The Chopping Block Cooking & Wine Blog

Crunch Into Tradition: Delicious Passover Matzo Granola

The holiday of Passover is currently underway. This eight-day holiday commemorates the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt and escape from slavery. As the Israelites left the desert, they didn’t have time ...

Nixtamalized Corn (Hominy)

I’m always looking for new projects that help me understand food on a deeper level, especially where chemistry meets tradition. I love digging into the why behind certain techniques, and ...

Our Favorite Carrot Cake

It is once again springtime here in the Midwest, which got me thinking about one of my favorite cakes to make. Since Easter is right around the corner, I thought I better share my absolute favorite ...

A Cocktail to Summon Spring

In my neck of the woods, Spring has been fickle so far this year. Flitting in and out so as soon as you get a glimpse of mild temperatures and vivacious green pushing up from the ground, the temp ...

Dining at Alinea

I recently had the opportunity to check off a huge bucket list experience – dining at Alinea! Alinea is one of the top restaurants in the world. In fact, only 13 restaurants in the United States have ...

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun at TCB

I cannot believe that The Chopping Block has been around for 28 years! I am in awe of my predecessor for building such a wonderful company that I can only hope to continue her legacy for another 20 ...

It’s Time to Grill! Make Grilled Greek-Lemon Chicken

The weather is still very inconsistent, but that’s not stopping us from firing up the grill. After many months of deliberation, my husband just recently purchased a new charcoal grill, and decided to ...

Egg-cellent Replacements

I can remember a few times that eggs have been expensive or hard to find, but I can’t remember the last time I had so much trouble first finding them on the shelf and then making myself fork over a ...

Grilled Sirloin Tip Roast on the Pit Barrel (or Your Backyard Grill)

Now that the temperatures are on the rise in the Midwest, it’s time to break out the grill! If you're looking for a beefy, satisfying main dish that won’t break the bank - or your calorie (or WW ...

A Lemony Welcome to Spring

Lemons truly rule in the Spring! Their bright yellow color reminds me that Summer is only a heartbeat away, their zip and tang reminds me how good cold lemonade is on a hot day, and lemon desserts ...

“Shaken” Steak & Eggs

For me, there is no better start to the day than steak and eggs. It stands high in the ranks of any breakfast or brunch menu with the likes of Eggs Benedict or a hot stack of pancakes, and any diner ...

Sweet Breakfast Buns

It’s my favorite time again: recipe testing time for a new How to Bake Breads class! Since the pandemic, home cooks have really taken to learning how to make their own bread at home. We offer two ...

A Taste of Home: Crafting Mexican Rice in Tradition

I grew up in a household with a mixture of Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Mexican cuisines. While these cuisines can have quite a few differences, there is one ingredient that ties them all together: ...

Weeknight Bouillabaisse

Lent is a tradition observed by many Christians dedicated to prayer, fasting, and reflection held the 40 days prior to Easter. These 40 days signify the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the desert before ...

A Simple and Flavorful Twist on Bean Dip

I am tired of hummus. Don’t get me wrong, it tastes amazing, and I will never turn it down, though I have decided I have a new favorite bean dip. But if you are looking for a good hummus recipe, ...

Ready, Set, Read the Recipe

Recently while making Ginger-Jalapeño Tofu Marinated Soup with Fried Rice Noodles, it happened again. I realized my food would have turned out better had I taken time to carefully read the recipe and ...

Extra Aromatics? Make a Compound Butter

I am constantly cooking and trying out new recipes at home, including different cuisines from all around the world. One issue that this can present is not being able to cross utilize certain ...

Everyone Deserves their own Irish Soda Bread

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I'll admit it's not typically a holiday I celebrate (green beer and Jello shots, yuck!) and now that I don't live in Chicago anymore, there are no bodies of water being dyed ...

Celebrate the Season with Spring Onions

French Onion Soup wasn’t the only reason Julia Child said, “It is hard to imagine a civilization without onions.” As far back as 3200 B.C., the onion was so central to our daily diet that it appeared ...

Veracruz Fish Broil

Veracruz-style cuisine is a great example of how simple ingredients can create bold flavors. This dish comes from the coastal state of Veracruz, Mexico, where seafood is a staple. The combination of ...

From Chicagoland to the Coast: Finding the Freshest Catch

Each year, my family takes a trip to Florida. It's become a tradition that we always look forward to because we visit different parts of the state each year. There’s something special about escaping ...

Let’s Get Together Over a Meal

Food has the power to bring people together. There is no social balm quite like sharing a table with someone. Over human history, one can find countless examples of treaties being brokered, feuds ...

Trade Girl Scout Cookies for Homemade Samoas

We’re right in the middle of Girl Scout cookie season. I always look forward to seeing my friends post their daughter’s links on social media to buy cookies, and seeing the Girl Scout troops at our ...

Lemon Fettuccine: A Taste of Spring

I love preparing homemade pasta because it’s a really fun activity with extremely delicious results. One of our most popular classes at The Chopping Block, and my favorite class to teach, is our ...

Pi Day All Month

Of all of the dorky holidays that we celebrate, Pi Day might be my favorite. Though I’d never describe myself as a math person, any holiday that honors an entire genre of dessert is worth celebrating ...

