I am SO excited to share that one of my favorite charities, VH1 Save The Music Foundation, has decided on Chicago for it's second pop-up dinner in their new event series, ‘Musically Mastered Menu’ on Saturday, August 1 during Lollapalooza weekend. I've always believed that keeping music and arts in the classroom is so important and the VH1 Save the Music Foundation ensures that happens. Since 1998, the foundation has raised over $2.14 million for new musical instruments so that Chicago Public ... [ Read More ]
Basil Burrata Dip w/ Fresh Tomatoes
Whenever I'm having any dinner party or BBQ, I'm always worried about making a memorable appetizer. Not only does the appetizer set the tone for the entire meal, but it's the first bite of food people are taking and you want them to be excited about the remainder of the meal! One of my go-to's is a super simple basil burrata dip with fresh tomatoes. Even though it's comprised primarily of cheese, it tastes really light and is great for a summertime starter. The best part? You only need 3 ... [ Read More ]
Mexican Elote
Every once in a while, I create a recipe that makes me want to give myself a hug. Well guys, this elote is one of them. It all started last weekend when my friend and fellow food blogger, Brett (www.hertastylife.com), said we should have a taco night. Since I'm always down for a good Mexican fiesta and I've heard rumors that this girl can make some serious carne asada, it was a no brainer to say yes. The only fear I had was that my side dish wouldn't live up to her famous tacos (if you ... [ Read More ]
Zucchini Noodle Pasta w/ RAW Tropical Marinara
Last week I did something pretty cool. I filmed a video recipe segment with one of my FAVORITE foodies, Bobby Parish, of Flav City. We had been tossing the idea of filming together for a while and when it finally happened, it turned out even better than I would have imagined. It all started when Bobby saw my recipe for Zucchini Noodle Caprese Pasta that featured the phenomenal Chelsydale peeler and the result was something incredible... A zucchini noodle pasta with a raw (yes raw) tropical ... [ Read More ]
Morel Mushroom & Pea Truffle Risotto
What if I told you that I made risotto from scratch for the first time this weekend? I know, it's kind of embarrassing, but at the same time, it came out perfect and should inspire you to give it a try yourself! I was always so scared to make risotto (don't ask me why), but when my husband requested it by name, I knew it was time to take the plunge. I was inspired to make this specific recipe as I was walking through Green City Farmers Market. I went early in the say and saw they still had ... [ Read More ]
Chicken Pot Pie Deep Dish Pizza (Thanks to Door to Door Organics)
When I find myself too busy to cook, it’s usually because I don’t have the time to grocery shop. Also, being able to get to a farmers market or organic grocery store takes a lot of time and effort out of my day. Well, today I am sharing my secret on how I am so busy, but still manage to make delicious, healthy and organic recipes. </br> I owe it all to my recent discovery of Door to Door Organics. Door to Door Organics partners with local farmers and grocers to bring organic ... [ Read More ]
Sriracha Coleslaw
Whenever I'm having a BBQ or picnic, I find that the sides are the most exciting part of the entire meal. The other day, I had a bbq with some friends and I was in charge of the coleslaw. At first, I was kind of bummed because how can you possibly make coleslaw not boring. Then, I started playing around with the dressing and created a miracle. Just by adding a little Sriracha and honey to my traditional coleslaw recipe, I made side-dish magic. You need to try this! Sriracha ... [ Read More ]
Top 5 Sushi Spots in Chicago
Every single time I meet someone in Chicago, they always ask me what my favorite restaurant is. Given the nature of what I do, this isn't a strange question, however for me, it's a fully loaded one. With all the incredible restaurants and so many different genres of food in Chicago, how could I ever possibly narrow it down? My follow-up question is always, "Okay give me a type of cuisine." 90% of the time, they say sushi. Having recently come back from a trip to Tokyo, my sushi snobbery ... [ Read More ]
6 Ingredient Spaghetti Carbonara
Every once in a while, I want just want to indulge in a decadent pasta dish. When I do, my go-to is this incredibly simply spaghetti carbonara dish. With only 6 ingredients, it's easy to make and a really inexpensive way to impress a dinner party. Despite what most people think, a carbonara doesn't actually have any cream in it at all. It gets it's creamy consistency from the combination of the eggs and parmesan cheese. I promise, this recipe will become a staple in your house. 6 ... [ Read More ]
Skinny Tacos w/ Mexican Slaw
Are you trying to keep your summer bod in check but totally craving a good taco? Well I know there are a TON of trendy, margarita mixes out there (I'm looking at you Skinny Girl), but what about a skinny taco recipe? Today, I'm going to change that with a flavorful version that will satisfy any taco craving. For this skinny taco recipe, I refer to use ground turkey and chicken over ground beef because they both have about 20% of the fat that ground beef does. You'll be completely unaware that ... [ Read More ]
