"Fly the W" French Onion Dip

I am not a big sports fan. But I've lived in Chicago for almost 20 years, so at this point I think it's safe to call myself a Chicagoan. And right now, as a Chicagoan, I would LOVE to see the Cubs win the world series! It's hard not to care when you see how much and how deeply other people do. I want the win not for myself, but for the Cubs and their diehard fans who have been dreaming of this since they can remember. And it would be pretty mind-blowing if Back to the Future's prediction of a Cubs World Series win was only off by one year!

Roasted Butternut Squash with Onions & Goat Cheese

We all know that eating right is important. But what if you're doing everything "right" and something still seems off? Food intolerance could be the culprit. Learn more about this increasingly hot topic from Dr. Sarah Weber, Chiropractor and Loomis Digestive Health Specialist - plus enjoy a scrumptiously seasonal recipe!

Black Bean Brown Rice Burritos

One night, years ago, I was doing my dinner dishes at 11pm on a weeknight. And I wondered what had happened to my life. I had somehow become a short order cook. I didn't mean to, it just happened. Some combination of the weeknight time crunch, my then-5-year old's picky tendencies, and my lack of energy to argue with him about it. So I would make an easy meal for the kids (think chicken nuggets, frozen pizza, or boxed mac n' cheese, with some veggies and fruit on the side). After they went to bed, I would do the dishes, and make dinner for myself. Then round two of dishes. I had to take back my life!

Apple Pizza

Are mealtimes a battleground in your home? Is your child just a "picky" eater, or could there be something more going on? Read on for insight into this question and a deliciously easy Apple Pizza recipe from Risa Nasatir, a certified licensed speech language pathologist.

Did you know that it takes 14 times to try a new food before one can say that they truly don’t like it? This is one of the things I tell both parents and children when they start any type of feeding therapy. Almost everyone has been around a “picky” eater, but what is really going on? Once medical issues have been ruled out, picky eating usually stems from either a behavioral difficulty, an oral motor challenge, a sensory challenge or a combination of these areas.

Photo courtesy of Risa Nasatir

Apple Crumb Cake

Getting kids in the kitchen is what we're all about at The Kids' Table. The benefits of cooking with your kids are many. You're teaching them a basic life skill, spending quality time together, giving kids a sense of ownership and accomplishment, and perhaps best of all, engaging them around food in a positive way. A healthy, fun relationship with food coupled with a sense of pride about their creations can help kids make better food choices.

Lucky New Year's Soup

Wanna make sure you have the best and brightest year ever? This soup could be your ticket. Dark leafy greens and black-eyed peas are the featured ingredients, which according to Southern US folklore bring good luck and prosperity for the year to come. The greens symbolize paper money, and the black eyed peas are reminiscent of coins. Of course, money can't buy happiness, but it also doesn't hurt!

Kohlrabi-Potato Pancakes with Avocado Cream & Fond Food Memories, by Melissa Graham

Culling out a single food memory from my childhood would be impossible as there are so very many. My mother, a great cook and food enthusiast, sought to make food interesting, an adventure ever day.

We took family field trips to farm stands on the east end of Long Island, that showed me real food in its natural state. 

Photo courtesy of Melissa Graham

She was also a gracious and creative hostess. I remember her making and serving dinner by candlelight for a Colonial Williamsburg dinner, clambakes, and cocktail hours that lasted several hours on our family sailboat. But of course, I'd be remiss in not recalling our family’s very popular, annual survival party - an outdoor event on New Year's Day. Yes, she served too much food and people drank too much. But I’ll always recall the laughter that those parties inspired.

She was willing to experiment. At the family table, I tried so many different cuisines as a kid - I remember the fondue pot, the wok, the crepe pan, and of course her famous krumkakers filled with sweetened whipped cream.

Most importantly, she showed me the importance of family dinner. While I may forgo the candles that my mom laid out each night, we continue this tradition every night, one that keeps our family strong.