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Find the perfect match for your Valentine’s Day menu at Mariano’s Chicago bakery

Does Valentine’s Day stress you out? Do you find yourself running around to every grocery store in Chicago, or calling every Chicago bakery on Yelp, to find the right romantic dessert for your sweetie? Well, stop it. Take 3 deep breaths, and just stop for a moment. You’re in need of a Valentine’s Day smack down – given out of love, of course! I totally understand because we’ve all been there before. With so many options and such high expectations (that we force upon ourselves), it can be challenging to know where to begin.

Valentine’s Day is not about how much money you spend on the one you love. It’s not about mindlessly following the crowd to celebrate the heart-iest of holidays with the masses. In the same way each relationship is unique, the way you honor your significant other and the way you celebrate Valentine’s Day together should reflect the uniqueness of the relationship you share.

I don’t like crowds, so spending Valentine’s Day with the rest of Chicago crammed inside a busy restaurant can cause a panic attack. For me, nothing speaks louder than thoughtful actions…like a quiet, home-cooked meal that reflects a shared experience. One easy way to create a Valentine’s Day menu is to build it around a theme like your favorite destination as a couple. Personally, I adore Chicago; that’s why I live here. But Paris is hands-down the most romantic city I’ve ever experienced. There is literally romance in the air throughout the City of Lights.

So for Valentine’s Day this year, I want to bring a bit of Paris into my home. Mariano’s makes that easy to do. I’m going to make a slow cooker coq au vin recipe for dinner using fresh poultry and produce from #MyMarianos. And with my Mariano’s Rewards Card in hand, I’ll supplement everything else (including flowers and wine) that I need for a romantic Valentine’s Day breakfast and dinner at home with items from the Mariano’s Bakery, Deli, International Market, Liquor and Floral departments.

In the Bakery Department, I picked up some Parisian all-butter croissants for breakfast and chocolate mousse cups for dessert. My Valentine’s Day authentic Parisian breakfast will start with:

French roast coffee with cream (French vanilla flavor, maybe?!)
orange juice
Mariano’s all-butter croissants
Bonne Maman® blackberry preserves
fresh blackberries from Mariano’s produce department

And don’t forget the butter! French cuisine focuses on simple, high-quality ingredients. If you’re going to have croissants made with real butter, then enjoy real butter ON them as well. Warm the croissants before serving, and consider having breakfast in bed for an indulgent start to Valentine’s Day. Oui, oui!

Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin

This recipe for slow cooker coq au vin is perfect for Valentine’s Day dinner because it only takes 20 minutes to prep; it’s easy to assemble before you head out the door for work. It cooks all day (8 hours), so it will be ready to enjoy with your sweetie when you get home. All of the ingredients for my authentic Parisian dinner menu are available at Mariano’s including:

Entrée / Side Dish

slow cooker coq au vin, with chicken breast, button mushrooms, pearl onions and baby carrots
Parisian parsley potatoes (recipe below)

Dessert

chocolate mousse cups from Mariano’s Bakery

Drink and Table Décor

wine (at least 2 bottles of red, white or sparkling) from Mariano’s Liquor Department
bouquet of flowers from Mariano’s Floral Department

Most of the slow cooker coq au vin ingredients I purchased on this #CollectiveBias #shop at Mariano’s were already fully prepped, except for the carrots. To give your carrots a bit of sophistication (yes, carrots can have sophistication!), cut them on the diagonal. It’s a simple trick that makes them look a bit more special.

Valentine’s Day Menu Ideas

A traditional side dish served with slow cooker coq au vin would be Parisian Parsley Potatoes. This recipe takes about 30 minutes to cook and it continues the buttery decadence that Parisian food embraces. A definite must to add to your Valentine’s Day menu.

Coq au vin would normally use a Burgundy (red) wine but this recipe uses a white wine. There are variations of coq au vin that also use champagne. Use whichever you prefer. My suggestion is to buy 2 bottles of your favorite wine. Pour one cup into the slow cooker (that’s all it takes) when you’re ready to start cooking and save the rest for your dinner.

My Valentine’s Day menu is obviously inspired by Paris. But maybe another global destination holds a more romantic meaning for you and yours. Did you honeymoon in Italy or meet the love of your life in the Mediterranean? Mariano’s Bakery (my favorite department within the store!) has hand-made Italian cookies, biscotti and cannoli. And across the aisle at Mariano’s Deli you’ll find big, beautiful Greek olives and a variety of Mediterranean salads. The point is to fill your Valentine’s Day menu with items that have meaning for you.

Still need some inspiration? Just take a stroll in Mariano’s International Market aisles. Mariano’s has items from Italian, Hispanic, Asian, Polish, Kosher, Indian, Mediterranean, German, Eastern European, British and Southern cuisines. It’s the supermarket version of around the world in 80 plates! And any of these global goodies would be a perfect match for your Valentine’s Day menu.

If you know what kind of cuisine you want to prepare but you don’t know what wine or cheese to pair and serve, Mariano’s has a team of people who are ready with suggestions. They even have a Wine & Cheese pairings area in the store to kick-start your brainstorming.

Ideas and inspiration are plentiful at Mariano’s; that’s one of the reasons why I enjoy shopping there so much. It’s not just a grocery store. For foodies, it’s like an adventure theme park filled with all kinds of deliciousness. And when I’m not inside my local Mariano’s store, I stay connected to get ideas by following #MyMarianos on social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

What are you planning for your Valentine’s Day menu? Or if the proverbial oven mitt were on your significant other’s other hand, what dish would you want them to be making just for you?

Slow Cooker Coq au Vin

Rating: 51

20 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Yield: 2 servings

Slow Cooker Coq au Vin

Ingredients

6 ounces button mushrooms, cut in half

10 ounces pearl onions, frozen

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

salt and pepper for seasoning

1 medium onion, chopped

1 pound baby carrots, sliced on an angle in 3/4-inch pieces

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup dry white wine (red wine works, too)

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 bay leaf

1 cup chicken broth

4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces

Instructions

In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine the mushrooms and pearl onions. Set aside.

