Cast iron is the original nonstick cookware that can withstand extreme temperatures even in the oven. It comes in all types from regular skillets, grill pans, to griddles. Your grandmother used one way before nonstick coatings became all the rage. Then we found out the older nonstick pans were actually toxic. The pans made today are safe but do not offer the versatility of cast iron nor its’ heat resistance.

Cast iron does need a little extra care but it will last for years with proper seasoning. Seasoning is what happens when fats are heated to a point where they reorganize into something that bonds to the metal and gives you a nonstick surface. Oil is the best friend to the cast iron. It keeps it protected, keeping rust causing moisture away. Heat plus oil builds the patina and acts like moisturizer on your skin. 

Some new cast iron comes pre-seasoned, and you can cook on it right away. Test for it by heating a tablespoon of oil for 3 minutes then cooking an egg. No major sticking? You’re good to go. Seasoning an older skillet can take more times for the best results. Older skillets have smooth surfaces whereas new ones have a slightly pebbled surface. The pebbled surfaces are said to hold onto seasoning better. 

Contrary to popular opinion you can use a little mild soap to clean a skillet. Nor will metal utensils damage your surface. Cast iron will put up with a little abuse, it’s been around for hundreds of years. It is easy to maintain the surface of your cast iron. After cleaning return the pan to medium low heat. Rub it down with paper towels until it is smooth and shiny with no visible residue. You can also heat in the oven at 200 degrees for 15 minutes. Non saturated oil is best. Sunflower and soybean are affordable options. If you are short on time and cannot reheat at least wipe a thin film of oil to protect the surface, buffing till all greasy spots are gone. 

Lodge is a good source for cookware and all the knowledge you need to cook with and care for your cast iron. Go to www.lodgecastiron.com and click on cast iron 101 for all the information you need.  

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

The roller coaster of temps from cold to hot are settling down to where they should be just in time for another beautiful May spring weekend here in Chicago! So, kick-back, relax and enjoy what this weekend has to offer!!

This year marks the return of in-person events with Illinois Craft Beer Week from May 13 through May 20.  This event celebrates Illinois craft brewers and the robust network of enthusiasts, team members, suppliers and partners that support the industry across the state. It also features a powerhouse lineup of in-person, fan-favorite festivals with a mix of taproom events, special promotions, advocacy outreach, and more! Plus, complementing the in-person festival will be a series of hybrid events. This Saturday’s hybrid event is Patio Parties (enjoy the taproom outdoor patios now open) while Sunday’s is Small Brewery Sunday (craft beer fans are encouraged to make a beer run to a neighborhood brewery rather than the grocery store to support economic growth in your neighborhood).

Join MPC Events for The “606” Trail Bar Crawl this Saturday (4 p.m. – 7 p.m.) meeting up at Humble Bar (3018 W. North Ave.) in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. The 606 Trail is commonly called the Bloomingdale Trail and is a former Chicago dilapidated railroad line that is now one of Chicago’s new jewels!  Participants will visit 3 bars along the 606 where you’ll stop for drinks and grab bites to eat, and in between the stops you’ll walk The 606 Trail exploring the neighborhoods of Wicker Park, Bucktown and Humboldt Park. It’s a great way to meet people, explore Chicago, and have fun!!

Immerse yourself in locomotive history at the Pullman Railroad Days this Saturday and Sunday at the Historic Pullman Foundation Exhibit Hall (11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave.). Visitors will get to explore four historic Pullman Cars from different eras at the 111^th Metra station which includes Amtrak’s 1981 George M. Pullman (the final passenger car built by the Pullman-Standard Company), as well as the new exhibit “Railroaders: Jack Delano’s Homefront Photography” which is a striking visual exploration of the hard work and heroism of railway workers in the yard, on the trains and in the station during World War II.  Plus, don’t miss the. guided tours of the factory site, the historic Pullman neighborhood, and the Hotel Florence as well as the virtual reality experience that guides viewers through the technology powering America’s freight railroads! It’s a mix of free events and a single ticket for entry into others – All Aboard!!

