My favorite style of English muffins is the sourdough kind, but that method is a bit involved. This is the recipe that you can use when you wake up in the morning, decide you want a fresh-baked ...
During this unprecedented time of quarantine, you might be tackling some kitchen projects you've had on the back burner for a while. That could include reorganizing and taking stock of your pantry, ...
While the current state of the world, given the COVID-19 situation, is uncertain and concerning, I’ve tried to make the most of my time practicing social distancing. I’ve found joy in the simple ...
It seems that everything eventually comes full circle. All of the things I enjoyed as I child have gained popularity in the last five years or so. All of the toys I was so fond of when I was a kid ...
Empanadas are the ultimate snack food. Theses dough-wrapped treats can be filled with a wide variety of fillings ranging from meat, seafood, vegetables and cheese that are typically baked or fried ...
I just moved to upstate New York a few weeks ago and have been spending more time scarfing bagels and sorting through boxes than whipping up meals in my new kitchen. The fact that I went from a ...
This recipe is packed with flavor and uses very simple cooking techniques. Shrimp Diavolo is a classic, slightly spicy Italian dish (where you control the heat by determining how much chili ...
We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. Tom used to make Alton Brown's version of his favorite ...
As a professional chef, I love throwing (and attending!) dinner parties, and I’m not shy about going back for seconds. But I’m also not one to skip dessert, so when it comes to the sweet stuff, I ...
Most of our hands-on cooking classes at The Chopping Block focus on preparing several dishes which result in a delicious meal that our guests enjoy at the end of class. However, one question that we ...
If you are like me, you’ve never made a sourdough starter nor cared for one. The responsibility of having something else besides my cat to feed did not seem like something I wanted to take on. I’ve ...
Salmon is one of my favorite fish options whenever I go out to dinner. Normally, I am quite satisfied with my selection, and I am often left wanting more but when I went out to eat a couple of ...
Our new Donut Boot Camp course has inspired me to make fresh donuts at home. This is a project I would typically save for the weekend, but with my family and I going out of town this weekend, ...
This recipe contains high quality chocolate pudding, topped with whipped cream, toasted coconut and crumbled ginger snap cookies. For chocolate lovers, this more than hits the spot!
By the time we are getting to the end of January, I start to think about windows being opened, a warm breeze coming through my kitchen window, and me grabbing my farmers market basket to see what ...
What Happens when you Instant Pot a Whole Chicken?
I must admit, I was pretty averse to getting an Instant Pot. For me, it’s a pretty pricey investment for a fancy pressure cooker. I finally caved on a Black Friday deal on the larger 8-quart ...
My obsession with upside down cakes hasn’t ceased, nor has my conviction that my mom makes the best banana bread on the planet. After travelling last month to the Southern Caribbean islands of Aruba, ...
Last year for Christmas I asked for a few small kitchen appliances, and my family listened. I was gifted glass canisters, a hand blender with attachments, a dual ice cream maker and new drinking ...
I am currently watching football, snow has recently fallen, and I am cuddled up on the couch with my fiancé. This is it. This is what I’ve been waiting for - soup weather! When it’s 60 degrees ...
Like many of you, I grew up in a football-obsessed family. My dad played back in the stone age, my brothers all played in high school and some on college teams, and now my nephews are either alums ...
A lot of people make a big show of saying they “don’t like pancakes” or that they “prefer waffles” as though they were somehow mutually exclusive. Well call me very lame (as many do), but I think ...
Once a month, I meet with several of my colleagues to discuss new and exciting ideas for class curriculum. It's a great way to allow everyone's creativity to come to the table, and it's exciting ...
Reach New Heights with France’s Most Famous Omelette
I love eggs. I eat them on the daily in simple scrambles, fancy poaches and omelettes... lots and lots of omelettes. Eggs are such a basic pleasure that it’s a shame we limit them to breakfast here ...
I recently had a dinner party themed around citrus carnitas tacos, and I wanted to change up what I was going to make for dessert. Almost every dish I made that night contained lime in it, so I ...
I used to be afraid of using yeast in recipes. I think it was because I had one failed attempt, and I thought to myself “Well, I am just not meant to be a baker!”
It's no secret that I love a useful kitchen gadget. I heartily embraced the Instant Pot when it came out and still use it regularly for any dish with dried beans, to make yogurt, pulled pork, hard ...
There is nothing better than a chocolate chip cookie, and everyone always thinks they make the best one. At The Chopping Block, we had so many employees sure that they made the best chocolate chip ...
During the past year at The Chopping Block, I have taught a lot of cooking classes. One thing that I can always count on is students asking questions, which I love. And if I don’t know the answer, ...
Our mission here at The Chopping Block is to get you cooking. We know life can get in the way, but cooking at home is more healthful and less expensive than eating out, and it brings people together.
As a professional chef, and all around human person, I have tasted a lot of pastries in my life. They are pretty much all amazing, but there is one that I tasted recently that will live in my ...
One of my favorite foods to work with in unique ways is lentils. Whether they are red, green, black, yellow or brown, it makes no difference because each one has a unique flavor and texture. ...
It Just Might Be Time for Chicken in Chocolate Milk
Yes, you read that right. I will present to you “chicken simmered in chocolate milk,” but first, this blog is less about the recipe and more about making a recipe your own and the downfalls that ...
When you make a meal for others, do you ever find that they will try something you had no idea they don’t care for, only to have them announce that they really like the way you’ve prepared it? And ...
A lot of foods evoke a certain level of nostalgia in me. Dishes that you had as a kid that maybe your mom or your grandmother made can transport you back to that time and place with just a simple ...
If you love marshmallows as much as my family does, then you'll definitely want to try this recipe. I have always wanted to try making homemade marshmallows, but have shied away because it seemed ...
Turkey may be America’s most tolerated meat. Where people relish a thick juicy steak, savor a sweet rich pork chop, and crave the comfort of roast chicken, eating turkey is regarded with the ...
Get Cracking with these 15 Minute Holiday Crackers
I’m not going to lie, I love a good dip. For years I’ve been whipping up the classiest of condiments, the tastiest of toast toppers and the sexiest of spreads but I’ve got to admit, I’ve been ...
