OFFBEAT: World premiere cupcake play in Chicago a sweet ticket

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Breaded Pork Tenderloin: an Indiana tradition

Just across the street from Indiana's Decatur County Courthouse – the one with the tree growing out of the courthouse tower – Stories Restaurant has been a local favorite for since the 1970s.

Alfajores make a delicious holiday treat

Several weeks ago I visited the famed Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. In business for almost a century, the market is considered a "producers only" market, where everything sold has to be baked, crafted or grown by the vendors.

High schooler sees her future in cake baking

Lauren Seim can't remember the first time she baked a cake, but she has known for awhile that she wants to go to culinary school and open her own bakery.

White Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Cookies

Decadent gingerbread cookies have a hint of orange flavor.

Purdue University Calumet Senior Julie Yarusinsky and her Winning Spiced Apple Cake Recipe

Spiced Apple Cake with Buttercream Frosting is the winning recipe whipped up by Julie Yarusinsky, 22, a senior studying marketing and management at Purdue University Calumet.

Everyday celebrations

From the first loose tooth or solo bike ride to game night at home, families know that everyday moments make life special.

McCormick Black Food Coloring

McCormick has created convenient black food coloring. With just a drop or two, it's easy to convert basic white frosting into a deep and foreboding black shade for adding a color coat to Halloween black cat cupcakes or flying frightening bats. Visit mccormick.com for recipes and clever ideas…

2009 Pie Judging at Hammond's Bizarre Bazaar Pie Contest

Pies await slicing at the 2009 Pie Contest Judging at the 4th Annual Bizarre Bazaar event in Downtown Hammond.

A beautiful crusty bread even you can bake

Even amateur home cooks can crank out gorgeous loaves with a crisp shell and a wonderfully soft center that just begs to be slathered with butter and eaten right from the oven.

Ivy Tech Northwest

East Chicago-Ivy Tech Culinary Intro to Baking class. Chef Beverly Seleb (left) works with her students on proporting recipes.

Breakfast and lunch ideas for a picnic on the shore

It became a beloved summer ritual in my Connecticut seashore childhood: With a warm and crispy bacon sandwich in one hand and my grandpa's hand in the other, I would hit the beach in front of our rented cottage before our household was stirring. We'd eat, then he'd read and I would color. Th…

Ivy Tech Culinary Class

East Chicago-Ivy Tech Culinary Intro to Baking class.Student Karen Musto of St. John cracks eggs for cookie dough.

Ivy Tech Culinary 3

East Chicago-Ivy Tech Culinary Intro to Baking class. Chef Beverly Seleb (left) works with her students on proporting recipes.

Ivy Tech Culinary Baking Class

East Chicago-Ivy Tech Culinary Intro to Baking class.(Lto R) Students Shawn Harvey from East Chicago and Dawah Yisrael of Chicago measure3 ingredients for oatmeal cookies.

FROM the FARM: Reader remembered for her Betty Crocker 'nameless cake'

Phil Potempa's weekly farm column recipe.

Holiday cookies

Bake your way through the holidays with the Associated Press' 12 Days of Holiday Cookies.

Ivy Tech trains students for careers in culinary arts, baking, and restaurant and hotel management

East Chicago - In Ivy Tech Culinary's Intro to Baking class, student Karen Musto of St. John cracks eggs for cookie dough.

Ivy Tech trains students for careers in culinary arts, baking, and restaurant and hotel management

East Chicago-Ivy Tech Culinary Intro to Baking class. (L to R) Students Shawn Harvey from East Chicago and Dawah Yisrael of Chicago measure 3 ingredients for oatmeal cookies.