Inspiring Kitchen, Author at InspiringKitchen.com - Page 29 of 32

Oct 06
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Food and Wine Event: Chicago Gourmet

Posted by | Culinary Event, Foods, Illinois Restaurant Association, Restaurants, Wine | 5 Comments

Just 7 years ago, Chicago launched its first food and wine event known as Chicago Gourmet. This past weekend, Bon Appetit presented Chicago Gourmet, a celebration of food and wine, showcasing more than 190 of Chicago’s finest restaurants and chefs, as well as hundreds of renowned vintners, spirit makers and premium breweries from around the world.

 Inspiring Kitchen Chicago Gourmet Bon Appetit Culinary heaven food

If you are into the food scene, you may already be familiar with food and wine shows that are held in Aspen or South Beach. They are shows filled with exciting restaurants, chefs both local and national and trends in the wine and food industries.… Read more

Sep 29
0

Home Barista: Capresso Espresso

Posted by | Coffee, Coffee Grinder, Espresso, Espresso Machine | 24 Comments

Todays a very special day, did you know that? It’s International Coffee Day! Yeah! Especially for huge coffee lovers like me! And while you will find your favorite coffee shops offering anniversary deals (see Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, 7-Eleven, etc), I am my own barista most of the time.

 

Over the years, I have bought a wide variety of coffee and espresso makers looking for that one that meets and hopefully, exceeds, my expectations. This is taking into consideration the brand’s reputation, machine component quality (plastic vs. metal), temperature of the coffee (I like hot coffee!), counter space, taste of finished product, ease of use and cost.… Read more

Sep 22
0

French Macaron Cookie Baking 101

Posted by | Bakeware, Baking, Cookie, Dessert, Housewares | 5 Comments

Have you ever tried those colorful, delicate and delicious French Macarons that you see in the windows of bakeries? There are rows of yellow, red and green cookies that look like little, perfectly formed sandwiches. These are not the coconut macarons that probably first crossed your mind when I said “macaron” however.  French Macarons are meringue and almond flour melt-in-your-mouth goodness filled with chocolate, pistachio or vanilla ganache. You can also fill with jams, jellies, and lemon or lime curd. It’s all up to you.

While I love to bake, I am definitely not a pro at it. As I have mentioned before in previous posts, I am a creative cook in that I improvise.… Read more

Sep 17
0

Sabra Hummus & Dip Recipes

Posted by | Foods, Mediterranean, Recipes, Vegetarian | 11 Comments

Hummus. That creamy, slightly tangy dip made with garbanzo beans (aka chick peas) that go great with pita chips. So delicious and filled with protein and other healthy ingredients. I had the very good fortune to work with the Sabra Hummus people recently who offered me the opportunity to learn more about their products. This was definitely a fun experience using all my creative cooking skills as I am all about coming up with innovative ways to use products.

 Inspiring Kitchen Sabra Logo

Here’s a bit about the Sabra brand as I was surprised at the vast assortment of products that they offer. We know they have hummus but did you know they offer 12 different kinds!… Read more

Sep 13
0
Home made bread Brotform Basket Inspiringkitchen.com

Artisan Bread Making: Brotform Baskets

Posted by | Bakeware, Bread, Healthy, Housewares, Le Creuset, Recipes | One Comment

Does the smell of fresh bread make you stop in your tracks to see where it is coming from? I love fresh bread in any format – plain, with butter, in a sandwich, used to dip in olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese, and on and on. I am a novice, though, at bread making. I shared with you in a previous post, the method I have been using with a no knead bread recipe, baking the bread in a Le Creuset Dutch Oven. (https://inspiringkitchen.com/homemade-bread-le-creuset/) Well, I was recently offered an opportunity to use a Brotform basket to make homemade bread and decided to give it a try.… Read more

Sep 12
0

Design Forum: Jenn-Air Appliances

Posted by | Appliances, Coffee, Cooking, Design, Home Decor, Home Design, Housewares, Kitchen Design, Kitchen remodel, Luxury, Remodel, Technology | 12 Comments

Designing a new kitchen or remodeling your current kitchen is such an exciting idea. The anticipation of the gorgeous kitchen you will have to make your fabulous creations, entertain your guests, and cook for your family is energizing. However, when you actually begin the appliance research phase of the project, it can be a lot more intimidating than you first anticipated. It is with that in mind that I share my recent design education with you. In Monday’s post, I talked about Induction ranges, ventilation systems and double oven displays among other tips. Today, I am sharing a few more of my favorite finds from my Jenn-Air design conference experience.… Read more

Sep 08
0

Kitchen Design: Jenn-Air Appliances

Posted by | Appliances, Cooking, Home Design, Housewares, Kitchen Design, Kitchen remodel, Luxury | 11 Comments

Are you considering a kitchen remodel? Looking to replace your current appliances but uncertain where to start? Well, this post will hopefully offer you lots of design guidance to make the process more enjoyable. Buying appliances are a lot like buying a car, aren’t they? Purpose, cost, technical understanding, maintenance and appearance play a key role in the decision making process. As someone who has a great appreciation for quality products, I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a design conference at the World of Whirlpool offices in Chicago. Our discussions not only included product education but designer guidance on how to build a kitchen that is most suited to your cooking style.… Read more

Sep 04
0

Healthy Salad Dressings Do Exist!

Posted by | healthy eating, Salad, Uncategorized, Vegetarian | One Comment

On really busy days, I love to make a quick, healthy salad for lunch that is filled with flavor and textures. I am also someone who creates meals based on what I find in my refrigerator and cabinets. A little crunch (nuts, veggies), fruity sweetness (apples, grapes, berries), savory onion (shallot, red, Vidalia) and salty Parmesan cheese satisfies my taste buds. The final touch to that salad is always the dressing. But, finding one that is low in fat, healthy, natural and full of flavor is hard to come by. Lately though, I have been experimenting with balsamic vinegars. So, when Mange Fresh Fruit Vinegars offered to send me a sample of their fruit vinegars, I was intrigued. … Read more

Aug 30
0

Best Dessert: Espresso Ice Cream

Posted by | Dessert, Ice Cream Maker, ZoKu | 26 Comments

Summertime, sunshine, warmth, ice cream. They just go together so naturally. Ice cream any time of year, no matter what your age, is just one of those happy desserts that you simply look forward to enjoying. Making it from scratch is an added bonus.

Having already purchased the ZoKu Slush Maker and shared my thoughts with you in a previous post (http://bit.ly/VRrutC), I was curious about their new Ice Cream Maker. If you read the interview I just did (http://bit.ly/1pO9z37), you know that I love two kinds of ice cream: Vanilla and Coffee. As I paged through the ZoKu cookbook, I found a simple espresso ice cream recipe that sounded delicious.… Read more

Aug 27
2

Apple Season is here: Apple Tatin Dessert

Posted by | Bakeware, Dessert, Fruit, Housewares, Recipes, Seasonal | 33 Comments

We are going into that time of year where there is a slight chill in the air, trees are beginning to change their colors, and apples are plentiful. In my family, the number of ways to include an apple in a recipe is really limitless and totally up to your creativity. For a sweet treat, I like to make an Apple Tatin dessert that is loved by all for its simplicity and pureness of crisp apple flavor.

 apple image

After many trials, I have determined that using a jellyroll pan is the best style of bakeware for this recipe. The shallow sides allow for the heat to move around the dough baking it evenly with the added bonus of easy removal from the pan without breaking the pastry.… Read more