Apple dumplings have been my favorite fall dessert since childhood when my Grandma Bailey served up the apple-filled, pastry packages swimming in a sweet, spiced sauce. My grandma was one of those grandmas like you see in the movies - all warm and welcoming and serving up Sunday dinners. I can still see her standing in the kitchen, her smile lighting up the whole room. Grandma had the best smile, complete with big, beautiful dimples. You couldn’t help but smile back. Grandma made this recipe from memory, but thankfully, someone thought to write down the ingredients. I obtained a copy of …
I fell in love with the flavors of the Caribbean on my honeymoon. The warm spices and fresh island ingredients used in the dishes we sampled on our trip were so different from most of the recipes I had prepared in my Indiana kitchen. Today, whenever I find a recipe with a Caribbean flair, I add it to my notebook. I may not be able to afford plane tickets or an all-inclusive resort in St. Lucia, but at least I can close my eyes for a moment, breathe in the mouth-watering smell of Caribbean cuisine, and imagine myself at a table on the beach with a warm ocean breeze in my hair. Caribbean food …
When I was teaching high school Family and Consumer Science cooking classes, my students prepared seven recipes at the conclusion of our vegetable unit. This spaghetti squash recipe was one of them. The word “squash” seems to turn people off. I’d wager that when many people see squash on a menu, their knee-jerk response is “Ewww.” My students were no different. After I assigned the vegetable lab recipes, I could always count on the “Squash Group” to protest their way through the planning and preparation stages of the lab: “Why do we have to make this?” and “Mrs. Alm, squash is disgusting!” I…
We’re barely past Labor Day, but the chill in the air and the looming gray clouds overhead this week make me realize that fall is just around the corner. All week I have been craving my favorite fall foods; dishes that call for apples and squash, hearty stews and comfort foods. Yesterday, I whipped up a big pot of chili. Some people wouldn’t classify chili as comfort food, but to me, there’s nothing better than a steaming bowl of homemade chili with all of the fixings to warm me up at the end of a gloomy fall day. There are many schools of thought when it comes to chili. Some feel that …
Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. In my book, the end of summer is not cause for celebration. (I still have nightmares about shoveling my driveway during our first winter in Ohio). What I do celebrate each and every Labor Day weekend is the return of football season! While many people are planning for their Labor Day weekend cookouts, I am thinking of tailgate parties. Tailgate parties have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I adore the crisp fall air, the backdrop of colorful foliage, the smell of burning leaves and burgers on the …
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been stocking our freezer with ready-to-heat meals in preparation for a busy start to the school year. I love having the option of pulling a homemade meal from my freezer when I don’ t have the time to dice, chop, sauté or brown a single thing. I would also contend that the benefits of making and freezing your own meals isn't only cost effective, it's also healthier. You can control the quality of ingredients and the amount of fat and preservatives that go into each meal you place on your table. Plus, there is a certain amount of pride that results from feeding …
It’s back to school time! This week I have been planning meals that will come together in a flash on those days that the members of this family return home from work and school and then need to do a quick turnaround as we head out for an evening of extra-curricular practices and meetings. On days like this, the crock pot is my best friend. I don’t know about all of you, but I certainly don’t have extra time in my mornings to chop vegetables and season meat for a recipe. So, in the evening, I combine ingredients for a slow-cooked recipe in my crock pot liner, then put it into the refrigerator…
If you’re still looking for the perfect summer appetizer for your dinner party, deck party or any other summer gathering, then these avocado-pesto stuffed cherry tomatoes are for you! These tiny little tomato bowls stuffed with a creamy basil-avocado filling taste fresh and delicious. They are time consuming to prepare, but the finished result is so impressive! I discovered this recipe in the December 2009 issue of Better Homes and Garden magazine. I assume that the recipe was promoted as a holiday appetizer because of the bright red and green colors. Tomatoes certainly aren’t in season in …
Last week, I wrote about preparing fresh green beans. This week I’m back with another seasonal vegetable -- the zucchini. On Monday, I returned from a 10-day visit in my hometown to find a crop of zucchini ready for picking in my garden. So far this week we’ve eaten it raw, in casserole and fried. That’s the beauty of zucchini, it’s so versatile! It’s delicious raw and served on a relish tray but it’s also excellent in pasta dishes, casseroles, skillet dinners, omelets and quiches. You can stuff zucchini and bake it, slice it up for a healthy pizza topping, sauté or grill it for a side dish…
Green beans are fresh and inexpensive in the months of July and August in Ohio. Forget about those beans in cans or freezer bags and buy them fresh now! I have eaten green beans my whole life and I still never tire of that first batch of summer fresh beans, cooked until tender and flavorful with bacon, onions and potatoes. Sometimes I’m surprised that I still look forward to fresh green beans. After all, there was a time when I would have been happy to never see a bean again! When I was young, our garden yielded enough green beans for fourfamilies. I know this because my two younger sisters …