I had never heard of risotto until I met my late husband who is half Italian. I can say that now, because he wished he was 100% Italian (his father was born in Florence, Italy) but his Mom was born ...
Kladdkaka: the Swedish, Chocolatey, Sticky, Gooey, Thin Cake with the Coolest Name
Sometimes I search for desserts that challenge me but that are still quite simple to make. Kladdkaka was that type of dessert for me. Plus for me, the name alone screamed, “bake me!”
It’s not fall in my mind until Apple Fest happens in Lincoln Square. This year we baked over 800 of our famous Apple Pies, and we had Lincoln Avenue smelling amazing for the better part of a week. ...
Despite the fact that the weather has not actually cooled off very much yet, Autumn is here and so is the typical fare of that season. Thick, creamy soups, meaty, luxurious stews, and savory, ...
Even if you are a Chicago native, you may not realize that Chicago has its own version of Giardiniera. My father-in-law who was born and raised in Chicago recently moved out west and went into shock ...
Black food is all the rage right now, from bread made with charcoal to inky cocktails. With Halloween right around the corner, I couldn’t resist stirring up something a little “darker” than my usual ...
I have lived in Chicago all of my life. I grew up eating Lou Malnati’s, Giordano’s, and eating from plenty of other deep-dish pizza places. I want to emphasize that I have a bottomless love for ...
One of my favorite dishes my mom made growing up was beef stew. Beef was on our table at least two nights a week, if not more. That’s probably where my love of beef stems from, however I have a twin ...
I got a little ambitious at the farmer’s market the other week and bought a lot of end of season tomatoes at a great price. The week got away from me, and I found myself with a lot of the tomatoes ...
As we head into the cooler months, my mind begins to dream about all of the yummy comfort foods. Whether its one of the many French classics I love to make such as Coq au Vin or Beef Bourguignon, a ...
Like a lot of you, I’m really trying to hold on to those last few days of summer. I’m still enjoying the harvest from the garden on my deck, eating outside whenever I have the opportunity and going ...
From Mess to Masterpiece: Cinnamon Roll Correction
Recipes usually have some sort of story attached to them explaining its history, how and why it has been modified, and the most important tips and tricks to make it work in your home kitchen. My ...
With Summer rapidly drawing to a close, I feel the call of some of my favorite cold-weather dishes beckoning me to cover the grill and come back to the oven. Slow-braised meat dishes, roasted root ...
It appears that summer is hanging on as long as possible, and I'm totally cool with that. The longer I can wear flip flops the better! But, because I develop the curriculum at The Chopping Block ...
If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times, even the most basic vegetables can take on loads of new flavor notes if cooked properly. With football season fully underway, watch parties ...
Another Summer is coming to a close and, if you live in the Midwest like me, your garden is probably exploding with veggies. But by this time, you’ve eaten a dozen BLT’s, you’ve canned so many ...
Vibrant macarons can now be found in a variety of stores. The idea of making macarons yourself can be a daunting task at first, however, macarons are easier to make than you think! There are not ...
All hail delicata squash! Since I stock up on delicata now that it’s showing up in grocery stores and farmers markets, much like when I go apple picking and make all things apple, this time I am ...
I find myself wanting a burger lots of times throughout the summer. In fact, pretty much every day. Winter, summer, really no matter what season it is, very few things in this world satisfy me like a ...
Some of my favorite food blogs I’ve written have originated from dinner parties I’ve hosted. It might be somewhat selfish of me, but I will use the occasion as the perfect vehicle for a blog topic. ...
Every year, I look forward to the warm weather beckoning me to start my annual garden. Don’t get too excited. I don’t have a sprawling backyard, or any backyard for that matter – this garden is a ...
The summer months are not for cooking in my house. I like to take advantage of all of the food festivals, weeknight lakeside dinners, cookouts and light fun meals. But summer coming to a close in a ...
Sausage, Crispy Broccoli, Caramelized Red Onion & Garlic Za
I know what you are thinking: why is a Registered Dietitian suggesting eating pizza? One of my favorite parts of my job is helping clients subscribe to the idea that all foods can be included in a ...
Fresh Creamed Corn: The Ultimate Summer Experience
You know that old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover"? Well, I feel like that saying could easily apply to this recipe. I admit that the visual of the final dish may inspire you to jump to ...
When I go to a Mexican restaurant and they ask me “Corn or flour tortillas,” I am always going to choose corn. I think they are so much more flavorful! In Chicago, you can go to just about any ...
I love going to the farmers market, and as luck would have it, my office is right across the street from the Daley Center. Every Thursday I do my customary walk around the market to see what’s ...
I never really considered myself to be a cook obsessed with gadgets. Sure, I have had a CrockPot since I graduated from college, the Instant Pot has truly changed my life, and I use my Vitamix ...
One of the things I love most about summer is grilling. While I do love to grill the usual suspects like chicken, steak, veggies, etc., fruit is actually my favorite food to grill. I enjoy grilling ...
A couple of weeks ago my husband & I went to an event that had the best appetizers! They were generously passed with little signs on the trays as to what they were. Not only were they delicious, ...
I recently got back from a “Beef Trip” to Certified Angus Beef® brand test kitchens in Wooster, Ohio. I was thrilled to learn about so many different cuts of beef from their meat scientist (never ...
In all my years of cooking, I never thought my favorite dessert – ice cream - would become one of my favorite treats to make, especially since this recipe isn’t designed for human consumption!
My fiancé loves pineapple upside down cake. Don’t get me wrong, I like pineapple upside down cake, but it strikes me as a little outdated, and in need of a revamp! One of my favorite summer flavors ...
I love pretty much anything lemony, and lemon curd is way, way up at the top! I use it on all sorts of things from slathering it on scones and muffins to topping a tart to swirling it into my ...
Keeping it Simple: Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
I was recently invited to a lavish potluck. The host requested that guests bring our best decadent dish along with a card describing the dish. As I read the invitation, my mind started working. ...
Meet our New Pro-Carb Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Everyone seems to be anti-carb these days so most people wouldn't think a dietitian would be one to embrace bread in a diet, but our new Registered Dietitian Nutritionist claims to be "super ...
