Who among us doesn’t love a fresh piece of warm bread, slathered in butter or jam. I myself could probably sit down and eat a loaf of fresh bread in one day, though I know I’d stop myself from that temptation.  While hearty bread from a good bakery is quite delicious, to me there’s nothing quite as tasty as homemade bread when I put aside the time to make a loaf or two. I have a variety of pans for just such a purpose, including some really neat mini loaf pans as well as a great French Bread Pan that I’ve used for years. Lire le reste de cet article »

Don’t let those browning bananas go to waste. If you’re not in the mood to make a loaf of bread, you can mash those lovely little bananas up and use them in delicious and nutritious Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes. You can sweeten them up a little by covering a stack with some applesauce. We even like to cut up a good banana, lay the slices between the pancakes, pouring honey over each layer. Now that’s sweet and yummy! The bananas themselves give the pancakes a nice, rich moistness, and the flavor is always welcome. Lire le reste de cet article »

I couldn’t believe it when I was able to pick up this rectangular ceramic bakeware set for such a great price. I own several other products by Reco and I have never been disappointed. They consistently make very good quality products at surprisingly affordable prices. These new baking pans are terrific - they are very large and perfect for making ridiculous amounts of macaroni and cheese (my kids can’t get enough of it). Lire le reste de cet article »

Sometimes my freezer food gets away from me. I label everything, try to keep track of it all, and still I find a package or two of meat that needs cooking right away. When faced with cut up beef pieces that need to be used now, I can always rely on my easy, simple crock pot beef vegetable soup. Because this recipe doesn’t have a lot of ingredients, I don’t have to run to the store; I can just dig in my pantry or even use leftovers to create a tender, flavorful soup out of my forgotten beef. Lire le reste de cet article »

Whether you like having a fresh banana muffin to enjoy with your morning coffee or a tasty chocolate chip muffin as a dessert later in the day, muffins are simply a wonderful treat. Another great muffin is the mini-muffin, a perfect bite-sized treat. And when you’re making up a batch of homemade muffins, the mini-muffin pan helps you stretch your batter much further for a lot more tasty treats to share. Lire le reste de cet article »

It’s wonderful when there’s time on the weekends to sit down to a nice, leisurely breakfast.  I can remember as a child waking up on Sunday mornings to the smell of pancakes cooking on the kitchen griddle.  My grandmother would wake up before everyone else and head straight to the kitchen to make our special weekend breakfast.  After eating cold cereal and milk all week long, those warm pancakes were quite a treat.   I can remember Grandma’s batter bowl, it was well worn and chipped, but it still poured the perfect pancake every time. When I came across this classic stoneware batter bowl, I knew I had to have one for my kitchen. Lire le reste de cet article »

I absolutely love my mother’s homemade apple pie. Not only is it very delicious to eat, but it is really fun to bake as well. There is a very light and flaky crust with cinnamon and sugar on the outside of the pie and many chewy, perfectly spiced apples on the inside. Serving it warm with vanilla ice cream makes it even more irresistible. It is not uncommon for me to have at least three slices of this delicious dessert whenever it is being served.

The recipe came from my great grandma, and continued to be passed down in the family. I can remember the first time I baked it with my mom. I was about six years old and we were baking it for a Christmas dinner. I ended up spilling the apple mixture all over the floor and I was very upset at myself, but my mom just laughed. Although it took us a little more time to bake it than planned, the guests absolutely loved the pie. Whenever I am baking this pie with my kids, I always think about the time I first made the pie.

Eating delicious food in Chicago is fairly simple. If you are looking for more of a special occasion, you cannot go wrong at “MK”, whose mission statement depicts their food “as a metaphor for the good things in life.” The scene is sleek and quite soothing.

On the other hand if you are looking for a gorgeous high-end Italian, CocoPazzo is the place to be. CocoPazzo serves homemade pastas and thin-crust pizzas in a festive, wood-ceilinged room.

Chicago has some of the world’s most innovative chefs. With places like the West Loop’s Blackbird and Tru in Streeterville. Or The Everest, which is on the Chicago Stock Exchange’s 40th floor. Since It is Chicago, Celebrity-affiliated restaurants also have a niche.