Renata's Kitchen: A Flash in the Pan

Sign Up Here for Roast Chicken 101: Easiest Chicken Ever

There is nothing fancy required for this classic family favorite; just click on the video below for proof.

A dear friend of mine once asked me what we were having for dinner one Sunday night.  I told him, “roast chicken.”   His response? “From raw?” “Oh dear,” I thought. “This man needs help!”   Here is today’s recipe on how to make a simple roast chicken.   Now I know there are stellar cooks who will have a thousand other upgrades to this recipe.  For now I am going to state how to simply and easily roast a chicken—from raw. You will need: Roast chicken is the easiest thing in the world and doesn’t take any time at all to prepare. Your house will smell heavenly while it cooks and your kids will come floating through the house like Yogi bear at a picnic. You don’t need a roasting rack, you don’t need twine, you don’t need a special pan. Set the…

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Renata's Kitchen

This Family Knows Outstanding Farm-fresh, Free-range Chickens

Meet the family behind the free-range chickens raised at Hollyhock Hill Farms.

"So this is what chicken is supposed to taste like!" These were the first words out of my mouth after I tasted my first bite of a Hollyhock Hills Farms free-range chicken that I had simply roasted at home. Yes, there is an Elmhurst connection.  Yes, Joanne O'Brien's extended family runs the farm. But I would not endorse a product I did not feel was truly superior. Renata stands by this chicken! I have tasted the whole roasted chicken, the cut up pieces and the skinless breast. They all have a unique, gentle flavor that tastes, well, like the first time I ever ate real chicken. Though I have tasted free-range chicken in England that was superb, this may be the best chicken I have tasted this side of the Atlantic. Hollyhock Hill Farms is …

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Forever Fit

Bill Kurtis: Newsman, Conservationist, Cattleman

Veteran journalist Bill Kurtis, who was in Elmhurst last weekend, tells Tina why grass-fed beef is the answer to many health and environmental problems.

Do you ever stop to think about where that steak on your dinner plate came from?  You're probably imagining a herd of cattle grazing in the rolling pastures of cattle country, eating grass and wandering peacefully until nightfall.  The truth is that most of the beef we eat in America, unless labeled otherwise, comes from corn-fed, factory farm cattle. Advertisers tout this as a good thing, bragging that their steaks are from "prime, corn-fed beef." But how natural is it for cattle to eat corn?  Cattle graze in pastures; their stomaches are meant to digest grass, not corn.  There's been a slow-growing trend, though, towards grass-fed beef.  Renowned investigative journalist Bill Kurtis is one believer. He is the founder and chairman of …

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Tina Tuszynski

3:06 pm on Sunday, February 27, 2011

So true, Rach! I actually bought the Tallgrass ground beef and made a Meatloaf with prosciutto, spinach, carrots, and pecorino cheese rolled up inside. The beef was so red and juicy instead of that sickly gray color. And it tasted great!   more ›

Bill Kurtis Talks Tallgrass at Amano Boucherie

The Elmhurst butcher shop held its official grand opening Saturday.

Bill Kurtis stood in front of the meat counter at Amano Boucherie in Elmhurst Saturday afternoon. He snuck in rather quietly; many standing near him in the crowded butcher shop didn't immediately notice him. He checked out the Tallgrass beef behind the glass, and then began to explain how its marbling and color can only be achieved when the cattle is grass-fed. It was then that customers began to take notice. Kurtis, who is best known as a former Chicago news anchor and the host of A&E Network's crime shows, including "American Justice," "Investigative Reports" and "Cold Case Files," has been in the meat business for about five years now. He founded the Tallgrass Beef Company on his Kansas ranch after researching the health and …

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Forever Fit

Amano Boucherie and Local CSA Entice Elmhurst to Eat Local and Organic

So much to see, learn and taste at Amano Boucherie's grand opening Feb. 19; and Elmhurst resident Bob Vierow more than happy to share recipes with membership to his CSA.

Imagine biting into a ripe, juicy, luscious tomato picked fresh from the garden in August.  Your tastebuds explode with goodness as the sweet yet tangy juice runs down your chin.  Pair that with a fresh leaf of basil, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and homemade, creamy fior di latte (mozzarella), and there’s no beating this simple combination of fresh foods. Now taste a tomato from the grocery store today–it’s likely a sickly red inside and tastes like plastic.  While it’s convenient to have access to tomatoes year-round, the flavor of produce in season just can’t be beat.  It’s no wonder we mask many foods with salt and heavy sauces. The local food movement continues to grow in popularity as people increasingly turn to home gardens, …

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Tina Tuszynski

10:00 am on Friday, February 11, 2011

Silly! It's okay to eat desserts in moderation - especially if they are made from scratch. Have you ever tasted Marco's creme brulees? To die for!   more ›

Forever Fit

Home on the Free Range at Amano Boucherie

Tina asks the important question: Do you know where your food comes from?

Do you know where the food on your plate came from? I'm not referring to the grocery store from which you purchased it, but where it was actually grown or raised.  If it's fish, there's a good chance it may be from China, as they are one of the leading exporters to the United States. The eggs in your omelette may be from a factory farm. Chances are, if you shop at a large chain grocery store, you don't really know where your food comes from.  This fact was highlighted just a month ago, when a massive egg recall took place because of contamination from salmonella. Two large factory farms produced the 380 million recalled eggs, which were sold under several different brand names.  Consumers could only identify the allegedly contaminated eggs…

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Tina Tuszynski

11:47 am on Thursday, November 4, 2010

Get ready Elmhurst - the Amano Boucherie opens Friday! You can order a HoKa turkey for Thanksgiving.   more ›