Food - Café Con Monica

Hello Monday!

May 21, 2018

Guys…school & work are killing me. No seriously they are. I spent all my time last week working on a project for just one of my classes. 1 of THEM! My brain hurts. So since I was basically completely MIA last week I will give a kind of life update in photos!

There has been a lot of food…because you all know how much I love that. But really we are still eating out mainly on weekends and cooking during the week but we did a lot of repeat meals last couple weeks so not a lot of photos of that.

Some Sushi @ Union Sushi & BBQ

Donuts from @Somethin’ Sweet Donuts

Friday night Ceviche, Enchiladas & Steak Quesadilla @ Estrella Negra

Delicious Fried Chicken Breakfast @ Honey Butter Fried Chicken

…..I eat a lot.

Some family time with my two favorites!! My mom & Sis for Mother’s Day!

A great night out for a meetup that started with Bowling and ended up at a bar dancing till 2 am…

A wine fest in Lincoln Park in the cold rain!!

And I think that is about it. I’m back to homework and catching up on everyone’s blog posts from last week!!

Cooking Adventures: Vegan Brownies!

May 15, 2018

I told you back in February about these amazing vegan brownies that Thenewguy made for my sister when she was just starting out with her vegan adventure. I recently decided to make them myself for a meetup sweets exchage so I wanted to share with you guys!!

Ingredients:

2 C. Flour (He used Whole Wheat I used regular, doesn’t matter)

2 C. Granulated Sugar (white or unrefined)

3/4 C. Unsweetend Cocoa Powder

1 Tsp. Salt

1 Tsp. Baking Powder

1 C. Mashed Banana (make sure they are ripe)

1/4 C. Milk (We used Chocolate Ripple Milk, but almond would be fine)

1/4 C. Canola Oil

1 Tsp. Vanilla

1 C. Dairy Free Chocolate Chips(optional)

1/2 C. Nuts(optional)

Preheat oven to 350°, lightly oil a 9×13 dish

1. In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.

2. In a smaller bowl mix banana, milk, canola oil and vanilla

3. Add wet ingredients to dry, mix until combined. (THIS IS HARD. It does not mix like a normal brownie batter so don’t be deterred)

4. Fold in Chocolate chips & nuts if you want to add them

5. Pour into pan and bake 25-35 minutes (usually takes 28-30 for me)

ENJOY!

Nevermind that they are vegan they taste great and everyone who has had them loves them before I tell them they have no milk or eggs!

Again..I am terrible at remembering to take photos so this is all I have!

Hello Monday!

May 7, 2018

It feels like the weekend flew by and here we are on Monday again!

Friday… Thenewguy and I went to see Dragon Lights at Soldier Field since it was the last weekend and the weather was finally cooperating. It was lots of fun to walk around and see the different lanterns. Then we headed to Chinatown for some late dim sum dinner!

Saturday… Was such a long day! We had a baby shower and a going away party to go to in two opposite suburbs. So it was a mad dash to get a gift, food, and then drive to one party an hour away…then hang out there…drive to another party an hour from that location…hang out there and then drive an hour home. I may not drive again ever. The baby shower was fun, and I am so excited for my friends. The going away party was also fun though we very much intend to see our friend in another couple months anyway!

Sunday…I had been dying for Brunch so I picked a spot under stressful conditions(thenewguy was rushing me out the door) and it was a fail for me. He doesn’t like eggs and I can’t have dairy. Of the whole menu 3 things didn’t have some kind of cheese or cream on them and I didn’t want any of those three. I got french toast and they were dry. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? Ugh. I just a mess because that is some luck. Anyway..I also got to spend hours doing homework, did groceries and meal prep and hung out..finished it out with some Big & Littles and took my ass to bed!

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