Want to catch a baseball game this weekend? Here’s who’s in town:

The Chicago White Sox are hosting the New York Yankees this Saturday at 6:10 p.m. and Sunday at 1:10 p.m. at Guaranteed Rate Field (333 W. 35^th St.) in the Bridgeport neighborhood.

The Chicago Dogs will be taking on the Gary SouthShore Railcats this Saturday at 6 p.m. and the Lincoln Saltdogs this Sunday at 3 p.m. at Impact Field (9850 Balmoral Ave.) in Rosemont. Fans of all ages are welcome for a one-of-a-kind experience where every day is fan appreciation day!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

Chicago weather has sure been crazy these past few weeks! From 80 degrees this week to April snow, area restaurants have needed to prepare for the best and worst of times during the spring season. 

With the weather so warm, I looked for all-ages outdoor dining options this week. One restaurant that captures the moment, rain or shine, is The Piggery. Just a mile from Wrigley Field on Irving Park Road, the Piggery has the Triple Crown of outdoor dining options: a rooftop bar, a fairy-lit tent and a blazing fire pit for dining and drinking pleasure. 

During the week, sandwiches, ribs, and daily specials dominate an extensive menu. Start with gluten-free Pig Pen Fries, with chili, chorizo, queso, caramelized onions, and pico de gallo. Or Pulled Pork Nachos, with guacamole, olives, sour cream, jalapeño and queso. 

The Piggery earned raves for their specialty-The Piggery Cuban, pairing pulled pork with ham, bacon, chorizo, Gouda cheese, pickles, a fried egg, and chipotle dressing, and served with fries. For those who prefer chicken or fish to pork, there’s a roasted BBQ Chicken, which gives you a half bird, prepared with Cajun rub and The Piggery’s own BBQ sauce, or Blackened Tilapia, served with avocado over roasted tomato sauce. Both the chicken and tilapia are served with your choice of two sides.

One Google reviewer wrote, “Great local place. Friendly service, amazing beer selection on tap (mostly local) and the pulled pork is awesome. Weekly specials plus taco Tuesday and weekday rib specials make this a solid week day choice as well. A+ restaurant. Also dog-friendly on a massive patio, so good place to go if mask mandates come back, or if you just like being outside.”

Weekends were made for brunches like this. On Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 2pm, customers can feast on many brunch options. Along with $15 bottomless mimosas, there are Swedish pancakes filled with lingonberries and Nutella banana crepes. Triple Berry Sourdough Pancakes combines fresh blueberry, raspberry, strawberry and mixed berry compote. The Piggery’s Breakfast Sandwiches are served on a croissant with scrambled eggs and hash browns. True to its porcine roots, there’s a Breakfast Sausage Sandwich, pairing a pork patty with cheddar and pico de gallo. The BLT is bacon, tomato, and lettuce bathed in chipotle dressing.

While reviews averaged 4.3 stars, there were more than a few that rated The Piggery a five. One Google reviewer was rapturous. “This was a life changing experience… I swear when the waiter came out she was Jesus! I could have kissed everyone on the mouth despite Covid. Duck + BBQ sauce = the secret to my 3rd marriage. 😉” 

The Piggery is located at 1625 W. Irving Park Road. Their kitchen hours are Mondays-Thursdays, 11am to 9pm, Fridays, 11am to 10pm, Saturdays, 10am to 10pm, and Sundays, 10am to 9pm. For reservations and more information, click here.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Want to boost the overall value of your home? It’s a lot easier than you might imagine. In fact, a few key updates and changes can really hike up your home’s value with minimal work and investment up front. Consider the following tasks to help increase the value of your property and build instant equity.

1. Clean Up the Landscaping

Talk to any real estate agent or home stager and they’ll tell you the same thing: curb appeal speaks volumes. And the first thing home buyers will see when they pull up to your home is its landscaping. A yard full of weeds, overgrown grass, and unkempt bushes aren’t going to cut it in the property value department.

