Category Archives: cooking

{Mar 28, 2013}
  Guest Post recipe : Carrot Cake

Every now and then you come across a blogger who makes you smile. Today I get to introduce you to Courtney a fashion student, chef and fellow CLE-lover. I hope you enjoy the recipe she has “whipped” together for you, perfect for Peter Rabbit who might be hopping down your bunny trail for Easter weekend. Thanks Courtney & happy baking weekend to ya!

Hi Friends! My name is Courtney McCrone and I post my musings at 23 Skidoo Blog. I am a Cleveland-lover (what classy lady isn’t?) currently completing my fashion design degree in L.A.; upon graduation this June, and will quickly hustle back to the CLE to live the dream! This summer I will be working on launching some of my designs, so look out world!

Easter is just around the corner, so I am really excited to share a great recipe with you to enjoy with your friends and family–perhaps even some little bunnies that might stop by for brunch!

MORE! →

Posted on March 28, 2013 by charity
Posted in bakery, baking, blog, blogs, cooking, eat, families, family, holiday, holidays, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

{Feb 5, 2013}
  Support OUR Market!

Morning CLE! It’s another wintery 2-sock day here and this week looks like it’s gonna keep coming; a perfect weekend to hit the slopes for sure!

I wanted to take today to chat about our amazing West Side Market and the recent fire tragedy. It was crazy, because while we usually do shop there pretty regularly the weekend prior to the outbreak we had made a special shopping excursion to find the perfect cut’s of beef, the most fresh mushrooms and an adorable bag of fresh pearl onions (no frozen ones for me) to make my first attempt at Julia Child”s boeuf bourguignon. The entire weekend was focused on this one recipe and the market vendors really added to the romance of the entire experience. Needless to say how sad I was when I hear the news of the fire, as many of us were…speechless.

Last weekend for the super bowl we would normally head to the market for chicken, cheese, perhaps a few pizza bagels? What were we going to do to continue the support of these area vendors? (Cue finding business card from the previous weekend shopping trip from Fricakaccios in my market shopping bag)

We were having a few people over to watch the big game and so rather than order pizza from our usual suspects we decided to try out our favorite pizza bagel stand and head to Fairview Park for Fricakaccios. Not only do they make the best pizza bagels in town, the make all sorts of pizza’s, special to-go options, Italian sandwiches and more. I mean check out the pic I snapped of what was a CHEESBURGER PIZZA! Sounds sorta weird; I know, but honestly I tried it and it was as good as your favorite patty melt served atop of some pizza dough. Bonus, the people at this location were so kind they even carried my order out to the car!

When asked about their market location, a little sadness fell over the team, it broke my heart. I explained that we had searched them out to do our part at supporting them as part of our market community; it brought back their Ohio-proud smiles.

This week there are many opportunities that you can get involved with to support the market and all the tried and true vendors. From the fundraiser at Market Garden Brewery tomorrow night, to the local musicians that will be performing Saturday at the Five O’Clock in Lakewood. Find your own  way to support those vendors who have been closed and without a paycheck during these cold Cleveland winter months. It’s the least we can do for our special place food memories are made. We HEART you West Side Market; get well soon.

(photo : amazing cheeseburger pizza, complete with pickles!)

Posted on February 5, 2013 by charity
Posted in chef, cooking, drink, eat, explore, farmers market, fun, fundraising, historic, independent, local, love, market, ohio, passion, shop, support, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

{Jan 9, 2013}
  Püre delite! Guiltfree Cupcakes

Right before the hustle and bustle of the final weeks of 2012, I received a lovely email from a new bakery in town offering me a few complimentary cupcakes…how could a girl turn that down? Püre delite; a guiltfree bakery located in both Strongville and Fairlawn make really great, healthy sweet treats and they were a welcome addition to the normal holiday treats. MORE! →

Posted on January 9, 2013 by charity
Posted in bakery, cooking, cupcake, new, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

{Dec 1, 2011}
  Holiday cookie making party!

My friends over at Gatherings Kitchen are hosting their third annual “Holiday Ice Box Cookie Making Event,” I already registered, and I highly recommend you do too!

Join the dynamic due Chef Ruth & Chef Doug in the kitchen for an evening of making slice and bake cookie doughs. We’ll make 6 different delicious icebox cookies that you’ll take home to bake for your holiday celebrations. What better way to impress your last-minute guests than with homemade cookies fresh from the oven. No shopping. No cleaning. Your holiday baking couldn’t be easier!

This year I am hosting the holidays, so any little opportunity to make thinsg a bit easier, I’m all over it! Plus, it just sounds like a fun evening to get to know some fellow holiday baking enthusiasts, I hope you will join me.

The flavors sound scrumptious! Cherry Ribbons, Dark Chocolate Coins, Fig Pinwheels, Lime Meltaways, Cappuccino Crunch, and Cranberry Pistachio. Yummy!

A light supper will be served and we’ll bake up a batch of each dough for tasting. Wednesday, December 14th, from 6-9 p.m. $65 per person. Call Gatherings Kitchen (216.228.2285) TODAY to make sure you are party of this holiday cookie extravaganza!

(photo from Martha Stewart’s cookie book!)

Posted on December 1, 2011 by charity
Posted in chef, chocolate, cooking, eat, event, food | 1 Comment

{Dec 22, 2010}
  Day 9 : The Bubble Process

Afternoon my friends. Hows work today? Trying to cram in last minute “to-do’s?” Is your office dead so you use this time to clean out your desks and prep for the new year? (that’s what we did.)

Are you just dying to know about today’s (Day 9) giveaway? Well, wait no more.

