Italian Beef Stew, My Ode to the First Snow

  We are well into Fall, but it seems that Winter is charging in at warp speed. It has been snowing here the last few days and the first snow and the accompanying colder temperatures always makes me want to hunker down. Thoughts in the kitchen turn to Comfort Food. Those dishes that create warm… Continue reading Italian Beef Stew, My Ode to the First Snow

Upscale Tortellini Soup

Tortellini soup has been a part of our family for many years. When my sons were little it was a favorite request. Simple and easy to make, all it required was some stock, a few vegetables, and store bought tortellini. It was a permanent fixture on our week day menu and when the boys moved… Continue reading Upscale Tortellini Soup

What is White Chili?

I made “White Chili” this week. As I was making it, I wondered why it was called that. It isn’t white, at least not the way I make it. The chilies I used are actually green and the hint of red comes from the ancho chili powder that I lovingly sprinkled in at the beginning.… Continue reading What is White Chili?

Mustard Wet Rub…for Chicken or Pork

    Even though we are unofficially heading into fall, in most places it still feels like summer. I grill no matter the season and I am sure I am not alone. Here is another way to impart flavor into those lean proteins you grill. It falls somewhere between a rub and a marinade so… Continue reading Mustard Wet Rub…for Chicken or Pork

Melrose Peppers – A Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I have talked at length both here and on my Face Book page about the summer glory of Melrose Peppers. They are one of my home town’s claims to fame and a source of joy to Italian cooks in the Chicago area. I grew up eating these in the summer and I anxiously await their… Continue reading Melrose Peppers – A Most Wonderful Time of the Year