Week #12- Charles (and the chocolate chip cookies)

As you can see from the title of this post, the Give and Bake Project is up to week twelve so far.  For the most part, the people I've encountered have been very wonderful and pleasant and grateful for something to snack on.  There have been a couple of people who seemed a bit indifferent and not too interested in chatting, but so far no one's actually been rude.  That changed on Friday with a bit of an interesting encounter with someone who actually started off extremely friendly.

I had heard about a very happy and chatty homeless man who spends his days on the lower level of Michigan Avenue bridge and makes small talk with the regular commuters who pass him each day.  So on Friday after work, I headed that way armed with a batch of chocolate chip cookies and lots of questions.  It was about 4:00, so the bridge wasn't very busy yet as it was a bit before rush hour.  As I approached, the man flashed me a big smile and said "Hey there! How ya doing? I'm the bridgekeeper!" I was delighted by his enthusiasm.  I offered up my cookies and his reply was "Can you instead go to McDonald's and get me a fish sandwich?"  I nervously laughed, hoping he was just joking around with me.  I realized he was serious when he figured out I wasn't going to get him a fish sandwich, and his tune quickly changed.

I managed to ask the "bridgekeeper" a couple of questions, although it was clear he was becoming more annoyed with each one.  I learned his name was Charles, and that some nights he stays at a mission and some nights he pays for a hotel.  He used to be a valet parker which he felt was the perfect job for him because he is so "friendly," but now he is 58 and doesn't want to work anymore.  I don't blame Charles for wanting to spend his days on the bridge. It's a very picturesque spot with a sweeping view of the Chicago River flowing out into Lake Michigan, the occasional architecture cruise full of happy tourists, and at the top of each hour, a rainbow fountain framing the entire scene.  And on this gorgeous and sunny Friday afternoon, who wouldn't be in a good mood with such a view?  But when I asked Charles if he has pretty good luck in that spot, he angrily replied "Only if you go away!" And with that, he shoved me a bit and exclaimed "Go on now, GET!"

Charles spends each day on the bridge and it's clear he is well known.  Every person who walked by him waved and smiled; it was clear he is a part of many people's daily routines.  I wonder if any of these people who are so kind to drop Charles a few dollars now and then have ever stopped to actually talk to him; if they had, I don't think Charles would be a part of their daily routine for much longer.

I don't expect to always be warmly received through the Give and Bake Project, but even on the rare occasion when I come across someone who's not very friendly, I still think there is a lesson to be learned.  Many of the people I have met so far have at first seemed a bit sullen and off-putting, and after chatting with them, they turned out to be such warm and kind people with interesting stories.  And then every now and then, I'll meet someone who seems very kind at first, and turns out to be not exactly the nicest person.  So the whole "don't judge a book by its cover" philosophy can definitely hold true in either direction, and it's important to give people your time and conversation before making up your mind about them.  Just maybe from now on, I might give people my time and conversation before deciding if I want to give up my cookies. ;)




Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 3 1/3 c flour
- 1/4 c sugar
- 1 c packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 c butter, room temperature
- 3 eggs
- 1 5.1 oz instant vanilla pudding dry mix
- 1 1/2 tbsp vanilla
- 2-3 c chocolate chips
- 1 c chopped walnuts (optional)

Cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar.  (A side note on the butter in all of my recipes... I definitely think room temperature works best; better than softening in the microwave.  So if you have the time, let your butter sit out for a few hours before beginning.)  Next beat in the instant pudding mix until blended.  Stir in the eggs and the vanilla.  Next blend in the flour and baking soda.  Lastly, mix in your chocolate chips.  Drop spoonfulls of dough onto ungreased cookie sheets.  If you want your cookies to come out nicely rounded, then roll the dough into a ball and slightly flatten it on the cookie sheet with the palm of  your hand.  Bake about 9 minutes on 350 degrees, being very careful not to overbake.  Let cool for several minutes on the sheet before removing.  Yields about 60 cookies, depending on size.

I've had several attempts before with chocolate chip cookies, and I don't know if it's this recipe or if I'm just getting a bit better at baking, but these turned out pretty well.  The pudding is supposed to help keep the cookies soft, and it sure worked here!

Week #11- Tracy and Shawn (and the chocolate cookies)

Everyone seems to come out of the woodwork during the summertime, and the city is bustling with all kinds of different people.  This includes the homeless as well; this time of year there seems to be not only more homeless people out on the sidewalks in general, but a more diverse group of people.  I think this summer could lead to some interesting Give and Bake stories, and I wanted to kick that off today by finding someone who really looked like they had a story to tell. I was pretty tempted to stop when I saw a man holding a cardboard sign reading “My girlfriend was kidnapped by ninjas- I need money for ransom.”  I’m sure this guy would have had plenty of stories to tell, but the problem is that I happen to be a fan of ninjas, so I can’t say I’d be on his side.  

I continued on my way, and came across two people who looked to be in their late 20’s asleep underneath the El on Lake Street.  They held a sign with the words “Homeless and Hungry” and had a picture of a small boy labeled as their son, Ryan.  I didn’t want to wake them, but figured they would probably be in need of some cookies, so I approached quietly.  They both quickly snapped out of their slumber and peered up with hopeful eyes.  I learned that their names were Tracy and Shawn.  They are married and came to Chicago recently from Florida.  They had a house and were paying a mortgage, but eventually realized the house was under someone else’s name and had to move out on the streets.  

Shawn suffers from bipolar disease. His doctor suggested that there may be more jobs in the Midwest, and bought the family bus tickets to Chicago.  Upon arrival, they unfortunately realized the job market didn’t seem very different.  Without insurance, Shawn’s medications cost nearly $700 each month, which he cannot afford.  And without medications to help control his disorder, he is unable to find a job.  Although she didn’t mention it specifically, from speaking with her, it seemed Tracy also faces similar challenges.  

At night, Tracy and Shawn ride the bus.  They said the trains are unsafe with a lot of drug and gang activity, and they prefer not to ride at night like other homeless people I have encountered choose to do.  I mentioned the free shelter a previous Give and Bake friend had told me about, but they said they try to stay away from the south side as they feel it is also unsafe.  They’ve been trying to get into the shelters on the North Side, but they are hard to get into.  

