Now that the Holidays are behind us, and we’ve hopefully recovered from our food comas, Super Bowl is approaching! Another excuse to party! Yay! I thought I would post several crowd pleasing recipes to try out on your family and friends. In one of my earlier posts I wrote about one of my favorite chili [...]

These chicken breasts are so yum and easy. I used to make them often when my kids were growing up, and they were a fave. Since this is all about the chicken, I recommend going to Harrison’s Poultry in Glenview. They have the freshest most wonderful poultry around. If you are not inclined to seek [...]

Once upon a time there was a little cafe in Winnetka, Il. called “The Pretty Good Cafe”. This was a comfy, cozy neighborhood cafe with the most wonderful homemade food and desserts. The owner, Gail, ran it with the help of her son and a few friendly staff. It was a frequent meeting place for [...]

Here is one of my all time favorite potato recipes, although I have never met a potato I didn’t like! But, these are special – tender, cheesy, crusty brown top…sigh. Complete comfort food. The friend who gave me this recipe was as crazy about potatoes as I am. We used to joke and say we [...]

Now that Fall is officially here, I’m craving heavier foods. Roasts! Beef! Lamb! Whether you’re serving Roasted Chicken, Filet of Beef, or Leg of Lamb, this is a great side dish to serve alongside. It’s rich, satisfying, and guys love it! Make your guy happy and give it a try. It couldn’t be easier! Baked [...]

  Fall is here and I’m looking forward to months of warm, nuturing comfort foods, and sharing some of my favorite recipes with you. Years ago a good friend of mine gave me her favorite chutney recipe, and it soon became mine. It’s so versatile. As an appetizer, you can spoon it over a brick [...]

Since I am making these for part of my son’s birthday dinner this weekend, I decided to post about them. First, let me say, the dilemma in our house is always “are they better hot from the oven, or are they better cold the next day”? The answer is…we can’t decide. We love them hot [...]

Imagine your favorite pecan pie…ooey, gooey, sweet and chewy, loaded with toasted pecans. Mmmm. Well, these are like miniature pecan pies only in cookie bar form. Serve them on a sweet tray or make up a tin to take as a hostess gift. So easy and delicious! Pecan Squares Crust: 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar 2 [...]

If you want to impress your guests, look no further…this is your recipe. It looks and sounds hard to do, but I promise you it is easy. The question I am most often asked is “how do the potatoes stay on the fish? Don’t they stick to the pan and make a mess?” The answer [...]

I love puff pastry. I could probably write an entire blog just using all my recipes for various ways in which to use these tender, flaky, little gems. So versatile, so easy! This is another good pizza type appetizer (refer back to # 1) to serve with cocktails or as an accompaniment to a main [...]

This easy, breezy, summer appetizer, is a perfect way to use the fresh basil and tomatoes that are in season now. So flavorful and versatile. You can also use it to accompany a large salad or a bowl of soup for a light dinner. Puff Pastry Pizza #1 1 large bunch of basil – save [...]

If given a choice between a chocolate dessert or a lemon dessert, I always go for the lemon. I love the tart, refreshing, citrusy bite of lemons, especially in the summer. This dessert combines 2 of my favorite things…lemons and good vanilla ice cream. Since it’s frozen, it’s a great dessert to have on hand [...]

Peaches can either be really good or really disappointing. When they are bad they are mealy, woody, tasteless. But when they are good, oh man, they are gooood! I find myself eating them over the sink or over a napkin to catch all the juices…sigh. This summer has been a positive peach experience for me. [...]

Now that summer is finally here, I am enjoying all the fresh flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs that are available at the Farmer’s Markets in the area. For the last few weeks I have gotten the most amazing peonies from a vendor at the Northfield Farmer’s Market. These peonies were so lush and voluptuous and [...]

If you are planning a shower or luncheon this summer, I have the perfect salad recipe for you. It is beautiful displayed on a pretty platter, or in a glass bowl, and is light and refreshing. A perfect summer dish served with fresh croissants and / or assorted mini muffins. I also have a frozen [...]

The Best Baked Beans This is the all time best baked bean recipe. Men especially love these beans, although the women do too. I have been making these beans for years, and whenever I’m invited to a barbecue, I am asked to bring them. Again, this is something you can prepare the day before. Just [...]

Corn Dip I first had this dip at my friend Judy’s house on Memorial Day many years ago, and it has remained a favorite. It is sort of a mystery dip in that people can’t figure out what’s in it, but everyone agrees it’s great and asks for the recipe. So here it is folks…enjoy! [...]

Summer Corn Salad If you are looking for a great summer side dish look no further. This corn salad is easy, flavorful, and really attractive displayed in a pretty glass bowl. Did I mention easy? Everything is pretty much in season now, so go to your Farmer’s Market and get your vegetables as fresh as [...]

Blueberry Kuchen As we have just learned in the previous post: a blueberry dessert a day keeps the doctor away…right? So, in the spirit of good health, I would like to share with you another yummy blueberry recipe given to me by my friend Peggy. After taking my first bite, I could only say THANK [...]