Cucumber Shrimp Boats: An Easy, Satisfying Alternative to Sushi Rolls

If you love sushi but struggle with rolling it at home, you're not alone. Getting the perfect roll can be tricky, and sometimes, you just want something simple without sacrificing flavor. Enter ...

Enjoying New Zealand through Food and Wine

New Zealand is a land of breathtaking landscapes, but its culinary scene is just as remarkable. From fresh seafood and world-class lamb to the legendary meat pies and Māori hāngī (traditional New ...

Use your Starter for Sourdough Muffins

Anytime I need to feed our sourdough starter here at The Chopping Block, I’m overcome with the urge to bake something! I saved some discard from the feeding and decided to try something different. We ...

Shepherd's Pie for St. Paddy's Day

I don’t know about you, but I am way too old and way over going out bar hopping for St. Patrick’s Day - a tradition that is very prevalent in Chicago. If you are like me, then you would probably ...

Tostones with Garlic-Lime Cilantro Sauce

At some point this month, we all looked at the price tag for a carton of eggs and gasped. I wandered the aisles of my local grocery store, thinking about ways to make a satisfying snack (or meal if ...

Japanese Curry: A Favorite Birthday Dinner

There have been quite a few birthdays at The Chopping Block recently. One of my favorite things to learn about people is their “Birthday Dinners,” or the meal that they look forward to each birthday ...

Are Carbs Really Bad for You? The Truth About Carbohydrates

You may have heard about diet trends like "cutting carbs," "low carb," or "avoiding carbs." As a graduate student studying nutrition, I get asked: “What’s up with carbs, anyway?” and “Are carbs ...

Adventures in Waffling

I am early for spring cleaning, but I recently did some organizing and cleaning out of my home. I came across a brand-new Cuisinart and my underused waffle iron. I am still working on a home for the ...

Turn Broccoli and Cheddar Soup into Cappellitti

One of my favorite aspects of cooking is taking my favorite foods and reformatting them into something else. Pasta is an especially great format for this, particularly stuffed pastas because you can ...

How to Open a Bottle of Wine

Ever since the 1600’s, when the glass bottle and cork stopper became the preferred package for wine, we’ve been trying to figure out how to get the wine back out of the bottle!

Loaded Cereal for Gut & Brain Health: A Morning Power Bowl

Remember the Loaded Cereal trend on TikTok? It had its moment in the spotlight and while the hype may have faded, I’m still very much on board. If you missed it, the trend featured people piling all ...

Sous Vide: What, Why, & How?

Sous vide, meaning "under vacuum" in French, is a cooking technique where food is sealed in a bag and cooked in a precisely controlled water bath. It’s a method that ensures consistent results, ...

Creme Brulee: A True Classic Dessert

With Valentine's Day around the corner, Crème Brûléeis one of the first desserts that comes to mind. This classic French dessert has become something everyone knows and loves. It might seem daunting ...

Great Ingredients Sourced from the Internet

Imagine you’re hosting a dinner party and there’s a particular dish that everyone is particularly enjoying - so much so that they want to try making it themselves at home. They will, pretty much ...

Game Winning Philly Cheesesteak Pretzel Sliders

It’s almost time for Super Bowl LIX! This Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs (yes, again) will play the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs are hoping to make history and win their third consecutive ...

Cream Puffs 2.0: Let’s Get Craquelin

The Great British Baking Show has a very special and tender place in my heart. When my mom was coming to the end of her life and wasn’t able to communicate anymore, we would snuggle together on the ...

Celebrate National Kale Month in Style

If you’ve ever met me, even for the course of an hour, it’s likely that kale has come up. I don’t know how, and I don’t know why, but kale has become a cornerstone of my cooking philosophy and a ...

Taco Night Goes Veggie: Irresistible Zucchini Tacos

Looking for a fresh, affordable, and tasty way to shake up your Meatless Monday routine? These zucchini tacos are just what you need!

Valentine’s Day Cookies

Decorating cookies is so much fun for me! I love my “go-to” royal icing recipe, and I completely enjoy the focus it takes to decorate really pretty cookies.

Gluten-Free Chicken & Dumplings

Chicken and dumpling soup was a fall and winter staple in my grandmother's kitchen in Texas. I have had this thick and rich stew in many places and it can take different forms. I’ve tried thick ...

Sundays at Moosewood

I am often asked the following questions: What is your favorite dish to cook? How did you start The Chopping Block? What is your favorite restaurant? What is your top cooking show? All of these ...

Sicilian Cassata Cake

I am very proud of my Sicilian heritage, and I can’t believe I have never been there. My dad was born in Sicily and came to the states as a teenager and hasn’t been back since then. Until now!

Sopa de Fideos con Salchichón

2025 greeted me with a pretty bad cold. I spent several days bedbound with hot tea and honey, lozenges and a lot of cough medicine scrolling through social media until my eyes got blurred. I needed ...

Choose A Wedding Cake With Me

The past year has been an exciting, fun, and challenging one for me. One specific event that happened last year was being proposed to by my now-fiancé. This was and remains to be one of my favorite ...

Salsa Macha (Mexican Chili Crisp)

Salsa Macha is a Mexican type of chili oil or chili crisp with a toasty, smoky, and nutty flavor that is an amazing, underrated condiment! "Macha" derives from the word "machacar," which translates ...

