Mike Ditka’s Steakhouses are a Chicago institution. The ball coach made famous on the gridiron and on SNL (da Bears) has a passion for food. I have had meatloaf before, but his chef takes this humble dish to the next level with his meat choices (fillet and prime rib) and the addition of cognac. I…

This is a classic stick-to-your-ribs dish. It’s even a cold-down-south dish. High starch, high cheese, high fat, just plain rich. I hope you like it. 3 tablespoons flour3 tablespoons butter1 teaspoon season salt1/2 teaspoon black pepper1/2 teaspoon hot Hungarian pepper2 cups whole milk5 cups potatoes, sliced thin1/3 cup diced shallots 1/2 cup cheddar cheese1/2 cup…

The best sticky buns in the world are from Flour Bakery in Boston. These aren’t those, but they are sweet, crunchy, and pack a strong cinnamon flavor. I hope you like them. 2 sheets puff pastry1 1/2 cups brown sugar, divided 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon1 cup butter, melted and divided.2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and…

We had an ice storm yesterday, but it’s Valentine’s Day today, so what do we do? Make a quick and easy cheesecake! After a pantry and refrigerator raid, here’s what I came up with. .The canned cherry swirl is just a nice bonus. 1 Graham cracker pie crust1 16 oz block cream cheese1 15 oz…

This biscuit recipe has no butter in it!!!!! I saw this on PBS’s America’s Test Kitchen, but of course I took their idea and made it my own. The addition of the pepper makes this perfect for sausage and gravy. I love me some biscuits and gravy. I hope you like it. 3 cups flour2…