Tracy and Shawn have a two year old son named Ryan.  He was recently taken away from them by the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services, and they won’t be able to get him back until they can afford housing, which they won’t be able to do until they find jobs.  In the meantime, they are able to visit Ryan twice a week while he stays with a foster family.  They said the foster family seems to be a good family with a son Ryan’s age, so they are grateful for that.  

Shawn said he is willing to take any job he can find, but so far that hasn’t really been anything.  Hopefully something pulls through for him or Tracy soon so that this family can be reunited.  In the meantime, it’s so nice that there are people out there like Ryan’s foster family who step up to take good care of him until his mom and dad can get back on their feet.




Chocolate Cookies
-1 c butter (room temperature)
- 1 1/2 c sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 c flour
- 2/3 c baking cocoa
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- powdered sugar

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.  Beat in vanilla.  In a separate bowl, blend together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.  Gradually beat into the creamed mixture.  Refrigerate for an hour or until the dough is easy to handle.  Roll into one-inch balls, and place two inches apart on a baking sheet.  Flatten a bit with the palm of your hand.  Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 7 minutes.  Be sure not to overbake- it's better for this particular cookie to be on the soft/gooey side.  Sprinkle powdered sugar over the cookies immediately.  Let cool for a minute or two and transfer to cooling racks. 

This recipe yields approximately three dozen cookies.  I didn't love them at first, but I brought some to my softball team and they were even better received than the peanut butter cup treats, so I guess that means they must be pretty tasty!

Week #10- Dennis (and the snickerdoodles)

This afternoon I had to run an errand for work, so I thought I would make use of the mile walk back along Lake Street by searching for my new Give and Bake friend.  I knew I would find a lot of people in this area, so I wanted to carefully choose someone who looked like they had an interesting story to tell.  While there ended up being nearly one person for every block I passed (a bit of a sad realization), many of them tended to be asleep or ended up walking away as I neared his spot.  I was getting closer to my destination, and I found a man wearing a dark fleece top on this 95 degree afternoon.  This fella must have been having a rough day, so I wanted to see if I could make it at least a bit brighter.

My new friend's name was Dennis, and unfortunately it seemed homelessness wasn't the only trouble he has been facing.  Dennis wasn't able to chat with me very much or answer many of my questions.  I gathered that he had been homeless for about six months, and before that he had been in the hospital.  I couldn't understand what he said he was in the hospital for- he repeated it over and over and I eventually realized it was either a rash or psychiatric disorder.  Based on our brief interaction, it seemed to be the latter. 

Even though I couldn't get much of a story out of Dennis, I was very glad to see that he enjoyed the cookies.  He tore into them immediately and ate them so fast he ended up accidentally spitting some of the crumbs out onto me.  It was a bit of an interesting moment, but at least he realized and apologized.

I wished Dennis well and continued on my walk.  The next block, I found a very jovial homeless man singing to passerbys and dancing around a bit with a cane.  I was dying to know this man's story, but would have felt bad approaching him without anything to offer.  Hopefully I can find him again another week, but if not, today of all days has proved that there unfortunately is a seemingly endless number of homeless people in this city.  And even though Dennis may have not been the most chatty character, you definitely don't have to be talkative to need some cheer.  As my mom always says, "It takes all kinds!"




Snickerdoodles
- 1/2 c butter, room temperature
- 1/2 c shortening
- 1 1/2 c white sugar
- 2 3/4 c flour
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Cream together butter, shortening, sugar, the 1 1/2 cups of sugar, eggs, and vanilla.  Next mix (by hand) in the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt until a well blended dough forms.  Shape the dough into balls, roll in the cinnamon and sugar mixture, and place 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake on 400 degrees for about 8 minutes and cool for a minute before transferring to cooling racks.  This particular recipe yields approximately four dozen cookies. 

Week #9- Jessie (and the peanut butter cup treats)

Last Friday I set out on my weekly mini-adventure to find a new Give and Bake friend.  When I bake treats, I usually bake extra and bring them into my office.  The peanut butter cup treats were definitely the most popular of everything I've baked so far, so I felt like I had to find an extra special new friend this week. 

Outside Garrett's Popcorn on Randolph, I found a man holding a cup and smiling at passerbys.  This poor fella had been standing there all day, inhaling the delicious scent of rich caramel and cheesy popcorn.  I'd probably only make it 10 minutes before busting through the door and diving headfirst into the giant tubs of popcorn goodness, so I decided he was absolutely deserving of some goodies. 

Jessie has been homeless for about three months.  A year ago, he lost his job as a cashier at a grocery store when the store went out of business (I forget the name of the store- that's what happens when I wait three days to write things down).  He collected unemployment for six months, and then about three months after that ran out of funds and had to move out.  He's been searching for jobs steady for the past year, but hasn't been able to find one yet.  He visits Harold Washington Library every day to search and apply for postings online, and also visits the unemployment office twice each week to see what's new on the job board there.

I asked Jessie where he stays at night, and he said there is a free homeless shelter on California Ave.  I'm going to have to do some research on this one and potentially share it with some of my Give and Bake friends- no one I have come across before seems to have heard of it.  Most people either save up the $20 for the shelter downtown, or they ride the train all night at the risk of being arrested.  Jessie echoed others sentiments in saying that the shelter downtown is not a good place to be.  In addition to the bed bugs, there is also a major theft problem.  I'm so glad he Jessie is savvy enough to have found a safe place to sleep.

Jessie said he doesn't have any family, and also doesn't have any friends.  He said he is a loner and has never been good at making friends, which shocked me a bit as he has terrific people skills.  He was very friendly with everyone who walked by, and even ran out of his way to open the door for someone in a wheelchair.  You'd think that would be common courtesy for anyone, especially those hoping to collect loose change, but you'd be surprised.  Some of the people I have met through this project stand idly by while watching others struggle to open the door with a baby in a stroller, etc.  That's why it seemed strange that this kind gentleman would have any difficulty at all making friends or even finding another job.  But persistence and patience always seem to pay off, so if he keeps at it, I'm sure his personality will keep shining and eventually an employer will recognize what he could offer their organization.


