West of the Loop is a blog about the joys (and difficulties) of parenting and feeding our families. I love to cook and entertain and I want to help everyone else feel as confident in the kitchen as I do. To that end, I like to share techniques more than recipes — although I will post plenty of recipes too! I also love to explore new food and ingredients, especially from my local farmers’ markets, and share what I learn with my readers. But we can’t live on food alone! So sometimes I write about my kids, books, fashion and anything else that strikes my fancy. None of us are one-dimensional, are we? Whatever brought you “west of the loop,” I hope that you find something interesting to read here. I would love to hear what you think.
About the author
I am Emily: an East Coast native now living outside of Chicago – due west of the Loop. I was raised by very successful parents and have one of the fanciest educations money can buy, including a law degree. I spent years putting together a resume designed to lead to a big career… and then I had a family. Now I work part-time teaching legal writing at a local law school and spend most of my time taking care of my family and volunteering in my community – not the life that I had envisioned for myself when I was getting that education, but one that seems to be the right choice for now. My husband works long hours and travels frequently for a job that he finds fulfilling and one that helps make the world a better place. We have a daughter – let’s call her Zuzu — who is in third grade and a son, whose real name may bear some resemblance to J.R., age five. Our daughter has many food allergies, including dairy, egg, sesame seeds, nuts and peanuts. Zuzu’s allergies make birthday parties, school lunches and dining out a challenge, but we manage to keep her life pretty normal and even fun. J.R. does not appear to have any allergies, just a profound intolerance for the word “no.” We are a Jewish family and active in our Reform temple.
My tastes range from the serious to the frivolous. I subscribe to US Weekly and The New Yorker. I am interested in politics, theater, TV, travel, fashion and pop culture. I love to cook and I’m an avid canner, but I don’t garden and I barely decorate.
Contact me
You can email me at westoftheloop@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/westoftheloop
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