Ryan, Val talk Wigley Field seating, 'pink flags' and cooking with Big Guys Sausage Stand owner

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Friday, July 15, 2022
Windy City Weekend talks worst MLB seat and more
Ryan and Val talk the worst seat at Wrigley Field and a recent poll on remembering names on Windy City Weekend.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- This week on Windy City Weekend, Ryan and Val chat it up at the desk with some Host Chat topics.

Wrigley Field has the second worst seat out of all MLB stadiums, according to a recent study. What's worse is someone sits in it almost every game!

Plus, a recent poll found men are worse at remembering names than women.

And, you've heard of "red flags" in a relationship before. Well, what are some "pink flags" in a relationship? An article in Cosmopolitan tells us.

Disney Wish Cruise Contest

There's still time to win a magical vacation aboard the Disney Wish Cruise!

There's time to enter to take a trip aboard the new Disney Wish, enter below!

The Wish features Disney's first-ever attraction at sea, the AquaMouse. It's a water adventure where guests can ride a 760-foot water slide around the ship before splashing into the lazy river. Guests can visit the Marvel Super Hero Academy, a high-tech Avengers headquarters where kids ages 3 to 12 will train to be the next generation of super-heroes with the help of some icons like Spider-Man.

The ship also makes a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the Bahamas. Onboard, there are fireworks, food, sweets, a Broadway show and more!

To enter for your chance to win head to abc7chicago.com/promotions.

Alessi in the Kitchen

Ryan and Val get cooking in the kitchen with Big Guys Sausage Stand owner and chef Brendan O'Connor.

Big Guys Sausage Stand owner, and CEO, Brendan O'Connor joins Ryan and Val to cook-up a taste of summer.

Ingredients:

Eggplant

Chicken Breast

Arugula

Garlic

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Whole Pear Tomatoes

Tomato Paste

Water

Salt and Pepper

Sugar

Basil

Panko Bread Crumbs

Grated Parmesan

Flour

Ricotta Cheese

Garden Fresh Tomatoes

Lemons

Balsamic Glaze

Recipe

Prepare Marinara

Add eight cloves of minced garlic to a cup of extra virgin olive oil in a cold pan. Bring to a simmer.

Before garlic turns brown, add two 28 oz. can of whole pear tomatoes (crush with hands)

Add a cup of tomato paste, and 28 oz. of water.

Add a tablespoon of salt, pepper and a pinch of sugar.

Place a stalk of basil (six or eight leaves with stems) to sauce and simmer for one hour. Remove basil when finished.

Prepare Eggplant

Peel one eggplant and cut into 1/2" circles.

Mix four cups of panko bread crumbs with two cups of grated parmesan, one tablespoon salt and one tablespoon of pepper.

Set Up Your Batter Station

Set up bowls with three stations to batter eggplant and chicken:

First, flour seasoned with salt and pepper

Second, four eggs.

Third, panko mixture.

Batter and Fry eggplant

Dredge eggplant in three-bowl batter station.

Fry eggplant in olive oil at medium-high heat until golden brown.

Set aside on a paper towels. Serve eggplant with marinara and ricotta cheese finished with freshly grated parmesan and some extra virgin olive oil on ricotta.

Prepare Chicken and Fry

Butterfly whole chicken breast and gently pound to a 1/4" thickness.

Season with salt and pepper.

Dredge and fry chicken just like eggplant until internal temp is 165.

Prepare Arugula salad

Dice up garden fresh tomatoes.

Toss in a steel bowl with a small amount of extra virgin olive oil.

Mix in fresh-squeezed lemon juice and salt and pepper.

Add arugula (arugula should not be too wet).

Serve chicken with arugula tomato salad on the side. Top everything with freshly grated parmesan cheese and finish salad with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

You can find Alessi products by visiting the Alessi website.

Be sure to check out Cermak Fresh Market to find a location near you. Facebook: Valli Produce

And visit Cermak Fresh Market to find all your grocery needs. Facebook: Cermak Fresh Market

Take me out to the ball game... to get some food

Ryan and Val head down to Guaranteed Rate field to see (and taste) what new foods the White Sox are cooking up in 2022.

Guaranteed Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, offers more than your typical ballpark concession options.

You can get your classic hot dog, or try something different with the new smoked BBQ wings and Italian grinder sub! Just snacking? Then give the smoked-brisket nachos a spin. And let's end the game with a homerun, some fireworks and ice cream.

Try out a layered rainbow cone. Each flavor is sliced at a 45-degree angle! Ryan and Val even have a "Food Fight."

Head down to see your Chicago White Sox, and give these and even more delicious meals a try at Guaranteed Rate Field this summer.

Spend or Save?

The summer movies continue to debut this weekend, check out these reviews on what to see or save your money.

'The Gray Man' - SAVE

When the CIA's top asset uncovers agency secrets, he triggers a global hunt by assassins set loose by his ex-colleague. Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas star in "The Gray Man."

'Where the Crawdads Sing' - SPEND

"Where the Crawdads Sing" is a murder mystery set in North Carolina, involving a tricky love triangle.

'Gone in the Night' - SAVE

"Gone in the Night" is the latest thriller starring Winona Ryder about two couples who are staying in a cabin together when one boyfriend goes missing.

'Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris' - SPEND

Last but not least, Lesley Manville is a 1950s cleaning woman in "Mrs. Harris goes to Paris." Her dreams of buying a Christian Dior gown come to life.