Lightly season the chicken breasts (both sides) with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil on medium high. Cook the chicken over medium-high heat until browned (about 10 minutes on each side). Place chicken over the vegetables in the slow cooker.

Using the skillet with the remaining drippings, add the chopped onion and sliced carrots. On medium heat, cook for 3 minutes or until the onion softens and becomes translucent. Stir frequently. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Add the wine, tomato paste and bay leaf. Heat to boiling, stirring to dissolve the tomato paste.

Pour the wine mixture, followed by the chicken broth, over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.

About 15 minutes before you're ready to plate, cook the bacon in the microwave using a microwave-safe plate. Put 8 paper towel sheets on the plate and top with the bacon slices. I recommend cutting the bacon AFTER the cooking process. Put 4 paper towel sheets on top of the bacon slices and cook, following manufacturer's directions. For my microwave, 4 slices of thick-cut bacon will cook in 5 to 6 minutes. Cook until crispy, then cut into 1-inch pieces.

Remove the bay leaf from the slow cooker. Transfer the chicken, vegetables and sauce to a deep serving platter or plate immediately on individual plates. Sprinkle each serving with bacon and enjoy.

Notes

Let this cook during the day while you're at work. But if you need to whip it up faster, you can cook it on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.

http://bakedchicago.com/slow-cooker-coq-au-vin/

Breakfast

Coconut-Mango Upside Down Baked French Toast, inspired by Disney’s The Jungle Book

featured image of coconut-mango upside down baked french toast #shop #JungleFresh

I was 5 years old when Disney’s The Jungle Book premiered; it was the first movie I remember seeing in a theater as a child. It was a magical experience and the beginning of a life-long love of great cinema.

Like every kid who saw the movie, I wanted the happy-go-lucky Baloo to be my new best friend in much the same way he befriended Mowgli on his journey into the jungle. I remember singing “The Bare Necessities” so much that it — or I? — became annoying to everyone around me. And there were so many interesting characters, like Kaa the sneaky snake or King Louie, a crazy orangutan. [I have an older brother Louis, so I could totally relate to that character.]

I was thrilled to learn that Disney is releasing a special Blu-Ray/DVD combo Diamond Edition of The Jungle Book on February 11, 2014, and you can get a free Jungle Book Lunch Box with the purchase of the Diamond Edition (exclusively at Walmart). So I headed off to my local Walmart to pick up some #JungleFresh produce for this #CollectiveBias #shop; I’m planning to make Coconut-Mango Upside Down Baked French Toast that my nieces and nephews are going to love when we watch The Jungle Book together for the first time.

Walmart has really expanded its produce selections; I was surprised to see a strong variety of tropical fruits – including some I’ve never heard of before. I was focusing on mangos and coconut for this recipe but I also picked up a pummelo. I’d never seen one and didn’t know what it was or what it might be used for. Walmart has easy-to-ready signs for its produce that calls out some of the features and benefits of the ingredient, so I learned that pummelos are used in baking. Who knew? So that’s going to be an ingredient for a future recipe challenge!

I got all my ingredients organized, including non-dairy coconut milk and orange-mango juice, to use in the recipe. I’ll also serve these beverages along with the Coconut-Mango Upside Down Baked French Toast.

Toasting coconut flakes in a skillet takes only a few minutes, and the aroma is intoxicating.

If you’ve never done it before, slicing a mango can be a bit confusing. This video from the National Mango Board shows you how to cube or slice a mango. It’s surprisingly easy.

http://youtu.be/WkCYV7v7P3M

This is what all of the ingredients will look like inside the prepared pan before you pop it in the oven.

And here’s what Coconut-Mango Upside Down Baked French Toast looks like on your plate! Topped with the toasted coconut flakes, sliced mango, and honey, the dish is plenty sweet without any additional condiments for me. But you may wish to dust it with some confectioners’ sugar. Any way you serve it up, it is soooooo good.

Coconut-Mango Upside Down Baked French Toast

Rating: 51

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Coconut-Mango Upside Down Baked French Toast

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut, toasted

4 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 mangos, thinly sliced

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup mango-orange juice

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk

8 slices French bread, sliced 1-inch thick

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400 F degrees. Generously grease a 13x9-inch baking pan. Set aside.

Place the flaked coconut in a large skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the flakes are mostly golden brown. Do not overcook.

In a small microwavable bowl, melt the butter. Then mix in the cinnamon, honey and toasted coconut. Pour this mixture into the prepared baking pan, spreading it to evenly coat the bottom of the pan. Space the sliced mango evenly over the coconut mixture.

In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla, salt, juice and milk. Dip both sides of the French bread into the egg mixture, letting it soak up the liquid. Then place it in the prepared pan.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Invert onto a serving platter and serve immediately.

The coconut-mango upside down baked French toast is mildly sweet without any garnishes, but you may prefer to sprinkle confectioners' sugar on top or use your favorite syrup.

Notes

You could also prepare this the night before, all the way up through placing the French bread slices dipped in egg batter into the prepared pan. Securely wrap with plastic wrap overnight. Remove from the refrigerator while you're preheating the oven. Continue cooking as directed.

http://bakedchicago.com/coconut-mango-upside-down-baked-french-toast/

Snacks & Candies

Ooh La La: Homemade French Burnt Peanuts Bring Back Childhood Memories

I think everyone waxes a bit nostalgic when it comes to memories of favorite childhood treats. When I think back to the sodas and snacks I had as a kid, I’m kind of surprised at how they’ve evolved over the years. The simple, delicious M&Ms® reigned supreme for Halloween trick-or-treating and the Snickers® candy bar was the new kid on the block.