I woke up bright and early on a recent Monday morning inspired by our popular artisanal bread making class and ready to make homemade bagels. I also remembered when my sister came to visit me when I ...
If you’re anything like me, very few things satisfy like slow-braised meat dishes. I use my Le Creuset braiser, a piece of enameled cast iron cookware we carry at The Chopping Block, a lot. I ...
As the curriculum coordinator of The Chopping Block, it's my job to create new and exciting menus for our class calendar that support our mission in Getting the Country to Cook. When I come up with ...
I love having dinner parties for my friends. It allows me to incorporate quality time with friends and my love for trying new recipes. Each dinner party I choose one recipe that I know is a show ...
This cornbread recipe is by far one of the best cornbread recipes that I have made. I had a Southern-themed dinner party the other night that was inspired by a 5-spiced rib recipe. Since corn is ...
I remember the first time a house-made salad dressing rocked my world. It was the summer of 1988, and I was bussing tables at a swanky new bistro in town. I was 17, and just beginning what would ...
Oatmeal M&M + chocolate chip + double chocolate chip cookie = a confectionary everyone becomes excited about. Three recipes, one cookie means there is something for everyone. The doughs are all ...
I raided the refrigerator at our Lincoln Square store last Sunday in the hopes of coming up with a creative and delicious tasting for all of our guests to enjoy as they shopped. I found a few ears of ...
If your family is anything like mine, any festive event, party, holiday, family gathering all revolved around one thing: food. Whether it was pizza for birthdays, ham for Easter, or turkey for ...
My husband and I hosted Mother's Day brunch at our house last weekend, and although it's a lot of work, I would rather spend quality time with my mom in the comfort of our home rather than a ...
The world of kombucha has been something of a mystery for a long time and aside from a few movie references and jokes about it, the average person didn’t really know much about it. It wasn’t until ...
Whether you celebrated Cinco de Mayo or not, we can all agree that homemade churros with chocolate sauce should be celebrated. My friend recently had a taco-themed dinner party and when she asked ...
I recently got back from a trip to Ghana with my mom and sister. We spent 10 days exploring the country from the capital of Accra, north to Kumasi for the Festival of the Golden Stool and out to the ...
I have eaten a lot of cassoulet over the years and have a developed an understanding of what it should be: both rich and light, both crunchy and creamy, both earthy and bright and without a doubt, ...
I’ve talked about my love of entertaining for brunch. But sometimes I can’t decide whether I want to make a sweet brunch, or a savory one. Why not both?
Share We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. Here, he shows us how to make Thumbprint Cookies ...
Three Easy S’more Recipes that Don’t Require a Bonfire
We did it; we survived another winter. There is only one way to celebrate: S’mores! We’re talking fluffy marshmallows and melted chocolate sandwiched between two crisp graham crackers. The summer is ...
In the past few weeks, I’ve been making an effort to eat more protein and less carbohydrates. Chicken breast is one of my favorite proteins because it’s lean and so versatile. It can be cooked ...
I recently had the honor of making a wedding cake for a friend. I had creative control with the exception of the cake flavor, which had to be chocolate. I thumbed through my collection of recipes ...
As far as holiday dinners go, I think my favorite is Easter dinner. It wasn’t always that way, though. Back in the day, when my sister bought her first house, Thanksgiving quickly became her ...
Spring is upon us, even though it did not look like it a couple of weeks ago here in Chicago. We had a mixture of snow and hail on a Sunday, and we even needed to salt the sidewalk at our Lincoln ...
Delicious gluten-free scones? Can they exist? I often find it hard to describe gluten-free breads as delicious, but it's not for lack of trying. My mom has been gluten-free for years, and she ...
Spring has finally hit Chicago with a vengeance: flowers popping, showers washing away the last dregs of winter and warm breezy nights blowing in the promise of summer. The first signs of life are ...
I was such a picky eater growing up. I remember summers at my grandparents’ house in Virginia. My grandpa would go crabbing and bring home bushels of crabs that my grandma would then boil in giant ...
My birthday was last week, and one of my favorite things to do is to bake my own birthday cake! I get to make whatever I’m craving and it’s just plain fun for me. Sometimes eating it includes ...
My French Onion Dip was a hit last month when my friends joined me for the Super Bowl, so when it came time to start watching March Madness, I knew I had to come up with a dip that would be the ...
Rigatoni Pie Alla Vodka: a Terrifying Challenge Conquered
I love taking on challenges in the kitchen, and they usually involve baking. But for at least two years I’ve been curious about the process of making a Rigatoni Pie.
Creating our new monthly Cook the Book series has been an exciting experience for me as the curriculum developer at The Chopping Block. It has given me the opportunity to learn and gain inspiration ...
Everyone has heard of chicken noodle soup and if you haven’t, go whip up a batch or grab a can of Campbell's, it's known as an American classic for a reason. Chicken noodle soup found its way to ...
Let’s talk about one of my favorite desserts, cheesecake. Thick crust with a creamy center and a generous amount of topping. Delicious. I am going to walk you through a recipe that my grandmother ...
Spring Clean your Comfort Food with Tuna Zoodle Casserole
As a kid growing up in Southern California, I didn’t eat many casseroles. When my mom departed the Midwest for Los Angeles, she left a whole bunch of dishes behind along with her winter coats. So, ...
I am not sure Mother Nature has gotten the memo yet. It’s already March. I should be making spring-type dishes instead of beef stew! But I figured this would be a good a good opportunity to talk ...
Why Wisconsin Goat Cheese is an Underrated Ingredient
Winter’s bitter chill practically begs for a melted-cheese dish, am I right? Defaults tend to be grilled-cheese sandwiches and pots of mac ‘n cheese—mostly because they are easy to whip up—but, ...
In recent years, there has been an increasing number of research studies that demonstrate a link between our digestive tracts or our “guts” to overall health. We have growing evidence that we should ...
A Grown-Up Version of a Childhood Favorite: Buttered Noodles
Like many of you, I sometimes struggle to cook at home. It's easier to order out or heat up a frozen meal. But cooking for yourself can be just as convenient as ordering Postmates for the fifth night ...
Take Your Happiness Into Your Own Hands: Make Your Own Bagels
I’m not going to say it's impossible to find a good bagel in Chicago. That would be irresponsible. But they are few and far between (Sorry, Chicago; I respect you too much to lie), which means that ...
