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White Bean Ragout
I absolutely love Fall food and flavors for so many reasons. The biggest reason is though that they are so bold and hearty and stew and braise and simmer for hours. This creates amazing complex flavors in so many ways. It was a rainy chilly day here in Chicago land and so it was the perfect day for some hearty, bold flavors and this white bean ragout was the absolute perfect thing. You can pair this with meats, sausage would be amazing with this. I paired it with some perfect filets of Chilean Sea Bass. The recipe for the Chilean Sea Bass is below and it was a match made in heaven. To…
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Shrimp Scampi
This recipe is classic and delicious. You can pair it with steak, put it over pasta or eat it on its own. Any way you do it, you cannot go wrong! Chef’s Tip- Always buy your shrimp and seafood from a reputable vendor. Always clean your shrimp well by peeling and devaining them and then run them under cold water to make sure all the yuck is out. This is a classic dish that is just amazing over steak, pasta or even on its own.
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Preserved Lemons
My first introduction to preserved lemons was from Chef Stephanie Izard. I was doing a demo with her and she was doing a recipe with cauliflower and preserved lemons. I was like, what is a preserved lemon? Then I tasted it and was like, wow!! That is insanely bold lemon flavor and it is awesome! Cauliflower with preserved lemons I now love to roast cauliflower with preserved lemons. I obviously learned that they are a natural fit when I made the recipe from Stephanie Izard with her for the demo. I put my own little twist on it that works for easy weeknight dinners, but it captures the essence of the pairing alive and…
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Roasted cauliflower with preserved lemon
I love this recipe. It is simple and complex at the same time. It is perfect for weeknight or fancy dinner party. Preserved lemons are the secret pow in this cauliflower and you will love it. Chef’s Tip- You can buy preserved lemons, but they are super expensive and you can only get them at specialty stores or spice shops. So, I recommend just making them. It is some time and a little work, but totally worth it. Check out the recipe I have for preserved lemons. I love cauliflower like this. I love it roasted any way and then the addition of the preserved lemon is just awesome!
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Chinese Take out at home
I love eating Chinese food and I really enjoy making it at home. It is great if you have your favorite take out place or go to restaurant that you love. Trust me, we definitely do! Yet, on a weeknight, it is a quick and easy meal if you are ready to go. A couple little tips below will help get you ready and make this a really fast and healthy option even on a week night. I love making fried rice. I mainly make a veggie version when I am making it for a side dish. Also, the girls will for sure eat it when it is just the veggie version and…
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Grilling season is coming soon!!
Last night, the clouds parted and the rain lifted and it was like, AHHHHH…. SUNSHINE!!! If you are in the Chicago area you completely understand what I mean!! That being said, I was more than anxious to get outside and fire up the girl!! I absolutely love Fall and winter comfort foods, do not mistake that. However, when you live somewhere like Chicago and you only get a short amount of time to be cooking outdoors, you need to take advantage of it. Also, when you have been cooped up all winter and it has been raining like you live somewhere that gets a monsoon season… you are ready for sunshine!! As we…
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Zucchini Madness!!
This year we had a “mini” garden that my father in law planted for us of Italian cucumbers, basil and parsley. So, really not much in the way of having way too much of anything. We ended up with a nice amount of cucumbers. We had plenty to enjoy and even enough to share the love with family. We did get a ton of basil and it is amazing basil; Large leaves, beautiful color, smell and flavor. I brought a few bags to work and we were able to utilize a lot of it there and everyone loved it! Yet, we will need to use some up for the end of the year…
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Summer Gems
This is a Summer treat I wait for each year. Zucchini blossoms!!! We are so lucky because my in laws grow zucchini in their garden and we get to reap the benefits! Many people may not even realize that they are growing these little treasures in the yard when they are growing zucchini and yellow squash in the summer. But do NOT throw these gems out… eat them! You will love them! You can do so many things with these little flowers. They are so versatile and delicious. In the recipe below I have stuffed and fried them and serve them with a simple marinara. I used a light beer batter for these,…
