The Chopping Block Cooking & Wine Blog

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: ...

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!

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Summer Salsa on the Grill

Spring has sprung, so it's time to get outside and fire up the grill. There is truly something mesmerizing to me about cooking over an open fire, especially with hot coals or natural wood! Growing up ...

Roasted Corn and Poblano Chowder

When teaching a class, there’s one question I get asked most and that’s “what’s your favorite type of food to make?” It’s a really hard question to answer, because I love all types of food and ...

Let's Taco About It

Tacos, with their tantalizing blend of flavors and textures, have become a beloved staple in American cuisine. But these delicious handheld delights have a rich and diverse history that dates back ...

Taco Tuesday Vegetarian Style

Incorporating more vegetarian meals into my rotation is something I always try to do, especially as we enter Chicago’s warmer season. I won’t lie, getting all of my servings of vegetables in hasn’t ...

My Top Five Mexican Cookbooks

Whenever students ask me what my favorite regional cuisine is I always say that its impossible to choose a favorite because blah blah blah… but the real answer is Mexican food. Mexican food is ...

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A Taste of Home: Crafting Mexican Rice in Tradition

Taco Night Goes Veggie: Irresistible Zucchini Tacos

Salsa Macha (Mexican Chili Crisp)

The Understated Undecorated Decorated Cookie

How to Make Crispy Crunchy Fish Tacos Everyone Will Love

Summer Salsa on the Grill

Roasted Corn and Poblano Chowder

Let's Taco About It

Taco Tuesday Vegetarian Style

My Top Five Mexican Cookbooks

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