Choosing, Understanding and Making the Most of a Recipe
Have you ever looked up a recipe online and ended up buying $70 worth of ingredients to make it? It's so common these days with the millions of recipes available on the internet. Although some ...
The Quickest Way to your Valentine’s Heart: a 20-minute Comfort Food Dinner
I have a love/hate relationship with Valentine’s day. It always seems to stress me out, whether it was when I was single and felt left out, or now that I am married and I feel pressure to outdo ...
I love chorizo, and I am honestly baffled when I meet someone who doesn’t. When I ask people what they don’t like about chorizo, they often say it is because it is greasy. I’ll admit it can be ...
Like many of you, when it was ridiculously cold last week, I went into survival mode. In addition to filling my gas tank and changing my furnace filter, I also made sure we had plenty of wine in ...
Over the holidays, my girlfriend's daughter Amelia had a school project in which she was assigned to make a traditional dish. The students picked a country randomly from a hat and then had to ...
Brunch is one of my favorite meals to host. It’s always more laid back, no one seems to be in a hurry and truth be told, I like how inexpensive it can be.
Football is a big deal in my house. Sundays are spent in sweatpants, cozied up on the couch, yelling at the TV, and enjoying delicious food to go along with the games (this is an all-day affair after ...
When I broke in my new kitchen a few weeks ago with a dinner party for friends, the star of the show was my Asiago cheese grits with fresh herbs. Just recently, my good friend Dan Smith of The ...
I love Mardi Gras season for many reasons: my birthday, parades with masked people and their "throws" (i.e. beads and trinkets), and King Cake. Being from Louisiana, I'm particularly picky about my ...
Try thinking of foods that are good for you and that you also have little to no guilt eating obscene amounts of. Did hummus and guacamole cross your mind? Gun to your head: which would you choose ...
It's always such a great shopping experience going to my favorite, local market because they carry such a wide and diverse variety of products at very reasonable prices. While perusing their ...
I always have a hard time deciding what to make for a holiday meal. For weeks, I think about how I can top the year before, what should stay, what should go, and what I can make that will impress my ...
We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. In this edition, Tom has an early idea for Valentine's ...
Now that we are in the new year, I know everyone is thinking "clean eating!" "more veggies!" "less booze!" Me? I'm thinking I will never give up Party Pizza Friday. Like ever.
When Inspiration Strikes: The Story of the Cannoli Cake
Have you ever had the urge to create a new and different dish but didn't have the foggiest idea of what to make? Or have you ever wondered how to put the seemingly random ingredients in your ...
The world of hot chocolate is a vast, diverse, fascinating and a bit overwhelming. It’s a beverage that most connect with cold weather and holiday spirit, but please take note, the hot cocoa most of ...
Drizzled over cheesecake, stirred into coffee, mixed into brownies, served with Pot de Creme or dunked with apple slices, caramel sauce is a versatile and fun way to turn any treat into an event, and ...
There's a dish I love to make during the holiday season, especially now that it's getting colder. I served it on Friendsgiving this year, but it's very non-traditional in many ways.
Salad Lyonnaise: A Cozy and Satisfying Winter Salad
I'm not always inclined to eat salads during the winter months, but occasionally it feels good to balance all of those rich and hearty cold weather foods with something bright and crisp. Salad ...
I’ve always loved the holiday season. I grew up in a household that celebrated Christmas and Hannukah, so the month of December was always fun! There was lots of good food and friends and family to ...
I love everything about the holidays, especially cooking for a crowd. Even though I mostly cook for myself on a regular basis, I cook as if I have a family of six! Good thing I love leftovers.
Some of the things I miss most about living in the Bay Area are Dungeness Crab season, “Karl” the Fog and the salty air. Recreational crab season in the Bay Area starts in early November and can ...
My friend and colleague Liz Songer recently brought me the most beautiful gift of two giant bags of fresh cranberries from her annual trip to Hayward, Wisconsin. She usually takes her trip to ...
Popovers: A Fun and Delicious Alternative to Rolls
I just found out that we are hosting Thanksgiving this year, and while that can be a bit daunting, my husband Mike and I are excited for the challenge. I say challenge because our condo is quite ...
Pie season is upon us and several months of sweets encased in flaky butter dough lie ahead. But for me, a general hater of pies (except pumpkin, banana cream and The Chopping Block's famous Apple ...
We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. In honor of pie season, Tom shows us how to make a ...
Every September, I convince my girlfriends to go apple picking, and until we go and eat half a dozen (fine, sometimes a dozen) cider donuts in the car, it never really feels like fall. There’s ...
The holidays are synonymous with lots of delicious freshly baked goods. Pies, cakes, brownies, and of course, cookies all taste even more delicious when it's cold out and you want to just sit around ...
While it is probably inadvisable to risk alienating large swaths of your audience in the opening paragraph, I’m going to admit something: I love winter. The cold weather lets me show off all my ...
Delicata Squash. Oh how I love thee. But why do you have such a short growing season? The first time I see delicata squash at the farmers market, I am like a kid who is scooping up candy from a just ...
I’ve been waiting for this time of year for months. I love Fall: crisp mornings, changing leaves, but most of all, I love Fall foods! Several people in my inner circle have mentioned chili in ...
If you are familiar with Lincoln Square, you've probably heard about or even attended the annual Apple Fest in October. The Chopping Block is famous for our Apple Pie, and we bake a lot of them for ...
One of The Chopping Block’s all-time best-sellers is our Jalapeno Gold. This sweet and spicy treat is as versatile as it is addictive. Nearly every day, someone dashes into the store to scoop up a ...
I love social media. It’s a great way to “meet” like-minded people from all over the world. I’ve created friendships with people as far away as the Netherlands, and have found people who enjoy my ...
The seasons have switched, and cooler weather is quickly approaching. This change of temperature made me want to take out my braiser and make a nice fall inspired Moroccan Braised Chicken dish. This ...
I love reading recipes. I’ve researched and downloaded so many of them that I’ll never be able to cook even half of them. But the fun and enjoyment for me has always been the process of researching ...
