Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
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Enjoyed visiting with so many Welcome to My Kitchen readers who came to Deutschesfest in Odessa, this past weekend. Looking forward to receiving all the recipes we talked about. Over the next few weeks I will be testing the recipes I recently received from several readers and plan to have them in the next column. Near freezing nights in the last week are bringing area gardens to the end of their productive season. Time for relish, and soup recipes to use up the last of the...
German Hot Potato Salad, a savory side dish to accompany grilled sausage or pork chops, is another dish served during Odessa’s Deutchesfest. Originally served by the Royal Neighbors organization, the following recipe is very close to the version served by current organizations, and is in reasonable amounts for family dining. German Hot Potato Salad 6 medium russet potatoes 6 slices bacon 1/4 cup finely minced onion 2 Tbsp granulated sugar 2 tsp salt 1/3 cup cider vinegar 1...
School has started in most of the Inland Northwest, but area fairs and festivals are still scheduled throughout September and October. Many festivals include a fundraising bake sale and Brownie Mallow Bars, a recipe submitted by Kelena Martinez, would be a welcome addition to any bakesale table. Kelena got the recipe from Merleen Smith. Both are Odessa residents. Brownie Mallow Bars 1 package, family size fudge brownie mix (13 x 9 inch pan) Eggs and vegetable oil listed in...
August brings county fairs and community celebrations. Many eastern Washington communities have a German influence and have favorite dishes that remain a staple in area menus. Traditional cabbage rolls may evolve to include extra ingredients and dough based recipes such as ranza, bierocks and kuchens come filled with non-traditional fillings. Cabbage rolls are a popular item at a German food court. Heritage Church members serve the following recipe during the September...
Summer heat has area cooks employing various methods of keeping kitchens cool. One person recently stated her rule is no turning the oven on July through September. Others swear by countertop appliances to reduce heat generated. Air-fryers, a recent addition to the countertop appliance line up, get many mentions as the go-to summer time cooking appliance. Personally, I do not have one. Counter and storage space is at a premium in my small kitchen, so I like to do some...
Summertime, and popsicles hit the spot on a hot day. Popsicles are a refreshing snack after swimming or other outdoor activities, but purchased popsicles are mostly water, flavoring and sugar, what nutritionist call empty calories. Go Odessa Summer Recreation participants made Fruit Tie Dye Popsicles last week. Fruit and yogurt based with just a small amount of honey for sweetener. Besides learning to measure fresh fruit and other ingredients, they also learned how to make...
Names are important, even in recipes. Chocolate no-bake cookies we all know, and though plain and maybe boring they satisfy the sweet tooth. But, if we say Moose Farts, our attention is grabbed and we wonder what can this can possibly be. Merleen Smith, Odessa, shared this recipe that her son Cam asked her to make for an event he was attending. This no-bake cookie would be fun to make with the help of young cooks to do the mixing and the rolling. Moose Farts 1 can (14 ounces)...
Inland area weather can’t make up its mind if it is salad season or soup season. Requests for several salad recipes served at area events have come in and as I locate the recipes they will be printed here. First up is Suzie Deife’s Quick Cornbread Salad, a modified version of a recipe she found online. Quick Cornbread Salad 1 package (8 1/5 ounces) Jiffy cornbread mix, baked according to package directions, cooled 6 cups shredded romaine lettuce 1 can (15 ounces) pinto bea...
June schedules are full of graduations, Father’s Day, weddings and other end of the school year events. Coordinating meals often requires flexible dishes, no fuss and the ability to hold warm while waiting for diners. Pork Chop-Rice Bake, another recipe submitted by Mary White of Spokane Valley fits this description. Mary states she received this recipe from her high school best friend, who often makes this recipe when entertaining visitors. The recipe can be prepared, f...
Summer barbeques include savory sides and salads. Kathy’s Shoe Peg Salad, another recipe submitted by Spokane Valley Herald reader Mary White, is a pasta salad filled with crunchy vegetables and tangy condiments, with just a hint of sweetness. This side salad is the perfect complement to a chicken, beef or pork barbeque. The recipes unique name comes from the style of canned corn included in the ingredients. Shoe peg corn is corn removed from the cob whole without cutting, a...
Families all have a collection of favorite recipes. They may be great-grandma’s go-to potluck dish, mom’s midweek special or a Pinterest find. Most lists include a favorite cookie, and Marble Cookies, submitted by Kelly Weber, Odessa, are a favorite in her family. The recipe comes from a Mrs. Fields cookbook. Marble Cookies 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup salted butter, soften...
Rhubarb and asparagus will soon be available in local gardens, and farmers markets. Both spring treats are acquired tastes, with some folks relishing the season, and others expressing a hard no, when presented with the choice. Crisps, cobblers and pies are the common recipes for rhubarb preparation. A bit different, Rhubarb Magic Custard Cake is a rich dessert pudding style cake. It takes a few extra steps in the preparation, but the result is worth the effort. The recipe come...
Four seasons of weather all happened in one day this past week. Sometimes meal preparation is like the weather. Life throws out multiple tasks and responsibilities each day and cooking must happen in between. Several easy to prepare recipes came my way and they are a nice change from slow-cooker dishes. Barb Schlimmer of Odessa shared the recipe for Sloppy Joe Casserole, a dish she brought to a recent potluck dinner. She found the recipe on all-recipes.com. Chop the...
