Heather says: Olive tapenade is a condiment from the Mediterranean region, some would say it is specifically from the Provençal area of France and others argue it’s from Spain. Who cares as long as it tastes good, right? If you hate olives of any sort, this tapenade is not for you, just keep browsing. If you …
I’m staying with my in-laws for a couple of weeks way up in the Lakes Country of Minnesota, posting may be sporadic over the next couple of weeks as my internet connection is tenuous at best. At least I’m getting a break from sweating, right? Heather says: My friend Heidi was recently lamenting that there …
Chicken and dumplings is a classic cool weather comfort food. However, many people find dumplings intimidating, thinking there is a big secret to making them. We bet you will find that this ratio recipe for drop dumplings is easy to make and a great technique to keep in your toolkit. Nothing says comfort food like …
Heather says: I know a can of sloppy joe sauce is easy, but it’s often loaded with high fructose corn syrup, something we work hard to avoid. This recipe is our go-to alternative. If you’re also trying to cut out hfcs, be sure to check the label on your hamburger buns. Oh, and even though …
Q: How do you make chicken stock? Is there a basic recipe for making chicken stock? A: I have two, one is based on the French method and the other on an Asian method of stock making. The ratios for chicken or turkey parts to water and vegetables is similar in both. While the methods are …
Heather says: Summer dreams are topped with this simple peach salsa, well mine are anyway. I haven’t met a fish yet that doesn’t get along with the peach and jalapeno medley: catfish, salmon, halibut, mahi mahi, and tuna all work equally well, so go with your favorite. It also works as as a condiment for grilled …
Jo-Lynne tried out the shrimp étouffée recipe and shared her results (the site no longer exists). One of her readers, Amy Bayliss, commented that it’s far too hot in the summer to stand over the stove making roux and that in Louisiana they get around it by toasting batches of flour in the oven for …
Heather says: I’m usually pretty plain Jane when it comes to tuna salad, a little mayo or cream cheese -or both if I’m really pushing the envelope. Dill weed1, salt, pepper, and some celery finish it off. Everything’s nice, everything’s beautiful, everyone wins. Then, one afternoon I was poking around my friend Linda’s site and …
Fearless Fridays are all about pushing boundaries in the kitchen. It’s trying new techniques, recipes, or ingredients. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. All of you are welcome to share your recent kitchen adventures either in the link list or by sharing in the comments. A lot of people forget that cooking is a skill …
Heather says: Now that’s summer is nearly here, we’re switching to a cooler morning option, homemade granola cereal. It is a bit more expensive than the plain oatmeal version, but the recipe is dead-easy and significantly cheaper per serving than store-bought granola, even with the nuts. It takes less than five minutes to mix up …