Food For Your Ears

Multi-tasking is a regular mode of operation for people these days and often gets a bad rap. Why do one thing when you can do two things at once? Whether I grade papers with a movie on or read a ...

A Food Tour of Flushing, Queens

On New Year's Day, I spent a few hours touring Flushing, Queens, which is home to the largest and fastest growing Chinatown in the world. Eating all the incredible food that Flushing had to offer was ...

Small Changes, Big Impact: 8 Easy Habits to Start Eating Healthier This Year

When it comes to building healthier eating habits, the idea of a complete lifestyle overhaul can feel overwhelming. If your time looks anything like mine these days, you know that there are plenty of ...

White Wine with Red Meat

I’m all about following rules: I stop at stop signs, I accept a breath mint when offered, and I’ll never again wear horizontal stripes on my hips. But there’s one rule I break often and it’s the most ...

5 Cookbooks I Can’t Live Without

I’ve been collecting cookbooks since I was a child, and for me, they’ve always been more than just recipes on paper. My interest in cooking began early, sparked by my father, who bought me my first ...

Tasting Sicily: Our New Culinary Adventure in Italy

2025 marks our seventh year of bringing small groups of travelers to Tuscany to experience the iconic food and wine of this region of Italy with our Cook Like a Tuscan tours. This year, we are ...

The Coziest Soup for Winter

After the holidays are over and life slows down again, it's the perfect time to stay in and make cozy meals. There’s nothing I love more than a really good bowl of soup, especially when I'm not ...

A Chef’s Year in Review

As I get older, it feels like each year goes by a little bit more quickly than the last. It can be easy to forget, without taking some time to reflect, just how much really does happen in 12 months. ...

Chicago’s Breaded Steak Sandwich

Chicago is known for being a vibrant food-centric city – it’s one of the many reasons I was excited to move here over 15 years ago. We’re lucky to have so many delicious options and talented chefs ...

White Bean and Ham Soup: How to Use Your Leftover Ham and Hambone

It’s our family tradition to serve ham for dinner on Christmas, along with cheesy and creamy scalloped potatoes and sautéed green beans. I grew up in a Jewish household, so eating ham, especially on ...

4 Sweet and Sour Ways to Make Use of Seasonal Citrus

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: these dark, wintery days in Chicago really test my love for the Midwest. But there’s one bright spot in these gloomy days: citrus season! I don’t think ...

Delicata Squash Gnocchi Shortcut

Delicata squash is one of my favorite vegetables, and you should still be able to find it in grocery stores in January.

Christmas Crack

When I write a blog, I generally gravitate to a recipe that has multiple components with many steps and some sort of assembling. I enjoy being able to break down complicated procedures into a dish ...

Festive and Simple Cake for the Holidays

When it’s my turn to make desserts, my go-to are usually pies, crisps and cobblers. For me, these desserts are much easier to prepare, probably because they are more formula-driven than recipe-driven ...

Chocolate Cranberry Crackle Cookies

I’ll never pass up an opportunity to participate in a holiday cookie exchange, so when The Chopping Block revealed we were hosting an annual employee cookie swap in December I thought it was the ...

Lucky New Year's Black Eyed Peas

As 2024 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the traditions that bring us comfort, joy, and a little extra hope as we step into a new year. Across the globe, people have their own special ...

Burmese Street Food: Samosa Thoke

You likely have heard of samosas, a spiced potato or sometimes meat filled fried pastry. They are flavorful, crispy, and filling-amazing little treat. Burmese-style samosas are a bit different. Thoke ...

Don’t Feel Burdened by Breakfast

Prior to working at The Chopping Block, I was a teacher. School started early; my days started even earlier. I arrived well in advance of the first bell to prepare and get set for the day. This ...

Celery Root Risotto: Creating Depth of Flavor

Last month, I wrote about my love for homemade Parmesan stock. While it is absolutely the “secret weapon for soup season” as I claimed, I want to demonstrate a different use for the stock which is ...

7 Stress-Relieving Snack Foods to Keep You Calm Over the Holidays

The holidays are a season filled with joy, but they can also bring a good dose of stress. From last-minute gift shopping to hosting holiday dinners, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But what if ...

A Step-by-Step Guide with Video to Opening Champagne and Sparkling Wine

“Here’s to Champagne, the drink divine, that helps us forget all our troubles. It’s made from a dollar’s-worth of wine and three-dollars’-worth of bubbles.” (Anonymous)

Camarão na Moranga: Shrimp in Pumpkin

If you’ve been to one of my classes or read my previous blogs, you probably know that South American cuisine is one of my favorite topics. There’s something about the bold, fresh flavors and ...

Conjee: Sweet Nourishing Gruel

Many regions have their own variations of rice porridge, but "gruel" or the boiling of starchy foods dates back to prehistoric times where it was an early application of harnessing fire and cooking. ...

Spiced Cranberry Holiday Cocktail

I love making signature cocktails for special occasions and this cocktail is definitely one of my favorites. It has flavors of rosemary, ginger, cinnamon, and cranberry, complemented with a splash of ...

Appetizers and Tapas Make the Meal

As a chef, I've always believed appetizers are the unsung heroes of dining. These small but mighty plates set the stage for any meal, offering a chance to impress, indulge, and experiment, all before ...