Today you are SO lucky to have the opportunity to enter to win the SOLD OUT Cleveland Poster as well as the limited edition concert posters for She & Him and Andrew Bird, designed & illustrated by Cleveland’s (& Brooklyn’s) own, The Bubble Process. (valued at $55)

Founded in 2006, The Bubble Process is the creation of Kent State grads, Sean and Nicholas. Looking for their perfect dream jobs they decided to take matters into their own hands and work on creating artwork that stirred their souls.

A huge food and music enthusiast, Sean was kind enough to answer a few questions for me. Thanks Sean!

IHC : “If you could design an album cover for ANY band, who would it be and why?”

BP : “DEVO for sure! They are definitely one of our favorite bands. There is so much creativity within their songs/videos that I wouldn’t really know where to start, but it would be a great time conceptualizing and working on. Plus we are also Kent alums, and we gotta stick together.”

IHC : “What is your best holiday memory?”

BP : “As cheesy as it sounds, it was actually going to Downtown Cleveland to see the lights. I’m not sure I was all that interested in the lights and decorations, but as a kid from the suburbs it was pretty magical to see the city and the buildings close up. I remember laying in the back of the Toyota Minivan Looking up at the tall buildings. It all just seemed so enormous and beautiful.”

IHC : “When you aren’t drawing and designing, what do you love to do in your free time?”

BP : “I really like spending my free time riding my bike around the west side (when weather is permitting of course). I live in Lakewood so Edgewater and the Gordon Square Arts District is just a 3 song ipod ride.”

To enter to win the THREE Bubble Process prints, friend them on facebook and then come back here to let me know! (please include your email, winner will be drawn December 24th)

Posted on December 22, 2010 by charity
Posted in art, artists, business, celebrate, community, cooking, design, illustration, music, Uncategorized | 17 Comments

{Mar 4, 2010}
  Ohio City Pasta Review #2

So, If you remember back in January I set some goals or pseudo resolutions for myself as a resident of Northeast Ohio. I planned to see the Symphony, take a tour of the Mansfield State Penitentiary and taste test every flavor of Ohio City Pasta known to man. I’m making baby steps and checking things off my list…

The other evening I made the best dinner, Pumpkin Ravioli courtesy of Ohio City Pasta. I browned some butter (I didn’t say it was low fat.) tossed in some walnuts added the boiled Pumpkin Ravioli and topped the dish off with chopped granny smith apples and a shaving of Parmesan cheese. The dish was decadent and perfect for a chilly winter evening.

Hmmm…wonder what flavor will be next? I’m thinking the goat cheese, but with the onset of spring perhaps an asparagus, lobster or crab might sway my decision.

(I never posted about it officially but in February I whipped up the ratatouille raviolis with a red sauce and grilled chicken, Cest Manifique!)

Posted on March 4, 2010 by charity
Posted in cooking, fast food, local, market, recipe | 7 Comments

{Feb 23, 2010}
  Prep School (2 spots left!)

Gatherings Kitchen is now offering a more skill focused cooking series called Prep School.

Always wanted to study to be a chef? The series is sure to touch on knife skills, baking, stocks, sauces and more. This series would give you a good taste, an intro to some of the lingo and basics. Sign up today as there are only 2 post s left for the first series which starts on March, 2nd. For more the menu and more details click here.

Posted on February 23, 2010 by charity
Posted in cooking, education, lecture, local, love | 1 Comment

{Jan 27, 2010}
  Ravioli Review #1

One of my “to-do’s” for this year was to explore each flavor of Ohio City Pastas Raviloi’s.

A few weekends ago I was faced with “where do I start?” Each little pasta package looked so yummy and exciting. My mouth watered in anticipation. I could start with the richness of lobster or crab or I could begin with something a bit basic and work up from there.

I bought a dozen of smoked mozzarella raviolis-not basic in the least-and had the perfect Sunday night supper. They were robust yet fragile, smoky and rich like an aged bottle of wine, yet simple and lovely paired with a basic pea shoot salad. Quick to cook, these ravioli’s get a ten out of ten!

1 down…many many more to go!

Posted on January 27, 2010 by charity
Posted in cooking, fast food, flavor, local, shopping | Leave a comment

{Aug 3, 2009}
  FREE Tickets (8/05)

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Good morning Cleveland!

I have 2 pairs of tickets to this weeks early viewing of the anticipated flick Julie & Julia to give away thanks to the evenings host…Gatherings Kitchen.

Gatherings Kitchen is a custom catering kitchen that provides corporate and social catering to fit your enetertaining needs. Chefs Ruth and Doug also open their doors for Friday night Super Clubs – where you and your friends have the opportunity to cook together under their supervision. Along with catering & Supper Clubs, Gatherings Kitchen is also available for your private dining needs. Tucked along Madison Ave in Lakewood the space is a wonderful location for your engagement party, team building and childrens birthday party needs. GIve them a shout today for more informtion 216.228.2285

If you’d like one of the pairs of MOVIE TICKETS, leave a comment and tell me this: If you could learn to cook something along side of Ms. Child what would it be?

The contest is open until end of day August 3rd. (please include your email so I can contact you for your mailing address, the tickets will be mailed out today!)

Posted on August 3, 2009 by charity
Posted in contest, cooking, free, indoors, movie | 14 Comments

{Jun 18, 2009}
  BOGO, Qdoba!

Buy one entrée get (quesadilla?) one free coupon. Print as many as you want until June 30th. Pass it along.

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/qdoba.html

For a location closest to you, visit www.qdoba.com

(thanks Michelle & friends)

Posted on June 18, 2009 by charity
Posted in cooking, deal, discount, drink, food, restaurant | 1 Comment