Recipe ideas and commentary on the new food culture by professional photographer Tom Schmidt in Chicago. Get inspired to cook something awesome!

Bak Kut Teh (BKT) Pork Soup Recipe – Singapore’s Hokkien Style

//  by 

I am sure you are wondering what does "bak kut teh" mean and aren't you from Missouri, Tom?!?  Yes, yes, still the same Tom here, but my wife, Priscilla is from the faraway land of Singapore where "bak kut teh" in Hokkien translates to "meat bone tea." This soup was developed as a hearty meal for the working men called "coolies" who labored loading and unloading boats at the ports of Singapore in the colonial days.  The workers believed the combination of fragrant herbs and hearty pork could …

Bak Kut Teh (BKT) Pork Soup Recipe – Singapore’s Hokkien StyleRead More

Singaporean Simple Chicken Soup Instant Pot Recipe – Pressure Cooker

//  by 

My wife Priscilla is from Singapore and we have not been able to visit her home for far too long, so we have begun traveling via the kitchen.  A perfect meal for her is anything with a soup on the side, so I have been really working on my soup game!  This recipe evolved from the famous Singaporean Chicken Rice recipe as I started trying all of our favorites in the Instant Pot. For Hainanese Chicken Rice, the soup is just an afterthought and used only as the liquid for the fragrant and rich rice …

Singaporean Simple Chicken Soup Instant Pot Recipe – Pressure CookerRead More

Tom’s Chili Recipe in a Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot

//  by 

Chili has rightfully earned its place on my table.  Day in and day out, this chili has it all: flavor, sustenance, and nutrition.  Chili is also so versatile that it can be the center point to lead a meal or a quiet companion on the side. I recently got into making chili when I learned that beans have the most fiber of basically any vegetable, and I wanted to find a way to enjoy their goodness.  On my quest to find a go-to bean dish, I pursued and experimented with recipes from Bean by Bean …

Tom’s Chili Recipe in a Pressure Cooker or Instant PotRead More

Herbal Pressure Cooker Chicken Soup – Updated and Reworked

//  by 

Each week, I make a pot of chicken soup. This recipe is deeply embedded in our life at this point. My wife loves it and that makes me happy, of course. With each batch we objectively evaluate the result and I have run through a variety of experimental methods to land on this most delicious version. The changes have been both slight and dramatic. I have been on a quest to make it richer and even more savory. Generally, you will find the same ingredients as any other chicken soup, but with a …

Herbal Pressure Cooker Chicken Soup – Updated and ReworkedRead More

Pineapple Tart Cookies – Singaporean Style

//  by 

I always get excited about Chinese New Year, not only to read my zodiac prediction and see what kind luck I can expect, but also for all of the sweet treats!  My wife Priscilla is from Singapore and she inspired me to make these pineapple tarts from scratch a few years ago when she was craving a taste from home.  I set out to buy a big pineapple and see if I could produce an authentic flaky and buttery treat to help her ring in the new year.  We started with the recipe from the foodblog Rasa …

Pineapple Tart Cookies – Singaporean StyleRead More

Citrus-Braised Red Cabbage Recipe w/ Apples, Goat Cheese

//  by 

It's purple and delicious and so easy to make.  Buying a whole head of cabbage always seems like a like you  are signing yourself up for a lot of work, slicing, coring, shaving, etc.  But seriously this goes from ingredients to table in barely 30 mins, and it doesn't really take that much effort at all!  This braised cabbage recipe with apples and a bit of citrus is simple and quick to make... and best of all, it keeps very well and can be enjoyed cold.  Add a bit of goat cheese to transform …

Citrus-Braised Red Cabbage Recipe w/ Apples, Goat CheeseRead More

Whole Fish Sous Vide Red Snapper – Super Tasty & Easy Recipe

//  by 

I am from the midwest and generally the fish we get around here, we done caught'em ourselves!  Large Mouth Bass, Catfish, Crappie, etc., etc. And believe me, I've got some pictures of me (and my family) with their biggest catch on my phone.  Fishing is just one of those things that create some of the most vivid and fun memories of the good ole days of sunrise fishing with my family... Fishing is quite an animalistic experience of man vs. fish and it's a battle of the wits to see who survives.  …

