Pesto Pasta and Tomato for One

Brent is in Miami this week for work, which means I am left here all alone with my pots, pans and TV remote.  Now…Now, my life isn’t really that simple.  I have other things to fill my free time besides cook and watch TV.  I can’t remember what any of those things are right now, [...]

A Korean Story

Throughout most of my college career, one of my best friend’s was a brassy and bold Korean girl named Nicole. I remember many late-night study sessions at Steak and Shake with our 100 pound backpacks and dressed in our most comfortable pajamas. Those were the days when we consumed gallons of coffee, ate piles of [...]

Grilled Chicken with Thai Peanut Sauce

One of my most favorite sauces for grilled chicken is Thai Peanut Sauce.  This versatile sauce is full of peanut flavor with a wonderful hint of heat from the Asian chili.  It also goes great with pasta, rice and steamed veggies.  For a couple of years, I have used a modified version of a peanut-dressing [...]

Herb Goat Cheese and Balsamic Tomato Crostini

While I was exercising, I started to brainstorm new appetizer recipe ideas for an upcoming dinner party.  Wow, what a surprise…I was thinking about food while I was EXCERCISING (aka. inducing pain).
I needed something that was simple and easy to make.  The favors needed to be bold and appetizing, while being universal enough for all [...]

Four Tips for Great Ribs

If I told you the trick to making amazing ribs was as simple as jumping on one foot and rubbing your head at the same time. Would you do it?  How about if I told you to wrap yourself in a white sheet and run around the front lawn announcing you were the ghost of [...]

Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob

I love corn on the cob and this is the time to take advantage of the juicy yellowy corn.  So the other day I decided to stop by my local farmer’s market to select corn that was harvested locally at the peak of freshness.  There’s something so refreshing about being able to ask a vendor [...]

Fresh Blueberry Sauce

One day I was planning a menu for a dinner party that was going to take place the next evening. I knew that after work, I would have very little time to prepare the food before the guests were scheduled to arrive. With the main entrée items planned and ready to be assembled, I was [...]

Cucumber and Red Pepper Salad

The sun is shining and a light breeze is blowing through my Chicago apartment office.  So I have decided a gorgeous day like today requires a refreshing and easy salad.  Cucumbers are in full season right now and my local farmer’s market is jammed full of all different shapes and sizes of the juicy green [...]

Tacos with Homemade Flour Tortilla’s and Farmer’s Market Fresh Pico

I am a firm believer that you do not need to use 100 different ingredients from fabulous faraway lands to impress your friends.  You just need to create tried and true flavor combinations with a few simple homemade twists.
My best example of a meal that makes my friends squeal with joy is when I make [...]