Weekend Brunch, Football Hotdish, and More

This weekend had a little bit of everything: football, cooking, brunch, crafting, and more. How was your weekend?

On early Saturday afternoon, between my Michigan State game and his Michigan game, Ryan and I prepared Buffalo Chicken Casserole. This little gem is featured in the September/October 2010 issue of Eating Well under their "Hooked on Hotdish Casseroles" feature.

Ryan was keen on this particular dish because of the "buffalo" factor. At our house come fall, football Saturday has to have "buffalo" involved somewhere. Since I'm not a buffalo wings kind of gal, this casserole dish was a great alternative. It's a nice mix of whole-wheat macaroni pasta, chicken breast, celery and carrots. The sauce is made of skim-milk, a touch of cornstarch for thickness, and buffalo sauce. I paired mine up with an IBC Diet Root Beer.

Sunday was much more productive and we started things off with some brunch action at Bakin' & Eggs. This place is quite popular and this is the first time Ryan and I have been able to get a table before 11 A.M. The modern decor with vintage accents is super cute, plus some of the seating is actually in old church pews. Pretty cool idea! Their fresh selections of pastries, cupcakes, and other pies, too, look just as lovely.

I can't forget their menu, for it features a creatively healthy spin on your usual diner fare. Ryan ordered a sundried tomato frittata with goat cheese and potatoes. Holy yum! I had the whole wheat granola pancakes and those were just as delicious, with maple syrup and berry compote. We also tried a Black Bear, which is cocoa and milk mixed with iced coffee. Not bad.

I only made it through one and a half of those pancakes, but man, they were *awesome*! I think I'm going to dream up my own concoction.

Once done with brunch, some errands, and an open house, we ventured to Wicker Park for the eighth annual Renegade Craft Fair. Wow, the festival has grown exponentially since it's inception in 2002. So many vendors, and soooooo much to choose from.

I am a stationery nerd when it comes to events like these (holla, BUST Craftacular!) and buy as many cards and postcards as I've budgeted for that day. I fell in love with these recipe stationery cards from Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress. They came in a pack of six, but here's a snapshot of my four favorites. Check out their Etsy store more awesomeness.

Also included below is a cookbook marker by Tartella. These came in a pack of three and talk about helpful and pretty! Now I no longer have to earmark my favorite recipe pages or consult the Internet to verify more obscure measurements. Check out Tartella's collection for additional food-inspired products like wine bags, napkins, and recipe cards.

I'd like to give a shout-out to KIND Healthy Snacks, for they were the first table I visited upon entering the festival. They so kindly hooked me up with a reusable bag and some health bars. I've never had them before, but my friend Linda says they're great! Blog friends, have any of you tried 'em?

Ryan and I also escaped the heat and the crowd to have lunch at Via Carducci La Sorella, a quaint and cool little spot that serves rustic southern Italian food. We shared Carpaccio di Salmone, which is thinly sliced smoked salmon served with arugula, capers, and olive oil over bread. We also shared a margherita pizza.

A great end to a great weekend, but I'm looking forward to getting back to my weekly routine. Cheers and thanks for reading!