Today, there are so many varieties and flavors – in addition to the original versions – it can make your head spin. Even soda has changed exponentially. As a kid, I remember stopping at the park canteen after swimming lessons for a fountain Green River® soda. I can’t tell you what the flavor tasted like, but I remember I obsessed over it.

Back to snacks (everything always comes back to snacks, right?). One of those childhood candies that appears to be no more is French burnt peanuts. Specifically Brach’s® French Burnt Peanuts. If you’ve ever had them, you know exactly what I mean. They were crunchy and sweet and oddly bright red. And oh so addictive (the sugar, right!).

Every know and again I get a craving for those French burnt peanuts and for a few years I was able to locate them online via Amazon. But in my latest search, I realized that the Brach’s version of French Burnt Peanuts has gone away. I searched and searched online for possible recipes to recreate the flavors, but nothing I found online really recreated the right texture and colors.

So I decided to give it a try to adapt some of the better recipes I found to see if I could get just a few steps closer to that Brach’s standard that I so fondly remembered. You only need 4 ingredients: peanuts, sugar, water and food coloring. You put all the ingredients in a pot and heat over medium-high until all the moisture had evaporated. At first, it will feel like it’s taking too long. You’ll wonder if you’re doing something wrong. Be patient. The mixture needs to boil, or in this case foam, to help with the transformation of the coating.

Regularly stir the mixture to ensure even coating. The last few minutes will rapidly accelerate as the sugar and water foams; watch closely because if all the water is gone the remaining sugar may easily burn. The mixture will be very sticky and dry.

Now you’re ready to bake them in the final step. You’ll notice from the above image before you pop them in the oven that the color is a bright pink / light red. I tried a number of variations in the food coloring but never really got past light red. Something tells me the vibrant red color burned into my childhood memories “may” be un-achievable with today’s food coloring. Stir the mixture every 15 minutes. When done, let cool completely and store in an airtight container.

While the final product doesn’t have the same dark red color of the original, these French burnt peanuts taste as good, if not better, than the childhood snack I remembered. And with this end-product, I can actually taste the quality of the peanuts and brown sugar. They say you can’t go home again, but in this case I think this recipe got darn close in some respects and totally hit the mark in most.

Homemade French Burnt Peanuts

Rating: 51

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 2 cups

Homemade French Burnt Peanuts

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup water

2 cups dry roasted peanuts

6 drops red food coloring

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 250F degrees. Line a jelly roll with parchment paper and set aside.

Combine all of the ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until moisture evaporates.

Spread out the peanuts on the prepared pan. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring and breaking up large clumps every 15 minutes.

Let cool completely and store in an air-tight container for up to 10 days.

http://bakedchicago.com/french-burnt-peanuts/

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Soups, Salads & Sides

Authentic Parisian Parsley Potatoes

One of the basic philosophies I subscribe to when it comes to the kitchen is that there’s no such thing as a bad potato recipe. All things aside, if I could only eat one food item for the rest of my life it would probably be potatoes. They are so versatile, so delicious and often very easy to prepare. What’s not to like about that?

This recipe is an adaptation of a traditional Parisian Herbed Potatoes dish. I like this Parisian Parsley Potatoes dish because it’s got only 5 ingredients, it takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and its flavor is simply decadent.

You could use any small (or new) potato but I recommend the traditional red new potatoes. They have such a great color and the skins are quite tasty.

You melt the butter in a heavy pan. Then add the potatoes, salt, and pepper – and stir to coat. Cover the pan and let it cook on medium-low for about 30 minutes, shaking every 5 minutes so that the potatoes on the bottom of the pot don’t burn. When the potatoes are done, toss with parsley and serve.

Don’t these potatoes look delicious. Did you notice which of the 5 ingredients is missing? The parsley! Even when you only have 5 ingredients, you must pay attention to the recipe. I had plated the potatoes and after shooting a photo realized I had totally forgotten the parsley. What’s Parisian Parsley Potatoes without the parsley? Potatoes that are buttered, salted and peppered. Still good ,but missing a star ingredient.

Even if you make an error with this recipe, it’s easy to fix. I simply put the potatoes back in the sauce pan and tossed with the parsley. Situation under control!

Authentic Parisian Parsley Potatoes

Rating: 51

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

8 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 pounds red new potatoes, scrubbed but not peeled, cut in half

2 teaspoons sea salts

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

3 tablespoons parsley

Instructions

Melt the butter in a large heavy sauce pan. Add the potatoes, then salt and pepper. Toss well until potatoes are coated.

Cover the pan and cook over medium-low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender when tested with a small knife or fork. Occasionally shake the pot without removing the lid to prevent the bottom potatoes from burning.

Turn off heat and let potatoes continue to cook (with lid on the pan) for another 5 minutes. Toss with parsley and serve hot.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten's Herbed New Potatoes in "Barefoot in Paris" cookbook.

http://bakedchicago.com/authentic-parisian-parsley-potatoes/

Events & Entertaining

12 Game Day Recipes to Satisfy a Hungry Crowd

Who’s ready for some football? If you’re hosting a Game Day viewing party or just relaxing with family and friends in front of the big screen TV, you want easy options for delicious food that everyone’s going to love but won’t keep you in the kitchen.

I’ve put together a selection of 12 Game Day recipes that will satisfy any hungry crowd, but you’re going to love as well. Most can be made ahead of time, and many utilize one of my favorite kitchen appliances: the slow cooker. On a Big Game Day, a slow cooker will be your best friend by keeping the food hot, but letting you be in front of the action while the game is on.

For appetizers, I’ve selected:

Feel free to dunk your German Soft Pretzel Sticks into the Cheesy Beer-Salsa. So. Darn. Good.

Each of the entrees are cooked in your slow cooker:

Any of these entrees will score a touch down with your guests.

