Corned Beef and Baseball

We kept pretty busy while Grandma and Grandpa Smith were here. We shopped at the outlet mall, ate Chicago dogs, Italian beef, and cheese fries, played a little Guitar Hero, and even watched a video.

One of the best days, in my opinion, was on Saturday. In the morning Dave and Jim went to the hardware store. Yeah, you read that right---Dave and Jim at the hardware store! Don't worry they just bought an umbrella!

While the guys were out Carolyn and I made two lasagnas in advance for Sunday dinner. Carolyn made her famous and always delicious Italian sausage lasagna, while I modified her recipe and made a veggie lasagna with a creamy tomato sauce. I am always finding ways to use or give away my summer squash and zucchini from our garden! I really enjoyed spending a couple hours in the kitchen cooking, working, and talking with Carolyn. Reminded me how much cooking, although work, can be joyful and fun, especially when families work together.

About mid-afternoon, with errands and cooking finished, we all hopped in the car and headed to Chicago. Once downtown, we stopped at the famous Manny's Deli, best deli in Chicago. This was my first-time and I am no deli expert but it sure tasted like the best to me. Seriously, not a day goes by that I don't think about the lovely corned beef sandwich I ate that day. When we got there I was going to order a pastrami sandwich, but when I saw them slicing the steaming hot corned beef and piling it onto rye bread---I knew I was a goner.

Above is my sandwich. Look at that! It's definitely not about the bread.

Dave also order a corned beef sandwich, while Jim and Carolyn ordered the Presidential Special--corned beef sandwich, potato pancake, and cherry pie. The sandwich maker who was quite a character, did them a favor and turned their corned beef sandwich into 1/2 corned beef, 1/2 pastrami so they could enjoy the best of both worlds. After our sandwiches the girls, Dave and I finished up with slices of caramel cake and carrot cake. We were full, but it was sooo worth it. MANNY'S DELI, I SHALL RETURN!

They are looking a little guilty. I know they are eating a giant sandwich,

but who could resist such a delicious temptation?!

After the deli, we then headed to the Cell for a White Sox game. The Sox were playing the Cleveland Indians and came from behind to win the game. After the game, we watched a firework show. It was a lot of fun. The day was pretty warm and humid, but fortunately there was a nice breeze that kept us cool. GO WHITE SOX!