A quick update on Linda from last week- I chatted with her briefly again on Friday.  She remembered me immediately and gave me a big hug.  Linda's been a busy beaver in the week since I last talked to her! She told me that she found an apartment on the south side for $79/month.  She's $20 shy and asked me for it.  I felt terrible saying no, but I think it's probably best not to give my new friends money until I'm 100% sure that it's going towards something legit.  It's not that I don't trust her, but I just know I can be quite a gullible one. So I instead asked her if she has gotten her ID yet.  She did actually get her birth certificate, so now she is ready to get her state ID.  I'm going to meet up with her sometime this week and we'll go together to get her an ID and hopefully on her way to a job. 




Peanut Butter Cup Treats
- 1 3/4 c flour
- 1/2 c white sugar
- 1/2 c brown sugar (packed)
- 1/2 c peanut butter
- 1/2 c flour
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp milk
- Approx 40 frozen mini peanut butter cups

Cream together butter, sugar, peanut butter, and brown sugar until thoroughly mixed.  Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and milk.  Add in the flour, salt, and baking soda- beat until well blended.  Shape into balls and place into mini muffin tins (balls should be a bit smaller than the tin size).  Bake for approximately 7 minutes on 375 degrees.  While they are baking, unwrap the peanut butter cups.  When the treats are done baking, let cool for a minute or two (this will help prevent cracking) and then press one peanut butter cup down into each treat.  Carefully remove from the pan- I've found the best way is to gently pop each one out with a butter knife.

Week #8- Linda (and the cheesecake bites)

With the exception of Willy's wife Shirley, all the people I have met through the Give and Bake Project have been men.  I've been curious to learn the stories of some of Chicago's homeless women, so when I saw a lady collecting change outside of Walgreen's on Michigan and Lake yesterday, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity.

I started with my usual opening line of "Hi, do you like cheesecake?" and held out my plate of goodies.  "Oh, I love you" she replied with an exhausted smile. I asked her what brought her out there, and her story is easily the most heartbreaking of all I've heard during these first eight weeks.  Linda has two children, ages 9 and 13.  She ran away from her husband six months ago, after she reached a breaking point.  Her husband used to beat her on a daily basis when she didn't have any money for him to buy drugs.  She knew she had to leave when her 9-year-old said to her "If he touches you one more time, I'm going to kill him."  So Linda took off with her two children and hasn't seen her husband since.  She prays he never finds her.

While the children are at school during the day, Linda tries to collect money for them to have a place to sleep at night.  As I've heard from other friends I've met through this project, the homeless shelters downtown are completely infested with bed bugs, so she tries to raise $27 each day to take them to a hotel on the south side. In the four hours that she had been standing outside of Walgreen's, she had only raised about $2, so her day wasn't looking great.  When she doesn't have the money for the hotel, she takes the children to ride the train up and down all night.  She was especially stressed because the night prior, the police had told her that if they catch her riding the train one more night, they were going to have child services take her children away.  She had been thrown in jail one night before as a result of riding the train, and luckily a kind stranger came to her rescue and took her children in for the night.  But the threat of having her children taken away permanently was an entirely new worry for her.

I asked Linda about any family or friends who might be able to help her.  She is an only child, and her mother passed away several years ago.  Next I asked her if she might be able to get a job.  She explained that recently she did have a job offer, but she couldn't get her Illinois State ID in time.  She left everything behind when she ran away from her husband, so she has to buy a new ID, and for that she also needs to buy a new birth certificate.  It costs $30, which she just hasn't been able to come up with.  She's contemplating selling her body for money- something she's never done before, but with summer coming and the children almost out of school, she is becoming increasingly desperate.

During my conversation with Linda, I really had to resist the urge to empty out my bank account and help this poor woman and her children.  It was really tough, but when I started this project I had to promise myself I wouldn't get into the habit of giving each new friend money.  However, despite Linda being excited about the cheesecakes and telling me her kids would "tear right into them," I walked away feeling like I hadn't done enough.  I decided that if I do see Linda again, I'm going to go with her down to City Hall and help her get her birth certificate and ID.  Giving her $27 would only help her for a night, but hopefully we can get this sweet lady the means to apply for a job and get her on the path to putting a roof over her children's heads. 

Stay tuned on this one...



Cheesecake Bites
- 2 8 oz. package of cream cheese (room temperature- very important)
- 3/4 c white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract

This particular recipe yields 55-60 mini cheesecakes- it can easily be halved.  First line a mini muffin tin with mini cupcake liners.  Then the beauty of this recipe is you can customize it however you want and with whatever you have on hand.  Choose your crust- you can use vanilla wafers (crushed or whole), oreo crust, graham cracker crust, etc.  I went with graham cracker crust- finely crush about 5-6 full crackers and mix with 6 tbsp margarine or butter and 6 tbsp sugar.  Scoop about half a tbsp and press into the bottom of each mini muffin liner.  Then in a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla with an electric beater until light and fluffy.  Spoon cream cheese mixture into each mini muffin liner until nearly full.  Bake on 350 for about 11-12 minutes.  Don't let your cheesecakes crack- that means they are a bit too done.  I thought I took mine out too early as when they cooled they looked a little wet and sunk in the middle, but they still tasted great.  Put them in the fridge to cool completely, and then add your favorite topping.  I went with raspberry pie filling, but you can use any kind of fruit, jam, nuts, caramel, chocolate... the options are endless!

Week #7- Rodney (and the rhubarb bars)

My go-to area for the Give and Bake Project is usually around State Street in the Loop.  This is good because it's usually easy to find someone around there, and also because it's a very safe and lively area.  It's bad because it's also home to many of my favorite stores, and I am easily distracted.  So I was a bit glad when I saw a man shakin' his money-maker (well, shaking his cup) outside of Walgreen's right across the street from my work, a safe distance away from shiny new shoes and flouncy new sundresses.  Just as I was about to approach him, I saw another man about 10 feet away almost eyeing this first gentleman up.  Curious as I was to learn about the dynamics of change-collecting turf, I would have felt bad for not having two plates and forks, so I thought it best to look for someone else.  And good thing I did.

