recipe

Italian Polenta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms & Kale

January 16, 2012
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The best way to plan for Chicago weather is to plan for just about anything.  Last week it was 45ºF, which is incredible for this time of year.  On Thursday, the first real snowfall of the season came along, and now, well, it’s just freezing.  I hope to be on another continent by this time [...]

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Rosemary Raisin Almond Crisps

December 24, 2011
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It all started when I discovered Trader Joe’s Rosemary Raisin Crisps. Almost instantly, I was hooked. Problem was, like any addiction, it was starting to get expensive. Not that they’re really that pricey, but still more than I wanted to spend on crackers. Plus, they have sunflower seeds in them, which I’m not particularly fond [...]

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Greek Green Bean Salad (and my Grand Return!)

October 24, 2011
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I’m baaack!  Sorry for the long blogging hiatus; I’ve missed you all so much!  It’s been a rough couple of months: a tough breakup, a long search for a new place to live, moving, problems with the electricity at the new place… well, let’s hope things go smoother from now on!  I have managed to [...]

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Ginger-Mirin Shrimp

August 8, 2011
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Here’s another recipe I came up with for my opera-themed party for my sister.  I made these delicious shrimp for the “Madame Butterfly” dish.  Although I butterfly-cut the shrimp, they did not flatten as I expected them too (I’ve read since that sometimes you need to pound them a bit to keep them from curling). [...]

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Broiled Mussels with Chive Foam

August 1, 2011
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Here’s one of the recipes from my opera-themed cocktail party for my sister.  As I mentioned in that post, I recently got a molecular gastronomy kit.  That’s right… I’ve found the grown-up, edible version of the chemistry kit I so loved as a child.  For this recipe, I made a foam.  Flavored foams, or air as they’re [...]

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How to Cook and Eat an Artichoke

June 22, 2011
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Well, it’s hard for me to believe, but today is my blogaversary.  Yep, it’s been one whole year since I started PopArtichoke, and what a year it’s been!  Many, many thanks to all of you who have supported me, encouraged me, inspired me, and made all the work worthwhile!  It’s amazing what I’ve learned in [...]

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Chilaquiles

May 5, 2011
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It’s rare for me to get excited over breakfast foods, but chilaquiles is a notable exception.  This classic Mexican comfort food is brimming with zesty flavors, making it a very special morning meal.  And if you happened to have a bit much to drink the night before, it also doubles as a delicious hangover cure. [...]

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Making Fresh Egg Fettuccine from Scratch (No Pasta Maker Required!)

May 2, 2011
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Considering my short attention span and increasingly busy schedule, it seems a bit strange that I’m so drawn to making things from scratch.  This blog is full of examples (pho bo, tamales, ice cream) and I’m sure there are many more in my future.  The most baffling thing about my recent adventure in pasta-making is [...]

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Wine-Braised Baby Octopus with Saffron Polenta Cakes

December 10, 2010
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Sometimes recipes start in the simplest of places.  In this case, it was a craving for polenta. Then, as many people do, I transformed that craving into a brainstorming session, thinking of something I could make with what I had on hand. From there the story gets weirder, yet more indicative of who I am, [...]

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Jerk Chicken Pot Pie – Comfort Food with a Kick!

November 15, 2010
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DISCLAIMER: I don’t like chicken pot pie.  Or, to rephrase, I’d never had one that I liked.  I find them bland, “blah”, a heavy goop in a dry, flavorless crust.  Every time I mention this though, Steve chimes in, “Well, I like chicken pot pie a lot.”  Since I’m always up for a challenge, I [...]

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