Whole Fish Sous Vide Red Snapper – Super Tasty & Easy RecipeRead More

Homemade Yogurt Sous Vide Method (Cow or Goat Milk)

//  by 

There's yogurt and then there is HOMEMADE yogurt.  You've got to try this recipe to get a taste of the fragrant and deliciousness of a freshly crafted yogurt.  Yogurt, probably super difficult to make, right?  They sell so much pre-made in sooo many different flavors, but none stand a chance against the homemade version.  This dish has become a little treat we enjoy nearly every day now and we simply eat it plain! Yogurt Recipe for Sous Vide The origins of our yogurt making date back to a …

Homemade Yogurt Sous Vide Method (Cow or Goat Milk)Read More

Applesauce Recipe – Easy Homemade Method

//  by 

Homemade applesauce, although sort of resembles the store-bought stuff, blows it away with the soft texture and wonderful sweetness. Sometimes the simple things are worth making at home. Applesauce is another homemade item that you probably think: “Shoot, that probably requires some tools I don’t have…” Actually… all you need is a peeler, knife, pot and smasher. Boom applesauce! It’s so stinkin easy that you will likely pull it right into your set of GO TO recipes. The apples used …

Applesauce Recipe – Easy Homemade MethodRead More

Green Beans Stir Fry with Tempeh – Vegan Dinner!

//  by 

Stir fry this and stir fry that... You can basically stir fry anything!  This is a great combo (Green Beans, Carrots and Tempeh) for a meat-less option that will still keep ya full past dessert. The unassuming fermented soybeans (tempeh) wear a meaty disguise to this veggie party with an amazing ability to soak up the dark soy sauce flavors. Add a pile of fresh crunchy green beans, a few carrots, with plenty of garlic and ginger for a bright and satisfyingly hearty ethnic taste. Your …

Green Beans Stir Fry with Tempeh – Vegan Dinner!Read More

Chicken Hot Wings – Oven Roasted and Cooked to Perfection

//  by 

Do chicken hot wings have their own place in the food pyramid? I think they might have left them off the bottom because they are a must in any balanced diet… Maybe they just ran out paper when they were drawing the pyramid. Glorious chicken hot wings, how I love thee. If there ever was a food that could brighten even a dark Chicago winter day, it would have to be the perfectly roasted chicken wing, with magic dust of course, and finished with some Frank’s hot sauce. Worries disappear as …

Chicken Hot Wings – Oven Roasted and Cooked to PerfectionRead More

Aeropress Inverted Brewing Method – Chicago Coffee

//  by 

https://youtu.be/KakEQiQzNUo Best Aeropress Brewing Method by Joshua from Everybody's Coffee Nothing starts the morning off like a cup of coffee. Or really, the afternoon... or the work week... or even the weekend! With so much coffee, shouldn't it be awesome? Joshua from Everybody's Coffee in Chicago is a coffee aficionado who has studied, and perfected the art of the Aeropress inverted brewing method. People come from around Chicago to enjoy his brews, I've seen them at the shop... This …

Aeropress Inverted Brewing Method – Chicago CoffeeRead More

DIY Bokashi Composter Instructions and Images

//  by 

How to build your Bokashi composter and start composting today! We moved to the suburbs and now I am composting.  We simply eat a ton of veggies and generate some serious green waste.  It makes me sad to send the scraps from high quality food off to a landfill to be buried with batteries and plastic bottles for eternity.  I spent money on that organic trash yo.  This lead me to begin the COMPOST QUEST although we are living in a town home with a professionally landscaped yard, so I am not sure …

