It’s Memorial Day weekend and we are honoring and remembering those who lost their lives for our country as well as our veterans, military members, and military families. We are grateful for their service and sacrifice. Thank you, to our Messy Mommy Treva and to your son, Paul who is currently serving our country in the United States Air Force! ​

It all started with a conversation about ranch. Cemeno’s ranch dressing to be exact! We have 40 barrels of reasons why you should go to Cemeno’s Pizza!
It all started with a conversation about ranch dressing. Cemono’s ranch dressing to be exact! I was watching Stella and Sophia play volleyball at Holy Family and was sitting with the amazing Natalie Castillo. The girls play with Natalie’s powerhouse volleyball daughter, Izzy! We were chatting during the game. I’ve shared before with Natalie how much our family loves her family’s business, Cemeno’s Pizza! We’ve been going to the Joliet tradition, Cemeno’s for decades for birthday parties, class reunions, after football games, basketball games, for funerals, and lunch and dinners with family and friends! 

​We had recently ordered takeout again from Cemeno’s and dinner was fabulous! The girls love the Cemeno’s antipasto salad, the ranch fries and the pizza! They also really, really, really love the Cemeno’s ranch dressing! I asked Natalie if they make the ranch dressing and how much ranch dressing they go through in a week. She immediately shared that their food is homemade! The recipes are from their Grandma Tressie and for more than 40 years, Cemeno’s has created delicious, fresh food for their guests who are like family to them! I asked Natalie to guess how many gallons of ranch they go through in a week. Natalie shared about 15 gallons and I was surprised! I started asking her about other food items and other the next several volleyball games we chatted about the insane numbers, like 40 barrels of homemade pizza dough! Check out the crazy amounts of fresh, wonderful food that is made in one week at Cemeno’s! We hope you visit soon and know you will love the food, incredible service and friendly atmosphere! Also, we love a secret menu - while this is not a secret we want to let you in on our inside information! Izzy introduced us to the ranch fries and cheesecake and both are fabulous! Natalie also introduced us to the spinach calabrese pizza which is amazing! We’ll see you at Cemeno’s!​

 

Thanks for reading our Messy Newsletter and for being a part of our Messy Mommies crew! 
XOXO, The Messy Mommies


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Messy Mommies in the City
Chicago, Illinois

​

Welcome to our Messy Mommies Newsletter! 
Thanks for being a part of our Messy squad!!
Vol. 4 May, 2022

We are ready for May flowers! And, the Kentucky Derby! And, Mother’s Day! We hope the stormy weather of April is fading away and that flowers are blooming in your neighborhood! Congratulations to Elizabeth from Kansas for winning our April Messy Mommies Instagram giveaway of an Amazon gift card and gardening set! We loved seeing your favorite flowers including gardenias, tulips, roses, sunflowers, gerbera daisies, and more!

Do you have your hat ready for watching the Kentucky Derby today? The Kentucky Derby is such a fun event and we love cheering on all of the horses! We love a good Kentucky Derby hat and we love a good Kentucky Derby cocktail! At the end of April we highlighted the fabulous sustainability work of Maker’s Mark for Earth Month on the blog! Maker’s Mark is inspiring with how they are caring for our planet and we are impressed with their American White Oak research repository! The American White Oak bourbon barrels at Maker’s Mark are so cool and inspired us to pick-out a fun Kentucky Derby cocktail for our Messy friends -
​the Kentucky Buck! ​

Maker's Mark Kentucky Buck
2 parts Maker's Mark Bourbon
1/2 part fresh lemon juice
2-3 whole strawberries, hulled
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Ginger beer 
​Fresh strawberry for garnish

How to make a Maker's Mark Kentucky Buck:
Muddle strawberries in a shaker.
Add Maker's Mark, lemon and bitters and shake.
Strain into an ice-filled glass.
​Top with ginger beer.
Garnish with a strawberry.

Welcome to our Messy Mommies Newsletter! 
Thanks for being a part of our Messy squad!!
Vol. 3 April, 2022

As we write this, the skies are cloudy and the weather forecast calls for rain, rain and more rain (there also may be a few snowflakes in the mix)! With the hope that April Showers bring May flowers, we are using this time to plan and make this the best spring season. 
We kicked off spring with a lovely get-together last week hosted by our wonderful niece, Molly. Thank you, Molly! 

