One of my favorite things about working with food and cooking is that there is always something new to learn. There are so many ingredients, styles and techniques that we have virtually endless ...
Just one day from now, I will be boarding a flight that will take me to the other side of the world. My husband and I have long been anticipating our three-week trek through Australia and New ...
Mull this Perfect Spicy and Sweet Halloween Treat Over
Cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, apple and orange are all the classic scents and tastes of fall. Add to that candy, costumes, candy, pranks, candy, scary scenes, oh, did I mention CANDY – and you ...
One of my favorite things about Chicago is the array of dining options. I love going out and seeing what the chefs of this great city are doing with food. It is exciting to see the creativity that ...
Fall is often a mere blip in our city’s seasonal existence, before the long winter comes rolling in. Not this year! After a rather mild summer, Chicago is enjoying a slow, warm transition to fall. We ...
October is my favorite month of the year. The leaves are changing colors, the air is getting colder and the best reason of all is coming up soon: Halloween! Halloween is a holiday that carries a lot ...
It’s not only fall and bread-making season, but it’s almost time for Thanksgiving! It’s my favorite holiday, and that is probably because of the giant feast I get to prepare and indulge in. The ...
To me, holiday meals are all about quality—sharing the best meal you can with the best people you know. It’s not about having the most complicated dishes, the most expensive ingredients, the most ...
Scared of Sugar? Try these Healthy Halloween Treats
So this whole Halloween thing has me wondering… who was it that decided that the requirements for Halloween treats had to be either sugary, buttery, or both sugary and buttery? My teeth just ...
When the leaves start falling and the air outside gets colder, I like to make my go-to chili recipe. There is something so comforting about chili to me in the midst of fall and winter. If you read my ...
I love to attend farmers' markets all over the Chicago area during this time of year. It's so lovely to walk around basking in the sight of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy, artisanal and ...
One of the more popular private corporate events we host at The Chopping Block is a team building activity called Iron Chef competitive cooking. Each team gets two different proteins and a mystery ...
Fall is my absolute favorite time of year - time to dust off those hearty comfort food recipes that have been lying neglected since the thermometer crossed that 50 degree line back in the spring. ...
36 hours in Paris: three croissants, two Steak Frites, a Croque-Madame, four macarons, multiple Café au laits, a Crème Brulee, countless glasses of champagne and a few very fond memories made!
The party season is upon us and that means one thing: fun wines. I love discovering wines that turn every party into a great experience. Often, we go to parties without knowing what food will be ...
No Ice Cream Maker? The No Churn Ice Cream Trend is For You
I've noticed a lot of articles about no churn ice cream lately. From the Huffington Post to Martha Stewart, food writers proclaimed their love of these ridiculously easy-to-make recipes that require ...
It’s not that I’m a lazy person. Really. Just… some days you really want dinner to be as simple as possible. I had one of these days recently. It was on my day off and it had wonderfully turned to ...
Cheese Making at Home Part 2: Cream Cheese and Yogurt
I must say I was a little embarrassed that I didn’t know that cream cheese was made from sour cream when I arrived at my two-day cheese making class at the Ploughshare Institute in Waco, Texas. ...
Red Beans and Rice Cake: Korean Food Adventures, Part 1
Just over a month ago, I stopped by The Chopping Block on my way to the Korean embassy in Chicago. Now, I'm writing from Deokso, South Korea, miles away from everyone and everything I knew.
Cinnamon rolls are a treat I enjoy only once or twice a year. I should really eat them more often, but here’s my dilemma. I buy the tubes of cinnamon rolls from the store, and I know they are ...
