Former president Richard Nixon The passage of the Civil Right’s Act 50 summers ago has gotten lots of media attention this year, and rightly so. But there’s been little – at least that I’ve heard – of the 40th anniversary of another milestone in American history. I’d forgotten that Watergate and Nixon’s resignation happened in […]
Food columnists
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Tropical treats
Small coconuts make great containers to hold coconut creme brulee. PHOTO BY DAVID HINE Most of my summer desserts focus on seasonal fruits at their succulently flavorful peak: berries, melons, peaches, nectarines and plums bought at farmers markets and roadside stands. But tropical desserts are also appropriate in summer. Here are four favorites including one […]
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Family fair memories
PHOTO COURTESY SANGAMON VALLEY COLLECTION It was the lodestone of my childhood summers. The Illinois State Fair was something I looked forward to almost as soon as the previous year’s fair ended. But after our annual Fourth of July picnic, I could think of little else, planning for it carefully as the fair inched closer […]
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Sweet on sweet corn
Are there any sights, sounds and smells more evocative of a Midwest summer than those of fresh corn on the cob waiting to be shucked? The leaves are still crisp and green; the aroma’s corny and delicious; the husks squeak when they’re ripped away to reveal the tender kernels. For anyone who’s ever grown and […]
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Easy peasy pie for the Fourth of July
Strawberry Pie with chocolate crust and a slice of Beach Pie with pretzel crust. PHOTO BY JOSEPH COPLEY Back when I gave cooking classes, one of the most popular was “Demystifying Pie.” While it explored different fillings from savory to sweet, the main emphasis was the crust: pie pastry, aka pâte brisée. I’ve been making […]
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Cheap food I: illegal immigrants
“It kills me that the folks who freak out over ‘illegal immigrants streaming over the border to steal American jobs’ are often the same folks who love $0.99 boxes of strawberries …. Don’t want illegals coming over here to work? Get ready to pay fair, American wages to the workers who produce your food. Just […]
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A squid by any other name
Fried calamari are fantastic: crunchy, with just the right amount of chew, amenable to all sorts of dipping sauces. PHOTO BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION They’re cheap. They’re ecologically sustainable. They’re über-nutritious: low in calories, but high in protein, antioxidant minerals and several B vitamins. They take only minutes – sometimes just seconds – to cook. […]
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A fresh Mexican summer feast
Fiesta salad makes a great summer Mexican meal. PHOTO BY DAVID HINE This menu bursts with bright flavors showcasing seasonal summer vegetables. The tangy orange-based chicken marinade hails from the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The chicken can be eaten in pieces or shredded to use in soft tacos along with the grilled vegetables. The salad […]
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Schutte headed for Aspen – again!
Central Illinois Organic Farmer Stan Schutte with Chicago Chef Tim Graham. PHOTO COURTESY TIM GRAHAM Two years ago, I wrote about Stan Schutte, the central Illinois farmer whose heritage breed Tamworth pig won the national Cochon 555 competition against other regional winners in cities all around America with pork dishes created by Chicago chef Jason […]
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Homer Soda Company
Homer Soda Company storefront in downtown Homer. PHOTO COURTESY HOMER SODA COMPANY Regular readers of this space know that I’ve railed against the American habit of constant soda consumption more than once. But truthfully I like soda. I like it a lot. If it weren’t for the problems – medical and dental – excessive soda […]
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Pie plant pie
PHOTO BY JOSEPH COPLEY It’s a family favorite, especially for my mom and me. In fact, it’s such a favorite that if my husband, Peter, is making Mother’s Day brunch or dinner for us at home, mom or I will make a rhubarb pie ourselves rather than Peter making another dessert. (Peter is an outstanding […]
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Foraging spring flowers
PHOTO BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Every year of my life, violets have appeared on our dinner table. Occasionally they show up in a vase, but far more often we use them as a garnish for salads and spring vegetables, especially asparagus. “You can eat violets?” incredulous guests always ask. Yes, you can, and dandelions too, […]
