Chicago may still feel like early spring (70s in November? What?) but the truth is simple, the holidays are just around the corner, and we all know the “foodie” on our shopping lists is the hardest person to shop for. So, I rounded up the ultimate holiday gift guide for any kind of the Chicago foodie. For The Brunch Squad No matter if your brunch squad is just a 2 person affair, or a whole group of 10, everybody will love a good gift card to spend on Mimosas. Kanela Breakfast Club (multiple locations, including the trendy Streeterville and Old Town) offers a great gift card deal this season: spend $100…

Added a shot of Cold Spell “Intense Mint Whiskey” in my eggnog today and it was life changing. Everyone loved it and it got me thinking.. aside from the traditional rum, what makes your eggnog stand out?

Every woman needs to master at least two dinner recipes in case she ever gets to host a party. This roasted lemon chicken recipe came from a silly book, believe it or not, and I only tried making it to see if it was a joke last Thanksgiving. Turns out, this recipe was as serious as it was delicious, and very easy, too! Read on for the recipe.   A photo posted by ivy (@inivyshead) on Dec 25, 2015 at 1:44pm PST Ingredients: 1 whole chicken cinnamon 2 organic lemons 1 small tin of candied lemons 1 onion 2 Tbs soy sauce fresh rosemary, tied in a bunch (not in…

Boo! It’s Halloween, let’s bake some Halloween Cookies! I took my favorite recipe for spice cookies which I make every Christmas and turned them into skeleton gingerbread men for the ultimate Halloween treat. Look! I had a super cute Vine of these, but then Vine went kaput so a pic has to do.. (like my Day of the Dead fella?) A photo posted by ivy (@inivyshead) on Oct 31, 2015 at 7:50am PDT Alright, let’s just get right to it. Here’s my recipe, just a heads up, you’re going to need a scale. Ingredients: 50ml Orange Juice (about 4 Tbs) 140g brown sugar 50g honey 2 T water 150g unsalted…

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! There are plenty of great ways to support breast cancer research foundations and organizations. You can donate directly to your preferred cause, or use your purchasing powers at local establishments to give back. Important facts About Breast Cancer In The United States: One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Each year it is estimated that over 246,660 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000…

This is one of the easiest recipes that will match any summer cocktail, wine or spritzer – Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread Pizza. Very simple and fast, pair with any backyard party or enjoy as light lunch or dinner meal. Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread Pizza Ingredients: Naan flatbread Fresh Burrata Good quality Italian prosciutto Arugula Fresh figs Balsamic vinegar Olive oil Directions: Preheat oven to 450F, warm up the flatbread for about 10-14 minutes, depending if you want it on the crispy or soft side. Drizzle with olive oil, top with arugula, sliced figs, small dollops of burrata, and prosciutto. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Done! Slice your Fig and Prosciutto flatbread…

Summer in Chicago is coming to a close so when you have a chance to be outside, that’s just what you have to do. This weekend, Renegade Craft Fair came to Chicago and it was the perfect opportunity to be outside, look at artsy, handmade stuff and but a few pieces you really don’t need but can’t live without. Renegade Craft is a “highly curated showcase of the very best in modern craft and design”, as their website proclaims. Dozens of talented artists and makers set up their tents on Division Street in Wicker Park, and hundreds of people showed up in search of that one unique piece that screamed…

Everyone needs to master cooking the perfect steak. I found out my favorite cut is the filet mignon, cooked rare to medium-rare. You too? Great, then keep reading! Unfortunately, we (you and I, we’re in this together) can’t afford to go to steakhouses every 2-3 weeks. Which is why I learned how to cook it myself. A wine-and-dine at a restaurant costs an arm and a leg, you order a bottle of wine and maybe finish with dessert. Try replicating the experience at home and you get to impress your partner, choose the music, the wine and not feel like everyone’s watching when you go for a second slice of…

I already made this twice in 3 weeks… So. Fucking. Good. Plus it takes like 15 minutes to make. 20 tops. BTW, National Smores Day is today, hence this post. Tip: Bring fresh strawberries in the mix too, either slices to wedge in between crackers, or whole to use in place of graham crackers all together. You need: cast iron skillet (I use a 4in I believe and it was good enough for 2 adults and a child) butter jumbo marshmallows chocolate graham crackers strawberries Preheat oven with cast iron skillet inside of it to 450F. In the Mean time, chop chocolate and cut marshmallows in half, horizontally. Bring out…