Summertime in Chicago

Everyone around here is knee-deep in ornery. It's that time of year. We're sick of the cold, the snow, the gray........maybe not consciously, but it shows. Things we normally don't pay any mind to annoy us greatly, people we normally like to be around annoy us greatly.......well, you get the idea. It's a strange phenomenon, really.

So it got me thinking about a little trip we took to Chicago last summer. It was HOT. And you know what you primarily do in Chicago....walk. But I didn't mind because we had so much fun -- it's just a great place to be. I'm trying to channel that heat as I sit here in my layers.

Winter Grilling Tips

So you're lucky enough to live in a place where you can enjoy the change of seasons and not be bogged down by pleasant, sunny weather every day? Me too.

Next week our highs are going to be in the single digits, and I think we're on our way to breaking the snowfall record that we broke last season. Because no one wants to have to wait until April for charred chicken wings, I will pass along my most useful winter grilling tip: Have someone else do it.

Other than that, I've got nothin'.  Well, except for this awesome recipe for Blue Cheese Dressing to go with your spicy chicken wings. And do yourself a favor and get Maytag cheese. You'll thank me later.

Winter Grillin' Blue Cheese Dressing

1 cup crumbled MAYTAG blue cheese (4 ounces)

1 cup mayonnaise (NOT miracle whip)

2/3 cup evaporated milk (5 ounces)

1 TBS red wine vinegar

1 TBS lemon juice

1/4 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp celery seeds

Mix it all together and see how those hot wings are coming.  This will keep for up to a week in the frig, but I don't think you'll have any left.

Oh, and did I mention that my husband is awesome?