Dispatch from the Capital of Christmas

My mother is what I’ll conservatively refer to as a Christmas enthusiast. Her dedication to the season is both authentic and egoless. She doesn’t need ostentatious displays of decorations in order to ...

Cinnamon Raisin Bagel Bread Pudding

A couple of years ago, I professed my love of bagels in my blog Everything Bagel Strata. It’s a delicious way to enjoy the classic savory flavors of everything bagels, smoked salmon, cream cheese and ...

Cook Like a Tuscan is a Hands-On Introduction to Italian Cuisine

I fell in love with Tuscany on The Chopping Block's Cook Like a Tuscan tour last fall. I had never been to Italy before, and this seven-day trip was the perfect introduction to the region's beautiful ...

Chewy, Chocolatey and Festive: Hot Cocoa-Peppermint Cookies for the Holidays

Now that another Thanksgiving is in the books, we’re on a fast track to the winter holidays. This can mean a lot of different things to many people, but for me, my holidays always revolve around ...

Chicago-Style Your Holiday

This is the time of year wherein everyone I know is traveling: between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it feels like my transplanted group of friends is in mass-migration mode, heading back to where we ...

Snickerdoodles: the Classic Holiday Cookie

When it comes to cookies, snickerdoodles hold a special place in my heart and are the first cookie I make each holiday season. Their soft, buttery centers paired with the slight tang of cream of ...

Holiday Mushroom & Leek Soup

For a lot of us, the holiday season evokes many memories. I love looking back at the traditions we had as a family when I was growing up, and it’s fun to recognize how they evolved into traditions ...

Making Memories with Guava

I checked the weather for the week and saw rain, rain, rain, snow. Instant sadness. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing the first untouched snow on the ground and watching every holiday movie Hallmark ...

Honeypatch Squash Tart: A Unique Holiday Dessert

I love the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. My family reigns from the south, the west, and all throughout Asia. My parents are both retired, and it’s hard to get all of us in one ...

Essential Asian Ingredients

Have you ever walked into an international grocery store or an Asian grocery store and were overwhelmed by the number of different sauces, pastes, or vinegars, or the different types and brands?

The Understated Undecorated Decorated Cookie

The decorated windows, Christmas lights strewn on houses, and blow-up turkeys in neighboring yards epitomizes the honest reality that the holiday season is here! This means it is time for me to ...

The Best “Pumpkin” Pie Ever

If you have you never tasted a butternut squash pie, it might be hard to imagine that it is even better than a pumpkin pie. I am not saying that pumpkin pie isn’t delicious, and I know it is ...

Soup Season Secret Weapon

Soup season is in full swing, and in my and many other chef’s opinions, what makes a great soup is a great stock. While homemade chicken, vegetable, and beef stock are great, I want to introduce you ...

Thank You to The Chopping Block: The Culinary Classroom That Shifted My Career Path

When I first started working at The Chopping Block as a class assistant back in 2010, I had no idea it would change my life. What began as a fun part-time gig (on top of my full-time gig at the time) ...

A Primer on Champagne and Sparkling Wine

If you want to hear that there are lots of sparkling wines just as good as Champagne but cheaper, you need to ask someone else. Given the choice, I always recommend true Champagne, especially when ...

Bolognese Sauce: The Rich Ragu of Bologna

When people think of Italian pasta sauces, one of the most popular that comes to mind is Bolognese, a hearty meat sauce with roots in Bologna. However, bolognese (or ragù alla bolognese) is often ...

Why You Should Cook a Pumpkin

Over the past month, my one-year-old daughter Willa has become increasing obsessed with pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons, and fall leaves. Before the autumn season, anything that resembled an apple ...

Make these Honey Butter Rolls this Thanksgiving

Students always ask me: What made you want to go into the culinary industry? My simple answer is: Nothing makes me happier than bringing people together over food. Thanksgiving is a day where ...

Modernist Cooking: Intro to Sous Vide

Many moons ago, I created a class at The Chopping Block called Modernist Boot Camp. This class was… long. And complicated to put on. And expensive. And of limited appeal. For these reasons, the class ...

Still have Halloween Candy? Make these Cookie Bars

Halloween is over and chances are, you might have some (in my case, a ton) leftover candy to deal with! My days of hosting a big Halloween party are over, but my daughter, Scarlett, is now 20 months ...

What to Do with All that Cream

We have all been there - you buy an ingredient for a recipe and then you don’t know what to do with the rest of it! Or, you buy too much of something and then have to figure out how to use it all ...

Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Crostata for Your Holiday Table

The holidays are quickly approaching whether we like it or not, so now is the time to start thinking about recipes for the holiday table and/or dinner parties with friends.

5 Essential Kitchen Tools for Winter

We’re here. Fall has arrived, and with it, the promise of a Chicago winter to come. Though the weather this fall has been deceivingly gorgeous, there’s cold, dark days ahead, and we all know it. I ...

Perfect Your Biscuits with These Expert Tips

I’ve never met a biscuit that I don’t like. Now that we are in full pumpkin season, I am finding ways to add them to my recipes. These pumpkin biscuits are slightly sweet, so flaky and delicious.

