If you're looking for another hearty "fruit" I'd recommend bell peppers. We grew some from seeds last year and we were getting fresh blooms up until the first frost. We had the cutest collection of ping-pong-ball sized bell peppers that tasted faintly of jasmine tea. They were wonderful, and hearty, and even kinda pretty. They need a fairly acidic soil (I think) and my mom recommends giving them azalea fertilizer. And, she grows hers in a pot, too.

Lettuce is pretty simple, and we also had some baby fingerling carrots grow that would have done better in looser soil. But, the couple of ugly ones we got were just downright delicious.

Cherry tomatoes are east to grow in a pot - especially if your deck has a railing you could use to tie them off. I've even grown regular tomatoes in a pot - it just has to be a bigger pot.

Oh i forgot to add ... arugala (sp?) is very easy to gro from seed. You could do it in a window box - depending on thelength of the box, I'd not use a whole packet.

I started some dill in little peatpots a week or so ago, and they have not only germinated, they are about 1 or 2 inches tall already! I put two pots in big ziploc bags, so it acted like a little greenhouse and I wouldn't have to worry about watering them every 2 minutes. It seems to have worked...after spending a few days in the windowsill (inside), they are green and growing. Cool.

Jes...I recommend eggplants (the japanese or white ones are better for indoor/home gardens). I started out with a few seeds and they are about 2 inches now. Supposedly they will grow for 2 years on this plant.
I've had the same feeling as you.... basil (purple ruffle and Cinnamon basil), oregano, mint, tomatoes, hot peppers (no bell for me...ill just buy those at the farmer's market). I buy most of my seeds at Johnny's Selected Seeds. They send a nice catalog every so often, have online ordering and are organic.

Watch out with mint -- it'll take over the garden if you're not careful. My recommendation is to keep it in a separate pot from everything else.

Wow, thanks for all the great suggestions! You've given me lots to keep in mind, and inspiration to actually DO this.

Another thing that takes over the garden are sunchokes. Even though they taste good, produce nice little sunflowers, they absolutely take over any dirt-filled area.

Don't miss the Kilbourn Park organic plant sale!! I got some great heirloom tomato plants there last year. I think it's on May 10 & 11. check the Chicago Park District website for info.