Last, but in no way least, I’ve selected four dessert recipes that are easy to eat with your hands and all are real crowd-pleasers:

You can probably tell that I’m partial to brownies. Guilty as charged. Not only are brownies so easy to make, everyone from kids to adults love them. So I can’t lose anytime they’re on my party menu.

What are you serving at your Game Day party?

Mexicitos

Plum-Sauced Chicken Wings

Cheesy Beer-Salsa Dip

German Soft Pretzel Sticks with Bacon

slow cooker lasagna garnished with Italian cheese

Zesty Italian Slow Cooker Lasagna

Cheesy Bacon Corn Chowder

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes with Bacon

6-Bean Slow Cooker Chili with Sweet Peppers

Football Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites

Home-style Cracker Jack

Deconstructed S’mores Brownies

Root Beer Brownies

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Desserts/ Events & Entertaining

Football Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites will bowl over your Game Day guests!

You might have heard that there’s a small football game happening this Sunday. Not a big match up at all. Just some teams from Colorado and Washington state getting together for a quick game. NOT!

It’s amazing what a big cultural phenomenon and big business the Super Bowl is in the United States. At the heart of it, football is a team sport and big game days like the Super Bowl are best shared with friends and family. Like the 100+ million others who will be watching the Big Game (and I freely admit I like the commercials and half-time show best), I hoping to cook up some fun foods that will be enjoyed by all, but are also easy-to-make with little or no cleanup. That’s my kind of game day victory!

This year I decided to do a twist on one of my classic brownie recipes from Baked Chicago’s Simply Decadent Brownies cookbook, and have some fun with Seattle green- and Denver orange-colored butter cream frostings.

Football Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites?

You’ve all heard of the fluffer nutter, right? A peanut butter and marshmallow cream sandwich. I don’t know a lot of football terms, but one I do know is “fumble.” And when I do brainstorming, I tend to think in sound-alikes so I started thinking about what I might do with a brownie for the Big Game. My brain went from ‘fumble’ to ‘fluffer nutter’ to ‘fumble nutter’ in about 90 seconds, so this brownie recipe incorporates yummy peanut butter and it’s topped with a marshmallow butter cream frosting.

To add some fun for Game Day and to make it easy to eat (and hard to ‘fumble’ up), I decided that brownie bites were the perfect size for a sweet snack and to frost half of the brownies each with orange- or green-colored frosting to cheer on Denver and Seattle. I haven’t decided yet who I’m rooting for, but I’m leaning toward the Broncos. What do you think about that choice? Will I be crying in my brownies at the end of the game or doing an end zone dance in victory?

After you’ve baked the Football Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites, let them cool on a wire rack or platter. Then prepare your frosting.

Follow the directions on your food color packaging to get the right shades of green and orange. After I made the frosting, I divided it into two coffee cups and from there added the food coloring.

Frost half of your brownies in one team’s color, then the other. Let them set a bit after you frost them. I found they can set out for a few hours with no issues, but I recommend putting them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve them. We all know how long the Big Game can last and you want to make sure to practice proper food safety when entertaining your guests.

Football Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites (Peanut Butter Brownies with Marshmallow Butter Cream Frosting)

Rating: 51

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Yield: approximately 3 dozen

Football Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites (Peanut Butter Brownies with Marshmallow Butter Cream Frosting)

Ingredients

For Brownies:

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 ounces milk

For Marshmallow Butter Cream Frosting:

1/2 cup butter, softened

8 ounces marshmallow creme

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

16 ounces confectioners' sugar

1 to 2 tablespoons milk, divided

food coloring (optional)

Instructions

For brownie bites: Preheat your oven to 350 F degrees. Generously grease a mini muffin pan with non-stick spray.

Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the milk and eggs to the melted butter. Stir in the peanut butter. Stir in all the dry ingredients and mix just until blended.

Using a small cookie scoop, add batter into the prepared mini muffin pan. Do not fill the mini muffin cups more than 2/3 full, or it will overflow into the others as it bakes.

Bake for about 12 minutes or until the brownies are dry around the edges. Cool before frosting.

For frosting: Place the butter, marshmallow cream and vanilla in a small bowl. Beat with electric mixer on medium until well blended. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, beating after each addition until well blended.

Blend in 1 tablespoon of milk. Add remaining tablespoon, if necessary, for desired spreading consistency. Frost brownie bite and let set.

http://bakedchicago.com/fumble-nutter-brownie-bites/

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Events & Entertaining

#ad Huddle Up with Tyson® Any’tizers and KRAFT Dipping Sauces for a Winning Big Game Snack

When I’m planning a party around the Big Game, I want my guests to have as much fun as possible. That means feeding them well while we’re all hanging out together rooting for our favorite teams. I know I’m going to have a winning Big Game snack every time when I serve Tyson® Any’tizers with some creamy KRAFT dipping sauces. So my first play is to stock up at my local Walmart. You’ll find special endcaps for Tyson at Walmart, and many Tyson products are on rollback for just $5.98.

There’s a Tyson Any’tizer for every taste, and having a well-stocked freezer gives me home field advantage. So I picked up some:

Tyson® Any’tizers Boneless Chicken Wyngz
Tyson® Crispy Chicken Strips
Tyson® Any’tizers Chicken Fries (my favorite!)
Tyson® Any’tizers Popcorn Chicken (maybe these are my favorite, too!)

Then I headed over to the KRAFT dipping sauces shelves where I was blown away at some of the new flavors. Of course, I picked up the classic KRAFT Homestyle Ranch Dressing & Dipping Sauce. Then I also sacked two new flavors I couldn’t wait to try:

KRAFT Velveeta Cheesy Ranch
KRAFT Grey Poupon Dijon Ranch

When I’m getting my party playing field set up, I make sure I’ve got the entire team ready for action.

I want my guests to relax and have a great time. And I do, too. That means no dishes for me and easy serving options for my guests. I love disposable paper cups which can be both a vessel for your favorite beverage – or a portable portal for Tyson Any’tizers and KRAFT dipping sauce. I encourage my guests to create their own 2-dip immersions and try all of the KRAFT dipping sauces and combinations.

