Robin Mather

These savory oatcakes are flavored with sage and cheddar.

Change up breakfast with Welsh cakes, bannock and buckwheat waffles

May 31, 2019 at 9:01 p.m.

Sick of cereal? Over oatmeal? Extremely sick of eggs? Basic breakfast foods can lose their appeal when they become too familiar. To alleviate that tedium, we have a couple of...

The flavor of cheeseburgers is captured in a warming soup made with ground beef, Velveeta (for optimal melting) and beef broth, and garnished gloriously with tomato, onion, jalapenos and, yes, dill pickle.

Cheeseburger, baked potato and cauliflower-cheddar: 3 cheese soups for quick dinners

May 31, 2019 at 9:02 p.m.

Every time I hear that Christmas carol bleating that “it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” I want to scream. Early winter’s long nights, frequent bad weather, concomitant vile...

Wolfenoot, a 7-year-old’s made-up holiday, goes viral, launches movement to benefit dogs and wolves

May 31, 2019 at 9:03 p.m.

A 7-year-old’s vivid imagination and kind heart have created a new holiday called Wolfenoot, and the thousands of people around the world who’ll celebrate it Nov. 23 will donate to...

This towering apple pie gets a boost from boiled cider.

Essence of autumn: Boiling apple cider yields delightfully versatile ingredient for fall recipes

May 31, 2019 at 9:05 p.m.

The leaves of the sumac, autumn’s sentinel, have begun to turn red or orange, and the maples will soon follow. Summer faded to fall on the equinox — this year,...

Kusanya Cafe is the kind of place where you can get a cup of coffee, check out the community board, print a school paper or simply jump on the internet. You'll see people huddled together over papers strewn across the wood tables or someone walking in simply to say hello to the small staff. Because the nonprofit cafe roasts its own coffee on-site in small batches, don't hesitate to order that lavender iced latte ($3.49) or a plain cup of coffee. The breakfast and lunch menu is lush with references to famous musicians, like the Lupe Tabasco breakfast sandwich ($2.29). It features a thin egg patty, with melted cheese and Sriracha on ciabatta, and you can add sausage, spinach and tomato for an extra charge. The cozy and brightly lit environment is exactly where you want to catch up on some work or meet up with friends. 825 W. 69th St., 773-675-4758, <a href="http://www.kusanyacafe.org/">kusanyacafe.org</a> — Grace Wong

4th of July icebox desserts get you out of the heat

July 2, 2019 at 8:59 p.m.

OK, so you signed up to bring dessert to that neighborhood potluck, family reunion or backyard cookout. But geez, it's been so hot, and the very idea of firing up...

Grilling by the clock: Got 1 day? Or just 30 minutes? We have you covered

July 2, 2019 at 9:00 p.m.

Grilling season is once again upon us, and most of us want to make every moment of grill time count in its short season. The trouble is, our busy lives...

Serve the capirotada warm from the oven, at room temperature or chilled with a garnish of crema, sour cream or heavy cream. Food styling by Mark Graham.

Mexican Easter bread pudding with a long culinary lineage

June 1, 2019 at 11:27 a.m.

A modest dish that combines humble ingredients with holy symbolism makes a special Mexican dessert beloved during Lent and at Easter. It's capirotada, a simple bread pudding that forgoes the...

A good roast with potatoes will hold you up on St. Patrick’s Day

July 2, 2019 at 8:59 p.m.

Come we now to St. Patrick's Day, when rivers, revelers and beer go green, both literally and figuratively. "Erin go bragh!" and "Kiss me, I'm Irish!" cry the red-faced revelers...

Hearty fish and veggie stew gets zing from Moroccan flavors

July 2, 2019 at 8:59 p.m.

March is easily the hardest month, to my mind: Winter storms may yet bring harsh weather, just as our spirits begin to yearn for longer, warmer days. Cold and weary,...

Six wild Burgundian snails are the star of the wood-grilled escargot ($12) at Le Sud. The Roscoe Village restaurant's version of this dish is not hiding in a pool of garlic butter or served in a scalding hot dish. Presented on a skewer, the mollusks are brushed with olive oil infused with herbs de provence before they're grilled, absorbing a delicate smoky flavor that lingers in your mouth. Tender and buttery, the snails are served with a few generous pats of herb butter that melt, adding another layer of fragrance and lusciousness. A side of green salad dressed with olive oil, lemon and salt provides a bright contrast to the skewer and a hearty country bread serves as a foundation for assembling a makeshift toast point. The portion is small, so make your dining companions order their own. $12. 2301 W. Roscoe St., 773-857-1985, <a href="https://lesudchicago.com/">lesudchicago.com</a> — Grace Wong

Making manti, the canoe-shaped, open-end, work-intensive-but-worth-it dumplings

May 2, 2019 at 6:08 p.m.

Dumplings from every culture are labor-intensive. There's just no getting around that, and if someone sets a plate of dumplings before you, I hope you appreciate the work that went...

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