I walked one more block and saw a man outside of Starbucks- the same man I had seen when I walked by at lunch six hours earlier.  It has been a cold and drizzly day, and I noticed at lunchtime that this fella did not have an umbrella (although he said he found one lying on the sidewalk after the rain stopped), so he had certainly earned some goodies.  Normally I begin my conversations by walking up to the person and saying "Do you like (whatever I have baked)?" but as soon as the words came out of my mouth, I knew how this conversation was going to go.  And sure enough, his reply was "what is rhubarb?"  Rhubarb is a pretty hard thing to describe, and I knew showing the bars to him wouldn't help.  As anyone who bakes with rhubarb knows, it's a very tasty feature but doesn't exactly look appetizing.  So I handed him the plate and tried to piece together a description, but luckily while I was talking he tore back the tinfoil, grabbed a big fork full, and exclaimed "This is GOOD!"  I knew I was going to like Rodney.

Rodney has been homeless for about seven months.  He was working for a construction company, but the project folded and he hasn't been able to find a new one.  He explained that winter is a very tough time to find jobs, and that he's been applying to anything and everything but an opportunity just hasn't lined up for him quite yet.  He is very hopeful that things will pick up in the summertime, because of both the weather and the tourism.  Luckily, Rodney has some great friends who let him crash on their couches.  He lives very far on the south side, but he likes to hang outside of Starbucks on Michigan and Lake most days as he has had pretty good luck there with collecting change and sometimes a little something to eat.

While I was chatting with Rodney, an onlooker came up and wondered what I was doing.  I explained that I was just bringing Rodney some bars I had baked.  This man said to Rodney "when a woman bakes for you, you need to buy her a cup of coffee!" and proceeded to give Rodney $5 to go inside of Starbucks and buy me something.  I politely but adamantly declined- although a sweet gesture, I'm sure Rodney can use $5 much more than me and my already-too-high energy level need a cup of caffeine.  But when I started chatting with this onlooker and explaining a bit about my blog, Rodney seemed glad for the distraction.  He flew back to the rhubarb and said "I can't stop eating this!"  Then he ran past us with the plate saying "I need to have my friend try some of this."  When he came back out I asked him who his friend was.  He pointed to a man sitting inside drinking coffee and reading a book- apparently he frequents the Starbucks (and Rodney) quite often.  Rodney says that he sees many of the same people each day and makes a lot of friends that way.

Rodney's friendliness and energy sure made my day, and I hope that my treats really did make his day a little bit brighter too.  I love his optimism and confidence that he will find a job soon, and his willingness to get into the trenches with any opportunity he is able to find.  Hopefully one day soon I'll walk downtown to find Rodney hanging out inside one of these little shops with the friends he's made, and not just having to hope for loose change outside of one.




Rhubarb Bars
- 2 1/2 c flour
- 2/3 c powdered sugar
- 1 c butter, softened
- 1 3/4 c sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 eggs
- 5 c chopped rhubarb

Mix together butter, powdered sugar, and 2 cups of the flour until it becomes dough-like.  Press into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan (you don't have to spray the bottom of the pan, but do spray the sides).  Bake for 10 minutes on 350 degrees.  In the meantime, whisk together sugar, salt, remaining flour, and eggs until very well blended.  Stir in rhubarb. When the crust is done baking, spread this mixture over it, and bake another 40 minutes or until edges look a bit brown.  Cool completely before cutting- these end up being a bit runny so it helps to refrigerate them.  They aren't the prettiest dessert, so if presentation is your game, you may want to add a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

Week #6- Lawrence (and the applesauce spice bars)

So far I've been pretty lucky with the Give and Bake Project in that I've met some neat people with quite interesting stories.  But I suppose it's bound to happen that I'll have a week when the person just doesn't feeling like talking very much.  Getting my new friend Lawrence to have a conversation was just a tad like pulling teeth (appropriate because I found him outside my dentist's office).  Oh well, we can't all be chatterboxes!

Lawrence was pretty excited to have my applesauce spice bars, so he scored points in my book just for that.  I couldn't take another s'mores kind of day!  He did tell me that he is homeless and stays at the shelter in the Loop.  He is homeless because he doesn't have income- he said he can't work because of a hand injury. He's from Chicago and his family is still here but they can't help him because they are struggling to support themselves.  He uses the money he collects on Washington Street for food and to wash his clothes.  He is trying to tuck a little away to eventually save for an apartment. 

Lawrence may not have the gift of gab, but doggoneit, he did have the good sense to wear snowpants in May (which he got a great chuckle out of), so that makes him a-o-k in my eyes!




Applesauce Spice Bars
- 1/4 c butter, softened
- 2/3 c brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 c applesauce
- 1 c flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp nutmeg)

Mix together butter, brown sugar, and egg. Stir in applesauce. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Blend until smooth. Bake in 9x13 greased pan on 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes. 

Despite the name of the recipe, this didn't end up tasting like applesauce to me.  The taste and texture was much more like spice cake, but they were very thin like bars. You could use a smaller pan and adjust the bake time if you wanted it to come out thicker like cake. Be careful not to overdo the nutmeg- a little goes a long way here.  You can top with frosting, powdered sugar, or leave plain.  I whipped up some frosting with a couple cups of powdered sugar, a few splashes of milk, and a drop of vanilla.

Week #5- Tony and Maurice (and the s'mores bars)

So many stories tonight, where to begin!  I suppose at the beginning, with my choice of baked goods for the week.  I think everyone is becoming restless waiting for summer.  I know I for one am about ready to just ignore the fact that it's 40 degrees out, throw on a sundress, and head to the beach.  So why not imagine I have a campfire going and make some s'mores bars?  Chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers- what's not to love?  Right?  Apparently not so much.

There is a man who lost his legs who always hangs out around Michigan and Wacker, so I thought I'd share the summer spirit (and my s'mores bars) with him.  "Hi! Do you like s'mores?"  "No, I have bad teeth so I don't eat sweets."  Okay... fair enough.  Although I have to say that's never stopped me.  But I won't hold that against my new friend, so I asked him about his story.  His name was Tony, and he lost his legs two years ago.  He was living on lower Wacker and ended up with a terrible combination of frostbite, gangrene, and diabetes.  I asked him how he ended up living on lower Wacker to begin with, and while I never really discovered how he became homeless, I did learn that he originally had a home in Baltimore.  He came to Chicago years ago to try to find a friend he met while in the military.  He did find his friend, although he didn't really tell me what became of that.  My favorite part of Tony's story is what he's up to now.  He currently lives in an apartment funded by and agency, so he's saving the funds he collects on the street to try and obtain a copyright for a book he wrote.  I can't remember the name of this book (maybe this project can also be an exercise for my short-term memory), but he said it's based on the bible and the struggles that he has faced in life.  I so love when I meet people like Tony who have run into such hard times but still try to make the best of it and even try to create a better future for themselves.  Next time I see Tony I'll have to write down the name of that book so I can keep my eye out and see if anything ever becomes of it.

