The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

A Lemony, Sweet and Salty North Carolina Treat: To Tweak Or Not To Tweak

A couple of years ago, while watching an episode of Cook's Country on PBS, I discovered the North Carolina Lemon Pie. It immediately got my attention because the crust was made entirely out of ...

Lemon Cake with Blueberry Sauce: A Chopping Block Classic

When I first started working at The Chopping Block 20 years ago, the bulk of our curriculum revolved around the Building Block Series. In this series, there were 24 classes, and each menu focused ...

Lemon Orzo Soup

My daughter used to work at Panera many years ago. When she got the job, I envisioned her chopping up carrots and celery for the soups and simmering them in the back kitchen before customers ...

How to Make and Use Preserved Lemons

My first exposure to preserved lemons was when I worked at Café du Midi some 25 years ago. Café du Midi was a very special place to work, not just because of its amazing Mediterranean-influenced ...

Citrus is my Main Squeeze

Most of us are fortunate to be able to enjoy all types of citrus all year long. You may not know this, but citrus season is actually during winter. Citrus is the perfect little pick me up to get ...

The Great Lemony Escape

From time to time a nice change up or escape is always nice, and due to current events, travel is not the best choice in my opinion. My lovely wife got the baking bug this weekend, and she found a ...

When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Frozen Lemon Mousse

It’s been a pretty tough year. We went from winter to hot summer with barely a notice of spring in Chicagoland, all the while sheltering in place. But to use a very worn saying, “When life gives ...

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes are Full of Surprises

Cupcakes are my favorite dessert to make for parties and now that we are living in COVID-19 times, they are even more perfect for your small gatherings. You don't have to share utensils from cutting ...

Lemon Blueberry Streusel Muffins

These fluffy and moist muffins are sure to become a family favorite. The pairing of bright lemon and sweet blueberry is a quintessential Spring/Summer flavor combination – and one of my personal ...

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes for Easter Breakfast

First, I was called the quick-bread queen for all my blogs related to the subject, but these days, pancake princess seems more fitting. Last month, I shared my copy cat recipe for the Original House ...