DIY Bokashi Composter Instructions and ImagesRead More

Coconut Macaroons Recipe – Lynnette Astaire

//  by 

https://youtu.be/xAlnyrOQ-os Lynnette Astaire's Coconut Macaroon Recipe Let’s face it when you get hungry, you have gotta eat something… And you can’t just bake a chicken or make a fresh kale salad every time HUNGER strikes! These coconut macaroons sweet, filling and store well for at least a week. That is if you can resist eating them all at once… Recipe Inspiration: Lynnette Astaire - LiveLynnette.com For this post we’ve brought in the lifestyle expert and healthy food queen …

Coconut Macaroons Recipe – Lynnette AstaireRead More

Savory Kale Salad Recipe w/ Parmesan – From Dr. Weil

//  by 

https://youtu.be/fG9d345YsMI Kale Salad Recipe with Parmesan, lemon and Breadcrumbs This super quick kale salad recipe will remind you of your favorite Cesar salad, but without all the dressing! It features my favorite deep dark green lacinato kale. You will love this recipe as a savory contrast to the sweeter Massaged Kale with Cranberries and Sunflower Seeds. The lemon juice with a little salt magically wilts down the greens making them soft and luxurious. I like to give this …

Savory Kale Salad Recipe w/ Parmesan – From Dr. WeilRead More

Chicken Soup Recipe – Pressure Cooker Method

//  by 

Pressure Cooker Chicken Soup Recipe - Fast and Delicious! Delightfully satisfying and comforting chicken soup on the quick! This use of the pressure cooker creates both a wonderful soup broth and perfectly cooked chicken (not that soggy stuff…) ALL IN ONE POT. The pressure cooker has earned its place on the shelf with this recipe. You might be thinking, damn, I don’t have a pressure cooker. Take a quick scroll through this recipe any way and check out the result. See how stinking fast …

Chicken Soup Recipe – Pressure Cooker MethodRead More

Asian Inspired Broccolini Recipe, Edamame, Coconut

//  by 

Broccolini Recipe with Edamame, Coconut and Kaffir Lime Leaves   Fresh and light with tons of lime and coconut. Take a ride around the world with this tropical vegetable dish. The Kaffir Lime leaves give an amazing aroma of lime throughout the dish without citrusy bitterness. Finished with heaping handful of cilantro for an ultimate fresh taste. Over the Christmas break, I was back at home perusing cookbooks and found "Plenty More" by the uber famous Yotam Ottolenghi. At first …

Asian Inspired Broccolini Recipe, Edamame, CoconutRead More

Quinoa, Black Beans, Cucumber and Avocado with Eggs Recipe

//  by 

Quinoa Recipe for a quick lunch or hearty side dish This dish with Quinoa, Black Beans, Cucumber and Avocado with Eggs is light, but hearty enough to refuel your tanks and support your journey to greatness. The combination of the vinegar, limes and cilantro creates a wonderful freshness that reinvigorates your soul through your daily grind.You never know, a great idea might even hit you over the head after lunch when you are NOT a wandering zombie in an afternoon coma… Lunch is often a …

Quinoa, Black Beans, Cucumber and Avocado with Eggs RecipeRead More

Pork Chorizo Sausage Recipe

//  by 

A wise man once said: "When life gives you big ole pork butts, make Chorizo sausage" Here we turn our pork butt into Chorizo, a dynamic and delicious team player in the kitchen. This sausage brings a strong spicy and rich flavor to any dish. (Check out the Seafood Stew!) Chorizo can also stand on its own, I'll even throw a link on the grill and top it with some ketchup. Shoot, Chorizo can even take the lead on your next conference call, really just a great team player… When picking out …

Pork Chorizo Sausage RecipeRead More

Carrot Orange Beets Ginger and Turmeric Juice (COBGT Juice)

//  by 

Beet Juice Recipe to Boost Your Nutrition Intake and Brighten Your Day! Bold color and big nutrition. This juice is loaded with some richly colored roots, kicked up with ginger and turmeric and then smoothed out with some oranges. It turns out super red, but don’t let that fool you, it doesn’t taste as earthy (like dirt) as you might imagine a beet juice blend. With the eternal question of juicing or smoothing, I choose both. I have not gone down the juice cleanse road, although I …

Carrot Orange Beets Ginger and Turmeric Juice (COBGT Juice)Read More