Although it was nice to meet and talk to Tony, I still had a plate of s'mores bars in my hands and therefore felt like I hadn't really accomplished my mission for the night.  A few days ago, my good friend and idea-contributor Cindy suggested that I eventually circle back to some of the people I've met so far and write a little update on them.  Given that it was such a beautiful day, I was certain I'd find Willy from week #1 at his post outside Bockwinkel's and thought this could be the perfect opportunity for that.  But before I headed that way, I had to run and errand on State Street.  Outside the store I was going into, there was a man sitting on the ground holding a cardboard sign saying "I'm homeless, anything helps." I thought okay, this is a sign.  Literally and figuratively.  I can have two stories in one week- why not! 

I started the same way I had with Tony- "Hi! Do you like s'mores?"  His response? "No, I don't like marshmallows."  Well, actually before that it was "What are s'mores?"  I don't know if I was more disappointed that he didn't want my bars, or that he didn't know what s'mores were.  Even so, I stopped to chat with my second new friend.  His name was Maurice.  Maurice is originally from Minnesota.  He moved here for a job managing a fast-food restaurant. That went out of business nine months ago, and he hasn't been able to find work since then.  The only family he has is his mother, but she lives in a nursing home back in Minnesota.  He's actively looking for a new job and is hoping to find one soon.  I went into the store and when I came back out he said "Shelley! Think you can help me out with a couple dollars?" I told him I never carry cash- which is true.  Then he asked me if I could buy him some Garrett's popcorn from across the street.  I apologized and explained that once a week I bake something and give it to a homeless person in the area, and I'm trying not to get into the habit of buying extra things for the people I meet, because then I'd probably end up one of them.  So he asked me if I could instead make him some vanilla cake sometime.  I can't say plain 'ol vanilla cake is my favorite thing to bake, but we'll see, Maurice.  We'll see.

So that was two different rejections for my s'mores bars, and one person who even requested something else entirely.  My baking ego needed a pick-me-up, so I was really hoping to run into one of my friends from weeks past who I knew would gladly take any and all of my sweets.  First I passed underneath the Wabash el stop where I met Ted during week #3.  I got really excited for a moment because I saw someone leaning on a cane and I thought it was him.  As I got closer, I realized it was actually a lady- someone I haven't met yet.  I thought about stopping for a third story, but I honestly didn't think I could remember anything else at the moment- it was only thirty minutes since meeting Tony and I had already forgotten the name of his book!  Also, my bars couldn't take a third heartbreak.  But I've seen her in that area before, so now I know who I'm looking to meet next week.  Yeesh, I probably should have stopped and asked her what treats she likes to be safe!

I continued on toward home, feeling pretty good that I'd come across Willy.  And sure enough, there he was, in his usual spot.  I asked him if he remembered me, and he couldn't place me until I reminded him of the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. "Ohhhh yes!  Those were so, so good!  They were so moist!!"  Whew, there's the ego boost I needed!  Willy told me that later on in the cold and rainy night I last saw him, someone had given him $20 so he and his wife could spend the night at the homeless shelter.  Wait, back up, wife?  He never mentioned a wife!  "Oh sure- there she is over there."  He pointed across the street to a woman limping with a walker.  "She got shot in the projects a while back.  There's a lot of anger over there.  When people get to live in the project housing, they are seen as high-class in the area and the people who don't get to live there get jealous and mad.  Shirley got caught in the crossfire of one of those fights."  We chatted some more and he told me that Shirley loves sweets and will be glad to have my s'mores bars.  I said goodbye to Willy for the night and crossed the street to meet his wife of 15 years.

Shirley was a delightful lady with a bright smile.  After I introduced myself, she grabbed my hand, squeezed it tight, and said "Oh, that's very close to my name! I can remember that!"  She kept laughing at herself for being so out of breath.  She stays across the street from Willy so she can rest on the hotel steps now and then, but she gets kicked off if she stays too long.  Therefore, she has to keep switching steps, and with her injury it's no easy feat.  Behind her smile, you could tell she was in a lot of pain.  I think I'm going to keep a couple advils on hand from now on in case I see her again.  Shirley politely asked me if I might be able to help her get something to eat.  I said well sure, I actually just dropped off some s'mores bars with Willy.  She seemed a bit disappointed, although this time I think it had less to do with what kind of bars they were and more to do with it being a dessert in general.  I think she was hoping for something more substantial.  While I was talking to Willy, a man around my age come out of the store and said "Hey Willy! My man! What's going on!" and gave him a Pepsi and a Milky Way.  I remember during my last visit with Willy, he had similar snacks sitting next to him.  I have a feeling this happens a lot- well meaning people bringing them treats.  I am pretty certain I have the biggest sweet tooth of anyone I know, but even I know there's a limit.  Next time I see them, I might have to see about getting a little PB&J in their tummies. 

That has to be a universally yummy and nutritious meal that no one can turn down.... right?




S'mores Bars
- 3 c crushed graham crackers
- 3/4 c melted butter
- 1/3 c sugar
- 1 bag mini marshmallows
- 1 bag chocolate chips

Mix the crackers, butter, and sugar.  Press half of that into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.  Spread out marshmallows.  Spread out chocolate chips on top of that.  Next press the remaining graham cracker crumbs on top.  Bake on 350 for about 10 minutes.  Press down firmly with a spatula immediately after taking out of the oven.  These bars are going to be deliciously messy no matter what, but if you want them to be easier to cut, chill them in the fridge for a few hours first.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can really modify the amount of marshmallows and chocolate chips however you want in order to achieve your ideal mallow-chocolate ratio. 

