The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

Gluten-Free Scones that are actually Delicious

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 ...

Soufflé All Day

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 ...

Poor Man's Lobster Rolls

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 ...

One "Sweet" Birthday Cake

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 ...

Stuffed Crust Pizza Dip

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.

A Simple Taste of Spring with Yotam Ottolenghi

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 ...

Avgolemono Warms the Soul

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 ...

A Family’s Favorite Cheesecake Recipe

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, ...