CBC vs CIA: A Boot Camp Comparison

The Chopping Block has been teaching Culinary Boot Camp for many years, over 16 years to be exact. We’ve obviously tweaked the program during that time, but it’s essentially the same as when we ...

Vegan Friendly Fall Squash Chili

Fall is, hands down, my favorite season. The foliage, the beanies and most importantly, the comforting food. Every year, my friends and I host a potluck meetup with a bountiful table of food that ...

My Dog Ate My Lemon Pudding Cake

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a bit self-conscious when it comes to baking and pastry. I also have a very ornery dog with a huge appetite. He is too cute (and tall) for his own good!

The Magic of… Seaweed?

Different types of seaweed have always fascinated me. With their amazing nutrient quality, I consider them a “super food.” At my university, I set up a tasting table to let others experience and ...

From Picture Books to Pies

As we embrace fall flavors and start delving into holiday cooking and baking, it is the perfect time to get kids in the kitchen. Picture books provide a great starting point for ambivalent young ...

Secrets for the Best Creamed Soups

I always look forward to the change of season to Autumn. The crisp cool air, rustling leaves in the wind and colorful foliage make me nostalgic. During this time, we move from summer grilling to the ...

A Creamy Soup Full of Vegetables Not Heavy Cream

It's finally my favorite time of year: soup season! I am a big fan of one pot wonders packed full of flavor and satiety. I like to make big batches of soups or stews because they are easy to reheat, ...

A New Gem in New Buffalo

I recently visited my hometown in Michigan as I often do, and on my way back I was passing through New Buffalo and passed a sign labeled Farmette. This immediately caught my interest as it just ...

The Ultimate Guide to Building a Healthy, Family-Friendly Snack Dinner

Let’s face it: some nights, as parents, we are just tired. And I’ll admit that I’ve been feeling this a lot lately. Maybe you had a long day at work, chased after kids, or tackled an endless list of ...

Holiday Wine Shopping

You may not know what you’ll be drinking this holiday season, but your wine merchant does.

An Inside Look at Sushi Making

At The Chopping Block, our sushi classes offer a fun and interactive way to dive into the world of sushi making, whether you're a beginner or looking to sharpen your skills. Chef Alex recently took a ...

Blazing Barbacoa

This dish utilizes by far one of the oldest known cooking methods from across the world, not to mention one of the most labor-intensive ones as well. That's on account of having to dig a large hole ...

Apple Pie in a Jar

When the air is crisp, and the leaves have exploded in beautiful colors, what better way to celebrate the season than with a drink that tastes just like apple pie? Making big batches of this apple ...

The Unifying Power of Food: How Sharing a Meal Brings Us Together

There’s a story I often tell when people ask me why I became a chef. It wasn’t just about my love for food, though that certainly played a part. It was about the way food made me feel connected to ...

Apples A La Presse

There are a few reasons why fall is the best time of year. The oppressive summer heat is abating, mosquitos are dropping dead, new and wonderful fruit is coming into season, and of course the most ...

Planning A Private Cooking Event for Your Next Corporate or Social Outing

Let’s face it, we’ve all received an invite to a corporate outing and opened it with dread. Team building is such a buzz word in the corporate world. People plan team building events in the hopes of ...

New Apple Dessert in Town

It's that wonderful time of year again - the weather is changing, and apple season is in full swing. That means Apple Fest is right around the corner! This is one of my favorite neighborhood events ...

Spice up Your Granola with Garam Masala

Garam masala is a magical spice blend because it can be used in sweet and savory recipes. The name literally translates to “warming spices” because it contains a blend of spices that, when combined, ...

Ways to Use Up Apples

I know I’m not the only one who comes back from a weekend of apple picking in Wisconsin cursing myself for getting overeager in the orchard and wondering what to do with these pounds and pounds of ...

Golden Mushroom Beef Stew

This golden mushroom beef stew is the best beef stew I’ve made to date. The secret ingredient? Campbell’s Golden Mushroom Soup. I must have been living under a rock, because in my 56 years on this ...

Move Over Apples: Pears are the New Star of Fall

Apples are the true favorite fruit of fall, and with good reason. If you live in the Midwest, there's ample access to apple picking, and you can find a wide variety of fresh, crisp flavors at local ...

Thanksgiving for Picky Eaters

I recently visited my soon-to-be in-laws and was met with some trouble cooking them dinner. The possibilities were endless but somewhat limited because their nieces and nephews are so, so picky! The ...

What's the Tea?

I have always been obsessed with coffee, just like most of us are, not only for the taste but for the caffeine kick. Though recently, I have found myself drifting away from making myself coffee or ...

Virtual Cooking is the Best Cooking Instruction

During the pandemic, people had the opportunity to explore new interests and old interests in new ways. Two innovations included virtual events and learning, which are here to stay. The Chopping ...

Sliced Apple Fritters

If you’ve been keeping up with The Chopping Block’s blog, Facebook page, and Instagram posts, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a lot of apple references! Well, it’s definitely the season with apples ...

Understanding Ground Beef

Did you know that hamburgers are the most frequently sold menu item in the United States? So, it's no surprise that the second most popular item is French fries. What’s a burger without fries?! I ...

Fall in Love with Apples' Health Benefits and this Recipe

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. We've heard this old-school mantra all our lives. But just how true is that statement about the quintessential fall fruit?

