Can You Find Fresh Food In A Jar?

The Grape Escape Salad

Chances are you're on the go a lot if you live in a metro like Chicago. Lunch is where ever, sometimes whenever, you can grab it.

What's available may not be the best thing for you. So a healthy lunch is a luxury some days. That is unless you have the time or discipline to pack a lunch, which brings up a host of other issues.

It shouldn't be so difficult or such a hassle.

That's the thinking that prompted Luke Saunders to create Farmer's Fridge, an organic and vegetarian company offering healthy meals in a jar. Yes, a jar.

The Cheater (opened)

Hold on. It's sold via kiosk-vending machines. Unless it's catered.

And the food is simply delicious.

The start-up opened November 2013 with a vending machine in the food court at 201 N. Clark, Chicago. I came across this salad in a jar while attending a Wix workshop on website design trends.

I've had The Cheater and The Grape Escape salads. My favorite so far is The Cheater, simply yummy. I couldn't wait to eat more of this salad. The Grape Escape can use more grapes and a less bitter dressing, but it still is a good selection.

You'll be pleased about supporting a company conscious about the quality of food it serves and the packaging that contains it. The food is organic and made fresh daily. The containers -- plastic jars -- are recyclable and reusable. I love it!

Besides the good food, this is a great concept. Luke identified a problem then found a solution. Great ideas often are simple ones.

Aaah, Summertime In The City!

Pritzker Pavilion

Chicago is a great city for singles as well as the coupled ones. There's always something to do, especially in the summer.

Though summer officially is 7 days away, you couldn't tell in Chicago. That's because festivals kick into high gear, marking the arrival of summer in the city.

Twelve (yes, at least that many) festivals and fairs started Friday throughout the city, and just about all of them are free. The weather is beautiful -- sunny and warm -- and the people are pleasant. Food at these gatherings? Authentically Chi-Town.

Big Jack Johnson, '09 Chicago Blues Festival

The festivals are a celebration of this city, warts and all. They are a reflection of the values, cultures and similarities. One of the best ways to get to know Chicago is through its celebrations.

Summer in Chicago is simply splendid! You've got to give it a try. Here are a few recommendations:

Taste of Randolph (West Town)
Chicago Blues Festival (The Loop) Aaron Neville hits the stage Sunday night
Puerto Rican People's Day Festival ( Humboldt Park)
Thai Festival 

And The Finalists Are......

Not long ago, I told you about Trader Joe's call for entries into its Miso Master recipe contest. The grocer wanted recipes highlighting its mild yellow miso in just about anything so long as it took 30 minutes or less to prepare.

I confess I did not submit one. But apparently plenty of other folks did.

I don't know how many entries the grocer received. But seven of them were good enough to advance to the next round for a final vote by the public. I cast my vote already, and I encourage you to do the same here.

Miso Soup

3 Ingredients To A Tasty Summer Treat

Blue-Cherry Yogurt Pops

Yes, all you need are three readily available ingredients to create what I call pops of happiness. I call them that because once you taste this blueberry treat you can't help but smile.

I originally planned to share a recipe for Key Lime pie, but I saw this frozen treat and switched gears. It's too easy not to share. All you need: handful of blueberries, 2 cups of plain yogurt and 1/4 cup a sweetener. No lie.

This isn't my creation or idea though I plan to co-opt the base ingredients and make something distinctively mine soon :-). Credit goes to Splenda. See the Sweet Swaps, No. 128 recipe here.

Blueberries and Cherries

Once the mixture is done, pour into a mold. Now is a good time to buy the molds, which are available at most dollar stores. Freeze for at least 5 hours.

Options:
Sweetener: I use and prefer agave. You can try honey also.
Mold: Use an ice cube tray and add wooden Popsicle sticks.
Fruit: I used blueberries and cherries. Use fruit that will "hold up."

Mixture in molds

Ingredients mixed

                                               

You Deserve A Doughnut Today!

Krispy Kreme doughnuts

You deserve so much more than a doughnut, but you'll take a free one won't you?
Good.
So will I today, which is National Doughnut Day!

Don't worry about falling for another "made-up" another day promote consumerism. It's really a day created by the Salvation Army to honor men and women who served the treats to soldiers during World War I.  So when you bite into one of these goodies, you'll be supporting a good cause.

Well, at least that's what I'll tell myself.

Krispy Kreme is offering a free doughnut of any kind. No purchase necessary. Now that's a freebie.

Dunkin' Donuts is offering a free doughnut with a cup of coffee. It's not much of a deal because you usually get this after making a purchase and completing an online survey. Dunkin isn't going out on a limb for this one, but hey it's "free."

Whatever the conditions, enjoy your doughnut today.
By the way, what is your favorite doughnut?

How To Turn A Ready-Made Meal Into A Homemade One

Mandarin Orange Chicken

So I'm sure you're wondering "What in the world is this post going to be about?"
Many times you come home, and you're just dead tired. You don't want to exert yourself too much or think too deeply.

Too often in those cases, we either skip meals or grab the junk food -- potato chips -- or the processed stuff -- Ramen noodles -- just to give our bodies some sustenance. And though this fills our bellies and gets us through the night, they not exactly the best choices. I'm guilty of this eating sin far tooooo often myself.

So I've started searching for ways to make quick meals or those requiring a couple of steps or ingredients. My latest find is the Mandarin Orange Chicken available at Trader Joe's for less than $5. The bag has at least six servings. The chicken is seasoned well and comes close to tasting like orange chicken at the restaurant.

Cook pasta or rice (preferably brown) at the same time you bake the chicken. Depending on the type of rice you get, the chicken can be done close to the time the rice is ready. At this point, I'd serve the chicken atop the rice with a side salad.

But if you want to add a few more flavors to the dish, you can cook bell peppers with the rice to add another layer. Or you can saute bell peppers, onions, and fresh garlic in olive oil then add to the rice. Then serve however you want.

If you have quick-meal tips, send some my way.

The Golden Arches Signal More Than Burger And Fries Around The Globe

Mickey D's Golden Arches symbolize America's No. 1 burger joint. Everyone knows once the arches are spotted burgers and fries are not far away.

But McDonald's serves millions of people across the globe, and the food on the menus goes way beyond the traditional beef pattie in America. Have you had the lobster roll served at McDonald's Canada restaurants?

"Say whaaaaaat," you shout. Yes, I said lobster roll. And there are several other items you've probably never tried. Check out this fun compilation by BuzzFeed to see what else you're missing.