This summer I walked into my Mother’s kitchen while she was simultaneously drying herbs and making tomato preserves. That’s a homecoming. My daughter and I immediately settled in at the island and didn’t leave. How could we? With the essence of summer distilling right before our eyes, we were captivated. Growing up near Amish country and surrounded by orchards; apple butter, pumpkin butter, corn relish, fruit preserves, local honey and apple cider donuts all became favorite foods. Mom’s tomato preserves are no exception. Mom’s tomato crop comes straight from Burbee. Big Mama Hybrid tomatoes, Bush Early Girl Hybrid and Bush Big Boy Hybrid. Use any of your favorite tomato varieties. Green tomatoes also make good preserves.

Tomato Preserve Recipe

3-4 lbs tomatoes: skin, deseed and roughly chop

3 cups of sugar

1 orange: slice very thin, keep the rind on

1 lemon: slice very thin, keep the rind on

Put everything into large pot and simmer on low.

Simmer for 3 hours. Stir often – take shifts. It keeps everyone chatting in the kitchen.

Pour into sterilized canning jars. Mom sources her jars from the internet. We like the lowest prices possible.

How do you use tomato preserves? Slather on toast or biscuits. Use as glaze for chicken or fish. Pour on salad, a baked potato or stir into multi-grain rice.

My daughter now makes these preserves. Another family kitchen custom heading into the mid-west. We’ll be sharing this recipe and the finished product with our friends.

Every year rosemary grows into an impressive bush by the backdoor. Its smell becomes the smell of summer. Creeping Rosemary transforms a patch of ground by cascading out of an old pot. Sage, fennel, tarragon, African Blue Basil, Vietnamese coriander, Kentucky Colonel Mint, Chocolate Mint and an assortment of oregano make themselves happily at home. Her coriander simply took off and yes those African Blue Basil flowers taste good. Chives, garlic, several sage varieties and Good King Henry all found homes in an eclectic array of containers.

Growing happy herbs brings a lot of pleasure. Successfully harvesting those herbs brings even more. Mom’s herbs are dried, infused into oil & vinegar, included in flower arrangements, packed into sachets, and garnish all the vegetables that emerge from the larger garden out back. They help mark the passage of summer.

Most of Mom’s herbs started at Black Creek Greenhouses in East Earl, Pa located just outside of Lancaster in Amish country. I can’t wait to make the trip. Their wide selection of herbs keeps Mom coming back. The beautiful drive to their site? It only adds to the experience.

Mom’s favorite herb drying process evolved over time. Set your oven to 150, place cut herbs on baking trays and leave them in the oven for 3-4 hours. When finished, carefully pluck the leaves while discarding all stems. Reusable herb jars come in handy. No reusable jars? Plastic zippy bags labeled with marker work beautifully. Harvesting herbs is my favorite part of the process. Amazing smells take over the house. Kitchen conversation is relaxed and sipping herb infused beverages a real pleasure. This year three generations of women sat, chatted, puttered and harvested herbs together. No electronic gadgets allowed or asked for. It was a good day. This family kitchen custom is absolutely migrating back to Chicago with us.

Kitchen Therapy Week: Top Dream Kitchen Upgrades

Surprise discoveries: First – Their realistic goals. Dream kitchen details were obtainable and easily seen as melding into real-life daily routines. Second – Men’s enthusiastic, opinionated and knowledgable answers. Men communicated their dream kitchen goals far more passionately than expected. (Only one fella wanted a stripper pole. Yes, his wife smacked him. Yes, we had a great laugh.)

Most recognized brands: People knew their favorite appliance brands. Viking, Wolf and Sub-Zero. In that order. Folks knew exactly which stove tops, ovens and refrigerators they wanted. Specific models were often mentioned. One newlywed couple came directly from their honeymoon to see the Cubs play. Their friends enthusiastically discussed different types of Viking stoves.  Wish lists are alive and vigorously debated in-between innings at Wrigley.