Week #4- Marcus (and the banana bread)

The crummy weather we've been having this spring has been unpleasant for everyone in one way or another.  But the people who probably feel the affects more than most are Chicago's homeless.  Although I couldn't tell you exactly where, I assume most try to seek out some sort of shelter when it's cold and rainy, and therefore on days like today it's a bit harder to meet someone for the Give and Bake Project.  But I didn't get up at 6:00 this morning to bake banana bread for nothing- I'm into this project and for the moment going to adopt the motto of the postal service.  Neither rain nor sleet nor... some other weather condition that I can't remember off the top of my head is going to prevent me from carrying out my mission for the week.

I was determined to find someone in need today, so I started heading toward the Loop where there tends to be the highest concentration of people at 5:00 in the evening.  While passing the Cosi on Wabash and Lake, I noticed a man who looked around the age of 30.  He seemed relatively put together- he had nice enough clothes on, a nice backpack, and just didn't fit the profile of most of the truly homeless people I come across.  Yet he had a cup and was asking people for change.  I see this every now and then- people who really don't seem like they'd be homeless but they are begging people for money.  My immediate reaction is to be a bit judgmental and skeptical, but that's what I'm trying to rid myself of by doing this project.  So before making a decision about this person, I thought it would only be fair to hear his story first.  After all, you would probably have to be in a bit of a dire situation if you are willing to stand on the sidewalk and ask complete strangers for loose change in 40 degrees and rain.

I started off by (politely) getting straight to the point- what was he planning to do with the money he collects?  He said he spends most of the money he collects either on food or train passes to get to and from work.  Well, if he has a job, then why does he need to collect change?  He explained that he has a part-time job right now detailing cars, but he works mostly for tips, and because it's been so rainy, most people haven't exactly been jumping in line to spruce up their cars.  All right, makes sense.

I didn't want to come straight out and ask this guy if he was homeless.  But I was still curious- what would put him in a situation where he has to resort to asking strangers for help?  So I instead asked him if he lived nearby.  He said that for the past three weeks he has been staying at the homeless shelter in Oak Park.  Prior to that, he made some less-than-stellar decisions that resulted in him being out of a home.  He moved in with someone and didn't think to do any research or sign anything.  He paid this person first and last months rent- really everything he had at the moment.  One day he came home to find a pink eviction notice on his door.  It turned out his roommate hadn't been paying the rent at all, but instead had been pocketing his money. 

I eventually introduced myself and learned his name was Marcus.  I told him I didn't have any money for him, but I did have some homemade banana bread.  While Marcus may not have had the typical profile of the people I aim to meet with this project, that doesn't make him any less worthy of empathy.  Who of us hasn't made bad decisions- perhaps even bad roommate decisions?  Marcus recently interviewed for a line cook position with Famous Dave's, and if he gets it, plans to start saving for a studio of his own.  I hope he lands his new gig and that it won't be long before he looks back at this (hopefully short) time in his life as a learning experience and turning point.  We all mistakes- it's what we do next and how we recover that counts the most.



Banana Bread
- 1 1/2 c flour
- 3/4 c sugar
- 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 egg whites (or 1/4 c liquid egg whites)
- 2 extremely ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/4 c applesauce

Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.  Add egg whites, bananas, and applesauce.  Stir until JUST combined.  Pour into greased loaf pans.  I use 3 mini loaves and bake on 350 for about 20 minutes. 

I tend to over-optimistically grocery shop.  I always buy a ton of fruits and vegetables and then don't eat it all in time.  At least bananas can be salvaged by baking.  But the problem is that baking can kind of negate the good intentions of buying the fruits and veggies in the first place.  As you may have noticed with the ingredients, this recipe is pretty low fat (but not low on yummy-ness) and therefore you get to skip the guilt!  I would not, however, try to take it one step further and substitute Splenda or whole-wheat flour.  Learned that the hard way. 

Another side note- I find this bread to be better after sitting in a Ziploc bag overnight.  But then again I like my baked goods more on the moist side; all a matter of personal preference really. 

Week #3- Ted (and the peanut butter cream cheese brownies)

The homeless and financially troubled people who I encounter are pretty savvy- they tend to choose spots crowded with either tourists, shoppers, or evening commuters.  And by being two of those three tonight, I met Ted. 

Walking down Randolph after work on my way to hit up the State Street shops, I noticed Ted standing underneath the Wabash Street El stop.  At first I wondered why he was standing; most people I come across in this situation tend to be sitting down.  After all, they usually have long days and it's tough to be on your feet for that amount of time.  But as I got close, I noticed he was hunched over and supported by a cane.  I was very curious to hear Ted's story.

After introducing myself, I apologized that I didn't have any change for the styrofoam cup he was extending, but told him I did have some brownies for him.  I was delighted by his reaction.  "I LOVE brownies!" he exclaimed with a bright smile.  I knew then that I had picked the right new friend for the day.  I asked Ted what his story was.  He told me he has a crooked back and is waiting for Supplemental Security to come in so that he can afford surgery.  As someone with severe scoliosis who needed surgery as well, I completely sympathize with him.  It also makes me feel very lucky and blessed that I had the means to correct my scoliosis at the age of 13.  Severe back issues certainly progress with age, and it's unfortunate that Ted's progressed to the point where he was no longer able to do his job performing maintenance and subsequently lost both his income and a means to provide for himself.

On the bright side, unlike the other friends I've met so far through the Give and Bake Project, Ted has a supportive family here in Chicago.  He may be out of his own home temporarily, but he stays with his brother three nights a week and his sister the other four.  He rotates because he is worried about becoming a burden to either of them.  During the daytime, he tries to collect change so he can support himself in some small way while he waits to fully get back on his own feet again.

Ted is planning for his Supplemental Security Income to kick in within the next month, and after that he will begin to search for a qualified doctor to fix his back.  I asked him if he plans to go back to maintenance work after he is healed.  I was so impressed to hear that Ted has even bigger goals.  "I'm going to start my own business! I'm really good at plumbing, painting, fixing things- I'm a great handyman!" A warm smile came across his face as he shared with me the inspiration for his plan. "I learned from my dad.  He owned six buildings and taught me how to do everything I know." 

