The Odessa Record -

This should be the week things gear up for Deutschesfest in Odessa. Sadly, like most area towns, traditional festivities have been canceled due to the corona virus. Normally, the... — Updated 9/11/2020

Harvest season has begun in Northeast Washington. Canola and hay harvests are currently underway, with wheat to follow soon. Many area families have a connection to the process,... — Updated 7/20/2020

ODESSA — Summer popsicle time has arrived. When I was growing up, at this time of the year my mother started pulling out the quarts of fruit syrup she had drained from canned frui... — Updated 7/10/2020

What wonderful June rains we have been having. Gardens are flourishing with natural watering. Dill is growing by leaps and bounds. Soon zucchini will be proliferating with some... — Updated 7/2/2020

Salad season must be coming soon. The first day of summer is only a month away. Three-bean salad comes to mind, mostly because I have received a number of questions about cooking... — Updated 5/21/2020

Potatoes have recently been given away in just about every growing area. With schools shut down and restaurants on limited service, growers, brokers and processing facilities have... — Updated 5/8/2020

Spring is here! Gardens are being planted and outdoor activities have increased, even with social distancing. It is the beginning of salad season, but one more requested soup... — Updated 4/23/2020

Easter celebrations will be different for most this year. Social distancing and shortages of some grocery and household items has us all researching different ways to keep house... — Updated 4/9/2020

Cold nights and a cool wind from the north, makes for chilly days, even if the sun comes out. Soup season is still with us. This freezes well and is a much more flavorful addition... — Updated 3/16/2020

Spring is trying to burst forth, but we do live in Eastern Washington, so anything can happen weather-wise. Spring brings new, fresh food items to market. Lamb chops, roasts and... — Updated 2/27/2020

Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year. This makes celebrating with dinner out more feasible on the holiday than when it falls midweek. For others, ball games, work... — Updated 2/25/2020

A bit of sunshine teases us into thinking winter is over. February and March have yet to come. Winter is not done so we might as well make the most of it. Lemon flavored desserts... — Updated 2/1/2020

Winter weather and hot meals go together. Meatloaf, casseroles, soups and stews, top the list of requested recipes, whether one is using a conventional range, slow-cooker or insta-p... — Updated 1/18/2020

December holidays have come and gone, and now we are in the new year 2020. Resolutions have been made and maybe one of yours is to prepare more home cooked meals. My hope in... — Updated 1/18/2020

Christmas is coming! Programs, concerts and parties fill days, along with gift shopping, and celebration meal planning. Meanwhile, in all this, the family needs to eat three meals... — Updated 1/18/2020

December is the month for stocking up on baking supplies. Stores offer many items on sale for the season. It is the best time to purchase spices, as even on sale they can be quite... — Updated 12/6/2019

Thanksgiving Day is one week away. If you are the head cook for your family celebration, you may be planning how you will pull it together. Delegating salads and other side dishes t... — Updated 11/24/2019

Fall weather has ended production in most Odessa gardens. Time to use up the last fruits and vegetables you braved the cold wind to rescue before the killing frost. My mother would... — Updated 10/14/2019

Deutschesfest is in the books for another year, and most of us have had our fill of German food for awhile. During all this festivity, the late peaches and tomatoes have ripened,... — Updated 10/3/2019

Eat dessert first, save room for dessert. Summer brings an abundance of zucchini, many getting a little large for savory main and side dishes. Just the right size to grind for... — Updated 9/1/2019

Mac-n-Cheese, a favorite of most kids and many adults, and a staple side dish on most southern cooking menus, has increased in popularity nation wide. Often, one of the first... — Updated 8/15/2019

One thing can be said about Odessa weather of late, it’s changeable. The weather leading up to grain harvest is often like this. Shall I make salad or soup for the days meals?... — Updated 7/4/2019

Vacation Bible School has been happening this week. Some of the program focused on customs of other countries. I have a couple of recipes from countries of my own heritage to share... — Updated 7/4/2019

Soup is a good choice for feeding a crowd any time of year, especially when made in a slow-cooker. The ease of putting everything in the crock early in the day, makes hospitality an... — Updated 6/14/2019

Wild weather, wind, a rain storm or two, has our systems confused about the seasons. It looks nice out, but when you open the door a cold wind hits. The world is green but chilly.... — Updated 5/25/2019 Full story