Risotto made with Arborio rice is wonderful, but for a change, try making your next risotto with barley. It creates the same creamy sauce, but has a slightly different texture and taste. Serves 4 6 cups chicken stock ¾ cup dry white wine 1 red bell pepper, sliced 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 small […]
In a hurry to put together a Super Bowl feast? Let Bob and Sue Sagerstrom of Park Ridge help you out, with their addictive beef or veggie chili. Bob, a Park Ridge native, and Sue, a Glenview native, have been married for 25 years; many of them spent developing their chili recipe. And Bob knows […]
New Year resolutions made – check. Happiness Plan set in motion – check. Resolved: Eating dessert makes me a happier person. I don’t feel deprived, I feel indulged. And if it means cutting out the bread basket or eating a salad for lunch, so be it. But I can’t afford to be indiscriminate about what […]
There’s a new wine shop in Lake Forest: Grand Cru Wine Merchants. Recently relocated from Arlington Heights, Grand Cru Merchants offers affordable boutique wine, spirits, and beer from around the world. Proprietor Craig Brautigam is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute, and has worked at the Chicago restaurants Le Francais and Trio. “Lake […]
The holidays are near, and you want to entertain at home with some close friends. What to do that’s simple, fun, and allows you to talk to your friends? Think raclette- a modern day fondue. You provide the raclette maker, cheese, ham, cornichons, and pickled onions. Your guests can bring the rest. Pull out the […]
Once again, I stand open-mouthed in the cookbook section of my favorite bookstore.
“Sex and the City” was right—these desserts are good! We recently tasted a number of Magnolia Bakery’s holiday offerings and were delighted with them (they get a rating of “better”). We particularly loved the red velvet mini-cheesecakes with a chocolate cookie crust ($6.50 each, over-the-top rich and generally to-die-for), the “famous” banana pudding—a stunner, totally […]
The holiday meal fosters anxiety on so many levels …
This month, we’re looking at two tips to cut out and paste inside your copy of Joy of Cooking.
Looking for a new holiday treat that’ll impress the masses? Try biscotti! 1 1/3 cups all–purpose flour ¾ cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon grated orange zest ½ cup pecans 1 large egg at room temperature 2 ½ tablespoons melted butter 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice 1 teaspoon vanilla […]