My favorite green sauce of all time is Cuban Mojo. If you’ve never had it, know that it is a very popular marinade for all kinds of meat, especially pork used in the famous Cuban Sandwich. My ...
Way back when I started working at The Chopping Block in 2002, we used to run a series of classes called the Building Blocks. There were 24 classes in all, and each one focused on different ...
After returning from New Orleans on a Monday morning, I decided to make red beans and rice that night. Everyone knows Monday is red beans and rice day!
I was recently in South Carolina for a reunion with some old gal pals from high school. We stayed at the home of one of the women and while we ate out one night, this gave us the luxury of being ...
I recently was faced with an abundance of overripe bananas, and while my go-to in this situation is usually my mom’s banana bread, I was inspired by Banana’s Foster, another of my favorite banana ...
I love being in the kitchen. It’s my favorite thing to do, even after a long day of work at my office job. But there are some nights when I know I’ll be working late, so a little planning on my part ...
Every summer my family gets together for a reunion. From old to young, it’s great to have every generation together to share stores from the past and to make new memories. A lot of the fond ...
Onion rings are one of those dishes I would never think to make at home. They are delicious, but who wants to deep fry in August? I certainly don't! But here lies the dilemma… I don't want to ...
Got Fruit at Different Stages of Ripeness? Make Fruit Salsa
I love to have fruit around the house, but sometimes I end up with too much fruit to keep up with. Between farmers market season, CSA boxes, and impulse shopping at grocery stores, it’s easy for a ...
I am a soup lover. I can eat soup 365 days of the year. Mind you, I am not eating soup on a beach, but in an air conditioned house or my office, so I am good to go. Midwest produce is just starting ...
A while back I shared my mom’s recipe for perfect Banana Bread, then I shared my recipe for Blueberry Zucchini Bread. Now, in my effort to reign supreme as the quick bread queen, I’m sharing my ...
I have fond memories of zucchini bread that my “summer” grandma made me. I had one grandma that lived with us, and the “summer” grandma lived in Virginia. To this day whenever I cut into a ...
Family Cooking isn't Always Pretty, but it can be Delicious
With a family of six, my oldest sister cooks about four times a week. While her cooking ranges from challenging to easy, I liked one of her recent meals because it was delicious, the kids were able ...
My Chicago Style Deep Dish is More “Chicago” Than Yours
My move to Chicago wasn't easy. It took me three months to find a job and about six before I had my own apartment. I wouldn't have been able to get by here without having some wonderful friends. ...
I'm lucky enough to have a couple of friends who have a fig tree that produces an abundance of fruit right on schedule every June. Each summer, they are generous enough to give me more than my fair ...
Well, Summer certainly took its sweet old time getting here this year, but since it arrived it’s been hot-hot-HOT! When it comes to cooking, for many of us that means trying to use our stoves and ...
Need a New Way to Use Butternut Squash? Try it as a Dip
Butternut squash is synonymous with the autumn season, but it’s actually a year-round vegetable (technically fruit, I know). We all have that favorite butternut squash soup recipe we all love, and ...
My late husband never ate leftovers growing up. His mom prepared exactly enough food for that dinner each night and that was that. He told me that he never even heard the word leftover until he went ...
I’ve always loved pineapples. Not only are they delicious, and a real taste of summer, but they’re the universal symbol for hospitality, which we really focus on here at The Chopping Block!
I’ve touched on some of the fondest food memories of my youth in a number of my blogs. Those memories for me, like a lot of us, begin with meals and desserts prepared by our mothers and ...
One of my favorite things to do with out-of-town visitors in the summer is to take them to a concert in the park. There is nothing better than sipping wine and listening to music on a summer night ...
Everyone loves a backyard barbecue, especially when you don’t have to do any prep, cooking or clean up! That’s why you and the whole family should join The Chopping Block for our upcoming Summer BBQ ...
I look forward to summer for two reasons – softball and watermelon. Since eating a softball is frowned upon, I’m focusing on a few of the amazing ways you can enjoy watermelon. The first step is ...
You may have noticed an abundance of kimchi on menus lately. Korean flavors have been named one of the hottest summer food trends of 2018. We are lucky that we have one of the great experts in this ...
Making any kind of dumpling is always a special occasion for me. You should always make dumplings for your loved ones, because that little bit of extra effort just shows that you love them and they ...
It took awhile this year, but Summer is finally here and for me, that means easy, breezy everything! I like to cook outside more, heat up the inside less, eat with minimal preparation – and so much ...
If you’ve read my blogs, you know I love breakfast and brunch. I’m often working weekend mornings, but when I’m not, I love to make a big showy breakfast for my loved ones, and when I’m particularly ...
Over the last several years, my girlfriend has experimented with a lot of different varieties of protein pancakes. I think they’re one of the tastiest ways to get in a nice serving of carbs and ...
I’m always looking for new and delicious veggie recipes for my kids to enjoy. It’s not hard getting my 13-year-old daughter to eat a variety of vegetables, but it’s a whole different story with my ...
I am ready for my first “Summertime Chi” as a Chicago resident, and the persistant cold weather is finally gone. However, we can still expect some cool nights so in anticipation of those with the ...
Now that you know how to make pancetta, I wanted to provide a few tips on cooking with it and recipes that highlight those techniques. Although pancetta is edible in the same way bacon is, its high ...
Le Creuset Mini-Cocotte Recipe: Gruyere Mac & Cheese with Crispy Bacon
Last September, I wrote about the colorful round mini-cocottes from Le Creuset that we carry at The Chopping Block. Like ramekins, mini-cocottes are perfect for cooking individual portions, but you ...
A Royal Recipe: Meghan & Harry’s Lemon Elderflower Petit Fours
I’m obsessed with the upcoming Royal Wedding. As an L.A. girl who studied in London and always dreamed of bumping into some secret royal at the local Tesco and being swept off my feet, this is my ...
The thing I really love about cooking, and specifically charcuterie, is taking humble ingredients, and turning them into something special. A terrine is the perfect example of this idea. Today we are ...
Key Lime Meringue Tart: A Sweet, Citrusy Vegan Treat
Vegan substituting in dessert is an interesting process. Obviously, substituting dairy has been easy. Need to substitute milk? No problem, there’s almond, soy, or coconut milk. Need to switch out ...
