Monterey chicken PHOTO BY ASHLEY MEYER Again it’s Labor Day, when, without a hint of irony, we celebrate our country’s workers by taking a day off from work. For most professionals, a day off is assumed to entail doing pretty much anything other than their job. To be sure, as much as we chefs love […]
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
Olive you
It seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in our family. My daughter has loved olives since she was a baby. The only time I ever had to simply abandon my shopping cart and remove my wailing child from the grocery store was over olives at the olive bar. I have to monitor […]
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All you need is water
There are few things that one can do to have an immediate and positive impact on one’s health. Increasing physical activity and changing one’s diet are critical steps in improving overall health and vitality, but persistence, organization and dedication are required to get results. Thankfully, there is something everyone can do to instantly improve their […]
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Simple suppers for steamy nights
Grilled Vegetable and Fresh Goat Cheese Sandwiches PHOTOS BY ASHLEY MEYER It’s hot outside and, as much as I love to cook, these days I will do almost anything to avoid turning on my stove. Here are some of my favorite tips for eating real while keeping cool. Stocking up your freezer with cooked grains […]
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Road trippin’
A road trip picnic basket. PHOTOS BY ASHLEY MEYERS “Are you going to make deviled eggs?” This is the question my grandmother asks every time I tell her I’m preparing food to take on a road trip. “They’re just so good to take in the car.” This always amuses me, because honestly, deviled eggs seem […]
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Nose to the grindstone
The Mill, a retail store and education center, was modeled after the original Hodgson Mill. PHOTO COURTESY HODGSON MILL Earlier this month I was searching out local ingredients to include on the menu for a fundraising dinner. I was surprised to learn that Hodgson Mill is located in Effingham, just 75 miles southeast of Springfield. […]
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Hearty grain salads for summer
Black bean salad PHOTO FROM ISTOCKPHOTO.COM With the warm summer weather comes weekend cookouts and busy schedules. These hearty vegetable-packed and protein-rich salads keep in the fridge for up to five days and are perfect for light weeknight suppers or busy weekday lunches. Not only are these salads delicious and satisfying, they pack a hefty […]
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Produce trailer heads into the food desert
genHkids’ mobile food pantry at MacArthur Park Apartments. PHOTO FACEBOOK.COM/GENHKIDS There are a lot of things about cooking that makes it hard. I try to be very conscious of not calling recipes or menu plans “easy,” because they never really are. Even the simplest recipe is not technically easy; making anything from scratch requires certain […]
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Chef’s guide to the farmers market
PHOTO BY DAVID HINE The first farmers market day is one of my favorite days of the year. For me it signifies that summer has finally arrived. The glorious, slightly wild flavors of the market’s first few weeks compel me to strip away any extraneous flavors or richness and look for ways to prepare the […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Short order cooks
PHOTO metrocreativeconnection.com Children are naturally curious, and have a strong desire to emulate the grown-ups in their life. For the young child, time spent in the kitchen provides a wealth of opportunities to learn, discover and fine-tune motor skills. Aside from increasing exposure to different foods and flavors, the responsibilities and satisfaction that come along […]
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Radishes. Easy to grow. Delightful to serve.
Maddie Meyer pulls up a surprise. PHOTO BY ASHLEY MEYER Radishes are one of my favorite vegetables to grow in the garden. Usually radishes are the very first crop that comes to the table in early spring. They grow incredibly fast – some varieties are ready to harvest in as little as three weeks after […]
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A delicious life
When my mother started doing cooking classes in the early 2000s, we had no idea how it was going to turn out. I remember doing a trial run a week before the first class. A few close friends – some experienced cooks, some not – made lobster risotto and shrimp with lemon something. That first […]
