CHICAGO (WLS) — This week on Windy City Weekend, Ryan and special guest co-host Cheryl Scott sit down with 103.5 KISS FM “The Fred Show” host Paulina Roe for the host chat!

Paulina is hosting a fun opportunity to get you in the holiday spirit! Come join her for a great time at the European Chalet Banquets for a special photo opportunity with the Man in Red himself, Santa Claus.

They will have local vendors on site, as well as cookies, hot chocolate, and coffee! You can take a photo with Santa with a $10 donation to Chicago Unity and Parenting! It’s the perfect way to create lasting memories with your loved ones!

“Cookies with Santa” will take place on Sunday, December 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the European Chalet, 5445 S. Harlem.

RIVER CITY CHURCH GIVES BACK FOR THANK YOU ACTION

Thanksgiving is an opportunity to get together with family to enjoy a good meal! But not every family can afford to bring a turkey to the table.

To help combat this in their community, Bishop Rodney and Pastor Stephanie Hutton of River City Church in Chicago Heights host a Thanksgiving meal every year! Their goal is simple; providing as many families as possible with a complete Thanksgiving meal.

The Huttons have spent the past 15 years collecting monetary and food donations to package boxes with ingredients, pies and even a whole turkey. They then deliver the wrapped boxes to people in the community who need them most. Last year they reached their goal of 100 families fed, and this year they want to do even more!

You can help support their mission by dropping off food at River City Church in Chicago Heights. You can also donate online at https://www.rivercitychicago.org/.

ALESSI IN THE KITCHEN

Thanksgiving is only two weeks away, and if you’re not sure what to bring, Alessi has you covered. Chef Ted Pappas of Brookhaven Market in Arlington Heights teaches us how to make a hearty wild mushroom and truffle risotto.

Risotto with wild mushrooms and truffles

Ingredients:

• Vigo Arborio rice – 1 cup
• Alessi porcini risotto – 1 pack
• Alessi extra virgin olive oil – 2 tablespoons
• Black truffle oil – 2 teaspoons, for drizzling
• Fresh mushrooms (a mix of cremini or shiitake), sliced ​​- 1 cup coarsely chopped
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 3-4 cups chicken broth, warmed
• Reserve a cup of chicken broth if traveling with this dish
• Fresh thyme – for garnish
• Salt and pepper to taste

Recipe:
Brown the onion and mushrooms: Heat 1 tablespoon of Alessi extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Add another 1 tablespoon of Alessi extra virgin olive oil, stir in the fresh mushrooms and cook until golden brown.

Cook the risotto: Add the Vigo Arborio rice and stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of hot broth, stirring constantly until the liquid is almost completely absorbed. Continue adding broth in small increments, stirring until each addition is absorbed before adding more.

Add the porcini mushroom risotto sachet: Add the Alessi porcini mushroom risotto, including any seasoning in the sachet, and finish adding the rest of the broth. This gives it a layered, savory flavor with rich mushroom undertones. Bring to a boil and cook untouched for 18 to 20 minutes until creamy.

Finish with the truffle oil: Once the risotto is creamy, add the black truffle oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Garnish and serve: Garnish with fresh thyme and serve. If you’re taking the dish on the road, wait until serving to garnish with fresh thyme.

And to really impress the family, Chef Ted also shared his recipe for delicious antipasto skewers!

Antipasto skewers

Ingredients:

• Vigo marinated artichoke hearts – 1 jar
• Alessi sun-dried tomatoes – 1 jar
• Vigo Castelvetrano olives – 1 jar
• Mozzarella balls – 24
• Deli Salami – 12 slices folded in half
• Fresh rosemary – for garnish
• Alessi balsamic reduction (optional) – for a drizzle
• Vigo Italian Olive Blend (replacement) – 1 jar as an alternative to Vigo Castelvetrano olives
• 24 bamboo skewers

Recipe:
This recipe makes two different versions of antipasto skewers.

Artichoke heart skewers, mozzarella ball and salami: Add 1 Vigo marinated artichoke heart, 1 mozzarella ball and 1 salami folded on the skewer. Repeat until desired number of skewers are completed.

Sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella ball & green olive skewers: Add 1 Vigo Castelvetrano olive, 1 Alessi dried tomato and 1 ball of mozzarella on the skewer. Repeat until desired number of skewers are completed.

Optional for added flavor, drizzle Alessi balsamic reduction over the sun-dried tomato, mozzarella ball and green olive skewers.

As an alternative, use blended Vigo Italian olives instead of Vigo Castelvetrano olives for additional flavor layering.

Be sure to stop by BrookHaven Market in Arlington Heights for all your Thanksgiving dinner needs!

And be sure to follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/brookhavenmkt/?hl=fr.

ROEPER’S ADVICE: SPEND OR SAVE

Ryan and Cheryl discuss upcoming films with film critic Richard Roeper.

“A real pain” – SPEND
In “A Real Pain,” Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin are cousins ​​who go on a tour of Poland in honor of their recently deceased grandmother.

“The Return of the King” – SPEND
“The Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley” is a new Netflix documentary about Elvis’ 1968 comeback special.

“Red One” – SAVE
Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans and Lucy Liu kick off the Christmas season in the action comedy “Red One.” It’s about saving Santa Claus after his kidnapping at the North Pole.

THE MAGNIFICENT FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS OF THE MILE

Ryan and Cheryl were joined throughout the show by Chicago’s Own Pack Drumline. The Drumline will be part of The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival next weekend.

The magic of holiday, Chicago style is captured for viewers nationwide with spectacular entertainment, beloved Walt Disney World Resort characters, light-up floats, Santa Claus and dazzling fireworks while more of a million twinkling lights on Michigan Avenue set the stage for the spread of the fantastic Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.

The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival comes to Oak Street and down Michigan Avenue on Saturday, November 23 at 5:30 p.m. ABC7 Eyewitness News anchors Cheryl Burton and Ryan Chiaverini will co-host the show with ABC7’s Judy Hsu. and Hosea Sanders, who bring sparkle and enthusiasm to street reporting.

You can watch the parade right here on ABC7 airing Sunday, November 24 from 6-7 p.m. on ABC7 Chicago. The Encore shows will air Sunday, December 1 at 3 p.m.; Sunday December 8, at 4 p.m.; and Sunday December 15 at 11 p.m.

The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade will be available on demand and streamed on abc7chicago.com and on ABC7’s Connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.