Grilling from the garden

What does grilling bring to mind? Brats, burgers, or steak? Chicken or shrimp? But most vegetables are good for grilling, too.For omnivores, grilled vegetables can be the focal point of the meal, an a

Strawberries with real shortcake

Obsessive compulsive disorder – a.k.a. OCD. It’s become one of those “in” conditions people use to describe themselves or others. Like depression, OCD can be a genuine clinical

Canning food, from Napoleon to now

 The sweet-sour vinegary smell hit me as soon as I got off the school bus. I wrinkled my nose, wishing I could get back on the bus and go someplace – anyplace – else. Nana was making

Dinner and a movie under the stars

It was one of my special childhood summertime treats: The Route 66 Drive In on South Sixth Street. Truthfully, most of my remembrances are less about the movies than the playground. Its main attractio

Portion distortion

KFC’s Double Down. McDonald’s Third Pounder. Taco Bell’s Fourth Meal. The Golden Corral’s all-you-can eat barbequed ribs, fried chicken, desserts and more.

It’s an all-out war. A fierce, raging battle. On one side are those who are working to modify American eating habits to become healthier and more sensible in order to combat what have become epi

Rhapsody for rhubarb

Rhubarb: it’s a leafy vegetable that makes such delicious pie that early Americans called it “the pie plant.” It’s a beautiful perennial in the garden: forming a four- or five-

Good but cheap Chicago eats

It was our dining Bible when my husband was in dental school in Chicago: The Good But Cheap Chicago Restaurant Guide. Because of TGBCCRG, we ate out frequently, even with little money and a baby-then-

A past with a future

The growing history of Jefferies Orchard

Our yard is achingly beautiful in spring – especially the mostly wooded west side. Delicate blooms of spring beauties, Dutchman’s britches, and dog-toothed violets form a carpet of white.

Making every day Earth Day

I’m somewhat ambivalent about Earth Day. It’s not that celebrating the earth is a bad idea. But one day a year – or even one week – hardly seems adequate. After all, humans are

Jamie is for real

No celebrity chef does more to promote healthy food

Jamie Oliver is a man with a mission. In the rarified world of today’s celebrity chefs, some have attained their status because they’ve earned it with in-depth knowledge, innovative or aut