There’s always the occasional fumble, but that’s why they invented napkins! The Big Game Day is all about celebrating sports and enjoying friends and family. So when there’s a fumble on the food field, you just run with it for the field goal.

It’s a Wrap!

Tyson Any’tizers and KRAFT dipping sauces are perfect football foods. And together they make a winning combination that can’t be beat, so I created a Make-It-Yourself Chicken Wrap Huddle station stocked with:

corn and flour tortillas (small and large)
diced plum tomatoes
sliced black olives
shredded mozzarella cheese
shredded Cheddar cheese
shredded baby spinach (you could substitute shredded lettuce, if you wish)

Guests have their choice of Tyson Crispy Chicken Strips or Tyson Any’tizers. Chicken Fries or Popcorn Chicken are especially great to quarterback a homestyle chicken wrap. Then guests pick their favorite fixings, and top it off with a KRAFT dipping sauce (or two!). I couldn’t believe how many different Tyson/KRAFT chicken wrap combinations that you can make! You’ll see just a few of my favorite combos in this animated GIF:

For more ideas on how to create your own super moments with Tyson® Chicken and KRAFT Ranch Dressings & Dips, check out their Super Moments website. Capture and share your own super moments by uploading them using the #SuperMoments hashtag for a chance to win an incredible prize package. You can also follow Tyson on Twitter (@TysonTweets) or Facebook.

Go for the touch down and check out this video for more super moments ideas for planning your Game Day Party!

Events & Entertaining

Chicago Auto Show’s First Look For Charity 2014

The 2014 Chicago Auto Show is the nation’s largest and longest-running auto show. Its First Look for Charity benefit event (Friday, February 7, 2014 at McCormick Place) serves as a sneak peek to the hottest new cars, along with a generous sampling of delicious food and drink.

Since it started, First Look for Charity has raised more than $36 million for local Chicago charities and for 2014 the event is expected to raise more than $2 million. Tickets are $250 per person (black tie attire required). Special entertainment will be provided by American Idol Season 9 Winner (and Mount Prospect native) Lee DeWyze.

The theme for this year’s First Look for Charity Gala is “Winter Games.” Winter Games will celebrate a worldwide culinary collection of food and drink from Italy, Asia, Latin America, German and the United States. The “Opening Ceremonies” will include passed appetizers of chilled Asian spring rolls and potato galettes.

Representing the USA at the American Tasting Stations:

Grilled Cheddar Sticks and Tomato Basil Soup, Artichoke Hearts Au Gratin from Catered By Design
Pulled Pork and Coleslaw, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups from Bub City
Shrimp Ceviche from Devon Seafood
Hash Brown Potato Muffins, Mini Brioche from Real Urban BBQ

Representing Italy at the Italian Tasting Stations:

Waygu Beef Ravioli, Traditional Sausage and Peppers from SAVOR Chicago

Representing Germany at the German Tasting Stations:

Individual Beet and Sauerkraut Slaw, Angus Beef from SAVOR Chicago

Representing Japan at the Japanese Tasting Stations:

Black Rice Hokkaido Sushi Roll, Black Rice Devon Roll, Spicy Shrimp Sushi Roll from Union Sushi & BBQ
Individual Mueller Farms Soybean Tofu Noodle Salad, 7 Spice Marinated Beef Steak from SAVOR Chicago

Representing Brazil at the Brazilian Tasting Stations:

Flank Steak from Texas de Brazil
Individual Roasted Yam Salad, Ancho Seared Prawns, Slow Braised Beef Steak from SAVOR Chicago

And the “Closing Ceremonies” is a global assortment of desserts, sundries, gourmet coffee and espresso drinks from 676 Restaurant & Bar, Andy’s Frozen Custard, Butter Bella Gourmet Cookies, Cappuccino Catering, Catered By Design, Chicago Butter Cookies, Garrett Popcorn Shops, Mitchell’s Ice Cream, Roy’s Restaurant, Shen Yun Chicago and ZED 451. Beverage sponsors for the evening will include Wines by Trinchero Family Estates, American Harvest Organic Vodka, Sugar Island Rum, Tres Agaves Tequila, Antique Coffee & Vending Service, and Gentleman Jack and Jack Daniels Single Barrel Whiskey.

The Public Show runs from Saturday, February 8 through Monday, February 17. Click to learn more about the Chicago Auto Show or to purchase tickets. And for a preview of the 2014 Chicago Auto Show, watch this video.

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Soups, Salads & Sides

Give Old Man Winter a smack down with Cheesy Bacon-Corn Chowder with Edamame!

Given how bitterly cold it has been, my slow cooker is getting a solid workout this winter. And that’s okay. I find it to be therapeutic to have comfort food (especially soups) simmering in the slow cooker, filling up the house with a delicious, familiar smell.

You’ve probably noticed that I use edamame (green, baby soybeans) in a lot of recipes. I love edamame, and dare I say it’s probably my favorite vegetable. And it’s good for you.

Until a few years ago, I would have said potatoes or corn are my favorite vegetables. I still love them, but they rank a bit lower on the “good for you” chart.

I’ve been wanting to create a soup recipe that would be improved with the addition of the edamame. So I took inspiration from one of my favorite canned soups (chicken corn chowder) and decided to go vegetarian and amp it up with the edamame. I was really pleased with the results.

Cheesy Bacon-Corn Chowder

What makes this cheesy bacon-corn chowder so satisfying isn’t the edamame alone. It’s also the bacon and cheese!

Using a large slow cooker, add and stir together the corn, potatoes and edamame. Add the chicken broth, chopped onion, salt and pepper. At this point, you’re going to cover the pot and cook on HIGH for about 2 hours. Watch for when the chowder begins to boil. At this point, you’ll add the milk and cheese. Stir to incorporate and cover again, letting it cook for about 30 minutes or until the cheese melts completely. Stir the ingredients until blended.

