Lamb has been our meat of choice for our Easter/Spring celebration for many years. My family of four enjoys rack of lamb, so years ago I adapted a recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks, “The Complete Meat Cookbook” by Bruce Aidells and Dennis Kelly (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998). (If you like this cookbook you […]
Photo by Karen Levin My family loves St. Patrick’s Day not only for the parade and the dyed-green Chicago River but mostly for the wonderfully hearty and home braised corned beef and cabbage one pot meal I make every year. Serve with soda bread and your favorite local beer or ale. Corned Beef and Cabbage […]
This year, Mardi Gras, the last big celebration before the solemn season of Lent, falls on Tuesday, Feb. 17. A few years ago, during a trip to New Orleans for a food conference, our good friend Bruce Aidells took me and my daughter Amelia to meet chef Leah Chase at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant. She prepared a […]
February is American Heart Month. Time to take stock of your diet and fit in some new, lighter entrees. In the past, I have developed healthy recipes for several cookbooks for the American Heart Association. The following are their basic guidelines. As you make daily food choices, base your eating pattern on these 10 recommendations: 1. Choose […]
In chilly January, it is nice to look forward to a casual dinner with friends who enjoy football. This menu will serve eight, so if you are expecting a crowd, double the chili and cornbread recipes. When the guests arrive, have an assortment of appetizers ready to serve. Have lots of ice-cold beer on hand […]
Pears are one of my favorite fruits. Now that pear season is in full swing, I couldn’t wait to try them in a rustic tart with a pastry dough I finally mastered that is pretty fool proof and seriously tasty. Of the many varieties of pears, the most common are Bartlett, Comice, Bosc and the […]
Company coming for the holidays? This make-ahead brunch recipe will feed eight hungry guests. Serve it with a fresh fruit salad and coffee or tea. For a more festive beverage, open a chilled bottle of Champagne or prosecco, pour into flutes or wine glasses, and add a splash of fresh orange juice for mimosas. Savory […]
Hanukkah, the “Festival of Lights,” a wonderful holiday of the winter season. Although in Jewish tradition it remains a somewhat minor holiday, it continues to be a time of family, friends, fun dreidel games, presents for eight days and, of course, delicious food. Perhaps the best of the traditional fare are potato pancakes, aka latkes. […]
While we were watching “Mad Men” last season, my husband asked if I would make the Yankee pot roast we were watching the family eat for their Sunday dinner. It did look very appetizing, so I gathered several pot roast recipes and developed one with ingredients I knew we liked. Instead of using carrots, I […]
Thanksgiving is one of our family’s favorite holidays. We are thankful that our children, their spouses and our grandson are coming here for the traditional turkey dinner. Over the years I have attempted to change one of the side dishes for something new, but I always get the same response: “Don’t change anything; we love […]
