Loving The Art of Cooking
Potato fondant is a technique used by cutting potatoes into cylinder shapes to brown the ends while they slowly braise and roast in stock and butter. Pommes Fondant or melting potato, originated in France. This technique creates a potato that’s creamy inside and crispy, buttery on the outside. Potato Pave is another […]
Potsticker dumplings are one of my favorite things to eat and have made a few appearances on this blog in the last 9 years. Store bought wonton wrappers make this an easy and fun recipe to take on. The sweetness of butternut squash goes so well with the saltiness of […]
A quick, tasty seasonal breakfast!! This super-huge pancake is made from a simple batter that is poured over sautéed apples then baked until puffy and golden brown. Big Apple Pancake Serves 4…maybe 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter 1 large sweet apple such as Gala or Golden Delicious, peeled, cored, and cut […]
Firecracker Salmon, with an incredible sweet and spicy sauce, is ready in minutes! It’s flakey on the inside with pan seared, crispy edges, then finished off in the oven until tender. This recipe requires very few ingredients for such an impressive entree. Firecracker Salmon Serves 4 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger 1 teaspoon minced garlic […]
This colorful Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad combines all the best produce into the season’s BEST salad. Spicy baby arugula, tart apples, juicy pomegranates, candied nuts, and crispy prosciutto tossed with an apple cider vinaigrette creates a show stopper of a salad. Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta […]
This chewy Apple Blondie recipe is loaded with fresh apples, cinnamon and walnuts in each bite. Serve these blondies warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce (recipe below)! Apple Blondies 2 sticks unsalted butter, plus additional for buttering pan 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons ground […]
Stuffed acorn squash with sausage is one of those perfect dinners that celebrates the bounty of Fall. The sweet and nutty qualities of acorn squash mesh perfectly with the savory, tart flavors of sausage and apples. This squash is rich in fiber, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium making it as healthy […]
Everything you love about lasagna, but made in a skillet…noodles, ricotta cheese, sausage, sauce, and melted cheese. One of Randy’s very favorite meals is lasagna, but unless you are making the lasagna ahead of time, it’s not really a weeknight kind of meal. Making a traditional lasagna takes lots of […]
This green bean recipe hits all the notes…sweet, savory and crunchy. Fresh green beans are sautéed in a hot pan until blistered on the outside and tossed in a creamy and tangy mayo dressing with pecans. A side of all sides! Creamy Sautéed Green Beans 1 pound green beans or haricot vert […]
Put that abundance of garden tomatoes to use this summer with a fresh, no- cook tomato pasta sauce. To make this sauce, simply combine chopped tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, vinegar and basil in a large bowl and let it sit until the flavors meld. Then just add the al dente […]
This super fast chicken stir fry will be on your weekly rotation and is prepared in only 25 minutes. The chicken is tossed in a sweet, tangy and spicy black pepper sauce with plenty of bell peppers, jalapeños, and basil. Serve over coconut lemongrass rice. Don’t skip this step….the rice […]
Hands down….our favorite corn soup. This recipe has the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and savory flavors. The seared scallops add a briny note and are a terrific pairing with the sweet corn and spicy jalapeño. Alternatively, crumbled bacon, micro greens and a sprinkle of cotija cheese are great substitutes […]
The BLT is the ultimate summer sandwich. You have farm stand juicy tomatoes, the salty crunch of bacon, crisp lettuce and creamy BASIL mayonnaise — all sandwiched between sour dough bread. The basil mayo elevates this classic sammy. Simply chop up basil and add it to your mayonnaise along with […]
An easy recipe for Summer Corn Chowder that is hearty, bright and crazy delicious. It’s perfect for cool a late summer evening when farm stand corn is at its peak. Summer Corn Chowder Serves 6 3 ears corn, roasted and kernels removed from cob 1 quart unsalted chicken stock 8 slices bacon, diced 1 medium yellow […]
This Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad is flavor/texture heaven! This Salad is bursting with tender, juicy chicken, all your favorite salad fixings including crunchy, salty tortilla chips and the zesty, out of this world, must make, cilantro lime dressing. Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade Serves 2 1 pound boneless chicken breasts pounded to an […]