I like a thick chowder, so I added a beurre manie (pronounced BURR-mahn-YAY), which is essentially a paste made by kneading together equal portions of flour and softened butter. A beurre manie is similar to a roux, except it’s not cooked. In a small bowl, knead together the butter and flour. Add about half of it to the chowder mixture and stir gently. Watch the consistency and add the remaining beurre manie, if needed, to thicken the chowder. Let it cook for about 20 minutes before serving.

Thick-cut bacon is one of my all-time favorites and my current favorite thick-cut bacon is from Patrick Cudahy. You can actually taste the smoked applewood when you bite into it. It’s totally bacon heaven! You can incorporate the crumbled bacon into the chowder. I recommend no more than 15 minutes before you are going to serve it, so it stays on the crunchy side. I like to garnish a bowl with a bit of crumbled bacon for extra texture, along with the fresh shredded Parmesan.

Cheesy bacon-corn chowder freezes well, so be sure to put a few servings in your freezer to enjoy the next time we have another polar plunge – which at this rate will probably be in early February!

Cheesy Bacon-Corn Chowder with Edamame

Rating: 51

Cook Time: 3 hours

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Cheesy Bacon-Corn Chowder with Edamame

Ingredients

24 ounces whole kernel sweet corn

20 ounces frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed

12 ounces shelled edamame (green soybeans)

32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 teaspoons sea salt

2 teaspoons ground black pepper

1 cup milk

8 ounces queso blanco (white American cheese), cubed

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

4 tablespoons butter, room temperature

6 slices Patrick Cudahy Thick-Cut Sweet Applewood-Smoked Bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled

shredded Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Instructions

Using a 4-quart or 6-quart slow cooker, stir together corn, potatoes and edamame. Add chicken broth, chopped onion, salt and pepper.

Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours. As soon as chowder begins to boil, add the milk and cubed cheese. Stir and cover for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until cheese melts completely. Stir ingredients until blended.

In a small bowl, knead together flour and butter. Add to the chowder mixture and stir gently. The combination of flour and butter, known as beurre manie, will thicken the chowder. Fold in the crumbled bacon about 15 minutes before you're ready to serve. [I prefer the bacon to remain crispy so I use it as a garnish on top of each bowl as it's served.]

Serve warm by the bowlful. Garnish with shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired.

http://bakedchicago.com/cheesy-bacon-corn-chowder/

2,166

Events & Entertaining

Make Game Time Your Time: Be the MVP (most valuable party) host!

Goodies take the gridiron at your sports viewing party.

Much like a quarterback leading a team to victory, being a host of a successful Game Day party will come down to preparation and teamwork. Now that we know Seattle and Denver will be playing in the Big Game, it’s time to start planning for your football viewing party. With the right preparation, you’ll easily be the MVP (most valuable party) host and – most importantly – you’ll be able to relax and enjoy game time with your guests.

Game Time Strategy

First, you’ll need a game plan for your party. You don’t want to worry about breaking glasses, doing dishes or being stuck in the kitchen when it’s time for the kickoff. Keep your party supplies basic, including:

a tablecloth (or astro turf) that will serve as the gridiron for your #GameTimeGoodies
disposable paper cups that can double as snack holders
napkins (or paper towels) for any fumbles your guests may make
paper plates and/or bowls for larger food items

Your menu also needs a game plan. You want food that will please the crowd, but easy for you to prepare and serve. And you don’t want to spend a fortune. Here are some considerations as you map out your football food strategy:

if kids will be attending, smaller portions will reduce waste
a crock pot will be your guard on the gridiron, letting you prepare food in advance and keeping it warm until the game ends
create a beverage station (or a beverage stadium!) with ice, cups and supplies so guests can serve themselves
pre-pour some snacks into small cups to make it easy for guests to start nibbling in the stands
decide if you want to serve the entree or main foods at kickoff or the half-time show [I recommend serving snacks immediately when guests arrive, and your entree(s) at kickoff. Then at the start of half-time, it’s easy to break out dessert.]

I found all of my Game Day party food supplies at my local Walmart, including:

DiGiorno Rising Crust Pizza (Supreme, 4 Cheese, 3 Meat, and Pepperoni) — on Rollback for $4.50
Stouffers Party Size Lasagna with Meat & Sauce
Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizza with Garlic Buttery Seasoned Crust (12-value pack)
Hot Pockets Ham & Cheese with Croissant Crust (12-value pack)
Edy’s Limited Edition Touchdown Sundae Ice Cream
Nestle Crunch Dipped DRUMSTICK Cones (my DRUMSTICK kryptonite is the vanilla filled with caramel!)

Cooking for your guests is fun. But not if you’re stuck in the kitchen during the Big Game. So I suggest making a hot dip that can work with many snacks, like potato chips, pretzel rods or sticks, tortilla chips or even veggie sticks. I found a (new to me) flavor of Hot Pockets with a pretzel crust at Walmart that I was dying to try. I cooked them per instructions on the box. Then I cut them into 8 dipping strips to use with my hot queso blanco dip. Together they were a football fiesta of flavor in my mouth.

Here’s how to make the queso blanco dip. You’ll need:

16 ounces queso blanco (white American cheese), cubed
4 ounces salsa (choose your favorite spice level)
4 ounces beer

Combine the ingredients in a small crock pot on low heat. Cook for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

To keep dishes to a minimum, I recommend using disposable paper cups to ladle the queso blanco dip into. Then let guests take their favorite dippers and put inside the cup. It makes for a very portable and mess-less snack.

Fun should be the underlying theme for any party. But with a large crowd, you want to keep food prep to a minimum. An easy “upgrade” that can be a conversation piece is making a pepperoni football on top of your DiGiorno pizza before popping it in the oven. You can see from the images below that I took a 4-cheese pizza and layered 20 pepperoni in the center and topped it with thin strands of mozzarella string cheese. Then bake according to package directions.