Homeowners tend to focus more on their interiors when trying to make a good impression, whether or not they plan on selling. But what about the exterior? Landscaping is one of the top three investments that boost the highest returns. Even $500 spent in outside yard work can rake in $2,000 in property value when everything is said and done, so it’s worth the upfront cost.

2. Change Your Front Door

After homebuyers have made it past your landscaping, they’ll be greeted by your front door before they step foot across the threshold. But how exactly will they be greeted? Never underestimate the power of a front door when it comes to impressions and property value.

Within the first six seconds of entering a home, people will already have formed an impression. And the front door has a lot to do with it. A door that has peeling paint or rusted hinges can make the overall home look dingy. But the opposite is also true: a new, well-maintained, freshly painted door can make the home seem more inviting, and thereby add a little extra in its value.

3. Create More Space

Back in the day, it was customary to have a bunch of different, smaller rooms. But these days, sophisticated homebuyers – especially within the millennial age group – are looking for more space to use. That doesn’t necessarily mean they need more square footage; instead, what they’re essentially seeking is an open concept and optimal flow and functionality.

If your home is cornered off by a myriad of walls, consider knocking some of them down. Even if they’re load-bearing, you can still remove them and leave a decorative column post to retain support. Right now buyers want a wide open space, and kicking down a couple of walls can be an easy and affordable way to create it, and thereby add more value to your home.

4. Enhance the Lighting

Looking for a cheap and easy way to boost your ROI? Consider updating your home’s lighting, which will noticeably elevate your property’s appeal.

Anything from dimmer switches, to pot lights, to pendant lamps can make a massive difference in the look and feel of a home’s interior. Lighting of various types creates a sense of space and air, and also allows you to create a specific mood.

5. Make Minor Repairs

You’d be surprised at how much of a difference a few minor issues can make in the look and feel of a home. From leaky faucets, to chipped floor tiles, to scuff marks on the walls, these little flaws can make an otherwise nice home look tired. Before you even start thinking about more major upgrades like a kitchen renovation, address the more basic things first.

These little fixes can really go a long way towards property value. Even spending a few hundred bucks fixing small things around the house can increase the value of your property by a few thousand dollars.

6. Upgrade Your Flooring

One of the first things people see when they walk into a home is the flooring. What are they stepping on? Creaking hardwood? Uneven tiles? Dated carpeting? About 94% of professional real estate agents recommend investing a little money on floors when it comes to boosting property value. And you don’t have to blow the budget, either.

Depending on what you install, you can recoup twice as much in value compared to what you spend. If you are planning on installing a completely new floor, consider hardwood. It’s what the majority of homebuyers want, and have even come to expect when they’re on the prowl for a new home.

7. Up the Energy-Efficiency Factor

If the HVAC system in your home is aging terribly, and your utility bills are through the roof, it’s about high time you swap that system for an energy-efficient one. Sure, it might cost you a pretty penny up front, but the amount of money that it can save you in heating and cooling bills will all be worth it.

In fact, you can save as much as 40%. Recent studies have shown that energy savings add 20 times the yearly savings to the overall value of your home. Energy-saving systems and appliances make your home more desirable.

8. Tune Up the Bathroom

Just about every real estate broker says that sprucing up the bathroom is a sure-fire way to add some value to your property. But you need to be careful in how you upgrade it. Spending way too much money on unnecessary finishes and features could land you more in the hole than before you started.

Focus on the kinds of upgrades that the neighborhood calls for. Stick to the upgrades that are economical, easy, and fast. Simple things like adding a glass shower door or replacing an old pedestal sink for a more decorative vanity can go a long way in spiffing up the bathroom, and the overall impression of your home. Do it right, and you can expect a 62% ROI on a bathroom update.

9. Give Your Kitchen a Facelift

In much the same way as a buffed up bathroom can add value to a home, so too can the kitchen. In fact, this central space is probably the most important room in the home, so it only makes sense to give it the attention it deserves. Done properly, you can recoup anywhere from 75% up to as much as 100% on a kitchen remodel.

