When the temperatures soar and even the weeds are wilting, chilled soups manage to exude effortless elegance despite their dead-simple preparation and often humble ingredient list. Many, such as cucumber soup and Spanish gazpacho, are essentially liquefied salad and don’t require any cooking at all. Others, such as classic French vichyssoise, a chilled potato and […]
Ashley Meyer
Ashley Meyer has been cooking as long as she has been walking. The daughter of beloved former Illinois Times food columnist, Julianne Glatz, Ashley offers a fresh, inspired take on her mother’s culinary legacy. Ashley studied winemaking at Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand and recently achieved the Level III award from the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust. Ashley founded and successfully operated RealCuisine Catering for five years, then turned her focus to motherhood and homesteading. These days, when she’s not cooking, gardening, parenting or writing, you can find Ashley at It’s All About Wine, offering insightful recommendations and mouthwatering pours.
Posted inFood & Drink
Canned goods for the summer
The height of the summer produce season may seem like an odd time to lean on canned and jarred ingredients, however this time of year I find myself reaching often for the can opener. From flaky tuna to creamy cannellini beans and punchy olives, these pantry staples are in constant rotation in my summer kitchen […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Five simple salad dressings
We finally enjoyed our first homegrown salad this week. Normally we’d have been feasting on greens much sooner, but an unseasonably hard cold snap decimated our first plantings of lettuce a few weeks back and we had to replant. This cherished first salad was simply dressed with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, good olive […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Pavlova is a beautiful, tasty dessert
Pavlova is a lofty, show-stopping dessert that’s at once beautiful, easy and economical. Essentially a giant baked meringue with a crusty exterior and a fluffy, marshmallow-like interior, pavlova is fervently beloved by both Australians and New Zealanders alike. The recipe’s history is a source of much dispute between the two nations which both claim it […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Classic French toast
Brunch season is upon us! Whether you’re in the mood for laid back and lazy or showstopping and decadent – classic French toast is a deliciously reliable dish that seldom fails to please. Its first recorded history dates back to a fourth century cookbook from the Roman Empire, though it’s likely that versions of this […]
Posted inFood Features
Strawberry season
Many may be surprised to learn that strawberries are not technically a fruit or even a berry. Botanically, strawberries are classified as a pseudocarp, or “false fruit.” The juicy, red part that we eat is referred to as the receptacle, or the part of the plant that produces the fruit, rather than the fruit itself. […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Two cheers for chives
The past week was a tough one for plant lovers. The first half of the month was unseasonably warm, precipitating a premature flush of spring greenery and flowers only to be met with a drastic temperature dip into the teens. Generally, the first plants to break in spring are fairly resilient and can handle an […]
Posted inSpring Guide
Enjoy spring flowers sooner
March weather is reliably unpredictable. A day of blissful sunshine can turn cold and icy overnight, quashing dreams of cheerful blooms and lazy afternoons sprawled out on a picnic blanket. No matter what the weather’s mood, hopeful gardeners can bring a bit of spring into their homes by forcing certain spring flowering shrubs and trees […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Irish soda bread
The sweet, raisin-studded soda bread that many of us Americans know and love is about as authentically Irish as corned beef and cabbage, which is to say, not really authentic at all. Real Irish soda bread, is generally simple and wholesome, a true hearth bread as opposed to an American-style soda bread which is closer […]
Posted inFood Features
Crisp, flaky phyllo creations
Phyllo dough is one of those incredible back-pocket ingredients that’s smart to keep stashed in the freezer, right along with dumplings and peas and good broth. Known by varied names throughout the Eastern Mediterranean (phyllo in Greek, yufka in Turkey, fila in Arabic) these parchment-thin sheets of dough bake up into shatteringly crisp layers of […]
Posted inCapital City Wedding
Intentionality, not tradition
The defining theme of weddings in 2026 isn’t centered around opulent decor or celebrity-inspired fashion. This season, intentionality is at the forefront. Couples are disregarding traditional expectations and taking the reins to craft ceremonies that are deeply personal, authentic and true to them. “It’s all about minimalism these days,” said Renee Rothschild, an event […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Make your own crêpes
Equally well suited to a romantic night in or a Champagne-infused Galentine’s brunch, crêpes are a sophisticated yet playful choice that can be served any time of day, from breakfast all the way to dinner. Made from a simple egg and milk batter, this French culinary classic dates back to 13th century Brittany where they […]
