Monthly Archives: March 2009

Apricot Tequila

The Matchbox is one of my favorite Chicago bars. The slight space is aptly named and the drinks are expertly crafted by a no-nonsense staff. Many of their best concoctions use house-infused liquors.  You can't go wrong with their Knob Creek Manhattans garnished with brandy soaked dark cherries or their ginger vodka gimlets. Over a […]

View full post »

show hide 7 comments

Nick - It is great. I wish the Matchbox was still smoke-filled like before. Say what you want about smoking bans, some places are just cooler with a haze. ;)

Cyber Rainbow - sounds tasty

Kaitlyn - OOh apricot tequilla?! I like the sound of that! I’ve never been to the Matchbox, but I drive past it every morning on my way to work…I’ll have to make a trip there soon!

Catalina - Great Idea!! have you consider using any other fruit?? Did you make it with dry apricots? in the picture they look like fresh!! So delightful!!
http://www.gastrobaskandco.blogspot.com

tennen-parman - Hi, I am Tennen-Perman,E-mail from Japan.
I visited your site sometimes so far.
You have a cool site.
I linked your site in my blog.
I administer a blog talking about cooking.
Please link to my site in your ones if you like it.
http://impact-cook.blogspot.com/
thank you!

alice - This looks awesome. Who would have thought to use dried apricots.. brilliant!

Gemma - Agreed Nick. I miss their little ceramic snuffers too.
Kaitlyn, the Matchbox is definitely worth a stop. But two drinks will probably put you on the train, so plan accordingly!
Hi Catalina, I used dried apricots. They just absorbed some liquid and look a bit puffy in the photo. I haven’t tried other fruits. Do you have any ideas?
Thanks Tennen-Parem, Cyber Rainbow, and Alice!

Asparagus and Egg Spring Pizza

We really love pizza in our house, but items from the frozen section just won't cut it.  Over the last year Nick has become quite adept at making pizza dough.  His prowess, combined with the peel and baking stone my parents gave me, have us eating delicious homemade pizza at least once a week.  One […]

View full post »

show hide 9 comments

kickpleat - Ooooh, that looks so great! I’d love to have that on my dinner table tonight.

Arundathi - oh that looks so good! never had an egg on pizza before – sounds interesting and I love the asparagus! simply gotta try this. thanks.

siri - So perfect for this “balmy” weather we’re having. Looks like a great combination and a fun one to add to Friday Pizza Night in our house.
Thanks!
-Siri

Kaitlyn - Eggs and asparagus, what a great combination! Homemade pizza is a weekly dinner in my apartment too, I’ll have to try this recipe!

Meghan - This is funny, because I was going to post about pizza this week, too. Andrew is our dough-maker, but we’ve never tried Smitten Kitchen’s recipe. I might encourage it.
Oh, and I LOVE egg on pizza.

Richard - Absolutely amazing blog. Really my type of food. (And v-good blog name too).
Mind if I pop you on my blogroll?
Cheers,
Richard.

Hillary - I have been meaning to try eggs on pizza since last Spring. After seeing this picture, now I really need to!!

Danielle - Oh wow! Perfect for a backyard gathering!

Gemma - Thanks kickpleat, siri!
Arundathi and Hillary, I love egg on pizza. It makes the whole dish a bit luxurious. I hope you enjoy it if you give it a try.
I hope you enjoy the recipe Kaitlyn.
I am looking forward to your pizza post Meghan!
Thanks for the kind words Richard. I’d love it if you linked to my blog. Thanks.
Danielle, you’re right. I should definitely try this on the grill this summer.

Grape and Almond Salad

After work last week, I met my friend Ellen to catch up over a bottle of wine.  She had prepared a few snacks for us, and this grape, cilantro and almond salad blew me away. Neither of us are big cilantro fans, but the flavors in this salad work so perfectly together that I have a […]

View full post »

show hide 5 comments

ellen - your picture is beyooootiful, as usual!

ellen - your picture is beyooootiful, as usual!

Gemma - Thanks Ellen, and thank you so much for the recipe. This dish is a winner!

Gemma - Thanks Ellen, and thank you so much for the recipe. This dish is a winner!

