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Melissa Elsmo
Melissa Elsmo is an Oak Park mother, wife and chef/foodie. A member of the District 97 Wellness Committee, she speaks regularly about reclaiming the family …
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Grilled steak sandwich perfect for Father’s Day
In honor of the men in our lives, a proper Father’s Day feast should feature manly fare with an indulgent flair. Few dishes are as masculine as a grilled steak sandwich, but managing the sandwich’s star ingredient is often laden with preparation pitfalls.
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Give beets a chance
When I was a kid and my Dad would go out of town on business, my mom and I invariably dined on a dinner of meatloaf and beets at least once while he was away.
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BLT casserole: a twist on a classic sandwich
Throwing grass seeds, spreading mulch and cutting back unwieldy vines sets the stage for a welcome onslaught of sunny days, cook-outs and summery cocktails. Planting hardy perennials, flavorful herbs and delicate annuals brighten any yard in advance of the summer entertaining season, but meal planning often takes a backseat during the busy march toward Memorial Day.
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A meal worthy of Mother’s Day
Motherhood is a gift. But let’s be honest, some days the gift feels more like opening the misshapen rummage sale sweater your loony aunt Bernice picked out instead of that fetching piece of jewelry you’ve had your eye on.
Cinco dishes for Cinco de Mayo
One of my all-time favorite Mexican restaurants, La Quinta de los Reyes, famously crams a 20-piece mariachi band in a room the size of a standard elementary school classroom.
Spring bounty means stepping away from the oven
April dinner parties are decidedly feminine affairs in my book and each year I gather some of my favorite ladies for a meal we affectionately refer to as “the spring hat dinner.”
Fight the chill with sunny ceviche
Enjoying a spring break vacation filled with palm trees, ocean surf and sandy beaches can leave Midwesterners longing for the sunny days of summer even more than usual at this time of year.
Hot cross buns: From the nursery rhyme to the table
While glazed ham, roasted leg of lamb and deviled eggs dominate typical Easter brunch menus, I thought it only fitting to look back to the mid-1300s for a little Lenten inspiration.
Master of the Matzo Ball
Matzo is a welcome addition to any Passover seder dinner menu as unleavened breads serve as a reminder that the Israelites had no time to let their bread rise as they were fleeing Egypt.
Luck of the Irish leftovers
Birthday party planning is a breeze for my best friend. Her husband’s birthday falls on St. Patrick’s Day and to celebrate he wants nothing more than a Guinness and an Irish Boiled Dinner.
For Pulaski Day: The perfect cabbage roll
The Chicago suburban landscape is filled with Polish cultural influences. In fact, residents of Polish descent make up the largest European-American population in the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois boasts one of the largest Polish populations in the United States.
Put a Cherry Bounce in your step
My grandma, Virginia, kept an enormous jar of ominous looking cherries on the upper shelf of her broom closet. She wedged it snugly between the Pine Sol and the mop bucket and I’d occasionally find her teetering on a stepstool to reach the precious jug.
Are you ready for some potato skins?
Growing up in Wisconsin in a house full of die-hard, season ticket-holding Packer fans taught me a thing or two about the sanctity of football. My dad organized a weekly football pool for our family with some pretty high stakes.
Hot food trends for 2013
Making annual food predictions is a little like reading tea leaves. Sure there are some clues lingering in the bottom of the proverbial cup, but there is a lot of room for interpretation in all the murky muck.
A hearty fish dish for Lenten Fridays
Growing up Catholic meant my family always ate fish on Fridays during the six weeks of Lent leading up to Easter Sunday.
New Year’s challenge: Take a trip around the world at your table
Let’s face it; New Year’s resolutions aren’t that much fun. I don’t know anyone who resolves to spend more money, throw more parties, increase caloric intake or exercise less at the turn of a new year, but I imagine those people would have a lot …
That’s a wrap: Snake-inspired ideas for Chinese New Year
According to ancient Chinese folklore, a mountain monster called Nian would descend into calm communities to destroy homes, consume livestock, and kill terrified villagers.
Fight winter doldrums with good-mood maker foods
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been fighting the urge to crawl into bed with a bowl full of macaroni and cheese these days. What gives?
A Bloody Mary worth celebrating
Popping one too many champagne corks at a riotous New Year’s Eve soiree often leads to a slow moving morning on New Year’s Day.
Are you ready for some potato skins?
Growing up in Wisconsin in a house full of die-hard, season ticket-holding Packer fans taught me a thing or two about the sanctity of football. My dad organized a weekly football pool for our family with some pretty high stakes.
