Whether you’re worn out from yard work or looking for a breezy meal to welcome in the warm weather, these dinner-worthy dips are as nutritious as they are tasty. They all keep well in the fridge for three to five days, making them perfect for meal prep. They’re economical as well. Homemade hummus costs half […]
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 inSpecial Issues
Children’s Woodland Garden to open this summer
Lincoln Memorial Garden has been a cherished outdoor space for generations of families, and this summer LMG will unveil its largest installation in nearly 60 years: The Children’s Woodland Garden. This natural playscape is located just beyond the nature center, which was also upgraded over the winter to include a large, shaded deck with picnic […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Leave your wine comfort zone
I was recently asked to participate in a blind tasting of freshly bottled 2023 rosés. The wines ranged in hue from pale cherry to deep pink, and many were bursting with classic rosé aromas of juicy berries and watermelon, delicate florals and complex spicy notes. My notepad was dotted with hastily scribbled stars and exclamatory […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Wildflower blossoms can add pizzazz to shortbreads
Lush lawns covered with wildflowers are a lovely excuse to delay pulling out the mower. Amethyst-hued carpets of violets dotted with sunny dandelions not only provide food for pollinators and encourage biodiversity, but they can also brighten your bakes and add whimsy to supper. These early edible wildflowers will soon be followed by other tasty […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Grow a container garden
If you’re longing for the sight of fresh blossoms and lush foliage after a long winter, container gardening is an affordable, high-impact way to brighten almost any space. Whether it’s a window box overflowing with soft, romantic florals or a planter filled with tasty edibles, these basic strategies will help you create jaw-dropping arrangements that […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Fresh culinary talent on the menu at LLCC
For a few short weeks each semester, students in the final stage of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality training program at Lincoln Land Community College work together to develop a unique menu from scratch for the student-run restaurant. The restaurant is located in the Workforce Career Center on the southwest corner of LLCC’s main campus, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Backyard chickens 101
If you’ve ever stopped to admire fluffy chicks that appear at farm supply stores each spring, you may have contemplated bringing home a flock of your own. Keeping hens is likely the most approachable form of animal husbandry with a myriad of rewards, including access to scrumptious fresh eggs, reduced kitchen waste and the sheer […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Perfect recipes for eggs, just in time for spring
Eggs have been a symbol of spring for centuries, long before the advent of Christianity and our modern hunts for Easter eggs. The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians all had beliefs relating to eggs and the creation of the universe, that the earth itself was born out of an egg. Cultures around the world decorate […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Irish-inspired desserts
St. Patrick's Day is almost upon us and what better way to celebrate than with boozy, Irish-inspired desserts? This decadent chocolate Bundt cake gets an extra layer of complexity with the inclusion of rich stout beer. While Guinness is possibly the most famous stout in the world, there’s a huge variety available from Murphy’s Stout, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Incorporate more mushrooms into your diet
“I’m going to run into the grocery and pick up some potatoes for dinner – it’ll be quick, I promise. I’m just getting one thing.” I made these assurances with the best of intentions but as I briskly walked through the produce section a sign caught my eye. Button mushrooms were on sale for 99 […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Personalizing the food
Of all the choices that must be made when planning a celebration, the food and drink that’s served can provide a unique opportunity to personalize and differentiate the experience. This season couples are more inclined than ever to buck tradition and plan a party that reflects their own style and interests and the food is […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Sweet on beets
Show yourself some love this Valentine’s Day with beets. These deeply pigmented vegetables are a glorious addition to winter menus, providing visual pop, sweet earthy flavor and loads of nutrition. Rich in iron, manganese, potassium, vitamins and B6, beets also are a source of plant-based nitrates, which research has suggested can increase blood flow and […]
