When you think of ricotta…what comes to mind? Yep, me too…lasagna. However, ricotta’s creamy light texture suggests many other applications. Try lemon and ricotta. This classic combination is a perfect pair when whipped together in a pancake. Combining whipped egg whites, flour and Meyer lemon creates delicate, souffle-like cakes. Meyer […]
Recipes
A list of recipes.
Artichoke Soup with Crispy Salami and Lemon-Parsley Quinoa
It’s artichoke season. As much as I love a braised artichoke, enjoying every leaf until I can get to that coveted heart….this soup is one more way to enjoy this healthy seasonal vegetable. Studies show that artichokes have more antioxidants than any other vegetable, aid in digestion, are great for liver health and […]
Crispy Salmon with Leeks and Beurre Blanc Sauce
Last week my neighbor, Courtney, asked me to guest blog on her fabulous site, A Life from Scratch. Of course, I was honored!!! While she was on spring break I decided to think spring. I know Courtney loves salmon and this Thomas Keller recipe may seem steppy and a bit […]
Soft Polenta with Rock Shrimp Ragout
This is a Mario Batali classic…fresh seafood accompanied by very soft polenta. Hard to believe that this Italian porridge, staple of Northern Italy, was once thought of as food for peasants. Now this versatile gluten-free ingredient can be found in many healthy dishes. The ragout pulls together quickly and has […]
Corned Beef and Cabbage Flatbread
When you think of Irish cooking, a notable classic of corned beef and cabbage may come to mind, accompanied with a pint of Guinness…of course! Celebrating St. Paddy’s Day with a crowd can be festive and simple. While I can appreciate the traditional feast of corned beef, veggies, bread, potatoes and […]
Guinness Chocolate Cake
I’m not a baker but look what happened!!!! This single layer cake with its frothy crown of frosting is so easy to pull together and the results so delicious…it’s a must try. The signature bitterness of Guinness disappears and leaves a moist dense cake. Guinness works well with desserts due […]
Spicy Asian White Bean Dip
The title of this recipe says it all. Spicy. Asian. White bean. Dip. I saw this on one of my favorite blogs, Whiteonricecouple. The combination of flavors not only intrigued me…I had all the ingredients on hand (and you probably do too). This creamy dip is so simple and fresh […]
Potato Leek Soup
YEP….still making soup. Yep, it’s still winter. To us the perfect meal…healthy, hearty and easy!! Potato leek soup is naturally creamy with a velvety texture. This humble soup calls for only 4 ingredients plus a bit of half and half ….I opted out of the latter for a lighter version. Last […]
Ricotta Gnudi
Gnudi (nudi) is nudi to me!! Gnudi refers to pasta like dumplings that are “naked” of their pasta wrappers. My plan was to make gnocchi in the next week or so (with Courtney) and then…..this happened! I was intrigued by the use of ricotta and parmesan to form these delicious […]
Pork Tenderloin with Date and Cilantro Relish
Pretty enough for a dinner party…easy enough for a weeknight dinner. These flavors work sooo well together…..sweet dates, tang from the orange, heat from the pepper, crunch from the walnuts and fresh herbal notes with the cilantro. Pork Tenderloin with Date and Cilantro Relish Serves 2-3 2 tablespoons olive oil, […]
Tuscan Kale Caesar Salad
By now we all know the incredible health benefits of kale. Why not change up your classic Caesar salad with this super food and partner with a creamy bold dressing that holds up to this hearty green? I pre-tenderize the greens by massaging with a little olive oil, salt, pepper […]
Reuben Meatball Sliders
Game Day. Fall off the resolutions if just for today and enjoy a twist on a Reuben Sandwich. These sliders offer all the flavors of your deli favorite…savory, spicy and topped with a tangy, sweet dressing. Other game day ideas… Wingless Buffalo Chicken Flatbread, Crab Cakes with Lemon Aioli, Rosemary Parmesan Popcorn, Asian Meatballs […]
Braised Beef Shank
Baby it’s COLD outside. No… I mean really really cold outside. -4 degrees with a wind chill of -30 to -40!!!!!!! These extreme conditions are perfectly suited for slow braised meats. This peasant-style cooking is sure to create a food flashback from your childhood (mine….dressed like Ralph in Christmas Story). […]
Chickpea Bowl
You should have seen the face my husband made when he heard what’s for dinner. 🙁 You should have seen the face my husband made when he took his first bite ……….. 🙂 ! His words… sweet, spicy with great texture. I will add …the bowl has quite a kick […]
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Short of soaking in a warm bubble bath, not many things can warm you to the core like a great bowl of soup. This tortilla soup with its bold southwest flavors and spicy, smokey notes will no doubt do the trick. Make this bowl of comfort your own and garnish with […]
Coconut Curry Cauliflower
