vanessa and Stan Oien much success as their shop has always provided very friendly service and a nice stop on a Saturday afternoon for a wine tasting! The store, located at 529 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, IL 60048, hours will be :

Wednesdays: Noon-6 pm
Thursdays: Noon-8 pm
Fridays: Noon-8 pm
Saturdays: Noon-5 pm
Sundays: 1pm-4pm
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

For more information on other stores, restaurants and events in downtown Libertyville, visit Mainstreet Libertyville.

And as always, if I can help you buy or sell a home in Libertyville, please let me know!

My fiance recently started as a manager at the Old Navy in Vernon Hills. Starting today, they have a promotion going on through the weekend.  Normally I wouldn’t promote another company, but this is for a good cause. Starting today, October 21, and running through October 25, if you donate a nonperishable food item (no glass or bulk quantities, please) you receive 10% off your entire purchase. All donations will go to the local food bank. Even if you don’t want to buy anything, stop in and make a donation.

As far as I know, most of the area Old Navy’s will have the same offer. If you stop in the Vernon Hills store, Be sure to say hi to Lori and tell them you found out about the promotion from me!

The new Lake County Fielders baseball team from Zion, IL, has been making a lot of news lately. The 2010 expansion team for the independent Northern League, of which Kevin Kostner is an owner, just hired Fran Riordan as the field manager. Riordan was the winningest manager in the Frontier League history this year before joining the Fielders for the 2010 season, which will have 100 games beginning on May 20, 2010 and running through September 6, 2010.

Visit the Lake County Fielders website to take a peek at the stadium, see where they will play and to get in on some great ticket prices for next season. There will also be many job opportunities, especially as the 2010 season gets closer.

So are you looking forward to having baseball come to Lake County? Don’t be shy. Those who leave comments are known to live longer lives. (or at least that’s what we say to get you to leave one!)

The Vernon Hills High School football team clinched the North Suburban Prairie title last night with a 17-7 win over Grant. The home game wasn’t even played on the Cougars’ home field. Due to flooding the game was move to Carmel High School’s field in Mundelein. After being tied at halftime 7-7, the Cougars pulled away in the second half for the victory.  You can read more from the Tribune’s prep football recap.

Posted via web from tamcdonald’s posterous