Easter weekend is often filled with egg hunts, chocolate bunnies and ham dinners. Juggling all this along with various family schedules can be problematic. Let your slow-cooker take care of the ham and free up time and the oven for other holiday dishes with Ham n Cola, a recipe in the Fix-it and Forget-it Cookbook, compiled by Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good, attributed to Carol Peachey, Lancaster, PA. Ham n Cola • 3–4-pound precooked ham, or as large as your slo...
Shrimp and sourdough have topped the list of submitted recipes and culinary questions this past week. Shrimp Lo Mein was shared by young cook, Kaleb Walter. He recently made this dish for his family. The recipe features fresh vegetables, cooked tender crisp and cooked shrimp, with pasta lightly dressed with a sweet/savory sauce. Shrimp Lo Mein • 8 ounces angel hair pasta • 1/2 cup chopped asparagus • 1/2 cup chopped celery • 1/2 cup chopped carrot • 1 clove garlic, chopped ...
Emergency Tomato Soup was my contribution to a recent soup supper. I should come up with a catchy name but haven’t thought of anything over the years. Maybe you readers will have a good suggestion. The recipe takes canned tomato soup to the next level and is quick and easy to prepare. Emergency Tomato Soup • 6 cans (10 3/4 ounces each) condensed tomato soup. • 4 soup cans water • 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk • 2 Tbsp crushed dried basil • Dash, finely ground black peppe...
Weather teases us with just a hint of spring, then more snow, then gray rainy days. Heat from the oven ready casseroles and warm fresh baked cookies are perfect for chasing away the late winter chill. Oriental Chicken Medley, a rice-based casserole, may be made ahead to bake for the evening meal or baked right away after preparing. The recipe easily accommodates a family's preference in ingredients. The original recipe was on a Durkee French Fried onion can around 1992, but I...
Bowl game gatherings call for savory buffets of easy to prepare and eat foods. Chili is a great make ahead dish, made from scratch or heated from a can. It holds well in a slow cooker. Chili Con Carne is a recipe in my dad’s cigar box recipe collection. I am guessing this is a recipe he acquired in the 1950’s because the can sizes were listed as one pound, but in the 1960’s manufacturers began the 15-ounce cans. This meaty chili recipe is easy to double or triple for a crowd...
Winter finally got here with weather perfect to keep us indoors testing recipes in the kitchen. Organizing my pantry at the first of the year unearthed a package of Trutana, Crave Cakes Pancake Mix. I had purchased this to try the chickpea based mix some time ago, but other cooking projects took precedence. Chickpeas produce a gluten free, high protein flour, and this mix made some very light and moist pancakes. They take a bit longer to cook and the mix needs spreading in...
Happy New Year! Following the holiday season take time to sort out my pantry, setting aside the items that didn’t get used and the ones with just a bit left in the package, and plan to use them up in January menus or donate to the local food bank before reaching the use by date. Rice-Chex, Stove-Top Turkey stuffing, Iced Tea Mix, Jiffy Mix, a duplicate jar of yeast and a small tin of salmon are off to the food bank. Those who follow Welcome to My Kitchen on Facebook have a...
DAVENPORT — Christmastime is here, with Christmas Eve being Sunday, Dec. 24 and Christmas Day falling Monday, Dec. 25. Local churches are hosting services on both days for those interested in attending. Here are the plans for churches who returned attempts for contact from The Record-Times. Davenport Harvest Celebration Church will hold a Christmas-themed service at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, titled “Tell it Again.” Trinity Bible Fellowship meets at 10:30 a.m. Christmas Eve and at 10 a.m. Christmas Day. United Methodist Church meets...
Christmas is just a few days hence. Turkey, hams or other large cuts of meat should be thawing in your refrigerator by now. Be sure to place in a dish large enough to catch any thawing juices and prevent cross contamination with other foods. Keep refrigerated until ready to roast or bake. Oven space is often at a premium when preparing large holiday meals. Side dishes to prepare stove top or in a slow cooker will free up oven space. Additionally, dishes prepared ahead, ready...
Cookies of all types make the to-do list in most households this time of year. Many are baking to ship to family and friends or contribute to bake sales. There are many delicate cookies best eaten within a day or two of baking and others need to be made now to develop flavors before the holiday gatherings. Pretty cutout cookies are attractive on cookie plates or decorating a tree but require longer preparation time. Molded or drop cookies take less time, but bar cookies are...
Cooking from scratch has allowed a great controversy to pass me by until questions started coming in. Usually, I get a lot of turkey questions this time of year. Pumpkin is currently at the top of the list. Can I use puree instead of solid pack? Is 100% pumpkin the same as puree? Google doesn’t know everything. Grandmother’s favorite recipe from the Libby’s Solid Pack Pumpkin can won’t turn out the same with pumpkin puree. You will need to use 100% pumpkin. I don’t know when...
New friends and family have steered my culinary interests toward gluten and dairy free recipes. For health and wellbeing, some folks must avoid certain ingredients or ingredient properties. Until recently, those avoiding gluten had to make everything from scratch and scrutinize package labels to avoid accidentally ingesting hidden gluten. Dairy is a little easier to spot but sometimes hides in the trace ingredients. Preparing meals for several group events gave me opportunity...