Now that spring has officially (and finally!) sprung, it's time to start cooking with the season and celebrating the arrival of warmer days. There's a lot of spring produce coming on to the scene ...
How many of us grew up on broiled bland fish, dry pork chops or sautéed chicken that could have used just a little something extra on the plate? All of these proteins can easily be improved with a ...
Street Food: Falafel Pita with Tzatziki and Fried Jalapenos
I love meat. All kinds of meat – pork, beef, chicken – you name it, I’ll eat it! But, turns out I have a vegetarian daughter and a vegan daughter-in-law, so I have to make some meatless dishes once ...
Once or twice a year, a few of my girlfriends and I get together for a girls only weekend. We look forward to the getaway and use the time to relax and catch up. We change up the location each ...
Someday, it will warm up. Someday, it will stop snowing. It has to, right? Right? Though the foreseeable forecast still casts a pall on my dreams of summer, I’m trying to look at the positives: ...
One of the things I like about working at The Chopping Block is that our team shares their culinary experience and encourages everyone to experiment with different ingredients and cooking ...
You say Potato, I say Patata with an Easy Spanish Omelette
Tortilla de Patatas (potato omelette) is as ubiquitous in Spain as it is delicious. This potato omelette is found in tapas bars where it is served warm or cold, topped with aioli or not, full of ...
I was ten years old when I tasted Kefir for the very first time. My parents and I had immigrated to America as refugees from the former Soviet Union nine years earlier, in 1976, when I was just a ...
I don’t think there is anyone I know who doesn’t love mac & cheese. My husband & I are certainly no exception, and I think my sister would tell you that I popped out of the womb asking for some! ...
Great Eggspectations: Making Scotch Eggs from Scratch
As a recent arrival from the good old United Kingdom (Wales to be precise), there are many things I love about Chicago, and a few that I miss about home (pubs, hills and valleys, and the Metric ...
Grilled Salmon Torta: A Fish Sandwich Like No Other
Tortas can refer to many different culinary treats such as cakes and flatbreads, depending on what country you're in, but the torta we're going to explore now is all about the sandwich from Mexico. ...
During the cold months (and here in Chicago, that sadly still includes April), everyone is all about the pumpkin and butternut squash. While those are great, I really get excited about Delicata ...
Smoothies are a delicious way to get in multiple servings of fruit, veggies, protein, fiber, and tons of vitamins and minerals. Plus, I’d argue most people would rather get in their nutrients via ...
Will it ever feel like spring in Chicago? While I am dreaming of grilling beef on my outdoor patio in weather that is not 40 degrees, this beef and spring veggie noodle dish will taste like spring ...
We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. Here, he shows us how to turn those leftover Easter ...
I’m a huge fan of soups and stews! Whenever I go to a restaurant, if there is a soup on the menu, I’m more than likely going to order it. I love that a bowl of soup can either be the starter to a ...
Easter is just around the corner, and glazed carrots are always part of my holiday dinner. This year, I'm growing carrots in my garden from seed, so I was lucky enough to have a good batch of small ...
I was recently in the mood to slow cook a spicy batch of chili on a cold Sunday afternoon. I wanted to cook and have the smell of savory food wafting through the house. Once the chili was in the ...
Being raised in the heart of the Midwest, I'm certainly a meat and potatoes kind of guy. But I do love seafood when it is fresh and prepared well. I recently had the opportunity to work with some ...
I finally succumbed to the pressure of the Instant Pot. I’d been curious about them for awhile but between my slow and steady Crock Pot (See Taking Things Slow With Your Crock Pot) with reliable ...
For the last few years, my husband and I have taken to international travel, particularly trekking across Europe, the Baltic, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, and (coming this fall) the Adriatic. ...
Growing up, St. Patrick’s Day in our house meant a corned beef and cabbage dinner with plenty of potatoes and carrots tossed in. I remember my father being the one to take over the kitchen on this ...
Chicken Liver Parfait. The finest, smoothest and richest pâté known to man. People love ordering it at high end restaurants, but no one wants to make it at home. Up until recently, I wouldn’t want ...
One of my go to comfort foods this winter has been flavorful curry dishes. There’s something about the warm spices and aromas that makes these last few weeks of cold not seem so bad. I came across ...
If you are looking to lose weight and/or perform better in the gym and you don’t have your nutrition dialed in, you will plateau very quickly. The easiest way to stay on top of your diet is to prep ...
How to Make Apple Cider Syrup and Turn It Into Pie
Close to 20 years ago, one of our former chef instructors Lisa Futterman came to work with a recipe she clipped out of a newspaper for an Apple Cider Pie. It was the craziest pie I had seen. She took ...
One question I get asked over and over on my social media channels is how do I cook a meal from scratch nearly every night of the week? I have a full time job in the city. My commute is about 90 ...
Making crêpes sounds like an intimidating culinary task, but believe me when I tell you that they're as easy as, well… crêpes! They definitely have that “oo-la-la”, fancy French flair, but there's ...
We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. Here, he shows us how to make a classic British recipe ...
Give me a savory recipe or an idea for any savory meal, and I’m on it! But if you ask me to bake a dessert, I would do my best, but not with the same confidence of creating a savory dish. So for the ...
I recently had a dilemma that I feel most of you will be able to relate to. I’d had a busy weekend, and when I got back to the daily grind on Monday, I went to grab a banana for the road only to ...
Shrimp and Grits are one of my all-time favorite meals. For breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, if they are on a menu, I’m ordering them! I’ve eaten them all over the country in every variation ...
Turn Smoked Salmon into an Easy, Yet Elegant Appetizer
The next time you are hosting a party worthy of an elegant appetizer, try this quick Smoked Salmon Mousse. You can make a couple dozen of these tasty bites in about 30 minutes if you have a food ...
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with Whole Steamed Fish
As you know from my last post, Chinese (Lunar) New Year is a big deal at our house: it’s the one holiday we brought back with us from China to celebrate with family and friends, ringing it in with ...
Chocolate Pot de Crème with Caramel Sauce and Kahlua Whipped Cream
Even though Valentine's Day is behind us, there's no reason why you can't make sexy and sweet desserts for that special someone in your life all year round so that they feel appreciated. This is one ...