Private Chef Pro Tips

Prior to working as an instructor at The Chopping Block, I worked as a private chef for about a year and a half. I have fond memories of this part of my career, and I often get a lot of questions of ...

The Nutritional Advantages of Grass-Fed Beef

As consumers become more health-conscious, the demand for grass-fed beef has risen sharply. In fact, The Chopping Block is excited to offer an upcoming hands-on class in partnership with Driftless ...

Wine & Cheese: Culinary Heaven or Eden? You Decide

You say you adore sea salt caramels and suppose it’s because they’re just so darn delicious! Sort of. In fact, we’re hard wired to crave the nutritional necessities of salt, sugar and fat in modern ...

Feeding My Sourdough Starter Rye Flour: A Flavorful Twist

One of the joys of maintaining a sourdough starter is its versatility. It adapts easily to different flours, making every loaf a new adventure. If you’re just starting out with sourdough, you might ...

K-Town in Your Backyard

The Western term for barbecue typically refers to a low temperature, slow cooking method in a grill or smoker to achieve a tender and juicy texture. In the case of Korean barbecue or Gogigui, ...

It’s Apple Time

Lincoln Square's Apple Fest is right around the corner, which gets me thinking about all things apple. When September rolls around, I am excited to go pick apples. The first thing that comes to mind ...

Who’s Stronger, You or The Bear?

As a chef who's spent countless hours in restaurant kitchens, when I first heard about The Bear, I was intrigued. A TV show about the inner workings of a Chicago-based restaurant? Okay, that hits a ...

A Chef’s Approach to Camp Cooking

When we decided to relocate to upstate New York part of the agenda was to spend more time enjoying the outdoors. Living in Chicago, this was one area of life that was definitely lacking. In order to ...

German Apple Cake (Apfelkuchen)

Is it apple season? Or pumpkin season? Or both? Some people have strong opinions on which fall flavor reigns supreme. I do love a pumpkin spice latte (I’ll admit that I’ve already enjoyed one this ...

Whipped Ice Cream and Homemade Waffle Cones

Summer is coming to an end, but you wouldn’t know it with this recent heat wave that we’ve been having here in Chicago. The best way to cool off is to make some homemade ice cream. I don’t know about ...

How to Make Crispy Crunchy Fish Tacos Everyone Will Love

I spent a lot of time teaching our kids and teens camps this summer, and my favorite experience is seeing a young cook enjoy something they didn’t think they liked. This was the case when the teens ...

Grilling For Fall

The grill is an elusive cooking tool here in the Midwest. It sits outside or in the garage all winter, accumulating snow and spider webs, until that moment in the spring where you can’t stand it any ...

Chickpea Salad Sandwich

When I saw that The Chopping Block was offering a Cooking for Life class, I was SO excited! The class is focused on eating to nourish your body and mind, which is exactly what I’ve been doing for ...

From Classroom to Kitchen: A Journey from Teacher to Chef

I spent a majority of my adult life teaching at a Reggio Emilia school in Chicago. “Reggio Emilia” is an approach to teaching that centers around the child as a person with developmental rights, each ...

Celebrate Good Times with Food

There are lots of reasons to host friends and family at your home: to bask in the camaraderie of those you love, to celebrate an event or milestone, or just to have fun. I think for a lot of those ...

Home Makes Healthier Eating Possible

As a future registered dietitian studying nutrition, I try to make healthy home-cooked meals as much as possible, but that doesn’t always happen. However, there is one aspect of my cooking that gives ...

A Taste of Hawai'i at Home

One of the best parts of planning a trip is researching the local food scene to make sure I hit all of the highlights. I recently returned from a trip to Maui, Hawai'i with my sister, and the food ...

School Success Happens in the Kitchen

As a teacher, I strive to nurture my students to be lifelong learners. I want them to make connections between learning in the classroom with what they do outside of the classroom and find learning ...

Simple and Delicious Meals to Start Your Day

I will never tire of hearing the term 'simple and delicious' in regard to meals prepped and enjoyed at home. I am a firm believer in the notion of eating your first meal of the day within the first ...

DIY Oyster Bar

Once upon a time in my cooking career, I worked at a seafood restaurant that featured an oyster bar, and it was one of my favorite experiences in my career. That job made me fall in love with all of ...

Food as Medicine: Nourishing Body and Mind in Everyday Life

Imagine that you visit a doctor or registered dietitian for a particular ailment. They hand you a piece of paper with a prescription (like the good old days) and all it says is to eat one cup of ...

Pink Wine So Fine

Rosè wine sales are down, and that’s fine by me. Don’t get me wrong: I love a rosè and a nosh at the end of a day, a rich Spanish rosado to wash down barbeque, an elegant rosè Champagne to enhance a ...

Love for Tomatoes

My love for tomatoes started when I was really little, eating them straight off the vine from the garden. Tomatoes are so versatile, you can do just about anything with them. From eating them raw to ...

Rediscovering Fennel Tops

If you’ve been following my culinary adventures, you might remember that time I burnt my onions (on purpose, of course!) and made a leek ash, or the deep dive we took into the world of fermentation ...

Another Legume: Baby Garbanzo Beans

Bean Club deliveries from Rancho Gordo are piling up! So, it’s time for another bean blog, but this time, we'll focus on a different legume. Occasionally, we get a grain or kernel as a special ...

