rain!

So apparently Chicago is in a state of emergency because of flooding? Up on the third floor, we have the sort of inverse problem: a leaky ceiling! Josh's desk is even pitifully warped in one corner.

But! We have coffee from beans we bought on sale this afternoon at Meijer, lovely Meijer, and a whole lot of reading going on. And perhaps stir-fry for dinner.

Yum.

Here's a recipe (for you omnivores) for a stew I made in the crock pot last week, which was really really lovely:

1. Put 2-3 lbs beef (I used chuck and trimmed it a LOT), cut into 1-2" pieces, into the bottom of the crock pot. Dab on a little can of tomato paste and 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste.

2. On top of this, add 1 lb carrots, cut into 1-2" long pieces, 1 lb new potatoes (as long as they're small, don't cut them!), and 1 lb cheap onions, cut into 1-2" wedges. Over this, spread 5-8 crushed/chopped garlic cloves and 2 bay leaves.

3. Cook on high for 5 hours. Serve with a green salad and biscuits or crusty bread.