Paczkis (Poonch-Keys), the yeast raised, fried donuts often filled with jams and creams, are a Fat Tuesday tradition that are enjoyed before pre-Easter fasting begins. They are a Polish tradition, ...
I know I’ve divulged some of my mom’s secrets including her turkey soup and braised short ribs with chili biscuits in past blogs, and while those are both really delicious, I’m finally breaking down ...
It feels a little odd to be writing about diet planning. For most of my life, I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and as much as I wanted. And then my perspective changed. These past two ...
As an advisory board member of the World Food Travel Association, I’m fortunate to travel to many countries around the world to work with local chefs and explore different culinary cultures. ...
Last week a few of my co-workers gathered together to test our skills and face judgement by our peers in a Chopping Block Chili Cook-Off. The chilis were varied, the competition fierce and the ...
I fell in love with this salad when I was the chef at American Girl Place in Chicago. It was one of our most popular items probably because it was so delicious! You can substitute any kind of green ...
Having lived in Beijing a number of years ago, an annual tradition we took home with us was a big, loud celebration dinner for Chinese New Year. With that coming up just over a month away, my mind ...
A new year is here and many people have decided that now is the time to start creating some healthier lifestyle habits. Beginning a workout routine and aiming to eat healthier overall obviously go ...
When faced with brutal subzero temperatures this New Year, I went in to survival mode and immediately got to work in simmering up a hearty stew to warm the bellies of my loved ones.
Happy New Year! I don’t know about you, but the new year is always a clean slate for me. I get all gung ho after maybe indulging a bit over the holiday season – and by holiday season I mean from ...
We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. Here, he shows us how to make one of the most popular ...
As far as I know, my dog Mica is not gluten intolerant, but I figure if I can easily make a treat for my dog without flour, why add it? I try and be very careful with what I eat, so it only makes ...
Short Ribs and Chili Biscuits – A Delicious Winter Meal
It’s finally gotten cold in Chicago which means it’s the perfect time for whipping out that Dutch oven and braising something delicious! On a recent day off, I called my mom to ask for her recipe ...
Everybody loves pizza. Whether it's New York all the way or Chicago-style only, neapolitan crust or deep dish, pizza is something I think people of all ages can get behind. I recently had my niece ...
These Crispy Shrimp Will Leave Your Guests 'Wonton' More
Holiday times seem to bring us to the kitchen a lot more than the rest of the year. We entertain at home or go out to holiday parties and bring food with us to share. Last month, I gave you an ...
Dutch Babies have been a Forneret-family obsession since we first discovered them at a pancake house in Palm Springs many years ago. Eggy, crisp and lightly sweet, these instantly became a ...
We all know the Vitamix blender makes the best frozen cocktails, and it was one night, after a stellar round of Pina Coladas, I was inspired to make a pineapple sorbet with leftover frozen pineapple ...
With the temperatures plummeting and hibernation season beginning in Chicago, sitting on the couch with some piping hot comfort food sounds pretty enticing. Winter is the season for mashed potatoes ...
Eating healthy during this holiday season can be really hard. I’ve recently started adding more vegan/vegetarian meals into my daily routine. The recipes are easy and pretty quick to make for a ...
Growing up, there were two things I could always count on every single Christmas. My great Aunt Selma and Uncle Jiggs would send us a two pound loaf of fruitcake. That would be unwrapped, put out on ...
If you're like me, this time of year can get a little bit stressful. The hustle and bustle of cooking, baking, traveling, shopping, and working a full-time job can take a toll on one’s sanity. I ...
My latest edition on foraging and cooking wild mushrooms features a relatively new mushroom for me: the Puffball. I grew up hunting morels but living in urban environments for the last 30+ years, I ...
Whether it’s a missing ingredient you could have sworn you bought or someone doesn’t bring what they were supposed to for your potluck, it happens every year. Don't let dessert be compromised! Take ...
There’s really nothing better than a food that can be eaten at every meal – and I’ve got the perfect recipe for an easy lemon curd you can enjoy any time of day. Even though lemon curd originated in ...
Holiday Appetizer: Meatballs with Apple Cider BBQ Sauce
This year seemed to fly by so quickly, and already the holidays are here again! I watched my oldest son become a teenager and my youngest son become a superstar of several sports. Those glorious ...
Thanksgiving is coming, and I so love cooking for this holiday. I also love hearing about other people’s traditions, what they serve, what they enjoy cooking. In the midst of all this, though, one ...
While I do love a good pumpkin spice latte, I’ve never really gotten on board with loving pumpkin pie (though I’ll admit, The Chopping Block’s is delicious!). Truthfully, I’ve never roasted my own ...
Since the weather is nice and cold and staying in sounds more enticing than heading out, I had the urge to bake some bread this week. I decided to make a Dutch Oven Bread Loaf. The recipe was very ...
I consider myself more of a cook than a baker, except for two things – pies and bread! Now that we are past Halloween, my Pinterest feed has been all about Thanksgiving, from appetizers to dessert.
Food Comics: Honey Lemon Chicken Kebabs with Hummus
We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. Here, he shows us how to make an easy dish with Turkish ...
If you’re someone who likes to get creative in the kitchen and try out new things, sometime it can be difficult to know where to start or how to experiment without ruining your dinner for that ...
Pumpkin Puree isn't Just for Pie - Try it in Fresh Pasta
By now you’ve probably been inundated with pumpkin this and pumpkin that, but I'm not done embracing the delicious and versatile nature of this seasonal fruit, so I hope you'll bear with me and ...
It’s fall, which means pumpkin everything… unless of course, you’ve been getting your pumpkin spice fix since late August. Pumpkin is everywhere now, and sometimes it’s good to think beyond pies and ...
Although fall is my favorite season of the year, it’s still really difficult to say goodbye to summer. The things I love most about fall are the colors, flavors, smells, spices and crisp weather ...
When the weather turns cold, there is nothing I want more than a bowl of piping hot, hearty soup. I prefer a creamy soup that warms the soul. While I do enjoy a good soup, I don’t always have the ...
When most people think of the south of France, they think of popular towns like Cannes, Nice and Provence but there’s another charming – and less expensive - region to the west called ...
Warm Up in Cool Weather with Jalapeño Cheddar Biscuits
Unless you live in the deep South, you have probably felt Autumn's cool embrace by now. This is a clear signal that my favorite months of cooking are here! Besides the great flavors and smells that ...
Crunchy kosher dills. Hamantaschen filled with prune levkar. Date honey and pomegranate molasses. Foods like these demonstrate how preserving has played an important role in Jewish cuisine, both ...
These rainy fall days have me craving one of my favorite comfort dishes - cassoulet. This traditional French dish is a hearty mix of duck confit, pork and beans that warmed farmer’s bellies for the ...
We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. Here, he shows us how to make the perfect accompaniment ...
We had pasta a lot growing up for several reasons. First, it was a family favorite. Second, it was quick, and I am sure the third reason was because it was cheap. All those reasons still hold true ...
With the arrival of October comes pumpkin-spiced everything. From pumpkin spiced lattes to pumpkin pancakes to pumpkin pie, the flavor of pumpkin is everywhere. While I do love pumpkin in either ...
The pumpkin season is undeniably upon us. Just last week I went to the grocery store, and couldn't believe the assortment of pumpkin-flavored items available. There was everything you could imagine ...
I just got back from a whirlwind vacation across Europe, gorging my way through five countries before rolling into Istanbul. Ahhh Istanbul--land of lamb chops so pink that even Mary would have had ...
I love autumn. While spring is all green and fresh and lovely, the colors of autumn are incredible. I love all that it brings: the beautiful changing colors on the trees, pumpkins, the slight nip ...
I have spent the last couple of weeks journaling my recent wilderness trip. I was hoping to have it ready in time for this month's blog, but stay tuned for it next month! In the meantime, fall has ...
We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. Here, he shows us how to make his favorite soup, Alton ...
Three things prompted my blog post this month. Labor Day weekend 2017 marked the 19th anniversary of my Dad passing away. Like me, my Dad was diabetic, but he never let that stop him from eating his ...
Breakfast seems to be the meal that most people have the hardest time making nutritionally balanced (if they eat it at all). Whether that's because people find fewer foods appetizing early in the ...
Just because Labor Day has come and gone doesn't mean you should pack up your grill. Standing over a flaming hot grill during the height of summer can have its challenges, so take advantage of the ...
Sweet corn takes me back to my childhood more than almost any food. I grew up on a little acreage in Iowa and our mainstay was sweet corn. We not only grew it for ourselves, we sold it and traded ...
It's been called “The Impossible Chocolate Cake” and “Magic Mexican Chocolate Flan Cake,” but I prefer calling it “Chocoflan!” Chocoflan is a combination of chocolate cake on the bottom with a ...
I love the idea of sharing small plates when it coming to dining because it allows for such great variety to be enjoyed. I also think small plates always seem to make the meal more fun! I feel like ...
There seems to be this unwritten phenomenon among The Chopping Block's employees, where after our Know Your Gnocchi class, someone who worked the class is inspired to go home and make gnocchi from ...
I’ve been enjoying the fruits of my garden all summer long--cucumbers, zucchini, hot peppers and so many cherry tomatoes but the one thing that I wait for all summer--my great, big, juicy heirloom ...
Having friends and family over for breakfast or brunch is one of my very favorite things to do. Breakfast and brunch can be some of the most simple, delicious, and versatile meals!
Fluffy, light, sweet whipped cream. Is there anything better? During a recent birthday party at The Chopping Block's Merchandise Mart location, we had a whipped cream contest! Two teams of thre had ...
It seems to me that most people kind of like oatmeal but don’t really love oatmeal. Most people may eat it because it is fast, cheap and healthy. Those might be the three big reasons to love ...
Truffle Honey and Truffle Salt: Two of our Favorite Foods
If you've ever stepped through the doors of The Chopping Block, you've probably sampled our famous popcorn and other fresh delicious treats featuring Truffled Salt. We sure do love this stuff ...
Italy is one of those places you can’t help but love. You’re guaranteed a good meal nearly anywhere, anytime, in every region. My love of Italy started on a trip during middle school, so I knew when ...
When we were in Italy last fall, I fell in love with these wonderful little rolled zucchini bites that Rosella, our Agriturismo host, whipped up. I remember asking her what kind of cheese was in ...
You either love it or you hate it. That’s how it goes with some foods. One such vegetable that most people tend to skew heavily one way or the other on are Brussels sprouts. As I teach the young ...
We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. Here, he shows us how to make a salad that is designed ...
Even after cooking all day at work, I come home still eager to make a meal. I love to cook, but even the most enthusiastic chef has days where they would rather relax and have someone else take ...
I think it was in the early 80’s that I was introduced to GORP. One of my teammates had it on a bus to a field hockey game. It had peanuts, raisins and M&M’s and it was delicious. It was deemed the ...
Pineapple Pink Pepper Sorbet: A Light, Refreshing Summer Dessert
You'd think after last month’s butternut squash ice cream brainstorm that I was obsessed with ice cream. Well, I am! I'm also a big fan of combining unique flavor combinations… within reason of ...
My wife informed me that we would be having company for dinner last Sunday and that our guests would expect me to cook something delicious. I agree that's a fair expectation, but the situation put ...
Now that it is officially bathing suit season, this is the time when many people start to get really serious about healthy eating to keep that beach bod in check. One of the hard parts about ...
I have been a chef with The Chopping Block for almost 2 years now. In that short time, I have learned a lot more about cooking than I ever did in my previous 10 years in restaurant kitchens. A big ...
One of my favorite things about the weekend is being able to spend time in my kitchen in the morning before anyone else is up. I sip my piping hot coffee, and the only sounds are the birds chirping ...
Summer’s Not Just For Kids Anymore with These Boozy Popsicles
Hot days, cold pools, ice cream trucks and adult beverages--combine all of the delights of summer into one with these icy cold fruit, herb and liquor-filled treats! The recipes are simple, the ...
As the summer season begins, so too does entertaining season. One of the more frequent questions I get from students is about appetizers. Everyone seems to be a “deer caught in headlights” about the ...