And about 20 minutes later you have hot, bubbling and deliciously gooey pizza for the entire team!

Hot Pockets make a popular and easy entree alternative. I found some printable hot food holders on the Internet that I printed out and taped together. It acts like a safety for the Hot Pocket by deflecting any fumbles.

I suggest keeping dessert simple. At the start of half time, break out the Nestle Crunch Dipped DRUMSTICK Cones and Edy’s Touchdown Sundae Ice Cream. It’ll only take 5 minutes to set up, which means you’ll be back on the sofa before the start of the half-time show. Yeah!

Put the DRUMSTICKs, tops down, on top of some ice in a medium-sized bowl. That will keep them cold until your guests grab them. But we both know they’ll be long gone by the time the ice has even begun to melt!

And setting up an Edy’s ice cream station is simple, too. Scoop the ice cream into small bowls, ramekins or coffee cups. Let your guests top with hot fudge or sprinkles, as they wish. They grab a spoon and go! You could even use the disposable paper cups to reduce the dishes to wash after the game.

How Do You Avoid The Quarterback Scramble?

A great party takes teamwork. Share your favorite Game Day party planning tips, favorite #GameTimeGoodies or which team you’ll be rooting for during the Big Game below.

Kitchen Confessions

2014: Getting Back On Track with Lean Cuisine #WowThatsGood

Are you still feeling a bit ‘hung over’ from the holidays? I am. It’s so easy to over indulge at family gatherings and social functions with sweets and other foods that are better for you in moderation. But feeling guilty isn’t going to solve anything. The hardest thing for me to do in any aspect of my life is to achieve balance. I’m usually an ‘all-in’ kind-of-guy, whether it’s at work, with family and friends – anything. Achieving balance within each part of my life and among each of those parts is a personal challenge for me. Especially when it comes to a balanced approach to eating. I want to start 2014 strong by making a conscious effort toward getting back on track. Nestle® has a number of products, especially an expanded line of Lean Cuisine® prepared foods, snacks and Skinny Cow® chocolates, that I’m going to lean on to make the process a little less daunting.

I practically lived on Lean Cuisine back in college, especially the Spaghetti & Meatballs and Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes. They were affordable (important for a college student with no real income), well-portioned and quite tasty. After college, when I first started working in downtown Chicago’s Financial District, I depended on Lean Cuisine for a quick, affordable and satisfying lunch. Eating out everyday was expensive, and trying to get out of a skyscraper building just to grab a quick bite would take at least 20 minutes each way. That’s anything BUT quick! And there weren’t many healthy options that were easily accessible, so Lean Cuisine was a great option. I remember stocking up my freezer with Lean Cuisine’s Swedish Meatballs at least once a month to have on hand for lunch at the office. And their French bread pizza was my go-to late night snack of choice!

Fast forward to 2014. While I want to be conscious of my meal choices, some things I’m not going to give up…like my morning coffee. Before I started using CoffeeMate®’s Sugar-Free French Vanilla creamer, I’d use sugar and half-and-half to create a cafe au lait concoction. But with Sugar-Free French Vanilla creamer, I don’t have to add anything else. That’s a great way to reduce some of the excess sugar that can sneak into your food and drink.

Getting Back On Track

One of the things that can shoot down any attempt to make better meal choices is poor planning. So I made myself a list of what I needed and headed off to my local Walmart to stock up my freezer. I was pleasantly surprised that in addition to the classic Lean Cuisine meals I have loved for years, there are several new cuisine lines featuring a staggering array of choices, including:

LEAN CUISINE® Morning Collection™ Turkey Sausage English Muffin [I can’t wait to try this!]
LEAN CUISINE® Simple Favorites™ Macaroni and Cheese
LEAN CUISINE® Wrap ADDITIONS™ Creamy Balsamic Chicken
LEAN CUISINE® Culinary Collection™ Sesame Chicken
LEAN CUISINE® Culinary Collection™ Three Cheese & Spinach Stuffed Pretzels

Here are some of my favorite Lean Cuisine dishes, snacks and Skinny Cow chocolate treats. You can tell when you see them, and especially when you taste them, that they’re all made with quality ingredients.

The Skinny Cow divine filled chocolates are available at Walmart. My favorite is the milk chocolate filled with caramel!

As you can see, the actual Lean Cuisine Sesame Chicken dish looks exactly like the image on the packaging (below).

See what I mean! And I could taste the top quality of the sesame breaded chicken tenderloins. #WowThatsGood

Lean Cuisine Wrap Additions Creamy Balsamic Chicken 1

It was fun putting together the creamy balsamic chicken wrap. It takes about 30 seconds to spread out the balsamic…

Lean Cuisine Wrap Additions Creamy Balsamic Chicken 2

…then add the Lean Cuisine chicken and veggies…and you’re ready to roll the wrap. There’s enough for two small wraps or one large wrap!

Lean Cuisine Culinary Collection 3 Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Pretzels

Every balanced meal program needs snack options. And I fell in love with these stuffed pretzels. They look a bit small right out of the package, but they puff while they’re being cooked in the microwave. Totally satisfying! Each box has two servings — just in case you want to share. Sharing is not mandatory!

Right now, Lean Cuisine is offering a 10-Day TRY-IT program which includes:

Personalized menu of 10 dishes via email
Lean Cuisine coupon for a buy-9-get-1-free offer via email
Access to a special offer Skinny Cow coupon (up to $5.49).
Entry into the Ultimate TRY-IT Sweepstakes for a chance to win $10,000

It’s simple to participate. Enjoy Lean Cuisine protein-packed dishes for 10 days. If you don’t feel great after 10 days, Lean Cuisine offers a money-back guarantee.

