Oh Yesterdog, I will love you until the end of my days.
So many things make you so delectable, let me try to count the ways:

Although I cannot even count my visits to your door, please believe me that this is just the start.
For over twenty years you have tantalized my taste buds, secured my loyalty and forever captured my heart.

Yesterdog, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Best hot dog in the world. Anyone who disagrees has obviously never tried one.

This past Wednesday was Independance Day. I did not do anything special or see a single firework this year. I did enjoy time with friends and family, relax outside, attend a few barbeques and eat fresh blueberries every day. We are sweltering here in Chicago and it is too hot to cook or prepare anything complicated to eat. Luckily, we can bask in the bliss of fresh berries. To me, there is almost nothing more delicious than a bowl of fresh blueberries with cream.

It is a beautiful summer day in Chicago. Caroline walks into Bistrot Zinc where she plans to meet her family for dinner. She approaches the bar where she will wait for the rest of her party to arrive. Her eyes widen as she discovers a silver wheel of hard boiled eggs sitting on the bar near the basket of homemade potato chips.

Caroline: Oh my. Wow. Is this a wheel of hard boiled eggs to snack on while you wait at the bar?

Bartender: It sure is.

Caroline rummages in her purse

Caroline: This is the most exciting thing I have ever seen. I am so excited, I am going to take a photograph of it.

Bartender: (in deadpan voice) I hope not.

Caroline: (still excitedly)Hope what?

Bartender: (still deadpan) I hope it isn’t the most exciting thing you have ever seen.

Caroline: (nervous fast talk) Oh well, I have low blood sugar problems and sometimes I get so hungry while waiting for dinner. And, well, I love chips but protein helps so much and I would just be so happy to have one of those eggs in a moment of need… (trailing off as bartender continues to show no hint of a smile)

Click. Click. Click.

Camera goes back in Caroline’s purse. Bartender turns around to make her a gin and tonic. When he puts the drink on the bar in front of her, he picks up the egg wheel and puts it out of reach on the other side of the bar. Hmmm.

Caroline Thinks: I’ll come back for you egg wheel.

I am writing tonight from New York City to let you know that I have crossed two very important Food Must-Try-Before-I-Dies off my list! Although I have spent much of my time here inside working, I managed to sneak out in the evenings to a few special places.

Last night, I waited around the corner at the famed Magnolia Bakery for cupcakes. The snaking line was slow-moving and ripe with anticipation as we patiently plodded forward a foot per minute engulfed in a perfume of fresh baked cake and raw New York. Through the window, you can see greedy hands grabbing self-serve cupcakes and filling their boxes before waiting in another line to settle up.

By the time I got my turn inside, my hoarding mentality fueled by the grabby-paws around me, pushed me to fill my box with four cupcakes. At the counter, I battled a sassy New Yorker for the last piece of Red Velvet cake and finally topped off my purchase with a t-shirt that reads “Cupcakes make people happy.” We headed across the street to park benches and dove in to our bakery boxes.

Those cupcakes were pretty, fluffy, sugary and famous. And, I can’t wait to wear my new t-shirt. As for the cakes being the most delicious ever, well… some things are just worth the experience.

Tonight, I made my pilgrimage to Rice to Riches, a place that sells only rice pudding in a variety flavors with toppings. For years, I have been dying to try this place. I adore rice pudding and I am tickled that one can make enough money to afford NYC rent only selling rice pudding.

I ordered a double flavor dish with Banana Coconut Rice Pudding topped with Pound Cake Croutons and Traditional Rice Pudding topped with Sour Cherries. The flavors were unexpected, the experience was fun and the taste was satisfying. I couldn’t eat it all so I was given a cute snap-on lid and as I write, the remainder is next to me in my hotel ice bucket keeping cool and waiting for breakfast.

Sweet dreams.

A few weeks ago I found a package at my door, which consisted of a chunk of delicious sweet bread and a zip lock bag of mystery goop. An email from my delightfully fun and friendly neighbor, Liz, revealed that the bag was filled with starter for Amish Friendship Bread. The instructions that came along with it included a ten day waiting period during which you primarily let the yeast-y starter sit after mashing it daily. On the sixth day, you add some additional flour, sugar and milk then go back to the waiting game. The most suspicious part of the instructions were to keep it outside of the refrigerator, even after the milk was added. Since I am not overly worried about food borne disease I followed along, ate the bread and I am here to write about it.

Liz had left me a note saying that she wouldn’t feel bad if I tossed the starter and wasn’t up to the process. What she didn’t know is that I am the PERFECT candidate to be a link in the chain of the Amish Friendship Bread. I love surprises, new things, projects, baking and connecting with people and this bread endeavor covered the lot.

After the ten days of properly baby-sitting my starter, I made the bread per the recipe Liz had emailed me. Halfway through, it instructed to remove four cups of the batter and package each in a zip lock bag to pass along to four others. I passed along three of them and kept the fourth for myself to start the process again.

With the second batch (pictured above) I made a few adjustments by adding raisins to one loaf, replacing some of the oil with applesauce and removing the box of vanilla instant pudding from the original recipe.

Here, I must digress. Throughout the instructions, there are numerous reminders to keep the chain going because, “only the Amish know the secret to the bread.” Now, I don’t mean to be a bad sport because I am loving this chain bread thing… but, is there a chance that the Amish are driving their horse and buggies on the side of the road to the nearest supermarket for vanilla instant pudding to add to their secret bread?

Anyway, the bread was scrumptious and I find myself now with a few bags of starter and wondering who to give them to. I have decided that since it doesn’t require refrigeration and because it is easy to mail things anywhere in the United States in two days, there is no reason this Amish Friendship Bread needs to stay in Chicago.

So, if you

• will be home for the next six days
• can receive mail
• are interested in a friendly bread chain
• live in the United States (sorry foreign friends, customs officials probably wouldn’t like Amish Friendship Bread crossing borders)

then leave me a comment letting me know YOU WANT IN! If I have more than two interested recipients, I will randomly choose a few names on Tuesday, email you for your address and mail you the starter along with the instructions and the recipe.

Let the games begin.

Some experiences cannot be described in words. I just returned from a short trip to San Francisco where I enjoyed one of the best mornings of my life exploring the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market. For all food aficionados, appreciators of artisan products and nature lovers, this should be a pilgrimage top on your list.