Molly has inspired some great family get-togethers over the winter, and this latest gathering did not disappoint. While there was a fun twist to this Spring Tea, some elements of an English High tea were celebrated!  We definitely had an abundance of scones, tea sandwiches and cake, but we filled our teacups with bubbly! You can find the recipes for our scones and tea sandwiches on our instagram as well as on our blog. However, if you are looking for an easy way to bring your family or girl friends together for tea, you can order tea takeout at Vanille Patisserie located in Chicago or make a reservation at Pekoe and Bean in Tinley Park for a full tea experience. And if you aren’t sure about drinking tea with your pinky up or down, you may be interested in knowing that etiquette expert Emily Post was "adamantly opposed" to crooking one's pinky, because she thought "it was improper and rude." So there you have it!
If you find yourself waiting in anticipation for spring daffodils and tulips to make their appearance, you may also be thinking about what plants and flowers you want to plant once the weather warms up. My dad always advised me to plant after Mother’s day in the Chicagoland area due to the chance of a freeze through mid-May. While I do follow his advice, that doesn’t stop me from planning what I will get for our garden containers. My all time favorite flower is the gardenia. The blooms from the gardenia bush are so aromatic and it is such an easy flowering plant to care for. I also love that the flower symbolizes hope and the start of something new. Show us your favorite flowers on Facebook and Instagram! 
I so look forward to the day in May when I head to Gethsemane Garden Center to select some of my favorite plants and flowers for our garden containers! We have been going to this iconic Chicago garden center for years and their flowers are gorgeous! Meg likes to zip over to The Fields on Caton Farm which is ranked as one of the most memorable garden centers in the Midwest. In the meantime, I’m planning a few outdoor excursions!  You may find inspiration for not only your garden, but maybe for starting something new. Below are a few of the places that are off the beaten path but promise to be a great spring adventure.

Allerton Park and Retreat Center located in Monticello, Illinois.  It’s about a 2.5 hour drive from Chicago and is considered one of the seven wonders of Illinois.  It was donated to the University of Illinois in 1946. This destination is on the top of my list for areas to visit this spring. Not only are there beautiful gardens, but it includes 100 acres of woodland and prairie areas, a mansion and reflection pond, a 10-acre meadow, formal sculpture gardens, hiking trails, a cafe and several lodging facilities. 
Looking for a little inspiration for your garden? Consider making a reservation to attend The Garfield Park Conservatory’s 2022 Spring Flower Show, “Knock Knock.”  Beautiful blooming flowers, including tulips, hydrangeas, daffodils, and hyacinth, will be featured this year. Doors from the Rebuilding Exchange will hang among the blooms. There will also be an abundance of knock knock jokes throughout the Show House. The Spring Flower Show runs through May 8, 2022. We love that there will be jokes! Our friends over at @brueck_creative shared this joke: “Why did the bunny not have her library card renewed? Because she turned in her books a hare late!” Check out @brueck_creative for super cute placemats, gift tags and more on Instagram and Etsy!
And while this has nothing to do with gardening, it may inspire starting something new. A visit to The Forge in Lemont, Illinois provides ample opportunity for outdoor fun. One of the Messy Mommy kids went ice skating with her friends on the coldest day of the year this  January. Laser tag was also enjoyed and highly recommended by this group of teens. They all had a great time and staff members at The Forge were super helpful and friendly. If you aren’t into laser tag but want to enjoy the outdoors, check out Easter Saturday at the Forge. From zip lines, to aerial rope climbing, to axe throwing, to running and biking trails, and so much more - this adventure park looks like fun for the whole family!

Mark your Calendars
April 22nd Jelly Bean Day - According to Jelly Belly, a popular jelly bean manufacturer, the most popular jelly bean flavors include cherry and buttered popcorn. If the Easter Bunny didn’t bring you any jelly beans, today is the day to go out and treat yourself!
April 28th Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day - If you’ve been working remotely due to the pandemic, your kids have probably learned a lot about your job! If you are finally able to be back at your workplace, this may be a great time to take your daughter or son to work with you.