I’m on Day 3 of the 10-Day TRY-IT program, and so far my favorite has been the stuffed pretzels for a snack and the sesame chicken for lunch. Share your favorite Lean Cuisine dish in the comments section below, and let’s get back on track together!

Entrees

My Latest Mariano’s Adventure: Tex-Mex Rice Bowl with Salsa Fresca

$tex mex rice bowl #shop$

With the recent shakeup in the Chicagoland grocery store landscape, I’m glad I can still count on #MyMarianos store in Jefferson Park. The store has ample parking, it’s clean and the aisles are wide, easy to navigate. The selection? It’s HUGE! Chicago has a reputation as a melting pot of global cultures, and I think Mariano’s does a good job of living up to that reputation by having such a wide variety of global cuisines and ethnic foods. It’s a bit like an Epcot for foodies. And their latest innovation is Mariano’s health key™ System, which simplifies the shopping experience and makes it easier to put healthier food in my cart.

With so many new food products coming on the market these days, and classic foods being recalibrated to make them healthier (e.g. gluten-free or no salt added), I’m reading food labels more than the newspaper on some days. And I read the paper everyday!

I used to be near-sighted, so reading labels wasn’t an issue. As I get older, so do my eyes — and now I have reading glasses in addition to glasses for distance and driving. But I’m always leaving my reading glasses next to my favorite chair, so I’m having to read food labels at arm’s length at the grocery store. But not with Mariano’s health key™ System, thankfully. The labels are bold, color-coded and have large text that make them easy to read.

Mariano's health key™ System makes it easier to put healthier food in your cart #shop

Mariano’s health key™ System really does make grocery shopping easy.
The tags are big, brightly lit and have large text, so I can easily find healthier food options
– even when I forget my glasses!

If you’re like me, every now and then you need some new inspiration for dinner. I get Mariano’s weekly email newsletter that shares recipes and showcases local chefs, or I’ll go to the Community Page on their website to learn about in-store events and cooking demonstrations. For more information about Mariano’s health key™ System, visit the Mariano’s website or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

On my excursion to Mariano’s this week, I decided to try a south-of-the-board-inspired dish quite popular throughout the Southwest. I used to live in Houston and Tex-Mex “anything” was always a popular item on every restaurant’s menu. So I wanted to take some of my favorite ingredients (brown rice and ground turkey) and create a healthier version of a Tex-Mex Rice Bowl.

$tex-mex rice bowl$

Tex-Mex Rice Bowl

First, I made a salsa fresca, which is also known as pico de gallo, with fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, sweet peppers, olive oil, lime juice and cilantro. I got all of my ingredients for salsa fresca in place (mise en place) and I was off-and-running.

This portion of the Tex-Mex Rice Bowl recipe, the prep for the salsa fresca, takes about 15 minutes of cutting and dicing. After that, the recipe goes quite fast.

I tend to prefer mildly spicy foods, so I’m using sweet peppers in this recipe. But if you like something with more fire, definitely swap out the sweet peppers for jalapeno peppers. Combine all of the salsa fresca ingredients in a large glass or ceramic bowl.

Then set aside to let it marinate while you prepare the ground turkey and rice mixtures. Gather all of your ingredients and measure out the spices to make cooking a breeze:

$tex mex rice bowl ingredients mise en place #shop$

First you’ll cook the instant brown rice, following the package directions. Set aside.

In a large stock pot, heat the ground turkey over medium-high heat. Cook until done and stir to crumble. Stir in the water, chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Bring this to a simmer, then stir in the corn and black beans. Cook for about 2 minutes, then stir in the brown rice and cook for another 2 minutes.

Ladle the rice mixture into individual serving bowls. Top each bowl with salsa fresca and sprinkle with cilantro. I’ve found that when I have a large group or if your family has different levels of spice, heat they like that it’s best to let each individual add as much (or little) of the salsa fresca as they like to personalize their own Tex-Mex Rice Bowls. That way everybody gets what they want.

This Tex-Mex Rice Bowl recipe makes a large batch; enough for 8 to 10 people. If you have leftovers, freeze the turkey-rice mixture for up to 2 months in an airtight container. For any leftover salsa fresca, that will keep for only a few days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Use leftover salsa alone or add to melted Cheddar cheese as a dip.

Tex-Mex Rice Bowl

Rating: 51

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Yield: about 8 to 10 servings

$Tex-Mex Rice Bowl$

This dish has many variations in texture, from the rice and beans to the corn and salsa fresca. Personally, I like to add a small dollop of creamy, cool sour cream on the top of a hot Tex-Mex rice bowl to help cleanse the palate from the spice.

Ingredients

For salsa fresca:

4 medium plum or vine-ripened tomatoes, diced

1 medium white onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 sweet peppers, seeded (with ribs removed) and diced (substitute with jalapeno peppers, if desired)

1 tablespoon olive oil

fresh-squeezed juice of 1 lime

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

For Tex-Mex bowl:

1 pound lean ground turkey

16 ounces instant brown rice (about 4 cups, dry)

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon sea salt

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 cups whole kernel corn

30 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained

4 teaspoons fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

Instructions for salsa fresca:

In a large glass or ceramic bowl, combine all ingredients and set aside to let it marinate.

Instructions for Tex-Mex rice bowl:

Cook instant brown rice according to the package directions; set aside.

Heat a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey. Cook until done, stirring to crumble. Stir in water, chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer.

Stir in corn and beans. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in rice and cook for 2 minutes.

Scoop rice mixture into individual serving bowls. Top each bowl with salsa fresca and cilantro.

Notes

I would rate the level of spiciness for this recipe at medium. If you prefer a milder spice level, reduce the amount of chili powder and cumin. If you like a very spicy dish, substitute jalapeno peppers for the sweet peppers.

The majority of prep time for this dish is for the salsa fresca. You could also make the salsa fresca in advance and keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.

http://bakedchicago.com/tex-mex-rice-bowl/

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