September 2012
1 post
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August 2012
1 post
7 Tacos to try in Chicago →
July 2012
8 posts
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Cucumber Ranch Salad Dressing
I had a long cooking hiatus. Moving and the running-around nature of summertime put a serious dent in my cooking mojo, but I believe now that I’m settled, it’s back! I’m planning on making these things in the near future: crockpot buffalo chicken, many many tacos with homemade tortillas, carrot ginger salad dressing, finally the 40 clove garlic chicken that’s been...
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Antique Taco
Crispy Fish tacos with tempura, smoked cabbage, scallions and Sriracha Tartar Sauce, Antique Taco, Chicago.
I’ve had tacos on the brain all summer long. No, all year. It started out when I discovered this past winter that Taco Joint, which is in my neighborhood, is amazing. Just as good as Big Star, if not better. There is never a time I don’t want tacos, and it’s now a...
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June 2012
9 posts
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Pizza Wars: Where Was Classic Chicago-Style Pizza... →
Trying to figure out whose deep dish is most legit.
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This is how I feel about going to Smoque tonight:
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This weekend
Was full of so much good food and good people.
A cappuccino at La Colombe to kick off the weekend:
Brunch at Floriole shown below.
My second stop at Au Cheval for their crispy fries with garlic aioli, mornay sauce and a fried egg, and the Horse’s Neck cocktail for all the rye whiskey I can handle:
Brunch at Bangers & Lace, which I’ve been lusting after for ages -...
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6 Great Outdoor Spaces To Eat and Drink in Chicago →
I’d say this topic takes up about 20% of my brain as of late.
May 2012
13 posts
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Grange Hall Burger Bar
6 oz. burger with sharp white cheddar and caramelized onions, Grange Hall Burger Bar, Chicago.
Grange Hall pretty much met my expectations. I expected to have a good burger that wasn’t gargantuan, with tasty toppings and a delicious beer.
The grass-fed beef patty was super juicy and came with ketchup, mustard, mayo, aaand I think that was olives? Peppers? Maybe peppers. Regardless, I...
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The best tater tots in Chicago →
These are the things I spend time thinking about.
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Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
I had never cooked or baked, or purchased for that matter, rhubarb before making this. And I’m so glad that I have now. It gives a fruit dish an extra depth of flavor that’s a little less sweet and it goes so well with strawberry. This extremely easy dish will be my breakfast with Greek yogurt for some days.
View the full recipe here.
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2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream
I’d like to start by saying, I’m no fool, I know this doesn’t replace the real thing. But it DOES have a texture surprisingly close to ice cream, it’s delicious, and really refreshing on a hot day. I make this ahead and keep it in the freezer right before going on a long run then devour it after.
I’d been seeing it on the internet a lot, so I had to try it. As long...
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Au Cheval
“Single” Cheeseburger, Au Cheval, Chicago.
That photo right there, that’s the kind I have a physical reaction to. And it’s usually not one I actually took, of food that I ate. Look at that cheese and aioli oozing out… by far the juiciest, and possibly the best, burger I’ve had. So good it made me black out and I just remember a feel from the experience.
I...
April 2012
9 posts
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Turkey Pesto Meatballs
I want to put pesto on everything. I wish it was incorporated into breakfast more (it’s great in eggs), I want it on every sandwich, with every grain, I can’t stop and I don’t want to. Making it fresh is always worth it.
These turned out even better than I thought. The recipe calls for ground chicken but Trader Joe’s didn’t have any so I went with turkey, which...
Nightwood
Bagel sandwich with Rushing Waters smoked trout cream cheese, slaw, bacon, an over easy egg and a side of tots, Nightwood, Chicago.
I’m going to go on the record and say this is one of the top 3 brunches I’ve ever had. Nightwood has been on my list a long time, in particular for hearing about how amazing their brunch is. Whispers of bacon butterscotch donuts, local meats and bagel...
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Frog n Snail
Curry Braised Lamb Shank vegetables, pistachio, mint gnocchi and “oven goat cheese,” Frog n Snail, Chicago.
I had completely forgotten that Dale Levitski’s new place had just opened up in Lakeview/Boystown, but luckily a friend of mine had remembered! Sprout, his other restaurant, has always been on my gigantic list of places to dine in Chicago, but it’s expensive and...
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Homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs
I couldn’t help myself. Easter is truly the high holiday of candy. Superstars like Robins Eggs, Cadbury creme eggs and Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs pop up months before you’ve got Easter on the brain and whisper your name from massive displays at the front of every Walgreens and CVS in town. After this, we’ve got 6 long months to wait until the next great set of...
Watch the Doughnut Vault doughnuts being made →
March 2012
5 posts
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Mint Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you want to blow minds, seriously, put a cookie inside of a cookie. It’s always a crowd (and taste bud) pleaser.
I made these for a co-worker’s birthday per her request from the last time I made them. I used this recipe again but just had to go with the mint Oreos since it was around St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, I’m usually only inclined to buy Oreos when they’ve...
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February 2012
12 posts
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How to Make Homemade Thin Mints
I don’t really have words for these. Relieving the pure misery that is waiting for Girl Scout Cookies to arrive might be the best joy I could put out into the world (not that I’m the first one to make these or anything).
They taste just like the originals. I did a taste test (or 100) with a box of them. See the whole recipe here.
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5 Ways for Food Lovers to Prepare for Spring →
