I’m not sure what it is about spring but I go into quiche mode. I noticed the other day at Lovely Bakery that quiche was on the menu, so I decided to make one myself at home …while watching guilty pleasure The Real Housewives of New York City (oof). I adapted Elise’s recipe based on …
Recipes
Za Vas! Heather Crosby and I continued the Upper Crust Social Club event series by co-hosting a Russian-inspired vodka infusion party. Guests brought their own homemade vodka infusions …such a range of tasty concoctions from Watermelon Rosewater Vodka Infusion to Skittles Vodka to Cucumber Mint Vodka Infusion to Bacon Maple Vodka Infusion to Apple Cinnamon Vodka …
This PB&J mac and cheese recipe got 4th place beating in a Chicago charity cooking competition besting not only Stephanie Izard, Top Chef winner, but also Roger Herring, chef and owner of Socca in Chicago. Hip hip yay! —— Peanut butter & jelly mac and cheese. Yeah, that’s right. My totally original recipe for this …
I’m posting the free tutorial for how to make sewn fabric teabags for loose tea by request. Jessica Mullen wrote: “I saw your beautiful photos from the tea party and I have a quick question. I was wondering how you made the tea bags for the make your own tea take home favors. I would …
Lucky for me that magazines in my doctor’s office are hopelessly out-of-date. I hit a goldmine during a recent appointment by seeing this bacon pancake idea in an old issue of Martha Stewart Living. Well, everyone knows that I love bacon …and nothing can beat salty and sweet. So on this lovely Saturday in Chicago, …
While I’ve never been much of a Valentine’s Day girl, I’ve always been a big fan of coconut and chocolate. I made these special treats by modifying a recipe from an Australian cookbook. Ingredients (for four Valentine’s Day treats): 1 cup coconut 1 egg white (buy pasteurized eggs if you can) 5/8 cup cream (just …
My ever-so-creative friend and frequent partner-in-crime Heather Crosby came up with a festive idea that encapsulates the two things we like best — making things and spending time with friends — by creating the tongue-in-cheek Upper Crust Social Club. The UCSC is all about hosting a series of varied themed soirees that I’ll feature here …
I’m a shameless sucker for all things seafood. So when I stumbled upon this recipe in an old cookbook of mine when looking for easy appetizers for guests, I had to give this tasty recipe a try. It’s my favorite type of culinary undertaking: looks difficult and elegant but is actually really easy and quick. …
Today we’re going to learn how to make marshmallows using a really easy marshmallow recipe – it’s a yummy DIY gift and you can always make some extras for yourself. Lately I’ve developed a bit of a hot chocolate habit during the mid-afternoon workday at the day job. After spotting a box of “homemade” marshmallows …
Here’s the best pumpkin banana bread recipe that I have ever baked! It’s easy, healthy, and yummy with both banana and pumpkin pie spices. Shane and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary with an autumn weekend in Wisconsin. Along with the pumpkins, colorful leaves, fresh apple cider and antiques, I picked up this tasty pumpkin …
In the past five years or so, it seems like Halloween has gone bonkers in the DIY area. From costumes to cupcakes to candy, it’s a holiday ripe for creepy crafting. The always stylish Rachel Pluto hosted a Halloween party for her 10-month-old daughter Maya and friends. Rachel delighted parents by making Emeril’s devil’s eyeballs, …
The Fulton Market area of Chicago where I work is filled with food wholesale companies – fish, meat, eggs, butter, …and (xoxo) bacon. This week I walked into Meadow Brook Egg Company and walked out with a twelve-pound box of premier restaurant quality bacon. I’ve been dreaming about trying Megan’s famous bacon cups since Shane …
Anyone who works in the Fulton Market area on a windy day can attest that Chicago’s long standing candy and chocolate history is still thriving. For his sister’s recent Chicago weekend visit Joseph Dombroski planned a sweet creative activity: a self-guided tasting tour of top downtown Chicago chocolate emporiums. Supplies: Free chocolate scorecard template (rate …
While Monday is the official first day of fall the best thing about Chicago is that summer days usually extend way into September. It’s 80 degrees today and I just spent the afternoon at Wrigley Field with Shane watching the Cubs clinch the NL Central League title. Yay! When my sisters and I were in …
Hot Indiana summers spent at Camp Na Wa Kwa seeded my campfire obsession. The idea for this one has been in my head for a while, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it while recently making star sugar cookies. These whimsical stacks of yummy iced sugar cookies that look like a campfire is a fun …