Just like with a bathroom remodel job, it’s important to keep your expenditures in check when it comes to the kitchen. For example, if the average home value in your neighborhood is $300,000 and you put in $70,000 into your kitchen remodel job, you’re essentially out-pricing your home. If your kitchen doesn’t warrant a total gut job, focus on smaller things that bring the most ROI, such as new countertops, appliances, cabinet doors, light fixtures, and handed and knobs.

10. Paint

Talk about maxing out your return on investment. The number one way to add value to your home with the least amount of money required is though a simple paint job. In fact, you can get back as much as 168% ROI with a simple paint job. Before you even think of listing your home for sale, look around and make a judgment call about whether or not the place could use a fresh coat of paint.

Any peeling, scuff marks or discoloration will warrant a new coat of paint. And if your walls are painted fuchsia pink or lime green, you might want to change it to something more neutral to attract more buyers, and thereby increase the value of your home.

Even if you have no intentions of moving any time in the near future, updating your home in various ways can do wonders to the value of your property. But before you take the hammer to nail, make sure you get some sound advice from a real estate agent or appraiser to find out exactly what features your neighborhood calls for, and the recommended amount that should be spent on each project to maximize the amount you can get back.

Welcome to the first full weekend in May! A convergence of events…from Cinco de Mayo (Thursday, May 5) to Polish Constitution Day and the Kentucky Derby (Saturday, May 7) to Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 8) and you’ve got the makings for an amazing Chicago weekend!  

Life is a Cabaret…This could be the start of something big! Friday, May 6 begins a celebration of Chicago Cabaret Week, where you can enjoy Chicago’s wide-ranging entertainment  for just $15 to $30 from May 6 to 16! Participating cabarets include Alliance Française (River North) The Cliff Dwellers Club (Loop) Davenport’s Cabaret (Wicker Park) DePaul School of Music (Lincoln Park) Drew’s on Halsted (Northalsted) Epiphany Center for the Arts (West Loop)  Hideout Inn (Bucktown) Newport Theatre (Lakeview)One Mother’s Day show, on Sunday, May 8, is Judy, Liza and More: A Mother’s Day Concert, at Le Piano, 6970 N. Glenwood Avenue, from noon-1:30pm. Real-life mother/daughter duo Nancy Hays and Mary Heffernan perform classic solos and duets, including a young Liza Minnelli joining her mother Judy Garland on the stage of London Palladium theater. For a complete schedule, show tickets, and venues, click here.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a healthy run at Montrose Harbor on Saturday, May 7! The Cinco de Miler Runis a five-mile race along Lake Michigan, featuring a 3-story piñata, breakfast tacos, a free beer, and  live mariachi music. For registration and more information, click here. 

Wolność i Pokój dla Świata! (Freedom and Peace for All!) Chicago’s Polish Constitution Day Parade is one of the biggest in the country. The Polish National Alliance sponsors the parade, which celebrates the 231^st anniversary (1791) of the Polish Constitution. The parade steps off Saturday, May 7, at 11:30am on Balbo Drive and Columbus Drive. The Parade is followed by a public concert at the Chopin Garden, at 11th Street and Michigan Avenue, immediately following the parade. For more information, click here.

And they’re off! Watch forbig, fancy hats and mint juleps around town as the Kentucky Derby, the crown jewel of Triple Crown horse racing, steps off at 5pm on Saturday, May 7. River West’s Time Out Market Chicago , 916 W Fulton Market goes all-out with a Kentucky Derby Watch Party, starting at 3pm. They urge you, at this 21+ event, to “come dressed in your Derby Best for a chance to win a TOMC gift card, prizes for best hat & best dressed.” Mint juleps, whiskey sours & old fashioned specials. For more information, click here.

Immerse Yourself…in the artof Frieda Kahlo…and take Mom! Experience Frida’s artwork on a monumental scale accompanied by ravishing music at Old Town’s Lighthouse Immersive, 108 W. Germania Place. See how her art is the self-expression of overcoming pain and adversity. Tickets are available now for Sunday, May 8. For more information, click here.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago