A few weeks ago while in Chicago, we ate at RL and ordered their key lime pie for dessert. I knew Alex loves key lime pie but is not wild about graham cracker crust and this one had a gingersnap crust. Even after a very filling dinner, we were both scraping the plate with our forks for crumbs. It was the best key lime pie we had both tasted!
When I got home and started looking for the recipe, I discovered that this key lime pie is a favorite of Oprah! There was a slim chance I would find the real recipe, so I started baking. My local Trader Joe’s had these Triple Ginger Snap cookies and loved the flavor they added to the crust. With enough lime in the filling and topped with Chantilly cream, this version is a pretty close second to RL’s key lime pie. Enjoy! xoxo
Crust: Process gingersnaps in a food processor until they are fine crumbs. Add melted butter and sugar, and pulse until the mixture is moistened. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees until the edges are dry and set (center will be moist), about 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
Filling: Beat egg yolks on medium speed until blended. Add condensed milk, lime zest, and lime juice, and mix well. Pour the filling into the cooled crust and bake at 350 degrees until the edges of the pie are set but the center still jiggles slightly about 15 minutes. Transfer the pie to a wire rack and let cool completely. Refrigerate the pie for at least 2 hours or up to overnight to allow it to set.
Chantilly Cream: Using a whisk attachment on an electric mixer, combine cream and vanilla on a low speed. Add sugar and gradually increase the speed. Continue to beat for about 2 minutes or until the mixture thickens and soft peaks form. Garnish pie with lime zest or lime slices and keep refrigerated.
Now that we have a backyard, Alex and I love hosting our friends for a cookout. With the help of lawn bug repellent (this stuff is amazing) and a variety of meat and veggies, we have a party. I do have a hard time coming up with party appetizers that please most crowds. Spinach Artichoke Dip is my go-to for cooler weather, but I needed something chilled for summer. Alex quickly reminded me how much “I” like pimento cheese (it is one of his favorite dishes)! This dish is not great if you have diary-free guests, but it can be paired with celery for gluten-free guests to enjoy. My pimento cheese recipe is super simple and can be tailored to fit your preference. I am not wild about mayonnaise and love spicy foods, so sometimes I only add about 3/4 cup of mayo and closer to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Enjoy! xoxo
1 1/2 cups (about 6 oz.) grated extra-sharp white cheddar
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup (about 2.5 oz) diced drained pimento peppers
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Grate yellow and white cheddar on a medium or fine grate. Mix grated cheese, mayonnaise, pimento peppers, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a bowl until well combined. Cover and chill until cold (about 1 hour). Serve with crackers, celery, or on bread.
This past weekend, we celebrated our anniversary in Chicago! Alex had never been to Chicago and I had not been since I was about eight, so we were both eager to explore the city. I received so many great suggestions on Instagram from you all, and we did our best to eat, see and do everything we could in five days. I have compiled a Chicago travel guide based on your recommendations!
Where to eat: Our trip started with lunch at the LondonHouse Rooftop. The weather was not great outside on the 22nd floor so we dined inside on the 21st floor. We visited the 22nd floor later in the week to enjoy the incredible view both during the day and night.
I received a ton of suggestions for deep dish pizza (Uno’s, Gino’s East, Girodano’s) and we decided to give Labriola Cafe a try. While we decided that we are more thin crust people, the Danny’s Special deep dish pizza was delicious and so so filling!
We mainly ate breakfast at our hotel (Land & Lake Kitchen), but did venture to Beatrix – River North one morning. We both enjoyed breakfast cocktails as well as the oatmeal and pancakes. I would love to go back and try their dinner menu, because the brunch menu was so yummy and creative.
After walking all around town, someone (couldn’t possibly be me) started getting hangry and lunch quickly became a priority. Fisk & Co. was not our original plan for lunch but it ended up being a much better option. We enjoyed the Spring Chowder (surprisingly light), the sautéed gnocchi and prime cheeseburger. Noyane was the most recommended sushi spot in Chicago and we loved the rooftop atmosphere! Their craft cocktails were very unique and the sushi was creative and delicious. We loved the acevichado roll, tuna nigiri and a classic California roll. Shaw’s Crab House was another unexpected lunch spot (we had time to kill before our flight) and ended up being one of our favorite neighborhood spots. The atmosphere had a very 1960’s east coast vibe that made you feel like a Kennedy. We devoured the crab cakes in seconds and added a generous amount of Tobasco to our seafood gumbo. Hampton Social was another highly recommended spot and while the food and atmosphere were great, our service was horrible. We visited the Streeterville location and would not go back but might try the River North location next time.