Indian cuisine is new to my repertoire. Indian cooking intimidated me primarily due to the vast array of exotic spices. But fortunately, I have a neighbor who happily opens up his kitchen to teach me some of his authentic dishes. Raj eats a diet filled with veggies and plant-based protein. […]
Slow-Cooked Kale Omelettes
Sprouted Kitchen is one of my favorite blogs. Sara and Hugh won Saveur’s best blog for original recipes 2012. Their recipes are creative and healthy and I’m sure you will agree with me that Hugh’s photography is breathtaking. I knew the site would be a a great source for […]
Wingless Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Looking for a winning recipe for playoff season? How about wings without the mess!! I like the idea of combining all those yummy flavors onto a flatbread…spicy sauce, chicken, onions all cooled by melted blue cheese. My neighbor, Courtney, highlights this dish on her blog every few months under “our pizza”. Cute. […]
Gruyere and Pepper Cookies
This savory cookie is just what your red wine (or champagne) ordered. The Gruyère cheese has a nutty rich flavor and the pepper gives this appetizer a nice kick. Make the dough now (you can freeze up to 2 months) and have these ready to go for the holidays. Gruyere […]
Chicken Liver Pate with Green Peppercorns
Have you ever had a food flashback??!! Well, here’s mine. I haven’t thought of this story for years until I made liver pate over the holiday. Years ago (o.k …many) I planned a trip to visit my good friend Mark at the Culinary Institute of America. Flying to NYC with a […]
Sweet and Spicy Brussels Sprouts
Take advantage of the seasonal sprouts and dress them up in a non-traditional fashion. This recipe calls for glazing them with a spicy-sweet combination of soy, rice vinegar, sugar and Siracha. To make this a complete meal I paired the sprouts with Ahi Tuna. The glaze worked beautifully as a […]
Pumpkin Bread Pudding With Spicy Caramel Sauce And Vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise
I’ve always been a fan of bread pudding…. all varieties! But this Bobby Flay version using pumpkin bread takes the gooey decadent dessert to the next level. Fancy, yes. A bit steppy, yes. Can you do it?? YES! Most of the prep work comes days in advance. I made […]
Pumpkin Cheesecake Milkshake
Tis’ the season of pumpkin….a flavorful ingredient to create a fun milkshake!!! This sweet treat will be the addition we need to round out our Thanksgiving festivities. The roaring fire is the perfect setting for our after dinner games where we will be serving up our traditional Brandy Alexander and pumpkin […]
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
What are you serving for Thanksgiving this year? I know you can’t divert too much from the same ‘ol same ‘ol. Traditions… (when it comes to food) are imperative and everyone’s favorite needs to show up. But what about the salad???? That poor… poor salad. We (a crew of 30 plus) […]
Crispy Braised Chicken Thighs With Olives, Lemon And Fennel
A Sunday dinner ….an impromptu party….or Tuesday night!! This recipe fits the bill for all. Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc At Home Cookbook is a dream for home-cooks. Less intimidating than his French Laundry Cookbook, Ad Hoc teaches technique and is filled with approachable, beautiful recipes. Over the last few years […]
Apple Brandy And Cider Cocktail: Rhine Hall Distillery
A handful of boutique distilleries are up and running in Chicago…. none serving Apple Brandy. Enter Rhine Hall, a hard-working father daughter team, passionate about the old school distilling process. Why apple brandy? It’s a great family story, well documented in the most recent Redeye and Chicagogrid. Randy and I are particularly happy […]
Quick Rick Bayless Shrimp Taco
Do you need a quick weeknight dinner idea? This is my new go-to!!! I feel like I’m cheating by using a pre-packaged sauce however, this is Rick Bayless…why mess with perfection? I’m lucky to be in the same city where I can sample the genius of Bayless’ moles and […]
Vegetable Lasagna
My veggie lasagna is one of Randy’s favorite recipes. He started asking (begging) for this a couple of weeks ago. Typically this lasagna shows up when the air is a bit crisper and football season is a few weeks further along. It’s about 60 degrees and we have a leisurely Sunday […]
Warm Mushroom Salad
Iconic Fall Flavors: apples, squash, pears, pumpkin, and MUSHROOMS! The cool air combined with rain means we are in mushroom season. No, I’m not going foraging in my woods for these tasty morsels…..or am I?? Look what’s growing on our back forty!! Puffer mushrooms. The giant pufferball is a whitish, […]
Caramel Roasted Pears With Cheese
I don’t need a sweet ending….so this works for me!!! Cheese course and dessert all in one. Warm pears and ginger snap crumbles drizzled with caramel sauce play well against the creamy, earthy cheese. A hint of thyme is added to the finishing sauce for a woodsy accent. This dessert […]