Tag: mama D’s kitchen

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

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

The Morning (or several mornings) After…Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanksgiving 2020 is now history. For most of us, it was very different. More intimate, scaled down, and possibly quieter (unless grandchildren were involved). Leftovers haven’t changed much, there are still a lot of them because even if the gathering was smaller, the recipes were not. Several mornings ago, I used my two favorite parts… Continue reading The Morning (or several mornings) After…Thanksgiving Leftovers

Reflections on Summer and Some Summer Favorites

What a long strange trip this has been. This is not the Summer that any of us were looking forward to. Instead of pools, beaches, and barbecues we’ve had social distancing, masks, and cautious outdoor dining. I know that I am not alone when I say, “Please let it be over!” While there is a… Continue reading Reflections on Summer and Some Summer Favorites