West of the Loop

Pumpkin Pancakes with Caramelized Apples

Emily — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 17:02:29 +0000

Fluffy pumpkin pancakes topped with sweet, caramelized apples is the perfect holiday breakfast – whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving weekend, Hanukkah or just having guests for brunch! Thanks to WhatsGood for sponsoring this recipe post featuring seasonal ingredients from local farmers delivered right to my doorstep. Get $25 off your first order on WhatsGood with...

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Perfect Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes

Emily — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 19:36:18 +0000

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, you need this recipe for dairy-free – and even vegan! – mashed potatoes flavored with rosemary, garlic and olive oil. You won’t miss the dairy! Dairy has been a tricky issue in my household since forever. My daughter, now 18, was allergic to dairy for years. Today, she is...

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Rosh Hashanah Cheese Board

Emily — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 13:01:25 +0000

A festive and crowd-pleasing appetizer for Rosh Hashanah or your Yom Kippur breakfast: an apples and honey themed cheese board! And in keeping with the Jewish tradition of not mixing meat and dairy, this cheese board is completely vegetarian. Thanks to Cabot Creamery Co-operative for sponsoring this High Holiday recipe. Rosh Hashanah begins on the...

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How to Make Cannoli Dip

Emily — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 20:58:34 +0000

A super-easy no-bake dessert with all the flavor of your favorite Italian pastry, cannoli, and none of the hassle! There are some restauarant dishes that, as much as I love them, I never even consider making at home. Those dishes often involve deep-frying because I just can’t deal with the thought of a bubbling pot...

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Strawberry Muffins with Streusel Topping

Emily — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:02:05 +0000

Celebrate strawberry season with these buttery, moist strawberry muffins with an irresistible vanilla crumb topping. June is strawberry season and I am buying berries by the quart! Last Saturday, at the Oak Park Farmers’ Market, I bought 4 (!) quarts of berries for jam, baking, and just eating out of hand. No one in my...

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Matzo Nachos aka Machos

Emily — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 13:05:20 +0000

Have fun with your matzo this Passover: make matzo nachos! Thanks to Cabot Creamery Cooperative for sponsoring this Passover recipe. Like many of you, my family is facing another pandemic Passover. Who could have imagined at this time last year that, a full year later, we would still be wearing masks and social distancing to...

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Beef and Stout Pie with Cheddar

Emily — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 14:06:42 +0000

A traditional recipe for St. Patrick’s Day, Irish Beef and Stout Pie becomes especially rich and savory when you add my secret ingredient: extra sharp cheddar cheese. Thanks to Cabot Creamery Cooperative for sponsoring this recipe. I love pies and I love hearty stews, so it is no surprise that I really love a pie...

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King Cake Babka

Emily — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 14:14:58 +0000

Imagine a cinnamon babka topped with sweet icing and decorated with sprinkles in classic Mardi Gras colors of green, gold and purple. It’s a King Cake Babka! Are you a fan of King Cake? My daughter has a friend whose mother is from New Orleans and every February when the girls were in elementary school,...

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Feta and Herb Egg Rolls

Emily — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 20:49:03 +0000

A classic Mediterranean mezze, feta and herb cigars, with a twist. Instead of wrapping my cigars in finicky filo pastry, I opt for easy-to-use egg roll wrappers. A perfect finger food for Game Day or any day! The eastern Mediterranean may be home to the best finger foods in the world. Within this region’s tradition...

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How to Make Focaccia Bread Art

Emily — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 14:41:35 +0000

Your focaccia bread dough is a blank canvas! Turn it into art with herb and vegetable decorations for a fun, family-friendly baking project. There have been so many pandemic food trends over this past year. Remember Dalgona coffee? Pancake cereal? (I opted for cookie cereal instead.) Sourdough? And the latest thing seems to be the TikTok...

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