The Daily Grind in Lake Bluff makes the best homemade chicken brats. I cook them on my indoor grill and they are so delicious. Honestly, thi...

My little house is filled with fabrics that make me feel peaceful and comfortable. Whatever your style, make sure that when you get to your...

As we all learned growing up, nothing goes better together than tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. These recipes are really great up...

This recipe came to me via email this week from General Mills. Go online and sign up to get them. Not quite sure who contributes to their ...

One of my favorite memories growing up was walking into the kitchen of my dad’s drug store and watching Margaret make homemade hot fudge. ...

My neighbor is always showering me with little treats. She found these at our Italian bakery the other day. Puff pastry and cheese. These ar...

When I lived in Tulsa, I acquired a love of southern food especially for cheddar cheese biscuits. Here is a recipe from Bon Appetit, June ...

The Oklahoma Snow Patrol was at it again. Was this the 7th round or the 8th? Happy almost having a Chicago winter to ya!

When my body needs a good burger, especially after a long run, I always look for 90% (185 Calories 10 grams fat) – 95% (145 Calories 6 grams...

It’s no secret that I love McDonalds French fries and a small order packs on 11 grams of fat. I was in the grocery store this week and Ore...

Here is an alphabetical list of vegetables that you can put into your veggie salads, stir-fries or omelets. Keep this list handy and try a n...

Here is an easy recipe that I make in my crock pot. Guys also seem to really love this dish. It can be served to your friends as they crowd ...

A lot of the men that I know love bourbon chicken. Instead of getting it from your local, fast food restaurant, make it at home where you ca...

I just can’t seem to get enough fresh fruit in my diet. One way is to find fresh pineapples for $1.89. Another is to mix up a smoothie. My...

I bought these molds at Sur La Table. When I have some leftover mixture from smoothies, I pour it into these molds and keep them in my freez...

If you are feeling a bit like the ugly duckling, just remember that an inspired chef with an ingenious recipe can give you a whole new rank ...

I picked this up today at lunch for one of my friends. By the way, I did indulge by snatching a fry. Al’s Italian Beef has the best hand cut...

I can tell you 1,000 reasons why I live by the book and then along comes Friday. Not Saturday - the night where I take all of my excesses ...

Shrimp Sauce Piquante is the original version of Shrimp Creole. I’ve prepared this dish for a party of four and a lively crowd of eighty…jus...

I love French fries so much that I am now on a quest to find a somewhat healthy version…which would be baked fries. Here are some variatio...

If you want a great grouping of flavors, use a thin flatbread and cover it with red onions, portobello mushrooms, arugula, and Reggiano Parm...

Sweet Treats… Chocolate is cheaper than therapy, and you don’t need an appointment. With 8 kids running about, I can see why my mother alway...

Instead of topping my French toast with syrup, I pile on blackberries and strawberries, which were both on sale at my market yesterday. Ju...

I woke up yesterday thinking about corn dogs. Corn dogs of all things since I never really loved them as a kid. About 4 hours later, I walke...

From Daikon to Olallie berries, the next time you are in a market, challenge yourself to find one ingredient that you have never used befor...

My budget is a lot smaller these days for wine but I like to include some of my old standbys who were recent metal winners at the Winemaker ...

If I could trace back my family tree, I'm sure that I must have some Italian blood in me somewhere…or is it wishful thinking? I’m conv...

My neighbor brought over some of her leftovers from the week to see if I could turn them into something appealing for her Super Bowl Party. ...

After two very stressful days, I got off the train in Lake Forest and decided to power walk the three mile path home to Lake Bluff. I was so...

There is nothing I love more than sea scallops. When I was young, I use to go with my mom at Christmas to the North Shore Grill at Donaldson...

I hardly ever think about stir fry as an appetizer but Lettuce Wraps are just that. Be sure and use really fresh, cold, crisp lettuce. The ...

Did you know that people who win chili cook-off’s cook in drops (or steps). Most of your best chili recipes use this method so that you get...

It’s no secret that growing up in a huge Irish, Catholic family can give you control issues when it comes to sitting down at the kitchen tab...

I made a gumbo recently when I was in Minnesota from a recipe I took off the internet. It was a real disappointment because it lacked the f...

No question that 3 strawberries are more pleasing to the eye! This put a positive twist on the odd number because most of my friends come i...

I had to really hunt for the bargains and probably burned up more time looking. Quite an extensive list though when it comes to spending un...

I love homemade dressings. I hardly ever buy them at the store anymore because of the wide variety of fresh ingredients available to make d...

I don’t really care for breaded chicken but Bobby Flay’s recipe for Chicken Parmigiana is one of the best I have ever had. Bobby Flay is ...

This is a great dish to add a little variety to your dinner sides. I especially like the light hint of lemon. Keep this basic recipe and e...

If I am in a big hurry, I will break down and buy a rotisserie chicken at the supermarket. You’ll find me, more often than not, making one ...

One resolution I made this past New Years is to learn how to make great bread. I would like to at least learn to make a really good, crust...

One of the best vendors in the new Chicago French Market is Saigon Sisters . I went there at 1:00 PM on Friday and it was packed. I was goi...

Sometimes, things get too crazy and I just want to flee to the refuge of my kitchen. Yep - nobody here but me and the cookbooks. Is this the...