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

Dinner

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

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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

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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 …

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

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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 …

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

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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 …

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

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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.  …

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Green Beans Stir Fry with Tempeh – Vegan Dinner!

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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 …

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Chicken Hot Wings – Oven Roasted and Cooked to Perfection

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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 …

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

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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 …

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Chicken Soup Recipe – Pressure Cooker Method

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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 …

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Asian Inspired Broccolini Recipe, Edamame, Coconut

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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 …

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Pork Chorizo Sausage Recipe

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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 …

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Summer Seafood Stew Recipe with Salmon and Mussels

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Bright, hearty and complex! This salmon and mussel summer seafood stew has a delightfully fresh tangy flavor and a deep savory finish. Although it is a warm stew, it is perfect on a summer evening with a glass of white wine. This is one of our favorites for at home celebratory meals. Compared to some of the more simple (and cheaper…) dishes featured on Eat with Tom, this one is definitely worth the investment. Maybe a good idea for the next big night in with your sweetie… Seafood …

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Quick Weeknight Stir-Fry with Coconut Aminos

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**Guest Post from Morgan Paris Fitness** This extremely simple chicken and vegetable Stir-Fry recipe will leave your taste-buds feeling like you slaved over the stove when in fact you threw together a package of organic chicken (make high quality meat a priority!) and some pre-cut frozen veggies in a pan and pushed "go." You know the nights you get home from your workday and you are just so pooped it feels like it may be easier to eat an entire bag of chips than take time to make a healthy …

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Chickpea Pizza Refined – Plus Chicken Sausage / Magic Dust

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Chickpea Flatbread Pizza Recipe - Gluten-Free The original Chickpea Pizza with Eggs Recipe has become kinda small-time famous for some crazy reason.  Maybe it’s the eggs on top that get all the attention…   Personally, I dig this recipe so much that I make it nearly every week!  It then becomes lunch and snacks for the next few days. As I continue to make it time and time again, I have worked out a few new additions that you are sure to love. I have been integrating more high quality meats into …

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Spiralized Zucchini with Fresh Spaghetti Sauce Recipe – Paleo “Noodles”

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No noodles? No problem… when you have a spiralizer!  You are going to love the light freshness of the zucchini with the simple, slightly sweet home cooked tomato sauce for this dish.  This fare satisfies and leaves you feeling full (which makes me happy) without the drag and resulting carb coma of demolishing a huge plate of pasta.  It’s got a double whammy positive effect! I often make an entire meal out of a few heaping helpings of these zucs, but it can also make a nice side dish, or even …

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Massaged Kale Salad with Sunflower Seeds and Dried Cranberries

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Turn that super chewy and tough raw kale into a tender treat with a simple massage.  The other secret weapons of this recipe are  sunflower seeds and mustard which transform these greens into a savory and satisfying dish. The idea of massaging kale is bound to cause a raised eyebrow from anyone not familiar with the glorious result.  The process is so simple, I am still dumbfounded why the technique has not taken hold on a larger scale. Don’t be surprised if you too are amazed by the …

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Chickpea Pizza with Eggs, Spinach and Tomatoes

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Gluten-Free Chickpea Flatbread Pizza Crust Recipe “I want Pizza!!”  We all have the craving, so why fight it?  This gluten-free pizza recipe will leave you not only satisfied, but inspired to create all kinds of pies.  The chickpea crust has a uniquely creamy and hearty taste that will fill you with happiness.  Not to mention, the crust is soooo easy to make, you will never have the urge to deal with a 'regular' pizza dough again! This recipe has become a busy evening favorite at my …

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grapes

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Roasted Brussel Sprouts Recipe with Grapes When did Brussels sprouts become so cool?  People that normally don’t like veggies will even eat these.  They seem to have turned into the gateway drug for folks that often stay away from the green stuff.  Cool to me! My parents introduced me to this dish and at the time I had not traveled down the veggie road nearly as far as I have today.  Although it was a few years back, I can still vividly remember the first time these divine tiny …

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Perfect Roasted Chicken Recipe – Impress the Ladies!

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Perfect Oven Roasted Chicken Recipe The easiest way to get the perfect girl to fall in love with you, serve her a perfectly roasted beautiful bird.  The mythical aphrodisiac effects of the golden crispy skin and luscious meat will unfold before your very eyes.  Or at least she will give a hearty compliment on your valiant attempt and big hug.  But hey, I’ve heard success stories… Recipe Inspiration - The Perfectly Roasted Chicken, Mindy Fox This method really benefits from starting with a high …

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Portobello Recipe – Roasted Mushrooms with Balsamic Vinegar

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Portobello Recipe - Roasted Mushroom Side Dish / Appetizer Portobello mushrooms are from Mars... A UFO shaped meaty treat magically grows on composted poo... Yep an alien species! I am always amazed by their interesting structure (pop off the stalk and observe the texture) and how they seem to hover somewhere between the animal and veggie world.  Maybe they are actually more like fish, they do have gills. Anyways enough of the tangent… This recipe for preparing portobellos is …

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