“Dense,” said my husband, trying to come up with a compliment for the very healthy, but heavy muffins I had just made. We were 20 minutes into our weeklong experiment, and we were ready to cheat. Inspired by Michael Pollan—whose book In Defense of Food and recent lecture at Ravinia urge a plant-centered diet—we signed […]
This warm, delicious and nourishing soup is a regular in my menu rotation. It can be made ahead of time or as the hungry are grumbling. If you need to feed a few extra bodies, add a little more potato, stock and ham. It’s a very forgiving recipe. Butternut Squash and Ham Soup Serves: 6 […]
After the tragedy, Marion Kahle wasn’t sure she even knew how to breathe. Her world turned upside down on a summer day in 2005 when her son, Fritz, shot and killed a young woman outside of C.J. Arthur’s in Wilmette and then killed himself. For Kahle, it was the end of one part of her […]
It wasn’t very tough, the assignment of judging holiday cookies. Especially since the Make It Better contest asked for easy cookies—the kind you want to make with your children.
You meant to go to the grocery store. You meant to get something out of the freezer, but it’s been one of those days. Panic not. You probably have all the ingredients you need for this yummy pasta in your pantry or freezer and it’s done start to finish in under 20 minutes. Pasta Carbonara […]
One of my best parties was a holiday cookie exchange that my dear friend, Christina McHenry and I co-hosted for several years. It was an excuse to stop shopping and doing, and instead sip tea, eat cookies and chat with neighborhood friends. When I left the Washington D.C. area, I missed our tradition, and […]
You wouldn’t think that something as irreverent and flip as Second City could possibly be hitting the creaky age of 50, but in December, they will hit the big 5-0 and plan to celebrate with a festival of funny. The main show, featuring acclaimed alumni like Harold Ramis and Martin Short (to learn […]
Got leftovers? Then you can have a great meal without all the fuss from the day before. Don’t bag the bird – follow these quick tips for an Inside Out Turkey. Wine Pairings Grenache has a bright red fruit finish that can stand up to the myriad flavors that Thanksgiving dinner presents. Joe Alter […]
If you want to make one wonderful dish for your party, make it beef tenderloin. Here are recipes for the main course and a fabulous Red Onion Jam. Then take a look at the four ways we’ve transformed this easy – but impressive – dish, for each of our Better Parties. Serves: 10-12 people Prep […]
Take out Chinese food is so disappointing. Is that the Kung Pao Shrimp or the Szechaun Shrimp? Kind of taste the same. Here’s an easy and fast shrimp dish that you can make in less time than it takes to get delivery and it’s so much better. Crispy Shrimp with Scallions and Ginger Serves: 4 […]
