Who doesn’t want to save money on their next vacation? Nobody. Here are nine easy ways. With the money you save, you can buy that extra cocktail at the bar, stay an extra night in the nicer hotel, or buy the souvenir sweatshirt you promised your friend you would buy. Continue reading
Food
The other day I was cleaning out our cabinets and I found two little purple potatoes from the fall. Purple potatoes! They’re one of my favorite treats of the autumn. It was like a little gift from October. Since they were such a treat, I decided to pair them with chroizo that I’d bought for a Christmas batch of Paella.
And because I already had Spain on the brain, I decided to make a frittata that had the feel of the Costa del Sol. Continue reading
I received a cedar roasting plank as a wedding gift almost nine years ago. It sat, unused, for about 8 years. Then one day, I discovered that my local fish shop had wild-caught sockeye salmon (and later coho salmon, and king salmon, when they were in season). I was a fan of smoked salmon but not crazy about salmon fillets, but the deep, dark red color of the fish beckoned me, so I decided to buy some. When I got home, I busted out that cedar plank, and let me tell you, I’ve been using it at least once a month to make delicious roasted salmon. Continue reading
Yes, yes, I know. Fruitcake gets a bad rap. But this one is good. This version is adapted from Alton Brown’s recipe. Continue reading
While I was in Dallas about a month and a half ago, I discovered a delicious breakfast joint by the name of Ellen’s Southern Kitchen. I had breakfast there two out of four days, it was that good. Their motto is “Grits Rule”, and after trying their Poached Eggs and Grits, I had to agree. Once I got back home, I decided to try my hand at a dinner version of this dish. All it took was adding a little smoked sausage to transition from morning to evening fare. Serves 4. Continue reading
Brussels Sprouts with Lemon and Cranberries
Hello November. How’s it going? You’re looking a little gray and drab. But, you still have amazing produce and I’m not about to turn down all you have to offer.
Especially when you provide me with fresh Brussels sprouts. And I love brussels sprouts. Continue reading
It’s that time of year, when friends and family, many of whom might not be experienced imbibers, will be stopping by or having you over.
Sid helps you be a good host/guest with these time-tested, festive cocktail concoctions. Enjoy!
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There are some recipe ideas that get into your head and linger there like a constant daydream. For me it was the idea of putting greens and cauliflower together in a creamy cheese sauce. I was slammed with work and didn’t have the energy to get into the kitchen for awhile, but I promised myself that the first thing I’d make would be this dish.
And it was everything I’d hoped it would be. The top was crunchy, the filling was decadent. All in all, it was a delicious meal to enjoy with a glass of wine while the wind howled and rattled the windows. Continue reading
Unlike a traditional chicken pot pie, this recipe does not have a thick, rich sauce. I like to make this because it is a great way to use leftover chicken, and it only requires a few ingredients. The leftover pie will also reheat wonderfully in the toaster oven. Continue reading
One of the very first bars I got drunk at in Chicago is called Twisted Spoke – the one on Clark Street, not the one on Ogden in the West Loop. My friend Christine and I got drunk on $2.75 pints of Woodchuck Cider.
Since then, the owners of Twisted Spoke sold the Clark Street location, leaving only the location in Chicago’s West Loop. In the past couple years, this has become the site of what my friends call “Brunching Hard,” which means we sit at the bar with some fancy drinks, get drunk, and maybe eat some food. Continue reading






