Two more days. As some of you know through email, I entered the PAM Cooking Tips Contest. I’m a contender. In the top 19 this morning. I used the tip of using PAM to spray the pan and ice cube trays for easy release of the stars. From my blog: Stars and Stripes Desserts and … Continue reading
New Year 2011. A time for new beginnings comes with the promise of a child filled with wonder, energy, unrealized dreams, and love… But… “before we can welcome in the New Year, we need to put the Old Year’s unfinished business— mistakes, shortcomings, and disappointments behind us…toss the bad memories from the past into the … Continue reading
I have thought about guest bloggers…I know so many good cooks. I finally took action and asked Craig Boroughf. Craig has shared his recipes before, French Breakfast Radishes and Carmen’s Prize Winning Meatballs…thank you Craig for being my first guest blogger. The words and photography that follow are a gift from one of my favorite … Continue reading
The Lion roars. A time for reflection. Release the past… through the looking glass. And forgive everyone. Trim and star and keep it simple. Dear Santa, I can explain. Continue reading
Austria. A journey of beauty, music, food and craftsmanship. Salzburger Nockerl is a meringue and raspberry dessert soufflé, in three peaks, inspired by the three mountains that border Salzburg. The same mountains Maria and the Sound of Music family climbed in their escape— truth be known, they took a train to Italy! Salzberg Nockerl reminds … Continue reading
“Krampus” is the untamed, shaggy spirit that accompanies St. Nicholas and can be seen throughout the Bavarian and Austrian alpine region during the Advent season. Searching out the children that haven’t been good! They look and act frightening and scary! Krampusses usually roam in larger groups. Their traditional costumes and masks are elaborately handcrafted and … Continue reading
Evocative. Stacked. Still on the stalk. Roast Brussel Sprouts on the stalk? And after they’re roasted? A fantasy base for an appetizer tree. But…the Reality Tree!!! Easy to topple and your guests could cut themselves removing the sprouts. But if perseverance prevails… Roasted Brussel Sprout Log With Maple-Lime Glaze 1 Brussel Sprout Log, cut off … Continue reading
The City of Highwood, Illinois was ready to make pumpkin carving history, as host of the Great Pumpkin Fest of 2010. The four-day festival brought people together in an attempt to break the Guinness Book World Record for the most jack-o-lanterns lit in one location. According to Highwood Alderman Eric Faldberg the total was 26,287. … Continue reading
The Last Sunday of Summer. The afternoon air tinged with damp. The hum of energy and anticipation, furtive glances of you’re-too-late mixed with smiles of recognition, smart phone connections, looking, eating, reading, drinking, talking, laughing, watching, and waiting… The first concert under the baton of Grandissimo Maestro Riccardo Muti, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s new music … Continue reading
Taste of Pensacola, a Chicago neighborhood block party, cordoned off with cars at each end, so the kids can ride bikes and trikes on the street all day. Complete with a blown-up-bouncing??? like a trampoline on steroids??? machine? Where children bounce up and down, giggling, falling, getting up again, sweating with exertion, breathless with fun. … Continue reading
Italian Handful 