CHICAGO -- With the holiday season coming to a close shortly, a gift guide to cooking treats and meals by some Chicago-based chefs might offer ideas for last-minute gifts.

Here’s a selection of five cookbooks that came out this year that could spark some inspiration in the kitchen.

“The Hoosier Mama Book of Breakfast Bakes: Biscuits, ...Read more

For our extended family holiday gatherings, we’ve dispensed with the big meal and go all in on appetizers.

We’ve found that not only does it take the pressure off the host — everyone brings an appetizer or two — but it gives the day a more laid-back feel for guests, too. No need to rush over for a predetermined mealtime; just come when ...Read more

Technically it’s always whiskey-sipping season in my house. But there is something extra cozy about the December chill that sparks the spirit of giving whiskey, too. The glint of colorful lights on a big ice cube rattling through a tumbler of amber elixir. The toasty vanilla perfume of barrel char, the punchy spice of distilled rye, a whiff of...Read more

With just three ingredients, you can pull together an impressive appetizer perfect for holidays or dinner parties. The tangy cranberries cut through the richness of the cheese to create a balanced bite. This quick appetizer can be easily doubled to feed a crowd.

3-Ingredient Cranberry-Brie Crostini

Serves 12

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total ...Read more

For years, even decades, common wisdom was that if you wanted to eat a heart-healthy diet, you should avoid eating eggs, which are high in cholesterol. Actually, egg whites were given a pass, because the yolks contain all the cholesterol. The rationale was that dietary cholesterol would raise levels of cholesterol in the blood, especially LDL (�...Read more

My mom really wasn’t a great cook, which I sometimes think is why I was so interested in food and cooking. She had four kids and making dinner every night was not a thrill for her, to say the least. But she did have her specialties like barbecued steak and great California salads. And this delicious soup is the taste memory I think about and ...Read more

Great hosts have great tricks. For a crowd, a spiral-sliced ham, served with homemade biscuits and a tart chutney, never fails to impress. For family dinners, chicken roasted with smoked salt and olive oil, bronzed to a golden finish, keeps them coming back for more.

For an intimate holiday dinner, boneless duck breasts, served with a creamy ...Read more

As a New Orleans native, jambalaya is a comfort food for me, as it is for most Louisianans. I’ve grown up eating it at nearly every big event, from family gatherings to game days. The big-batch, ...Read more

Just the thought of a freshly baked loaf of bread invokes warm, cozy feelings. Making bread at home is a worthy endeavor, and with the right recipe (such as this one!) it can be simple and rewarding.

Potato bread is special ...Read more

Though he grew up on a dairy farm, Matt Welsch never thought much about food beyond what was on the table for lunch or dinner.

"I wanted to be a bus driver," the 48-year-old chef admits with a grin as he sits inside Vagabond Kitchen, the slow-food restaurant he opened in the McLure Hotel in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia, in 2014.

Born three...Read more

Like a recovering alcoholic who knows exactly when he took his last drink, I can tell you when I had my last cup of hot chocolate.

It was Nov. 17, 2020. A Tuesday.

It's not that I quit cold turkey. It's not that I said I would never have hot chocolate again. It's not that I had the best hot chocolate of my life on that day (though it happens ...Read more

It’s become a well-documented fact that people dining out want a memorable experience, whether it’s eating in a fashion boutique or having an AI-chef prepare your meal. But the full-on obsession with spectacle had not been so apparent to me until a recent dinner at the world-renowned Eleven Madison Park in New York City.

It started with a ...Read more

This colorful gratin dish livens up any holiday plate. Creamy melted Gruyere is comforting, while a blend of cumin, nutmeg and cayenne pepper lends a warm, spicy note.

Kale-Butternut Squash Gratin

Serves 8

Active Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

2 teaspoons canola oil

1 cup chopped onion

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 (5-ounce)...Read more

The holidays are coming up and they almost always involve family gatherings, office parties, neighborhood get-togethers, and special holidays meals, all with lots and lots of food. For most of us, it’s a chance to enjoy food and drink that maybe aren’t a part of our usual fare. But if you have food allergies, these celebrations can literally...Read more

During Hanukkah there are eight nights of celebrating to do, so it only feels right to have a signature cocktail on hand for any planned or unplanned gatherings that come your way. Make that signature cocktail this festive sparkling wine sangria. Gently spiked with pear liqueur and filled with fresh pear slices, it’s a holiday ...Read more

If you are planning on staying home this year and having a small group for dinner, I recommend making this crowd-pleasing stew for your main course. Seafood has become so expensive that I usually save it for special occasions. And New Year’s Eve is certainly a time for celebration.

The soup base and aioli can be made ahead and finished at the...Read more

Deviled eggs are the perfect party food. Set a platter of them on a buffet, and you can safely assume they’ll be gone in minutes — such is the appeal of a good deviled egg. But...Read more