Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
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Cherry season is in full swing throughout the Inland Northwest. Fresh Bing and Rainer cherries need little but a good wash, and eaten fresh out of hand. Pie cherries are another story, without added sugar, they are pretty tart. Cherry pie or cobbler is a favorite of many, but pie cherries or tart bush cherries also make wonderful jam or jelly. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made with cherry jelly are a taste bud treat. If you have bush cherries and have wondered what to do...
Culinary Arts, cooking and baking, candy making are just as creative as any quilting, sewing or craft project. Someone is thinking up something new all the time. Pancake bites came onto my radar over the past couple of weeks, and I discovered there are dozens of recipes available for these tasty treats. Some pancake bites are sweet and filled with fruit, and others are savory and include sausage or other meats. Some recipes start with pancake mix and others are, from scratch,...
Rhubarb in area gardens is flourishing in the current cool nights, recent rains and sunny, but not too hot days. This tart vegetable is used mostly as a fruit in a vast array of dessert recipes, jams and jellies. Rhubarb pie is a favorite of many, others like cobblers and crisps. Karma Henry shared a recipe for Baked Sticky Pudding several years ago, and it was included in this column at that time. This simple to prepare recipe captures the fresh spring flavor of rhubarb witho...
Asparagus season is in full swing. Steamed, roasted, grilled, or sliced raw in salads, so many ways to prepare this spring vegetable. Pickled Asparagus is a favorite of many and it is fairly easy to make your own. Water bath canning is all that is needed for most pickle recipes, requiring only a deep kettle, canning jars with lids and rings. I received the following recipe in 1987 from the now late, Marilyn Fink, and have shared it in this column several times. It’s a great r...
Well, it finally happened. After 24 plus years of writing this column, I missed a deadline. Sorry readers for disappointing you last week. We are here to make up for it this week. Merleen Smith shared her recipe for the Pizza Spaghetti Pie she served to a community youth group in April. The recipe is easy to prepare, and even with cooking the pasta, the dish can be ready to eat in under an hour. Pizza Spaghetti Pie 12 ounces of spaghetti, cooked and drained 2/3 cup milk 3...
Easter eggs and a Pinterest post got me thinking about Grandma Claudius Deviled Eggs. The post was about the worlds best Deviled Eggs. That recipe included a lot of different ingredients, plus Grandma's, not so secret ingredient, butter. If you have boiled eggs you should use up, or are in the mood for deviled eggs, here is my best guess at the amounts. Grandma Claudius Deviled Eggs 12 hard boiled eggs 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 tsp prepared mustard 2 Tbsp very soft butter 1/8 tsp g...
Springtime, April showers, May flowers, and little chicks and ducklings. Speaking of ducks, spring is the season for duck eggs. If you haven’t tried baking with duck eggs, take advantage of those being offered on many area virtual yard sales. The extra large size and 50/50 balance of yolk to white will add increased richness to your baked goods. You haven’t lived until you have eaten Duck Egg Pancakes, a perfect treat to fix for Easter morning or anytime of day you are serving...
Recent windy weather around the Inland Northwest is a reminder that March is attempting to go out like a lion. Roaring winds and ice filled rain storms make a hot bowl of soup a comforting meal. Some folks like anything called soup, others are more particular. Some prefer broth based soups and others a creamy or stew style soup. Then there are those who won’t eat soup, but chili is a favorite. Cheesy Enchilada Chili, brought by Kim Powers to a recent soup supper is a creamy s...
Leeks, like onions and garlic are members of the allium family. They are the milder, sweeter of the three. They look like a giant green onion, and the white and light green parts are used in cooking, while the dark green parts are quite tough and stringy. Turkey Leek Shepherds Pie is the third in our group of diabetic friendly recipes. This one was the least favorite among my taste testers, finding it rather bland. The recipe is presented as written, but substitutions I recomm...
Cooking for special diets can be daunting. Salt, butter and sugar, the principle ingredients to enhance flavor, generally need to be reduced or eliminated. Allergies to nuts or additives necessitate eliminating the feature ingredient in other recipes. My recent foray into testing recipes suitable for diabetic diets, particularly those using exchanges, formed this observation. Portion control by the eater, and precise measuring by the cook, are most important. If the recipe...
