I was looking for a new way to make green beans this Thanksgiving. After my cranberry sauce incident, I was a little worried my new green bean recipe (that I told you about in my turkey post) would be just as disappointing. Maybe I should just let green beans be green beans, I thought. But at this point, the recipe was already bookmarked, the ingredients already shopped for, and my family was already excited for my addition to the Thanksgiving meal. It was too late to change my mind, there was just no turning back..

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Popularity: 4% [?]

One of my favorite things to do in a grocery store is visit the produce section and find a vegetable or fruit I have never seen or heard of. Sometimes it happens by accident, and other times I make a point to scale the aisles of exotic peppers, sapute, casaba melons and all those things I wouldn’t consider very…traditional in my home.

This time I saw something called “sweet potatoes bonata”. Hairy, brown and small, it sure didn’t look anything like a sweet potato. It looked more like an oblong coconut, frankly.

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Popularity: 6% [?]

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was lamenting the never ending Chicago winter with soup recipes, but the great thing about Chicago is that one day it’s winter and the next it’s full-blown spring: thunderstorms, warm nights and all. Last night was a particularly warm evening that was just begging for some barbecue and a leisurely dinner on the balcony. And that’s just what we did.

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Photo partially courtesy to istockphoto.com

Excuse me readers while I partake in a little bit of a rant. And I’m sorry to say, David Lebovitz, that it was inspired by your post.

I HATE WHEN PEOPLE PUT MARSHMALLOWS ON SWEET POTATOES.

Whew. Ok thanks, I feel a little bit better.

But seriously, there are tons of recipes out there like Sweet Potato Casserole or this Holiday Sweet Potato Bake that just douse their precious sweet potatoes in sugary, gloppy marshmallow goop. And I just don’t get it! Why do you people do this?!

Don’t you understand that the sweet potatoes are tasty enough on their own because they have the amazing capacity to glaze themselves when cooked? If it were up to me, I’d NEVER add anything to sweet potatoes because they’re so delicious on their own! It just so happens that we served them with carrots and beef brisket in our tzimmes, but that’s nothing compared to unneccessarily adding marshmallows.

I’m sorry if I offend anyone but I just think you need to try a sweet potato without marshmallows or any additives for once. And when you do, I’m pretty sure you’ll wonder why you ever wasted your money on that pack of JetPuffed Marshmallows (sorry Kraft!)

There are however some good recipes out there that, while adding other ingredients, leave out the marshmallows: Sweet Potato Crisp, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Sweetest Sweet Potato Souffle.

-Hillary, encouraging everyone with great sweet potato recipes to submit them to the contest
Editor, Recipe4Living

Popularity: 31% [?]

While “Vegetables and the City” might not be the next best sitcom, vegetables and the city are certainly seeing more of each other lately.

Instead of lining the streets with colorful flowers, the city of Chicago has decided to turn its busy roadways into mini gardens - something I think is pretty darn cool.

From the looks of my admittedly not-so-extensive research, the new projects are called Community Gardens, and they’re sponsored by Greencorps Chicago, part of the environmental division of the City of Chicago.

Pictured above is an array of edible plants located on a city sidewalk. From what I could make out, there seemed to be cabbage, raddichio lettuce and much more. So hey, instead of walking into that sandwich place for lunch, why not grab a few salad leaves off the street? I mean hey, lunch is on Chicago!

I’m kidding of course (so when you think you see me on the street chomping on some cabbage - that’s not me, ok?) but at any rate, way to go Chicago! Edible Schoolyards AND Community Gardens? Alice Waters must be so proud.

-Hillary
Editor, Recipe4Living

Popularity: 4% [?]

I am so not ready for the season to change. I am a total summer girl at heart and the cold weather is only beneficial for me if I am at home, curled up on the couch watching a good movie or reading a great book! But it’s life and I am preparing for winter! Well, at least I am but my poor beautiful vegetable garden isn’t.

This is where I need your help! This past summer I decided to plant my very first garden and to be honest I didn’t know what I was doing when it came to planting and taking care of it. I guess I was lucky (or maybe I was a gardener in my past life) but the garden grew and I had all sorts of fresh produce in my back yard! Unfortunately, now my garden is dying because of the cold weather. So, what do I now?

I have basil plants that I would love to save, I have heard that the best way to save herbs is to freeze them but I am not sure what the best “freezer” method is.

Help?

Also, I have tomato, cucumber and green pepper plants, what do I do with them? Am I suppose to dig them up and throw them away or do they stay planted with the chance of growing back next year (is that even possible)?

Help please! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sarah- Go Chiefs and Go Bears!

P.S. I still need to try making Fried Green Tomatoes again!

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