Although I didn't ask him his age, Ted looks to be in his mid to late 50s.  It's so incredibly inspiring that despite his age, he still has big plans and goals for himself.  I think there is a great deal to be learned from my new friend: no matter your age or hardships you may be faced with, never stop chasing your dreams.



Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Brownies
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 2 1/4 cups white sugar
- 3/4 cup butter (melted)
- 4 eggs
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 2 tbsp milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt

In a medium sized bowl, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter, 1/4 cup sugar, milk, and 1 egg until smooth.

In a large bowl, mix melted butter, 2 cups of sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. (This batter comes out quite thick, but don't worry, you're doing it right.)

Technically, these brownies are supposed to be marbled, but I fudged this step up.  If you want to make your brownies all marbley and pretty, here's what you do.  Grease a 9x13 pan.  Set aside one cup of the cocoa mixture (this is the step I skipped), and spread the rest of the cocoa mixture into the pan.  Pour the peanut butter mixture next, and then the remaining chocolate mixture.  Take a butter knife and drag it through the batter, back and forth each way across the pan until a marbled affect takes place.

Bake the brownies on 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (will depend on your oven).  I have to say, I've always been a huge advocate of boxed brownies and never saw a need to make brownies from scratch.  But surprisingly, as much as I love my friends Pillsbury and Duncan Hines, I think these are even better!

Week #2- John (and the peanut butter oatmeal cookies)

First off, I just want to thank those of you who reached out with such kind words over the past week.  I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested in reading, but planned to keep this project up regardless.  I've been so pleasantly surprised by the response I've received!  Your sweet words of support make me even more excited and motivated to continue The Give and Bake Project.

Today I met a friend for lunch in River North, and armed with a bag full of peanut butter oatmeal cookies, thought I'd take the long route back along Michigan Avenue.  It's a cold and biting day here in Chicago, so at first there didn't appear to be any homeless people seeking help along the avenue.  As I crossed the over the Chicago River and neared my place of work, I decided that I may just have to put my project on pause for the afternoon and look again tomorrow.  Right then I noticed John huddled up in a nook at the base of a Michigan Avenue bridge watchtower.

I crossed the street, offered him the cookies, and introduced myself.  I told him it was nice to meet him, and he very curteously replied "the pleasure is all mine."  He explained that the Michigan Ave. bridge is his spot of choice during the day, and while it sometimes it can be a good place to collect change from passing tourists and businesspeople, today he hasn't been too lucky so far.  Perhaps there is time in the day for his luck to turn around, for right after he said that, a sweet little girl walked up to him and dropped a handful of change into his cup.

I pointed out that he was smart to pick out the spot nestled in one of the watchtowers, as it seemed to be relatively shieded from the wind whipping down the river.  He agreed, but said that he was still quite cold.  On nights like this when conditions are less than ideal for sleeping outdoors, he tries to stay at the housing shelter in the Loop.  When he doesn't have the cash for that, he'll hop on a train and ride it end to end until morning.

John is originally from Arkansas, but moved up here about a year ago for a job in construction.  After three months of working, the company lost funding for the project, and John found himself out of work and therefore out of income.  Since then he has worked odd jobs here and there, mostly as a dishwasher, but they generally didn't last long.  He's had a few apartments, but his income hasn't allowed him to keep up with his rent, putting him in what seems to be the all-too-common cycle of homelessness in Chicago.

John's family is all still down in Arkansas, and he hopes to relocate back there soon.  His hold-up is that he doesn't have the funds; most of the cash he does find himself with is spent on food or a night of warmth at the shelter.  I did get the sense that there may be more to his story- perhaps he hasn't returned to Arkansas yet because he is worried he let his family down?- but I certainly didn't want to pry.  However, I did chat with him enough to gather that he has clearly hit a rough patch in his life.  All I can do is hope that, like the point in our conversation where the little girl tossed him her contribution and well wishes, John will soon reach a point where things turn around for him.  I hope that when that happens, he makes his way back home for his family to welcome him with open arms.




Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
(Side note- this recipe yields four dozen but can easily be halved)
-1/2 cup shortening
-1/2 cup butter (softened)
-1 cup packed brown sugar
-3/4 cup white sugar
-1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky- take your pick!)
-2 eggs
-1 1/2 cups flour
-2 tsp baking soda
-1 tsp salt
-1 cup quick-cooking oats

Cream together shortening, butter, both sugars, and peanut butter until smooth.
Beat in eggs, one at a time.
Mix in flour, baking soda, and salt.
Stir in oats until just combined.
Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets.
The original recipe calls for baking 10-15 minutes on 350, but it really depends on your baking sheets and your oven.  I bake mine for 8 minutes, then let them sit for a few minutes before taking them off the sheets.  The result is a slightly crisp but still soft and chewy treat that will hold up for days in an airtight container.

Two Christmases ago, my former roommates and I had just finished infusing our apartment with the holiday spirit.  With the sound of Christmas carols in the air and the twinkling of our tree lights, all we were missing was the smell of cookies baking in the oven.  So we took an inventory of our baking supplies and chose peanut butter as the theme.  We did a quick search on http://www.allrecipes.com/ and chose this one.  It's easy to make, always turns out yummy, and as result has been added to my recipe box as one of my favorites to bake and share.

Credit: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Oatmeal-Peanut-Butter-Cookies/Detail.aspx

Week #1- Willy (and the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies)

Like I often do after my work day ends, tonight I stopped by Bockwinkel's on Stetson and South Water to grab some ingredients for dinner.  But tonight instead of exiting the doors and ignoring the man who always sits outside, I strode up to him and gave him a bag of cookies.  He smiled brightly, thanked me, and tucked them in his coat.  Okay, I have to admit I was kind of hoping he'd tear into them right away and tell me how amazing they are and how I'm the best baker in the world.  But seeing as his entire pantry of food consisted of some leftover soup and a Pepsi that another Bockwinkel's patron had dropped off earlier in the day, I suppose it made sense for him to ration the cookies. That, or maybe he just doesn't believe in eating pumpkin in the springtime.  We may never know.