Casseroles are an economical and savory way to stretch food budget dollars. Pasta and potatoes are often the foundation ingredient to stretch a pound of ground beef or a couple of chicken breast to feed a family. Several folks have asked if I would print some recipes suitable for diabetic diets and are flavorful enough to satisfy the rest of the family. A little online research brought up several appealing options. Pastry-Topped Turkey Casserole, found on the Taste of Home...
Valentines Day calls for some special treats. Hot Cocoa Crinkle Cookies are a delicious chocolate cookie studded with Hot Cocoa and Marshmallow Chips. Sarah Voise made these for a recent coffee hour and they were a hit. The chips are a specialty, seasonal item made by the Nestle Company, so you may want to try this recipe soon. These cookies would make a nice addition to a bowl game buffet. Hot Cocoa Crinkle Cookies 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt...
Fresh potatoes, a staple in most kitchen pantries, have a shelf life. You may have them correctly stored in a cool dark place, but nature is telling them to begin sprouting, prepare for the new season of planting and growing. Time to make potato soup. The potatoes may be a bit soft and sprouts are started, but they will make a nice soup. Simply remove the sprouts, peel and remove any areas starting to green and you are ready chop, slice or dice for your favorite soup recipe....
New Years resolutions, what are you resolving to change in your kitchen/menu routines? Pantry organization, less food waste, balanced diet are just a few of the changes to consider. An organized pantry can facilitate reduced food waste and incentive for preparing balanced meals. By this time the new year, any leftovers from holiday meals should have been eaten or put into the freezer to use later. This week I will be giving my refrigerator a good cleaning, removing anything...
Christmas preparations are in full swing in many Inland Northwest homes. Turkeys over 15 pounds will be set to thawing in the refrigerator by Saturday morning, Sunday for lighter weight turkeys. Cookie baking and candy making will be weekend tasks, amid gift wrapping and last minute decorating. Make-ahead dishes like Hasselback Chicken Cordon Bleu and Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole, are perfect for busy days. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole • 2 Tbsp butter • 2 boneless chi...
Cookie exchange and gift giving season is here. The day before Thanksgiving I enjoyed helping a group of students make and deliver cookie plates. One recipe we used, Grandma’s Drop Sugar Cookies is a bit unusual. The dough is very, very soft, almost runny, like thick glaze. This is a great recipe to make when kids want to make sugar cookies but you don’t have time to deal with the cookie cutters and rolling pin mess. Grandma’s Drop Sugar Cookies 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp...
Thanksgiving will soon be here. By the time this issue of The Record Times is in your hands most area cooks in charge of the Thanksgiving meal will be planning the menu and making a list of tasks to do ahead. If you are planning cornbread dressing, you can make the cornbread several days ahead. Any gelatin salads may be made up to two days ahead, as can dinner rolls. Many side dishes reheat well in a microwave, saving on precious oven time and space. Before we get to the Thank...
Halloween has come and gone, and by the time this issue lands in reader mail boxes, most of the candy haul will be gone as well. Snickers is usually the first to disappear, but incase you happen to have a secret stash left, Snickers Apple Salad is a tasty dessert like side dish for a holiday meal. The original recipe calls for four regular size bars, but 18 to 20 fun size bars equal the amount by weight. Snickers Apple Salad 1 1/2 cups cold milk 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant...
Frost on the pumpkins and squash has come to area gardens. Many folks choose to decorate porches with pumpkins and squash of all varieties. Whether you grew your pumpkins or purchased from a market or u-pick patch, the fall decorations can augment the family menus in many recipes. Pumpkin pie is not the only recipe to use pumpkin or squash. Muffins, quick bread and soups are just a few of the recipe possibilities. Autumn Pumpkin Muffins, a recipe from the Crisco company calls...
Fall weather, cool nights and sunny days call for end of gardening season recipes. Squash and pumpkins are fully ripe and a light frost has hardened the rinds for long winter keeping. Soups and stews are common fare in area slow-cookers and savory breads and luscious desserts round out menus. Crustless Pumpkin Pie from the website Cupcakes and Kale Chips, is a gluten free recipe, more like a custard than pie, but very rich and smooth. The recipe calls for canned pumpkin but...
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...
