Corned beef and cabbage may not be traditional Irish fare, but seafood is. Even when potato crops failed, the island nation could depend on the abundance of fish and seafood. Guinness Stout is practically synonymous with Ireland. It’s a classic beverage accompaniment to oysters on the half shell; Guinness and Oyster festivals are popular throughout […]
Food & Drink
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Kitchen of dreams
They’ve built it, and people are coming. Walking into Lincoln Land Community College’s new Culinary Institute for the first time is an awesome, even jaw-dropping experience, especially for anyone in the food business. Located in LLCC’s spanking-new Workforce Careers Center, it’s a food professional’s dream. There’s a small dining room that’s sleekly modern yet warmly […]
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Pro chefs’ good eats
One of the best things about writing for the Illinois Times is getting to meet people. That’s never been more true than while I was working on this week’s cover story. Everyone at LLCC’s Culinary Institute was helpful and friendly, from the administrative staff to the students. Teaching chefs Denise Perry and Kate Almengor weren’t […]
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Smothered to succulence
I’ve cooked thousands of dishes for countless people in my life; some professionally, some as a home cook. Almost all were well received. When catering dinner parties or when my cooking class students sat down to eat, I learned to anticipate a silent moment, a pause when everyone was so enjoying the food that conversation […]
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Smothered cabbage
8-12 oz. smoky, thick-cut bacon, diced 2 lbs. coarsely chopped cabbage 1 c. chopped onion, NOT super-sweet 1 T. cane syrup, molasses, or dark brown sugar 1 c. water 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, or more or less to taste 1/2 tsp. cayenne, or more or less to taste Salt, if needed In a […]
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Vegetables braised in olive oil
1 c. extra-virgin olive oil 1 T. anchovy paste 1/2 tsp. crushed red chili flakes, or more or less to taste, optional 6 sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced lengthwise 6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 1 lemon, ends trimmed, thinly sliced crosswise, seeds removed 2 medium or 3 small zucchini, cut diagonally into 1 1/2-inch thick […]
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Roasted pork with maple-mustard glaze
3 to 4 lbs. boneless pork loin, or tied boneless pork butt 2 c. buttermilk One large white onion, thinly sliced or diced 3/4 c. plus 1/2 c. pure maple syrup, divided 2 T. kosher or sea salt One bunch fresh sage leaves or rosemary, thyme, or marjoram Freshly ground pepper 1 tablespoon bacon fat or […]
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Maple syrup time
Drip, drip, drip . . . It was late February. After a long, cold winter, it was first day that hinted spring was on the way. Drip, drip, drip . . . It had been below freezing overnight, but by noon the sun was warm. I took my then-4-year-old daughter, Ashley, outside to enjoy the […]
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Maple walnut pie
Pastry for a single crust pie 3 eggs PLUS 1 beaten egg 1 1/2 c. pure maple syrup 1/2 tsp. kosher or sea salt 4 T. melted unsalted butter 2 tsp. cider vinegar 1 c. walnuts Preheat oven to 425°. Roll out pie dough into a roughly 11-inch circle and fit into a 9-inch pie […]
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Sausages with grape sauce
This recipe is wonderful for an intimate dinner deux, but it’s equally appropriate for parties – just cut the cooked sausages into bite-sized pieces. It’s much more sophisticated – and much more delicious – than that tired old party standby of mini-wieners in grape jelly. The Intercourses recipe calls for Italian sausages; I prefer good […]
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Black bean salsa
Much as I love them, I’d never thought of black beans as aphrodisiacal. But as long ago as circa 400 A.D., St. Jerome instructed his nuns to eschew black beans, because he believed black beans would seduce them to break their celibacy vows. Black beans are associated with fertility, a cycle that begins with the […]
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Spicy gingered shrimp
The following recipe contains a trifecta of aphrodisiac ingredients: shrimp, honey, and ginger. And if those aren’t enough to get you in the mood, the recipe testers’ testimonial should do the trick. “I’ll remember feeding him the spicy flavored shrimp – his tongue trailing my saucy fingers so slowly that I’m positive time stopped. I’ll […]
