The Chopping Block Cooking & Wine Blog

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 ...

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 ...

Douse your Food with Dukkah

I was first introduced to Dukkah when I received a copy of Instantly Mediterranean by Emily Paster in advance of a virtual Instant Pot class (remember those days?!) we did together two years ago. For ...

Roasted Pears for Salads or Just Snacks

Last week was Thanksgiving and amidst all the “favorites” and “must haves” I usually like to slide in a little something fun and different. This year it was a salad with a whole roasted pear half ...

Holiday Chinese 5 Spice Candied Nuts

When the holiday season approaches, I always get plenty of use out of my home kitchen. One tradition that I hold dear is crafting batches of Chinese 5 Spice Candied Nuts. Whether destined for the ...

Pumpkin Date Nut Bread

Pumpkin season is in full swing for me. While I’ll admit that I like to indulge in the occasional pumpkin spice latte, I generally find that pumpkin is underappreciated and underutilized.

App Pops

A couple of weeks ago my husband & I went to an event that had the best appetizers! They were generously passed with little signs on the trays as to what they were. Not only were they delicious, ...

4 Ways to Enhance your Diet that Could Save your Life

I can hear the counterpoint playing in my mind, “But we’re all going to go some day anyway so why should I change my diet?” Yes, I know, but what if I told you that you could improve the quality of ...

Homemade Candied Nuts, a Christkindlmarket Classic

Chicago's Christkindlmarket is a wonderful tradition full of sights, smells, and flavors of the holidays. From ornaments, to toys, to the famous German Gluhwein, there's something for everyone. But ...

Non-Dairy Milks: Which One Should I Use for Cooking?

Whether you are vegan, lactose intolerant, or just trying to cut back on dairy, there are so many great non-dairy choices out there. Soy, rice, almond, coconut, hemp, hazelnut, cashew, oat, the list ...