Cookies and custody battles

So I practice family law. And let me just say that we see some really crazy shit when it comes to child custody disputes. Text messages and camera phones have made my job waaaaay more interesting. Most of the time, I think these people are all kinds of f-ing up their kids, and they could give a crap as long as they "stick it" to their ex. It's the sad reality of doing divorces. Even with clients that try to keep the peace and do things right, there's still so much drama. Then again, I was always the kid in school that all my friends told their problems to and talked to about everything. (I get it from my mother, people will tell her their entire life story within 5 minutes of meeting her). So really this job fascinates me every day. Even if it does make me sad for people sometimes.

But oh the cookies. Specifically, Cheryl's Cookies.

A tin of the sugar cookies with buttercream frosting was sent to my office and I am in heaven. Everything seems a little better with a heart shaped buttercream cookie. Have someone you need to send something to? Don't send flowers, send these. Or good lord, even these. I am telling you, whoever you send these to will love you forever. I'm about to cut my fees in half just for getting these. They're THAT good. Daresay it, my own aren't this good and I make damned good cookies.

So if you need a moment of heavenly sugaryness, in a land of chaos and damned cold weather that will not go away, have a cookie.

Goddammit.

It snowed again. And it's supposed to snow again this week. Now I am all kinds of pissed. I was even starting to eye up open toe heels. You see, at my old office I was not allowed to wear open toe heels. And this was really difficult for me because, hello, they are so cute. So I have been pretty damned excited about buying a plethora of open toe heels like the other ladies in my office. Sigh, I guess it's closed-toe heels and boots for a few weeks longer. I had court this morning and literally everyone I ran into was super crabby and blaming it on the weather and its apparent hatred for Chicago. The damned little woodchuck said spring was coming early!

This also means I can't grill yet. But as soon as I can grill again, I'm making this:

Dallas Burger

I love Texas. I love the people, I love their food, I love their warm, warm weather. And I have been craving a grilled burger something fierce. So I'm making these as soon as I am weather-capable so I can start getting excited for warm weather and flip flops. And open toe heels.

Cooking block

You've heard of writer's block? I am currently having cooking block. Ugh, it's so frustrating, especially when I'm trying to figure out what the hell to make for dinner. I am one of those annoying individuals who usually can walk into anyone's kitchen, look through their pantry and refrigerator, and whip up something delicious. Well, maybe not at some boy college dorm apartment, I'm not a magician. And despite having lots of essentials (and even non-essentials) and various ingredients in my kitchen, I am not coming up with anything new and exciting that I actually want to cook. Sigh. So if you've noticed that I haven't had many recipes up in the last few posts, that is why. I absolutely love to cook. But lately, I'm all, "eh, I don't feel like that." Part of it may be that there have been a lot of "events' at my place lately - SuperBowl, Golden Globes, Grammys and soon the Oscars - so I think I'm just burnt out on cooking. Which I never thought would happen.

Then again, I've been working on spending less at the grocery store so that we can save up even more for our impending house purchase next year (with a real backyard! And deck! And master suite! And fireplace!) and since the houses I want require a little more $$, I'm trying to save on groceries. It also has the added benefit of making me slightly skinnier. So that's probably not helping. But even with cheaper things and less ingredients, I'm hoping to come up with wonderful, amazing foods.

So all in all, I need to be re-inspired. Spring needs to come to Chicago. Yesterday it was 50-something, and I was driving around from courthouse to courthouse with my window down. I was irrationally happy all day just because of the warm weather. Maybe being able to cook outdoors and have spring and summer cocktails will re-invigorate my love of coming up with new, fresh dishes. Here's hoping.

President's Day clean-fest

So, it's President's Day! Which, while I know is not generally a holiday that people celebrate, it is a day that I celebrate, because courts are closed. That's right! And although I did come into the office this morning to get some work done, I am leaving in 5 minutes (at 11:30) and I am wearing jeans and Uggs. And then I am going straight home. To clean.

You should know that I have a bit of a homemaker-obsession issue. I'm not Martha Stewart, I can't make a centerpiece out of garden scraps or whatever (but I might try it) but I love to clean my house, wash the sheets (really what is better than getting into bed on warm, freshly-washed flannel sheets in the winter?), and cook and bake. I also am obsessed with sending Thank You cards, and buying the perfect gift for whatever occasion.

So my house is a total mess right now. So I am going to go home and it's going to look like a show-home when I'm done with it. Floors will be scrubbed, drapes will be cleaned, kitchen will be spotless. And then I am going to bake banana bread so that my house smells like fresh-baked banana bread tonight. Because I don't want my house to smell like cleaner. And then I will spend a cozy evening in my just-cleaned home with a bottle of wine and Taco Bell.

That's right, I'm classy.

We survived, with cookies.

Whew! So where we lived, we got 20+ inches of snow. I left work early Tuesday, stopped at the grocery store and at about 2:30 in the afternoon when I was 5 blocks from my house, it started getting scary. Snow was coming down heavily and the winds were whipping it back and forth. At that point I called the hubby and told him to get his ass in his car and get home. He said it's "not that bad." I then proceeded to threaten his life if he didn't get going now. Finally, he relented. Fast forward 3 hours later (his drive is usually 45 minutes) and we hunkered down. By that point, we could barely see the houses across the street. It was actually kind of fun (once we knew all our family and friends were home safe). Until the power went out. Terror.

But it came back on 5 minutes later and all was fine again. We drank red wine, made pasta and watched movies (and the Weather Channel). The next day we awoke to a snow drifts blocking us in the house, and our neighbor across the street's entire car under snow. So I baked cookies, and banana muffins and made hot chocolate. This is not a complicated cookie recipe, at all. But they were warm and gooey and just what we needed on our Snow Day. Hope everyone has been plowed out!

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree
2. In mixer, beat butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. 
3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
4. Gradually add the flour mixture into the butter mixture until well blended. (Dough will be thick)
5. Mix in the chocolate chips.
6. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet, or line baking sheets with parchment paper and place cookies on parchment to prevent sticking. Pat down dough slightly.
7. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool slightly on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

snO.M.G

So, in case you've been under a rock, Chicago is about to be hit by one if the biggest blizzards in decades. I believe the exact quote from the National Weather Service was, "unless it's worth dying for, don't go outdoors tomorrow." As much as I love my clients, they are not worth dying for. Thank goodness I don't have any cases up in Cook County tomorrow, because apparently they are refusing to close. Ah, Cook County. And luckily, the cases I do have are already moved. So I am closing up shop early today, to go to the grocery store and stock up on snacks and booze. That's right, when you have to hunker down for 24 hours, you need to make sure you have the essentials. And because I have no desire to cook (because, hello, what if the electricity goes out, or I don't have an ingredient, I am sooo not going out there) I will be stopping to get some frozen pizzas. (Let's just hope my oven doesn't go out, it is gas). From here:

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

Yummmmm.......Between pizza, booze, some movies and a whole lotta blankets, I think we'll survive the next day or so. But trust me on these pizzas. They even ship nationally. You're welcome.

Oh, and if those 18-30 foot waves come off of Lake Michigan onto Lake Shore Drive? I want photos. Like this but hopefully without the cars.

Stay safe everyone!