All of our dinners were incredible, starting with Celeste. We sat in the deco and enjoyed the tahini hummus, Iggy’s original lemon butter pasta and seared salmon. To celebrate our anniversary, Alex made reservations at RL Restaurant by Ralph Lauren. This was probably one of my top three dinners ever! Everything about RL was just as expected. Our service was perfect, the food was delicious and it made a great first anniversary memory. Our favorite things on the menu were the lobster bisque, mushrooms and key lime pie (currently trying to recreate the gingersnap crust), but our steaks were delicious as well. Fig & Olive was also a great dinner choice and we will probably try to visit the Houston location next time we are there. The truffle risotto with scallops made the list of my favorite dishes!
What to do: We went to a comedy show at the Comedy Bar and most of the comedians were funny. Amateur stand up is always hit or miss but the Comedy Bar had a very intimate vibe and is above a Gino’s East pizza if you want dinner before or during.
One of our favorite experiences was the Skydeck, the fast pass is totally worth it if you visit on a weekend. Your time on the skyjack is short and I wouldn’t look down, but the views are unmatched and you can really see all of Chicago.
The Art Institute Chicago and the Chicago’s First Lady Cruise were my two favorite things on the trip. I could have spent hours in the Art Institute looking at the wide range of art, especially the modern collection. The First Lady Architecture Cruise was one of the most informative city tours I have ever been on. Not only did Alex learn a great deal about architecture, but we also received a full history lesson on the city of Chicago.
Towards the end of our trip we felt like doing some more touristy things, and spent some time exploring Millennium Park. We caught part of a concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion (they run these all summer), stopped by Cloud Gate for a photo and saw Buckingham Fountain. We also walked the Navy Pier, which was not very exciting but great exercise.
Some of the highly recommended activities we did not have time for include: North Avenue Beach, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Field Museum and Wrigley Field.
Watch our short recap and shop everything I wore during our trip to Chicago below! xoxo
The smallest luxuries can make all the difference while on vacation, especially when it comes to a hotel room. During our visit to Chicago, we stayed at the LondonHouse Chicago (a Hilton hotel) and it really did make our trip better!
The room was clean (I am a tough critic), well decorated, and the view of the Chicago River was iconic. The little things went a long way in our room, like extra hangers, storage under the bed, a separate “living” area, a Nespresso machine and Malin + Goetz toiletries. The LondonHouse is located on North Michigan Avenue (at Wacker Dr.), which made it easy to walk most places in River North, Millennium Park and on the Miracle Mile.
The LondonHouse rooftop is a treat in of itself with indoor, outdoor and private dining areas. Floor 21 has a delicious indoor restaurant, then just a walk up the stairs to floor 22 is a rooftop bar with a perfect view of the river and city of Chicago.
Floor four offers a full-service spa and a 24 hour gym full of equipment. The spa was a little underwhelming (the Adolphus remains my favorite), but still enjoyable. We both received a massage and hydrafacial, and we were pleased with the service and results.
If you are planning a trip to Chicago, I highly recommend the LondonHouse for the complete experience! xoxo
I seriously cannot believe it is already our one year Anniversary! I swear I was finalizing plans and stuffing wedding invitations just yesterday. Over the past year we have continued to be blessed by the love and support of our family and friends. We purchased our first house, turned our house into a home, added Winston to our family, traveled to new places and learned so much about each other and marriage. 🖤
If you are planning your own wedding, be sure to read my blog post about our planning process and wedding day! xoxo
The first official day of summer is Friday, but it has felt like summer for me for weeks. I love dining al fresco, even when most would consider it too hot outside. The heat makes me crave lighter dishes, but I have a hard time finding something light with flavor. Sorry iceberg lettuce, but a bland leafy salad doesn’t always cut it. My dad introduced me to this spicy chicken salad with cheese wafers and now it is one of my summer staples! I prefer this version of spicy chicken salad because it has less mayonnaise and more crunch. The cheese wafers are a great alternative to boring crackers, but it is difficult to not eat a whole batch. I have not tried to make a gluten-free version, but I am curious how they would taste with almond or rice flour. Download the full recipes below! xoxo
Boil or bake chicken breasts until cooked through. Shred chicken with a fork and combine with other ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well and chill until ready to serve.
1/2 cup unsalted butter, sliced
2 cups coarsely grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Combine butter, cheese, flour, pepper, and salt in a food processor and pulse several times until crumbly. Then process for 30 seconds to 1 minute until dough forms. Transfer the dough to a sheet of parchment paper and roll it into a log about 2 inches thick and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut chilled dough into 1/4 inch thick slices and arrange them on a baking sheet where they are not touching. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden and crisp. Immediately sprinkle with salt and cool before serving.