I then sat down on the cold concrete next to him and thought about what it must have been like to sit there all day long.  I can see his spot outside the grocery store from my office window, and each time I looked outside on this unusually cold and foggy April day, I saw him curled up on the ground.  I introduced myself and asked him his name.  He said his name was Willy, and immediately launched into an almost apologetic explanation of why he wasn't at the homeless shelter.  "I try to sleep there one or two nights a week when I have the $20 cash, but the place is just so full of bed bugs and I hate having the bites all over me for days."  I certainly don't blame him!  He said the other nights of the week when it's too cold to sleep outside, he heads to one of the nearby hospitals, where the security guards generally don't kick him out until around 5 a.m. I wondered how he had become homeless to begin with, and he said he shared an apartment with his brother up until about five years ago.  His brother had contracted AIDS from a random hook-up and unfortunately passed away, leaving Willy broke and out on the streets.  He had eight brothers and four sisters, but four other brothers were killed in gang violence several years ago.  He no longer has any contact with any of his remaining family members, not even during the holidays, although they all reside on the south side of Chicago. 

I asked Willy about a job.  He said years and years ago (he is now 52, but I have to say has aged remarkably well despite his circumstances) he used to work for a furniture company near McCormick Place, but he became an alcoholic and lost the job.  Although he hasn't had a drink since, he said he has a hard time finding work now because every place requires you to have a phone, or at the very least a permanent address.

While Willy and I were chatting on this somewhat busy street corner, several people passed us.  One woman walked by with a small white dog, and she waved hello to Willy.  He said he sees her every day.  Not many people take the time to talk to him, but he said he always watches out for the ones who do.  "Nobody will ever be messing with my people.  If they try, they'll learn real quick they came to the wrong place!"  Willy certainly seems to have had a hard go at life, but it's nice to know that through it all, his heart is still in the right place.

I enjoyed chatting with Willy, and as he's usually camped out along one of my routes home from work, I'm sure I'll chat with him again sometime.  All in all I would also consider this a successful first week, and I hope to continue The Give and Bake Project by meeting other homeless people in my area.  I would like to incorporate more photos, but for some reason I would have felt like a creeper just asking Willy for his photo for my blog- maybe I'll delusionaly convince myself that I'm not a weirdo by next week and take some next time.

Until then, I'm hoping the rain holds out for my new friend, and that he falls asleep tonight with a happy and full tummy. :)




Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 1 (18.5 oz) box of spice cake mix
- 1 (15 oz) can of pumpkin
Simply mix these two ingredients together.  At first it will seem like the mix is too dry and that it won't blend, but trust me, it will.  Feel free to add raisins, nuts, or any other mix you love (my favorite is chocolate chips!).  Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet (heads up- these cookies don't spread.  However they are dropped is how they will come out!).  Bake on 350 for about 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Try not to overbake, but if by chance you do, seal in a ziploc bag overnight and they'll come out soft and moist in the morning! These are really more like muffin tops than cookies, but regardless, they are a delicious treat that couldn't possibly be any easier!  Yums!

Inception!

Hello and welcome to my blog!  I'm so excited you're here.

First off, I should explain how this idea came to be.  Anyone who knows me well knows I always have a ton of energy and am continually looking for a new project or adventure.  Lately I've been itching to find something new to take on.  But what?  There are so many things I love to do, it's hard to decide!

One of my favorite things to do is bake.  Trouble is, if I ate everything I baked, I believe I'd literally turn into a giant cupcake. So sometimes I bake and then end up tossing it (not going to lie, there has been a time or two where I've contemplated pulling a Miranda from Sex and the City and covering it with dish soap).  Now just because I love to bake, doesn't necessarily mean I'm exceptional at it.  So sometimes it's honestly probably worth tossing.  But there are times when it seems like a waste. 

Now for part two.  I also really love people.  Helping people, chatting with people, getting to know people, etc.  And because I live in the wonderful and vast city of Chicago, there are a lot of people to get to know.  Chicago is "home" to nearly three million people, but as any one of us who ventures out of our homes on a daily basis can attest, there are many men, women, and children in this city who don't actually have a place to call home.  In fact, according to http://www.chicagohomeless.org/, nearly 90,000 Chicagoans are homeless.  Each time I walk by a homeless person downtown, I always wonder about his or her story.  Despite my curiosity, I am guilty of never actually sitting down and hearing anyone's story.  I was born exceptionally blessed.  I have a wonderful family, was able to get a college education, and have a great job that allows me to lead a comparatively privileged life.  Unfortunately not everyone has been so lucky, and sometimes it really isn't fair.  While I alone cannot make a big impact or change in that, maybe I can at least make a very small one.

So, I'm going to marry parts one and two.  Once a week, I'm going to bake something and bring it to a local homeless person.  I'm going to sit down and get to know this person, hear his or her story, and learn how this person found himself or herself in such an unfortunate situation.  Through this journey, maybe I can gain a better overall understanding of the homelessness in our city, and maybe eventually identify a bigger way to help.  But for now, I'll be grateful if I can make some new friends and if I can help some people have a better day with cookies or cupcakes. :)

And the last part- blogging!  I have a long and very random list of things I want to do in my life.  Some are very obscure, like hugging a panda bear (they just look so soft and snuggly!).  Some are slightly more normal, like writing a blog.  And although I may not be any good at it, I love to write.  In fact, so much that I once wanted to become a reporter, until I moved to New York and got laughed out of a job interview for my complete lack of political knowledge- whoops!  My delay was that I never had anything to start a blog about.  But I have noticed that whenever I write about baking on facebook, people always want to hear the recipes, so maybe some will tune in for that.  And I'm sure I'm not the only one who's walked past someone on the sidewalk and wondered what path led them there, so maybe some others will be interested in reading about that.  Or not.  Either way, I'm excited to begin this journey.  Any way I am able to expand my horizons, whether it's something as insignificant as mastering the chocolate chip cookie or something as significant as gaining a better understanding of humanity, I'm going to consider a success!

Project Give and Bake officially begins tomorrow.  I'm going to start with my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies.  It's a recipe I've already "mastered," as much as you can really "master" a recipe that only has three ingredients!  As for my future friend, I think I'm going to start with the fella who always sits outside of Bockwinkel's on Stetson and South Water.  He's there almost every time I walk by, and while I have bought him bread and peanut butter on occasion, I've never actually made the effort to talk to him.  So I think I'm due! 

I'm super interested to see how this project works out and I hope you are too.  Thanks for reading and stay tuned!