With summertime in full swing, the heavy dishes we love to eat through the fall and winter are put aside for lighter fare. When temperatures climb high, the last thing we want to do is fire up the oven. My solution for a quick and easy summer meal is often a sandwich. Not only do I want to avoid my hot stove, I also find that I have less time to cook and our family has less time for a sit-down meal during the fun summer months. Someone is always rushing off to swim lessons, day camp, or a playdate. The beauty of the sandwich is that it’s a portable, handheld meal. And everyone likes a …
Our household is gearing up for another fun-filled Fourth of July weekend! Year to year our activities seem to vary when celebrating the Fourth. Whether we spend the weekend camping, boating, travelling, watching a parade, snuggling under the fireworks, toasting marshmallows over a fire, (or a combination of all of those activities) one tradition remains constant: The Annual Fourth of July Weekend Cookout. There is always a cookout. Smoke rises from the grill, children run wild in the backyard, and an assortment favorite potluck dishes line the countertops. It just wouldn't feel like the …
Barbecue sauce on hot dogs? Hey, I was a skeptic too. I’m certainly not picky when it comes to hot dog toppings, but I am a traditionalist. You can load my dog up with ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, cheese, chili sauce and even sauerkraut and I’m a happy girl. But barbecue sauce? That’s just weird. Or at least that was my point of view until I tried hot dogs with Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce. The recipes came from Elizabeth Karmel, author of three grilling cookbooks and the woman widely acknowledged as "America's Female Grilling Expert." You can read more about Elizabeth on her website, Girls…
My sister called me last Friday. “Help! My husband invited some work friends to dinner tomorrow night. What should I make?” In the summertime, my menu formula for "company is coming" is pretty basic: meat on the grill, a salad and corn-on-the-cob or another seasonal vegetable such as summer squash or fresh green beans. It always works. The fun part is choosing the grilling and salad recipes. I keep file folders for each recipe category, so that I can quickly choose what to make based on the available ingredients in my kitchen and the tastes and preferences of my guests. My sister …
School is out! Bring on the road trips, campouts, and pool parties! I have the perfect snack to take along when you embark upon your summer adventures. Caramel Puff Corn is easy to make, travels well and is loved by everyone. I just made my first batch of the summer to take along for a weekend at a friend’s lake cottage. Just one warning: It is highly addictive! When I was a kid, I always knew there was about to be an “occasion” when I saw my mom making caramel corn. She would pack a big basket of snacks for our summer vacations, camping trips and fair week (my family showed livestock at …
Summer has arrived! When temperatures topped out in the 90's this week, I quickly switched up my meal plan to include salad. Summer is the perfect time to try new salad recipes. When the sun blazes down and the stifling humidity hits, people are in the mood for lighter fare. Plus, during the summer months produce is fresher, better tasting, and less expensive. This year I’m excited to grow some of my own backyard vegetables and visit local Farmers’ Markets. I discovered this twist on regular old tuna salad last summer. Dilled Tuna Orzo Salad is packed with fresh ingredients and topped with …
Memorial Day is about remembering and honoring the men and women who sacrifice so much in the service of our country. So before we fire up the grill, I take the opportunity to reflect on how grateful and proud I am to be an American and how thankful I am for the victories that this collective sacrifice has won. The holiday also symbolizes the beginning of summer. We want to be outside, enjoying the gorgeous weather and the freedoms that we've been afforded. We want to go to parades, head to the lake, gather with friends and family, and throw meat on a fire and listen to it sizzle! (Insert Tim…
Traditionally, the Monte Cristo is a ham and cheese sandwich dipped in egg batter and fried like French toast. Sometimes it is topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. The sandwich is often served with toppings like jam, sweet mustard and chutney. I vividly remember my first taste of a Monte Cristo. I was 21. I slid into a booth across from my college sweetie at the Utopia Diner in West Lafayette, IN for a very late Sunday brunch. After scanning the menu, I choose the sandwich based on its name. (I had recently finished reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.) Back then I …
It’s definitely starting to warm up and feel like late spring out there. For my family, this means that we move dinners to the deck. During the warmer months of the year we eat more meals outside than inside. I adore having dinner under a canopy of leaves in those magical, near-twilight hours that surround dinnertime. Songbirds and laughter from the neighborhood children playing make for excellent mood music and the air is filled with smells of fresh cut grass and burgers on the grill. Often the hamburgers on our grill are the traditional kind; seasoned with a little Lawry’s, topped with …
Over the last few years my once-upon-a-time obsession with finding the best “strip mall” Chinese food restaurant has evolved into trying and/or creating the best Asian restaurant knock-offs in my own kitchen. I have prepared a number of recipes, everything from steamed dumplings and spring rolls to coconut shrimp soup and crispy orange beef. Some were just okay, and some were great. This Cashew Chicken was one of the best. It has permanently made its way into our meal rotation. (Cashew Chicken is considered American-Chinese food, because it is a recipe made popular by the Chinese …
