Jacky Hackett: Cooking, eating, reading, riding my bike that goes nowhere — living my best porch life.
Bookmark this one for next summer, or use your fall garden bounty. This was my go-to appetizer this summer and it never failed to please. Assembled in advanced, it makes for a low effort and beautiful dish. It is also a great way to use up tomatoes that are on the brink. Baking them means…
I am about 90% done cooking my way through Nothing Fancy, but have a new cookbook that is keeping me in the kitchen, Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garten. I mean who doesn’t crave comfort food enduring this pandemic and election cycle. The book is full of approachable recipes, new takes on old classics, and…
After some unseasonably warm weather, we have finally settled into cool fall days. Chilly mornings have me craving oatmeal, steel cut oats are my favorite. Flipping through The WFPB Cookbook I found the perfect recipe, and I had everything on hand. Let me say, I do love this cookbook. Beyond the recipes there is some…
Fresh picked apples are one of my favorite things about fall. Especially cooking with apples. Honey Crisp apples are just one of Mother Nature’s delightful distractions as she takes away the warmth of the summer. This cookbook is my favorite this time a year. Literally a recipe for every day of the year. Though I…
Twenty weeks into quarantine and life certainly looks different. Big and small changes, some good some bad. For example, I certainly do not miss my commute – now that I have learned to transition from work to home. My train ride was always that transition time, I spent it primarily with headphones in, podcast on,…
Despite quarantine being a perfect time to tend a garden, I did not plant a garden this year, first time in probably 15 years. We attempted to start a few vegetables from seed. We had quick success that led to epic failure. In summary, I don’t have the energy to be responsible for keeping anything…
It was a blink of en eye from the shelter in place order to the end of the school year, summer kick-off, and throw in throw in racial injustice that has brought us to another tipping point. The images, stories, resources are flooding our social media streams. While necessary, can be overwhelming. Hope everyone is…
It hasn’t been grilling season in Chicago quite yet, heck it snowed twice recently. The weather cooperated this weekend, more chilly rainy days ahead. Not my favorite, but we can make do with the stove/oven. Typically I’d sear the steak in a smoking hot cast iron skillet and then finish in the oven. But alas,…
New world, new rules. Dessert first is a good start, and I advise you make these cookies part of this new rule. Chocolately indeed. First off, if you have never made browned butter, this is the perfect opportunity to learn. It is magic! Making it takes your full attention as there is a fine line…
File this under it took a pandemic. Truth be told, I’ve been longing for the time and motivation to get back to this. And along with that, some quality content. Well, despite the pandemic, I’m struggling to have the time but I am trying my best to make the time. And after a long drought…