My life as a foodie in Chicago (episode 3)

It has been a while since I last informed you of my foodie adventures in Chicago, and it is now time for some updates! Let’s (re)-discover together what I have been up to lately!

For those of you who just joined me recently, I started a new series called “My life as a foodie in Chicago”, after I moved to this city (and to the US!) a few months ago. While I still provide you with recipes about twice a week, these articles give us the opportunity to connect in a more personal way, as I love to interact with my readers. If you missed the previous episodes, you can check them out here.

The biggest project I have been busy with and which I am the most proud of is of course my very first e-book “25 healthy everyday recipes“, that I created exclusively for my readers. This means you can get a free copy (yes, free!), just by subscribing to the newsletter. The e-book is available in both English and French, and will soon be for sale on Amazon as well (value $7). It can be a perfect small Christmas gift for a fellow foodie friend, think about it!

Get your free copy now!

As you understood, in parallel to the e-book, I launched a newsletter for my readers with more qualitative content and sent less often (once or twice a month). In each newsletter you will receive an overview of the latest recipes on the blog, a few easy seasonal recipes you should try, and also some updates from my life as a foodie when available. Subscribe already now and receive you free copy of the e-book.

I also experienced my first Fall in Chicago, and it was for me very entertaining. I spent hours strolling around Old Town gazing at the many lovely houses decorated for Halloween. Americans can be so creative! I also created a Halloween recipe I am really proud of: my PB & J Mummy Hand Pies. October was also Pink October, and I took part in an event in Chicago aiming at raising funds to fight against breast cancer. For the occasion, I baked some naturally pink mini raspberry cheesecakes for a whole crowd. It was my first public event in Chicago and I am glad that it was for such a cause.

Me in my kitchen in Chicago!

Find also here a few other recipes I have published on the blog since episode 2 of my life as a foodie:

• Vegan pink beet pancakes (for Pink October),
• Butternut squash noodles with spinach and cashew sauce (vegan, gluten free),
• Campfire S’mores (+ indoor version and a few pictures of my trip in the Southwest where I made them),
• Buttermilk banana bread (SO good!),
• Purple soup,
• Maple balsamic Brussels sprouts with feta, pomegranate and pecans,

And also the following ones:

• Pumpkin pie cinnamon rolls,
• Thai salmon tacos with mango-avocado salsa,
• Pumpkin maple oatmeal,
• Avocado soft-boiled salad with a raspberry vinaigrette,
• Chocolate dipped madeleines covered with pistachios,
• Portobello mushroom burger with blue cheese and caramelized onions.

Oh, and I got the opportunity to meet other fellow food bloggers in Chicago, people that I had been following for so many years and had only e-met via our respective blogs until now! The first one I met is Peter from the blog Feed Your Soul Too. We had been in touch regularly via our blogs for the last few years so when we met for coffee it kind of felt like we knew each other already. We tremendously talked for hours, as we were so excited to share our own experience of blogging, sharing our best tips, etc. Yes, bloggers are crazy, and I am one of them! Have you ever met other bloggers? For me it is like making a new friend each time, it is such a rich human experience!

Milk and cookie cups + video!

Then I finally got the opportunity to meet up with the celebrity blogger Sally from Sally’s Baking Addiction, that I have been following for so many years. She is actually the one that inspired me to start my own food blog a few years ago, and I have baked many of her recipes. When I discovered that she would come to Chicago for the Sweet Baking Show, I immediately registered for one of her baking classes. The day I met her was quite epic and I almost missed her, but luckily we managed to connect in the end. I had brought her a printed copy of my e-book, and also some Milk and cookie cups as she is currently busy writing her third cookbook about cookies. We talked a bit, and yes Sally is a really, really nice person, humble and always making people comfortable. She is also incredibly gifted, as she turned her food blog into a successful business within a few years only. Very inspiring!

I then had a small interlude in France. I was there for very personal reasons, and all I can say is that it is always good to be “home”, surrounded by your family. It is among the most precious things on Earth; we sometimes tend to forget it. I was mainly in the Loire valley where I am from originally, and there I tried authentic French food in a charming family-owned restaurant in Chinon named “Les années 30”. If you haven’t been to Chinon, it is a beautiful small town where it is worth staying for a few days to relax and enjoy good wine (Chinon obviously) and food.

I came back just on time for Thanksgiving, and it was quite a feast! I got introduced to the best American food tradition through various delicious dishes, the big turkey and the stuffing, as well as many sweet desserts such as apple pie and pumpkin pie. I had brought a sweet potato pecan casserole (just delicious!) and my Best white chocolate cranberry cookies.

Thanksgiving is already behind us and we are now all preparing for Christmas. I started early this year, creating my very first DIY advent calendar. I am indeed very proud that I made it myself! Everyday I open a new window with a tiny homemade sweet treat, and I am happy to share it with you on my Instagram story. Follow me on Instagram now and never miss an update + you will also get to know many of my “work in progress” in the kitchen, while I am busy creating new recipes for you.

Follow my Instagram story and open a new sweet treat everyday!

Have you made your advent calendar this year too? Are you thinking about your Christmas dinner already? I am so excited to be sharing my new Christmas recipes with you soon. Stay tuned, and let’s keep in touch for other foodie adventures! Oh, and don’t forget to download your free copy of the e-book “25 healthy everyday recipes“!