The Joy of Visiting Farmers Markets: A Chef's Perspective

As a chef, my heart beats faster at the mere thought of visiting a farmers' market. There's something truly magical about wandering through stalls brimming with fresh, vibrant produce, artisan goods, ...

Five Fantastic Books on Niche Topics

Looking around at the landscape of what types of books are being published when it comes to cooking, you could be forgiven for thinking that your only options are books from celebrities of one flavor ...

Eat Your Way Through Western Michigan

Last summer my mom, my daughter, and I took a girls trip to New Buffalo, Michigan, about 75 miles from Chicago. We enjoyed our trip so much that we decided to make it an annual tradition, and I ...

Sweet S'more Dessert Arancini

I just love when I have a 'Eureka!' in the kitchen. It’s that moment when you come up with an idea and just need to test it out to see if it works. I am sure I have not reinvented the wheel and ...

My Favorite Lemon-Cherry Bars

I have cherry fever! It started when we took a trip to Traverse City, Michigan last month, and cherries were everywhere. It’s known as “The Cherry Capital of the World” because the climate and soil ...

Preserving Summer’s Bounty

This is it—what my grandma used to call “the best time of year to eat.” We’re in it now, relishing in mountains of fresh heirloom tomatoes, piles of squash, and more peaches than we know what to do ...

Lentil Smash Burger Tacos

I can’t be the only one whose FYP on social media was flooded with different variations of smash burger tacos, and I’m not mad at it! These went viral for good reason – they're burgers in taco form ...

Phyllo Tart with Pears & Brie

Do you love a good tart, but hate making the crust? This one’s for you! The folded phyllo sheets create a beautiful “crust” that’s light and flaky. An easy savory-with-a-hint-of-sweetness dish, along ...

Cashew-Based Clean Eating Ranch Dressing

Chicago summer has turned out quite nice. Given the warmer weather, I have been inspired to eat more salads lately. My favorite homemade dressing also happens to be clean eating. This cashew ranch ...

Caramelle: Simple but Stunning Stuffed Pasta

Making stuffed pastas can seem like a very daunting task for home cooks, but can be a great and impressive thing to show off to your family and friends. I want to take the fear of making these pastas ...

Behind The Scenes: Prepping for a Restaurant Part II

When you work as a cook in a restaurant, getting food from raw ingredients to finished dishes can, in some ways, be more straightforward than cooking at home, or less, depending on your point of ...

Summer Vegetable Crunch Wraps

Summer is a time of vibrant colors, fresh flavors, and an abundance of seasonal vegetables. It’s also a great time to get creative in the kitchen by converting some of your fast food favorites into ...

The Nose Knows: The Remarkable Power of Smell

Here’s one of my aha! moments with wine: I’m a young sommelier, tasting a Gewurztraminer for placement on my wine list. With my nose deep in the glass, I sniff - and poof! In an instant, I’m ...

Make Culinary Boot Camp a Family Affair

Culinary Boot Camp is a commitment. You spend 40 hours in our kitchens in one week (or five consecutive Saturdays) learning everything you need to transform you from a beginner or intermediate level ...

A Peruvian Tasting Table Experience

We're excited to introduce a brand-new series at The Chopping Block called "Tasting Table." Each month, one of our talented chef instructors will host a special culinary demonstration, sharing their ...

Wood Fired Sourdough Pizza at Home

Pizza just might be the most recognizable, if not most popular, food in the world! The market for frozen pizza in the U.S. alone is nearly $7 billion dollars with hundreds of brands and styles across ...

Homemade Snacks: Goldfish Edition

Anyone who knows me, knows I love snacks. I also love recreating classic snacks from scratch. There’s something special about making wholesome food at home with simple ingredients, knowing exactly ...

Discover the Timeless Delight of Flan

Flan, a luscious and creamy dessert, has been a beloved treat for centuries. Its rich history, unique texture, and delightful flavor make it a standout on any dessert menu. Join me on a journey ...

Use Lard for a More Perfect Pie Crust

We find ourselves in the early stages of high summer. This unfortunate circumstance comes with many downsides if you live in upstate New York. Blistering temperatures (hotter every year!), air thick ...

BBQ Hanger Steak Pizza on the Grill

Although I’m mostly retired from recreational softball, that’s how I met my wonderful friends Adam and Celine Kaleta. In addition to being teammates, we also share a love of good food – that’s how ...

Four More Unique Egg Recipes

Well, here we are again! Nobody asked for it, but here is another egg obsession blog. I am always in search of new and different ways to prepare eggs. I admit my daily go-to styles are scrambled or ...

Build-Your-Own Strata

When my daughter heads back to college in the fall, she will be living in an apartment with three of her friends. Because she won’t have the convenience of walking over to the dining hall for her ...

Beat the Heat with these Five No-Cook Strategies

Summer is here! If you’re like me, you’re trying to put off installing your window units for as long as possible, and you’re searching desperately for any strategies that can support you in your ...

Copycat Hooters Buffalo Shrimp

Hooters' Buffalo Shrimp is an iconic dish for good reason. The shrimp are perfectly coated in a crispy batter and tossed in a buttery buffalo sauce that is seriously lip-smacking delicious. The ...

