The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

It's Still Summer so Take Advantage of Tomatoes

I get that some people simply can't wait for the last minute of Labor Day to end so that they can unofficially welcome fall by breaking out their Ugg boots, sweaters and pumpkin-spice everything. But ...

Happy Birthday Julia!

Just after finishing my culinary school training, I attended a food professionals’ conference in New York. At one of the lectures, the seat next to mine remained empty until a very tall woman ...

Don't Wait for Market Season to Make Pizza

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 ...

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 ...

Corn and Potato Soup in Mushroom Broth

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 ...

Spicy Corn, Bacon and Candied Jalapeno Dip

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 ...

A Farewell to the Sweet Corn of Summer

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 ...

What to Do When You are Gifted Squash

I recently walked into work to find a beautiful long squash on my desk. My mind immediately went to thinking it was a prank by one of my coworkers, because they do silly things from time to time. ...

Farmers Market Corn and Potato Soup

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 ...

Summer Corn Salad for Picnic Season

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 ...