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 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
To celebrate Summer, her beautiful garden and her Leo birthday, Flora gives a Garden Party for her friends, varied as the flowers in her garden. A gargantuan effort of a party bursting with sunshine, guests, flowers, umbrella-tables, wine and food. “What can I bring?” “A fruit salad would be wonderful and would give us a … Continue reading
Flags, drums, parades, music, celebration in the neighborhoods, the parks, the beaches. Fireworks, picnics, watermelon, silly games and three-legged races, buffets of favorite recipes, families, children, friends,neighbors, a holiday giddy with anticipation and full of freedom. A time to celebrate our independent, free thinking, generous county, full of beauty and bounty, and honor the pursuit … Continue reading
Memorial Day. A long weekend of thoughtful memories A time to come together with those we love Honor our great heroes who gave their lives for freedom— Share time, food, family, friends, And give thanks for our liberty. A time to remember… the last words in the sonnet “The New Colossus” by poet Emma Lazarus … Continue reading
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Les Brown. Olivia graduated Sunday from Columbia College in Chicago, with her BA in Marketing. Her mom said, “Great honey, for your first event, produce your graduation party!” Following a family tradition of deep delegation—Olivia assigned the menu. I was to bring … Continue reading
Ciliegine in Italian means cherry. At the grocers there is a type of mozzarella called Ciliegine; round soft fresh mozzarella balls packed in water or oil, a little larger than cherry tomatoes. Caprese got its name from the Isle of Capri, off the Amalfi Coast and Naples, Italy. The colors of the salad—red-tomatoes, white-mozzarella cheese, … Continue reading
Italian Handful 