The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

The Chopping Block's Herbs de Provence Salt

I have been growing a tremendous number of herbs in Michigan and experimenting with different preservation methods for them. It's been revelatory for me! Before I started drying my own herbs, I had ...

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 ...

Three Little Words That Show You Care: Tomato Bacon Jam

Maybe it’s the hot summer season we’ve been having in Chicago, but I’ve been reading a lot lately about savory jams. Particularly unexpected sweet and spicy flavor combinations that meld different ...

10 Things to Make with Too Many Herbs

As any of you who have a garden know, keeping up with herbs can be a bit of a challenge. Every summer I try to grow enough herbs and vegetables for me and my husband to eat through the entire ...

Food Comics: Asian Inspired Burgers

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 put an Asian spin on a classic ...

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. ...

Everyone Needs Friends with Figs

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 ...

Killer Kebabs on a Homemade Hibachi

When I moved to Chicago last summer, I found myself for the first time in my life with a lovely big back porch. I quickly developed an insatiable urge to grill meats, but had no grill to grill them ...

No-Bake Fruit Tart Bites

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 ...