Grape & Cilantro Salad » Pro Bono Baker - […] year when I begin making one of my favorite salads on a frequent basis. I’ve posted about it before, but I thought it deserved an update. This recipe comes from my friend Ellen and it calls for just […]

Spring Favorites

I know Spring won't officially get its start for another two weeks, but the last few days in Chicago have been a sweet reprieve from an arduous winter.  Mild mornings have coaxed me into longer runs as I get serious about training for my upcoming races, and the fresh air and sunlight have me feeling […]

View full post »

show hide 10 comments

Kaitlyn - I am a fellow Chicagoan and I have to agree, the weather these past few days have made me very excited for spring! Especially since spring also means farmer’s markets!

Kaitlyn - I am a fellow Chicagoan and I have to agree, the weather these past few days have made me very excited for spring! Especially since spring also means farmer’s markets!

amanda B - I am so happy about the changing weather too! With the sun shining, it’s time to get out there and start running and pounding the pavement. It’s a relief to get out of that boring gym to. And Molly’s book is hard to put down.

amanda B - I am so happy about the changing weather too! With the sun shining, it’s time to get out there and start running and pounding the pavement. It’s a relief to get out of that boring gym to. And Molly’s book is hard to put down.

Toni - I’m surprised you like the Publican so much being a veg and all. I guess it’s the good beer huh?

Toni - I’m surprised you like the Publican so much being a veg and all. I guess it’s the good beer huh?

Gemma - I can’t wait for the farmer’s markets either Kaitlyn!
I agree Amanda. Treadmills bore me to tears.
Toni – I’ve been astounded with the responses I have received about the Publican from friends. It’s almost as if no one has looked at their menu — a third of it is focused on vegetables! And yes, the beer selection is very good.

Gemma - I can’t wait for the farmer’s markets either Kaitlyn!
I agree Amanda. Treadmills bore me to tears.
Toni – I’ve been astounded with the responses I have received about the Publican from friends. It’s almost as if no one has looked at their menu — a third of it is focused on vegetables! And yes, the beer selection is very good.

Fireworks Wisconsin - I agree, Fulton Market restaurant is one of the best I’ve been to! We visit the Fulton market at least every other week its sooo good.

Fireworks Wisconsin - I agree, Fulton Market restaurant is one of the best I’ve been to! We visit the Fulton market at least every other week its sooo good.

Orange-Raspberry Scones

We celebrated Nick's birthday this weekend with a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago, a party at home with some friends, and a superb dinner at the Publican. As the weekend rounded out, fresh baked scones seemed like the ideal accompaniment to our snowy Sunday afternoon. Orange-Raspberry Scones Ingredients 2 C flour2 Tbs sugar, […]

View full post »

show hide 12 comments

heather - in praise of scones!!
cheers,
*heather*

kickpleat - i made raspberry scones this weekend too! but i should have added orange zest. now that would have been amazing.

Kaitlyn - I love scones, they are my favorite thing to bake! I’m excited to try this recipe, I’ve never tried them with raspberry jam.

Andrea - I love scones, are my favorite to bake.mmmmmm Yammy.

Gemma - Thanks Heather. I love your blog name by the way.
It was a great scone weekend kickpleat!
Thanks Kaitlyn and Andrea!

EJ - These look delicious. I used to work in a bakery and make scones every day (resulting in an avoidance of them!), however these definitely have turned the tide back!

Jude - Grr.. Can’t believe I still haven’t gone to the publican. Need Pork.

Gemma - EJ–It’s funny how doing something you love for work can have that effect. I hope you can enjoy scones again soon!
Jude – The Publican is amazing. Go soon!

Michelle - Hi, I made a slight variation of these scones today – substituting home-made cumquat jam for the raspberry, and although i still followed the instructions, my dough turned out very wet – it resembled muffin batter and I had to add a lot of extra flour so that it would be shaped into the 3 rounds. The end result was very heavy, but they still tasted like scones. Do you know if I might have done something wrong? I am sure I put in half a cup of milk and two eggs but maybe my flour was the wrong type – it was just ordinary cake flour.

Gemma - Hi Michelle,
I think the cake flour could be the problem. Cake flour has less gluten than other types of flour and can result in a thin, gummy dough when used in a non-cake recipe. Try using all purpose flour next time. Generally, if recipes do not specify a type of flour, the recipe is calling for all-purpose.

Michelle - Thanks!! I just assumed that it would be cake flour because I used it the last time I baked scones. I’ll definitely give it another try sometime :)

Gemma - Good luck Michelle!