The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

Kate S

Kate is the General Manager of The Chopping Block at the Merchandise Mart. Originally from the East Coast, she moved to Chicago 8 years ago and loves the strong food culture of the city. She loves entertaining for friends, trying new restaurants, and cooking (of course). Her friends know not to eat until she's snapped a picture of any dish! She credits her mom and grandmothers for getting her interested in cooking at an early age. Her most utilized tool in the kitchen is the recipe book her late grandmother left her. Kate also enjoys traveling and is on a mission to visit each baseball stadium in America, but even then she's really there to sample the local food!

Persimmon-Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

On a recent grocery run, I came across an orange tomato-like fruit, the persimmon. As a self-proclaimed “foodie,” I love finding foods that I’ve never tried. I’ve seen persimmons plenty of times ...

Ropa Vieja

At the beginning of the year, Cuba was on my list of places to travel in 2020. Thanks to the pandemic, it’ll have to remain on my list (which is growing as the months pass) a bit longer. I ...

Orange Cranberry Bread

When I was a kid, I always knew that we were getting close to Thanksgiving once I smelled my mom’s Orange Cranberry Bread. As the reigning Chopping Block Queen of Quick Breads, I decided that ...

Let's Get Squashed

One of the best things about fall being in full swing is the multitude of squash options that become available to spice up our recipe repertoire as the weather gets cooler. Of course, there’s ...

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Banana Pupcakes

Like a lot of you, I baked more often than usual these past few months during the pandemic. I made my share of quick breads, cakes, and cookies. There were at least three baked goods in our home at ...

Bacon Cheeseburger Eggrolls

Friday, September 18 was National Cheeseburger Day, and I’ve been thinking about cheeseburgers ever since. I absolutely love cheeseburgers – they’re simple to make and so versatile, with an endless ...

Grilled Eggplant Three Ways

I find that eggplant generally gets a bad rap. I’m not sure if people are averse to its texture or flavor, or they are just not familiar with how to prepare it, but I absolutely love eggplant, so I’m ...

Japanese Souffle Pancakes

As the reigning Pancake Princess at The Chopping Block, I’m always looking for new and different pancakes to make. I’ve made sweet pancakes, as well as savory pancakes, so when it came time to make ...

Seven Cheese Spinach Artichoke Dip

The latest cheese challenge in The Chopping Block's private Facebook group got me thinking about what’s the most cheesy, ooey, gooey dish that I like to make. Immediately, I knew: spinach artichoke ...

Pepper Season is On and Popping

I’m a self-proclaimed hot pepper fiend. I love the addition of heat into both savory and sweet dishes. I’m the girl that carries hot sauce in her purse (just like Beyonce), just in case the need ...