Allie Schulz doesn't mind stepping into the kitchen when she's got time.

"I do like to cook," said Schulz, who is starring as the feisty Rizzo in "Grease," at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre. The musical runs through Jan. 18. FYI: (312) 902-1400.

Schulz, 20, who was a contestant on NBC's "Grease: You're the One That I Want," competition, said she learned a lot about culinary matters by helping her mother, a former actress, in the kitchen.

"We (my sister and I) helped her make some of the more ornate dishes," Schulz said, adding cooking is really "a learning process."

The actress said her mother would often prepare dishes they could assist in making, such as shrimp pasta and sushi.

"She made it a real family thing," Schulz said.

And during the holidays, meals were always filled with festive, tasty items, she said.

One of Schulz' favorite recipes her mother regularly turned out was an ice cream cake she always made for family birthdays. Because there were so many birthdays so close together, Schulz remembers her mother whipping up three cakes within three weeks. But Schulz never tired of the treat.

"I started to help her out with it," Schulz said.

Dinnertime was always special in the Schulz household.

"We're one of those families where every dinner was a sit-down meal where the four of us would get together to eat and talk," she said.

Schulz sees food as something that connects people and is celebratory.

Being on tour in "Grease," Schulz doesn't have too much time to spend in the kitchen, but she still enjoys making quick recipes, such as pastas and salads. She and the cast like to share good dishes with one another.

Though Schulz enjoys her desserts and other indulgences from time to time, she generally watches what she eats.

On the subject of sweets, Schulz said one of the first things she learned to cook were beignets.

Other favorite savory items are spring rolls, sandwiches and artichokes.

When she chooses an ethnic restaurant, Schulz often has a taste for Italian food, sushi, Japanese dishes and Indian fare.

Playing the fiery Rizzo has been exciting for Schulz, especially since her own personality is not quite so brazen, she said.

"Taylor (Hicks), who stars as Teen Angel, said 'You're too sweet to play Rizzo. Do you think you can do it?' " Schulz said.

"But, I can be a tough cookie," Schulz said, laughing.

Try your hand at this recipe for ice cream torte courtesy of Schulz

Cheryl's Ice Cream Torte

(Fills one 9-1/2-inch spring form pan or makes two smaller tortes)

Ingredients:

1 box thin chocolate wafers, crushed

2 quarts ice cream -- 1 quart coffee, 1 chocolate ( we prefer these flavors)

1 can Almond Roca (coarsely chopped) or 1 bag Bits of Brickle

Sauce:

8 ounces semisweet chocolate

1/2 pint heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon dry instant coffee (or 1/2 teaspoon coffee flavoring)

* Soften ice cream. Make sauce by melting chocolate, cream and coffee over low heat, stirring until smooth, and set aside.

* Oil spring form pan. Spread 1/2 of wafer crumbs on bottom of pan for crust.

* Spread 1 flavor ice cream on cookies. Pour 1/3 of sauce over ice cream.

* Add another layer of remaining crumbs, then next flavor of ice cream on top of that, then more sauce and top with Almond Roca or Bits of Brickle. Cover and freeze.

To Serve:

* Pop out of spring form pan, slice and serve with chocolate sauce poured over.

* If you have trouble with ice cream melting too much while making, slip back into freezer for five or 10 minutes and then take out and continue.