THIS MONTH’S
RECIPE
This is one of our favorite cake recipes! We just enjoyed this at our tea - Molly did an outstanding job making this show stopper! This would be the perfect dessert for your Easter or Mother’s Day celebrations!
Blueberry-Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting 
Ingredients 
2 cups plus 6 tablespoons cake flour 
2 teaspoons baking powder 
1 teaspoon salt 
3 cups fresh blueberries 
1 cup whole milk 
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 
4 large eggs 
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch round cake plans. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper, butter paper and dust pans with flour. Sift cake flour, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Put fresh blueberries in a large bowl, add one tablespoon of flour mixture and toss to coat. Set remaining flour mixture and blueberries aside. 
Stir together whole milk, vanilla and grated lemon peel in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in another large bowl until light and creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in flour mixture alternately with milk mixture in three additions each, just until blended. Fold in blueberries. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. 
Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on cooling racks 10 minutes. Run knife around pan sides to loosen. Turn cakes out onto racks to cool completely. Peel off parchment paper. 
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting 
Ingredients 
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature 
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 
4 cups confectioners’ sugar 
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar. Mix in lemon peel and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate until just firm enough to spread, about 30 minutes. 
Transfer one cake layer to a cake plate. Spread 1 cup frosting over the cake layer. Top with another cake layer, spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with a third cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. 
While you are working on Easter and Mother’s Day menus, keep Messy Mommy Treva Jones in mind! Treva can help you spice up your recipes with wonderful Tastefully Simple products! Message Treva on Facebook or Instagram to place an order! 
​
THIS MONTH’S
INSPIRATION
The weather is warming up and we plan to spend more time outside! Maybe you are like us, and plan to focus on fitness walks or maybe even run a 5K! Let’s get motivated and update our playlists! We were inspired by the music honored on last week’s Grammy Awards Show and have a few ideas for an upbeat playlist. Three time Grammy winner Olivia Rodrigo is definitely one to listen to! Her debut song, Drivers License, is a power ballad that will add some pep to your step and maybe bring back some memories of when you first got your driver's license or had your first crush! 
One of my all time favorite Grammy Award winners is Sheryl Crow, winner of nine Grammy Awards! Several of her songs appear on my current workout playlists, but If I had to pick my ‘walk-on song’ for this spring season, Soak Up the Sun tops my list! Best line….”For every time I feel lame, I’m looking up!”
Meg’s ‘walk-on song’ would be Firework by Katy Perry and loves the lines, “If you only knew what the future holds, After a hurricane comes a rainbow, Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed, So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road.”
What’s your ‘walk-on song’?! E-mail us your ‘walk-on song’ and we’ll create a Messy Mommies ‘walk-on’ song playlist! We can’t wait to see what songs baseball players pick as they take the field this season! 
Thanks for reading our Messy Newsletter and for being a part of our Messy Mommies squad! 
XOXO, The Messy Mommies

Welcome to Vol. 2 of our Messy Mommies Newsletter!
Thanks for being a part of our Messy squad!!
Vol. 2 March, 2022

We’ve missed you all and are back to welcome the coming of spring. While the saying of March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb is often true with our Chicago area weather, we have been pleasantly surprised by sunny skies, albeit somewhat cold days. There is lots to be hopeful for in the days ahead so read on for ways to welcome spring. Break out a bright colored table cloth, pick up cheerful flowers, and put a bowl of lemons on the counter! Time for some sunshine!
March is Women's History Month, and this year's theme set by the National Women's History Alliance is "Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” We are inspired by the thousands of women from Ukraine that are being brave to care for and protect their children.

Check out how Big.Fat.Cookie is helping support Ukraine. This inspiring female baker and entrepreneur shared on Instagram, “My grandfather Lou was born in Kiev, and came to the United States as a 9 year old boy. Supposedly he traveled alone, but I always questioned that part of the story. As a baker, cookie maker and a Jew, I asked myself and my team ‘what can we do to help?’ We decided to do what we do best.” Big.Fat.Cookie in Chicago is making Hamantashen which is a symbolic sweet cookie eaten during the Jewish holiday of Purim. Profits will be donated to World Central Kitchen and the Polish Humanitarian Action. They are joining other bakers around the globe to show solidarity for the people of Ukraine. #HamantashenforUkraine.

Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani, the owner of the Door County Candle Company created a special yellow and blue Ukraine Candle. She is 100% Ukrainian and is very proud of her heritage. We love how Cristiana is shining a light of hope and quickly created this special hand poured candle. And, 100% of profits from the Ukraine Candle will be donated to Razom for Ukraine, a Ukrainian 501 (c)(3) organization. 

Mark your Calendars
Spring Forward - adjust your clocks Saturday Night, March 13th! (The official spring forward time is Sunday, March 14th at 2am). 
Absolutely Incredible Kid Day is a national holiday celebrated this year on March 17, 2022. Every year, millions of people write or tell a young person in their life why they matter and what makes them amazing. This holiday was founded in 1997 to encourage and inspire young people nationwide.

We think Audrey Scanlan, our Messy friend Amy’s daughter, is amazing! Audrey learned how to make the delicious Polish Paczkis from her grandmother. We recently had a family get together and Audrey made us Paczkis! This was so thoughtful of Audrey and helped us celebrate a special day. The Paczkis were so good and we were so impressed with her baking skills. We also love that Audrey learned the recipe from her grandmother and is carrying on a special family  tradition. You can make Paczkis with your kids too! Audrey uses the Polish Paczki recipe from the Jenny Can Cook blog! Thank you Audrey! You are amazing!

THIS MONTH’S
RECIPES 
With both St Patrick’s day and spring approaching, we want to share a couple of recipes to celebrate the season. Our Messy Friend, Laura Hansen’s husband makes Irish Soda Bread this time of year and wanted to share with you his family recipe. Tim grew up watching his mom and aunts make the Irish Soda Bread. While his mom and aunts have passed, he wanted to carry on this special family tradition and has perfected his recipe over the years. We love that Tim is keeping this tradition alive and what a great way to honor his heritage! Tim shared this story with us about the family recipe:

“Grandma Harrity (née Kelly) arrived in the United States, via Ellis Island, shortly after WWI from the town of Newport, County Mayo Ireland.  Given the history of famine in Ireland, often times the recipes used in traditional Irish food was driven off of expense.  Irish Soda Bread was an inexpensive way to feed ones family in Ireland.  Grandma Harrity brought this recipe with her from Ireland and has made this bread for all of our family holiday gatherings and taught each of her three daughters how to make it.  It has been passed down to the cousins and the tradition continues to be shared throughout the family in particular on St Patrick’s Day and during Lent.  I hope you enjoy this bread and celebrating it with family and friends.” - Tim

Traditional Irish Soda Bread by Tim Hansen
Plain or with Raisins

• Ruber spatula
• Large bowl
• 12” cast iron skillet

 
Ingredients:

• 6 cups flour
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 4 tablespoons caraway seeds
• 3 tablespoons softened butter
• (optional) 1 box of raisins (12-15 oz)
• 1 quart of buttermilk

 
Instructions:

• sift 2 cups plain flour into a large bowl
• sift additional 2 cups of flour into bowl
• add dry ingredients (ex- raisins); mix
• sift 2 cups of flour into bowl
• add softened butter; crumble into bowl
• add caraway seeds
• raisins/(optional)
• begin adding buttermilk; add half
• begin mixing in the bowl with spatula
• add remaining buttermilk and mix with spatula
• add additional flour while mixing/kneading dough (2-3 minutes) til dough is somewhat dry/not sticky
• prepare the cast iron skillet with a dusting of flour on bottom and sides of the skillet
• place dough into the skillet and make a cross imprint with a knife at the top of the dough
• bake the bread at 350 degrees for 1 hour
• after 1 hour turn temp down to 325 degrees and bake for an additional 30 mins
• remove bread and cool on a rack right out of the oven

With spring upon us, who isn’t looking for a quick, easy to make, tasty and filling meal? This recipe was shared in Martha Stewart’s Food Magazine over 20 years ago and has been enjoyed by our family for years. It’s the perfect quick meal!
Red-pepper and Herb Ravioli 

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon finely minced garlic

• Salt
• 18  ounces fresh cheese or spinach ravioli
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley (or 1 tablespoon dried parsley)
• 1 tablespoon minced chives (or scallions/green onions)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• In a small saucepan, heat oil over low heat for 3 minutes. Add red pepper flakes, and cook for 2 minutes. Set aside.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook ravioli according to package instructions. Drain, and return to the warm pot. Gently toss ravioli with flavored oil, chives, parsley, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.​

THIS MONTH’S
INSPIRATION
Spring is such a hopeful time of the year! We are making plans to celebrate the holidays of St Patrick’s Day & Easter as well as gear up for our kids' spring sports. Here are some things we think you will enjoy.
Who wouldn’t want a green St Patrick’s Day Mustache St Patrick's Day Mustache to celebrate on March 17th. These are fun for both kids and adults and will definitely keep the leprechauns away!
This adorable Bunny Deviled Egg Tray by Mud Pie will look great on your Easter Table. 
Mud Pie also sells this stylish Deviled Egg Tray that can be used year round.
The GCI Outdoor Collapsible Rocker will take you from camping trips, to outdoor soccer games, spring regatta season and make outdoor summer concerts and picnics a joy to sit at. It may be a bit of a splurge, but it’s sturdy, foldable and easy to carry.
Please note that the Messy Mommies are an Amazon Affiliate partner and we receive a small commission from purchases from our links. Thanks for supporting the Messy Mommies.