What do you want in your dream kitchen?

1. Appliance upgrades: Stainless Steel appliances remain king of the hill on dream kitchen upgrade wish lists. Multiple ovens, stove tops with 5+ burners and built-in grills are also seriously desired.

2. Better Space: Larger kitchen areas, yes. But, it is not just more space that’s wanted. An efficient, interactive kitchen is at the heart of this upgrade item. More natural light would be appreciated too.

3. It’s a tie!

Counter tops: People want more countertop space. And the current state of countertops must be lacking. Granite and marble, however, are definitely desired in dream kitchens. Concrete does get a popularity nod. When asked about alternative countertops (i.e. recycled & composites) general product knowledge and name recognition isn’t there yet.

Fire: Is this a Chicago phenomenon for obvious reasons? Not sure, but fireplaces, wood burning stoves and grills are seriously wanted in dream kitchen upgrades. A “live” energy source in the kitchen would make it the real hearth of the home again. A nice old-world counterpoint to high technology.

Island upgrades: Islands are very important in people’s minds. Dream Kitchen islands are multi-tiered, grill inset, sink enhanced central meeting places. Islands were equally important for men and women.

4. Lil’ Help: Maids, personal chefs, cleaning crews; basically another set of helping hands was a universally need.

5. Sinks & Faucets: Most kitchen sinks were found seriously lacking. Pots, pans and holiday platters need deeper sinks. Better quality faucets and multiple sinks, zonally located, were also deemed a significant life improvement. A group of women at The Taste enthusiastically discussed the merits of a channel sink in the middle of an island that could become an ice cooler for parties, post-soccer gatherings and contain holiday dinner displays. These women knew what they wanted!

All week, people from Rogers Park, down to Wrigley and past The Taste of Chicago shared their dream kitchen thoughts and wish lists. Chicagoans brought all of their charm, humor and insight to their answers. People care, really care, about their kitchens. Their dream kitchen upgrades were a pleasure to discuss.

Two polls have made their way throughout Chicago. “What do you want in your dream kitchen?” and “Which Chef would you have cook in your dream kitchen?” Full results published later this today. But… in the meantime…

For Chicagolands’ Dream Kitchens:

Which area of the kitchen received the greatest wish list focus?  Which brand had the highest name recognition? Which appliance received the most wish list upgrades? Can you guess the surprise Dream Kitchen upgrade I never expected?

For Chicagolands’ Chef Choice?

Which chef do men want to have a beer with? Which chef do women want to date? Which chef is welcome to bring his family over for dinner? And… What phrase did almost every man quote?

Post your thoughts in the comment section – they’ll get included in the final wrap up later today!

Our sense of personal style determines most of our purchase selections. It’s surprising how often this happens subconsciously.  Every person has their own color palette and sense of style. Need some help determining which design direction to take?  Consider these questions…

What’s in your closet? Look at the colors, patterns and colors.

What’s in your jewelry box? Do you have one? Is it massive? Or only a few pieces?

Do you have a perfume collection? If so, what’s your range of scents?

What kind of shopper are you? How do you feel about it?

Now – hop over to this link Countertop Confidence and take the poll.  It will help you find countertops that fit your style!

Kitchen Therapy Week started as a moral boost for “Sandy” (name changed to protect the beleaguered) who is corporately sequestered at an awful off-site meeting. I admit it’s gotten a tad out of control. We now have a kitchen full of women plotting the demise of their husbands to install Ceasarstone’s Concetto countertops. “Sandy”, when you’re ready, YES we can have this in your kitchen AND keep your husband. Promise. I know just the right woman at WoodHarbor Showrooms to help us make it happen.

Heeding the call of the homewardly beleaguered. We’ll make it better. Promise!

click image to view photo galleries.

What do you want in your dream kitchen? So far I’ve heard about specialty sinks, faucets, sofas & fireplaces. Get your dream kitchen items on the list! The fun is just starting.

It’s Kitchen Therapy Week, Chicago style!