From the North, South, East, or West, there has to be one sweet that means the beginning of summer for every child who’s in school and whose family eats at least somewhat seasonally. That’s strawberry shortcake. School’s either just let out or soon will be for the summer; it’s time for picnics, potlucks, trips to […]
Cooking at Home: Louisiana Crawfish Boil
In the three years since we served our first meal at Big Jones, I have learned to work hard to be a resource for people with questions about the traditional foods of the South, particularly about how they can reproduce them at home. Besides pointing people to cookbooks that are useful, a few months ago […]
Cooking at Home: Chicken & Andouille Jambalaya!
A few weeks ago, I was humbled and also pleased when one of Chicago’s best charcuterie bloggers tried my andouille recipe, and I have to say his andouille was gorgeous. That made me feel proud as well, even though it was all Mark’s handiwork. In his post about the andouille project, he remarked that after […]
Anatomy of a Dish: Cassoulet
Ever since I can remember, bean dishes have epitomized winter cooking in my heart. My mom used to make a simple dish of beans and knoepfles (an eggy doughy dumpling rooted in German farmhouse cooking) that we would eat mostly when it was cold outside and when money was tight. She used navy beans, which […]
Wednesday’s Green City Market Demo Recipes
This Wednesday morning, December 8 is the type of opportunity I revel in, but the Green City Market cooking demonstrations always cause me a little heartache too. Because, in only one hour with a small cooking space, my options are limited. Still, in spite of the limitations I find the opportunity to cook and share […]