A good friend of mine, Tim Burton, is a syrup maker. His pure maple syrup is really tasty. But, recently he has been creating infused versions that are flavored in distillery barrels. I tasted his Jamaican Rum version and had to make a frozen custard with it. This recipe is really versatile...you can certainly use [...]
Years ago, my friend Andy Avalos, meteorologist for NBC Chicago, shared his wife's pumpkin soup recipe with me. It's been a favorite ever since. There are simple ingredients in this soup but they come together beautifully, especially with the toasted pine nuts and croutons on top. As with all of my spicy recipes, you can [...]
In 2007 The US Congress actually decreed that September is now National Bourbon Heritage Month. With the great history of bourbon making in this country, I think it was a great move. And, in honor of National Bourbon Heritage Month, I got together with a few of my buddies at Marty's Martini Bar, a great [...]
The was so much gorgeous fresh fruit at the market today I just had to do some experimenting. So, I combined white peaches and heirloom tomatoes to make a really fresh tasking bruschetta. The flavors really work well together. The right amount of salt was also key for me…just enough to brighten the flavors of [...]
I'm out in California for two weeks and of course I'm going to sample the local fare and get some culinary inspiration. My first stop was the Foreign Cinema, a wonderful restaurant in the Mission District. It's a beautiful space with an outdoor patio. In the evenings they project movies on the large white washed [...]
Fresh summer salads are always a cool option for dinning on a hot evening. This mediterranean potato salad is easy to prepare using simple ingredients, can be made in advance, and makes a colorful presentation. The original recipe came from my friend Marcus Riley. Mediterranean Potato Salad serves 4-6 Ingredients 2 lbs Red Potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" [...]
For some reason this week (#LoveWins), I was inspired by the rainbow flag to create a colorful dessert. I made six flavors of fresh fruit frozen yogurt to mimic the six colors of the rainbow flag. I also created two fun desserts, a colorful six-layer parfait and a tasty banana split that is big enough to [...]
I’m going to a really special event here in Chicago this summer and I’m taking along a fun meal. The annual event, Chicago In White, is a social gathering where hundreds of folks, all dressed in white, meeting at an iconic location and simply enjoy food, entertainment and a wonderful evening under the stars. Everyone [...]
The Recipe makes 25 individual servings Ingredients 1/2 lb Butter 1 1/2 cu Dark Brown Sugar 1/2 cu Light Brown Sugar 2 lg Eggs 1 tsp Baking Powder 1 tsp Maple Extract 25 Pecan Halves 2/3 cu Chopped Pecans 1 1/2 cu All Purpose Flour Method Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter in a [...]
Recent Comments