Articles written by Laura Estes
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 242
Welcome to My Kitchen
Kraut Ranza’s are a popular item at German festivals, with each area of Germans from Russia have variations in the spelling of the name and numerous variations in recipe... — Updated 9/14/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
School is back in session for most area schools. Sports practice and games are in full swing, and the late summer, community fairs are wrapping up. Schedules are full, and “what... — Updated 8/31/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Hot weather, when temperatures reach one hundred plus, can slow garden production. Zucchinis seem to be the exception, powering through with regular production, though the skin... — Updated 8/16/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Somethings are better, made the old-fashioned way. When I was young and learning to cook and bake, my family, like most, did not own an electric mixer. If you were whipping cream... — Updated 8/3/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
July brings many fresh fruits and vegetables to local markets. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries are perfect for making breakfast parfaits, which are a fun culinary treat to ge... — Updated 7/27/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Zucchini season is here. Area gardens are producing abundantly, and boxes of the prolific vegetable are showing up, sporting a FREE sign, at many public events. Pan fried zucchini... — Updated 7/20/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
School is out and we are officially in summer, an excellent time for kids to learn some cooking skills helping prepare family meals. Baking cookies or cupcakes to share with friends... — Updated 6/22/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Warm days and cool nights keep local rhubarb plants producing abundant stalks. Pinterest, Facebook and other social media have been flush with many rhubarb recipes and area... — Updated 6/8/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Rhubarb continues to flourish in area gardens. Timely rains and moderate temperatures keep these hardy plants producing abundant stalks and preventing seed head bolt. Stalks tend... — Updated 5/25/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Rhubarb flourishes in the cool spring rains we have been receiving lately. Though the season is a bit late this year, area cooks are beginning to feel overwhelmed with the pie... — Updated 5/11/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Spring is a good time of the year to check use-by dates on canned goods and other nonperishable food items. Though most canned foods are edible beyond the stamped date, the do... — Updated 4/28/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Cloudy days and rain predicted over the next week stretch out the soup season. If you had a nice bone-in ham for Easter dinner, the bone would make savory ham and bean soup. Choose... — Updated 4/13/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Easter and hot cross buns seem to go together. They are often on the menu for Easter breakfast or dinner. The history of hot cross buns goes back many centuries and tradition... — Updated 3/30/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Many delicious soups have been showing up at area soup suppers. Soup is one of the most leisurely meals; though some require elaborate preparation techniques, most are simple. Some... — Updated 3/16/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
A touch of spring, then winter returned for another round. Fortunately, we have more soup and stew recipes to share. Ham and Hominy Chowder is a lightly spiced mixture of vegetables... — Updated 3/2/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Springtime means mid-week soup suppers for many area folks. Some cooks have a signature soup they bring to every soup meal, while others like to try a new recipe each time. Soups... — Updated 2/15/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
Meal planning as a season ends can get stuck in the rut of the same old thing. Adding a new side dish and company meals will bring interest to every day. Debbie Buscher brought a... — Updated 2/2/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
January is an excellent time to clear out your pantry, take inventory and restock. I always seem to have a few things intended for the holidays that didn’t get used. Taking stock this year, I discovered a package of dates that... — Updated 1/20/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
What to fix for dinner? To paraphrase a saying circulating in social media recently, I didn’t realize that being an adult meant wondering what to fix for dinner for the rest of my life would be the most challenging question.... — Updated 1/5/2023
Welcome to My Kitchen
By Laura Estes Quick and easy is the number one criteria for many cooks selecting holiday recipes these next few weeks—a bonus for young cooks who can safely make with limited supervision. For example, Peanut Butter No Bake... — Updated 12/23/2022
Welcome To My Kitchen
Holiday baking time is here. Parties, programs, gatherings of all kinds and wintery weather call for warm beverages and sweet treats. Cookies, cocoa, or an Irish coffee are a welcome refreshment this time of year. Springerle, a... — Updated 12/10/2022
Welcome to My Kitchen
November and December are often filled with many family and community gatherings. Potluck meals call for easy transport and keep warm dishes. Pinterest and recipe blogs fill our... — Updated 11/23/2022
Welcome to My Kitchen
Thanksgiving menus are on the minds of many area cooks. Turkey, beef roast, ham, or a combination? What sides and desserts will fit in range and refrigerator space? What oven... — Updated 11/18/2022
Welcome to My Kitchen
Casseroles are perfect for fall days. Fragrant and warm from the oven, they make for cozy evening meals. Casseroles that are quick to fix or easy to prepare ahead are a boon to area... — Updated 10/27/2022
Welcome to My Kitchen
What can you do with a pound of ground beef when you are in a hurry, everyone is starving, and it is less than an hour before the next event deadline? Try Easy Skillet Beef and... — Updated 10/13/2022