Seasonal Fruit and Jam-Making

Producing homemade jam is an experience that connects you with the farmers that grow seasonal produce, the process of working with that produce, and the joy of taking such delicious fruit and turning ...

Nutrient-Dense Smoothies

I began my health-focused journey a few years back and making delicious smoothies became a regular task in my kitchen. There are many things that I love about smoothies. They are simple and easy to ...

Utilizing Carbon Steel for Crispy Skinned Fish

You already know I love carbon steel pans. Now I want to showcase a technique that illustrates just why I enjoy cooking with carbon steel so much: cold-start crispy skin fish.

Why Getting Kids in the Kitchen Early is a Recipe for Success

In a world dominated by fast food and quick fixes, one of the most valuable gifts we can give our children is the skill of cooking. Teaching kids how to cook from a young age is more than just a ...

How to Host a Wine Tasting at Home

A wine tasting at home is a fun and unique way to entertain. It requires some organization and some ground rules, but you may be surprised by the benefits!

Teach the Kids to Cook

I started cooking seriously when I was about 10 years old. By the time I was 11, I made all the dinners for my family. People are astonished at this fact. I know the world is different now. Kids are ...

Save the Scraps: Watermelon Rind Kimchi

In the array of Korean cuisine, one dish reigns supreme: Kimchi. It's a versatile staple, gracing tables as a side or condiment for nearly every meal. Traditionally, it's made with Napa cabbage or ...

Tasting Table: A New Chopping Block Chef Experience

The Chopping Block is lucky to have many talented chef instructors dedicated to helping the local community and beyond learn how to cook! Unlike other recreational cooking programs, the chefs at TCB ...

Garlic Scapes: The Edible Flower

Scapes are here! Many are unaware of this wonderful vegetable, but if you know where to look for them during this brief season, you are in for a treat. Scapes are only around in late spring - early ...

The Art of Plating

Cooking is not just about flavors and techniques; it's also about presentation. The art of plating is a crucial skill that can elevate your home cooking from ordinary to extraordinary. Just like a ...

How a Pro Chef Organizes a Small Home Kitchen

I’ve lived in a lot of places. Not as many as some, but I'd venture to say more than most. In the last 15 years, I’ve lived in 19 different apartments, rooms, or houses. That’s 19 kitchens I've had ...

Pikliz: The Haitian Condiment You Need for Summer

May was Haitian Heritage month. My husband is Haitian, and I’m always looking to learn more about Haitian cuisine so I can pass that part of her heritage onto my daughter. I learned a long time ago ...

Teaming Up with Driftless Prairie Meats and Market

Farmers market season is finally upon us. One of my favorite parts of shopping at the market is being able to meet the farmers and become familiar with where my food is coming from. I love that The ...

Beet Hummus is your Gateway to Loving Beets

If you haven't yet jumped on the beet bandwagon, consider this your official invitation! Beets are truly one of nature's vibrant treasures, and there's no better way to dive in than with a delicious ...

How to Make Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam

When you visit your friend who has a fabulous garden full of fruit, vegetables and herbs, and she gives you more rhubarb than you know what to do with, you make jam. Rhubarb is a perennial plant ...

Behind the Scenes of Shooting a Cookbook

A few months ago, The Chopping Block team sent me over a document full of mouth-watering recipes, and I started taking photos for what will someday soon be a beautiful digital cookbook. As I am ...

My Favorite Potato Salad

With the official first day of Summer not scheduled for another few weeks, Memorial Day always seems to be the unofficial start of the season. It certainly was for us! While we ate indoors, our first ...

Set Yourself Up For Success with One Pot Cooking

Five years ago, I was diagnosed with a large brain tumor and went through several surgeries to have it removed. Needless to say, this was a life-changing event! It took me 45 years and a life of ...

Carbon Steel vs Stainless Steel: Not Just Knives

If you have ever taken our Knife Skills class, then you have a little bit of knowledge about the difference between carbon steel and stainless steel knives. If you haven't taken our Knife Skills ...

The “Little Dragon” Herb: Tarragon

Fresh tarragon, beloved herb, French staple, is in full swing. With an extensive early spring through early fall harvest, this hardy perennial is here and taking over our culinary tool belts. ...

Sweet and Savory Delight: How to Make Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

When you take one of The Chopping Block's culinary vacations with Onward Travel, you will be part of a small group of travelers who all enjoy food and wine. Each group is different, of course, but ...

Behind the Scenes: Prepping for a Restaurant

What goes on in the kitchen of a restaurant can be a bit of a mystery. Even if the restaurant has an open kitchen, by the time the public at large is looking on, almost all the work has already been ...

Unlocking the Relationship Between Food and Mood

There’s an intricate connection between what we eat and how we feel. It's a fascinating journey that unveils how our food choices influence our moods and vice versa, creating what often feels like a ...

Not Too Sweet: Pairing Sweeter Wine with Food

‘Sweet’ or ‘sour’ was how customers ordered wine from my dad, when he sold his first bottle one minute after the Repeal of Prohibition.

Chinese 5-Spice Chicken

One of the most impossible questions I get asked as a chef is “What is your favorite thing to cook?” It's hard to answer because I rarely cook the exact same dish twice! The exception to this rule is ...

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