“Acqua pazza,” or “crazy water,” refers to the southern Italian tradition of cooking the day’s catch in seawater. At its core this is a clean, simple, elegant and foolproof dish that could easily be a weeknight meal. For the fish, I chose cod but any meaty white fish works. It’s a […]
Grilled Shrimp Boil in Foil Packets is a flavor-packed meal that’s easy to make on the grill or in the oven. This is a fuss-free, hearty, weeknight or backyard party summer meal. The packets are filled with perfectly seasoned potatoes, shrimp, sausage and corn, then finished with a squeeze of lemon […]
I’m just going to share what Tieghan Gerard, of Half Baked Harvest has to say about this delicious foolproof cheesecake:“Inspired by the Basque region of France, this cheesecake has a flaky puff pastry crust surrounding the creamy cheesecake filling. Its deep brown top has cracks all around for an old-world […]
Skirt steak is one of the best grilling meats. A beautifully caramelized char surrounds the outside in minutes while the inside becomes tender and juicy. Over a hot grill, the steak is done in about 4 minutes. Then the creme de la creme…top with a ball of burrata and garlicky, […]
This cool and refreshing Watermelon Gazpacho is simple to make and packed full of healthy summer produce. Tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, scallions, garlic and herbs make a light and refreshing starter…adding the watermelon balances these flavors. Watermelon Gazpacho Serves 6 4 heaping cups cubed seedless watermelon 1 English cucumber, diced […]
This side is easy to make and refreshing to accompany your grilled mains this summer. It’s bright, light, sweet and tangy with a kick. Grilled Corn Salad with Hot Honey Lime Dressing 8 Servings 3 ears of corn, husked 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted 1½ tsp. kosher salt, plus more […]
Goat cheese salad is a classic French bistro dish that is easy to make at home. The salad combines fresh, tender lettuce with warmed goat cheese rounds. The cheese is rolled in panko (or breadcrumbs) and then heated to form an outer crunchy layer, creating goat cheese croutes. It’s topped off with […]
Everyone loves these crispy baked potato wedges! These have a crisp and golden skin on the outside and are perfectly tender inside. This is a recipe that turns out perfect every time. The key…soaking the potatoes for 10 minutes to draw the starch out. Great side for grilled entrees. Crispy […]
Rhubarb season is relatively short. Bakers take this time to elevate their pies, crisps and cake game. I’ve taken these red vibrant stalks and have gone savory. This rhubarb chutney includes garlic, onion, apple cider vinegar and ginger to give it a punchy kick of robust flavor. The combination of […]
This 5-ingredient pasta salad recipe comes together in minutes and packs tons of flavor with all of the flavors of a traditional Caesar salad. Roasting the tomatoes is key to bring forward their sweetness. I like to double this salad and have lunch ready to go for the next few […]
Loaded with juicy grilled pineapple, red onion and crisp lettuce, this Hawaiian BBQ Chicken sandwich is perfect for summer entertaining! THIS homemade BBQ sauce from @mybizzykitchen is what really puts this sandwich over the top. Grilled BBQ Chicken and Pineapple Sandwich 4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves ½ teaspoon salt […]
Looking for a delicious starter? Try these toasted french bread bites topped with shrimp in a rich creamy cheese sauce that is seasoned with a hint of Cajun spice, baked until lightly browned and bubbly. Shrimp Crostini Makes 12 1 small french baquette cut in 1/2 inch thick slices 1 tablespoon olive […]
Roasting (or grilling) is the best way to cook broccolini. The result, is crispy charred edges and a just-tender bite, the perfect texture to pair with a creamy tahini sauce. This Roasted Broccolini recipe (Yotam Ottolenghi) is a wonderful side dish eaten plain (olive oil, salt and pepper), but a […]
Food flash back, and a tasty one. On the first floor of my design school was a classic Greek joint, “The Artist’s Cafe.” Sitting in that red leather booth overlooking Michigan Avenue, Grant Park and the Art Institute all while enjoying a bowl of Avgolemono soup was a weekly event. […]
These Prosciutto Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles are an easy and elegant appetizer or brunch idea! Perfect for Easter, Mother’s Day or any other springy occasion! These buttery bundles are filled with roasted asparagus, smoked Gouda and prosciutto along with a touch of honey mustard. Fun to make and a real crowd […]