Cooking from scratch: healthier, cheaper, and a great creative outlet
I based this salad on a recipe I found long ago in a magazine. I think that one only used berries, but I have expanded the way I make it to use any kind of fresh summer fruit, and even canned fruit when there isn't any good fresh fruit available. Sometime even a combination of … Continue reading How to Make A Really Tasty Fruit Salad
Here's an update of an older column about one of my favorite things - my cast iron pots. Note: Amazon has some cast iron cookware sales going on right now! I love cast iron skillets. I can remember Grandma cooking with two things: cast iron skillets and Revere ware pots. I don't think she owned … Continue reading The Best Way to Use & Care For Fantastic Cast Iron Cookware
I promised more easy summer salads, so here's another favorite of mine. I use fresh corn on the cob, cook and char it a little on the grill, then combine the corn with two kinds of legumes for some protein, in a light dressing. The corn can be totally cooked on a grill, but I … Continue reading Ultimate Charred Summer Corn Salad Made Easy
Summertime means lots of fresh vegetables and salad. I try not to make only lettuce based salads, though, and broccoli salad is a favorite at our house. Watch for more vegetable salads in the future! Broccoli salad is so easy to make. I don't grow my own broccoli - it always seems to be eaten … Continue reading How to Make The Most Fantastic Broccoli Salad
I had just harvested some kohlrabi from the garden. My husband picked one up and asked "What is this? It looks like it's from outer space!" Yes, Kohlrabi/Brassica oleracea is a little odd looking. And a little bit like a space craft. It's an excellent easy vegetable to grow though, and extremely nutritious, has antioxidants, … Continue reading Try this Strange Looking Vegetable Next time You See It
We don't eat a lot of pork at our house, but occasionally do like a nice pork chop. And what goes better with a chop than some flavorful rice. It's done all in one pan, and only takes about 30 minutes to make - perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. You need an oven proof … Continue reading Perfectly Easy Pork Chops and Rice In One Pot
We love Swiss Chard, and I often grow, as well as buy, Rainbow (Bright Lights) Swiss Chard. It's a healthy green, cooks quickly, and can be quite tasty without being bitter. Besides, Rainbow Chard is so pretty! By all means use plain green and white Swiss Chard if that's what you have. It's still a … Continue reading How to Cook Easy Skillet Rainbow Swiss Chard
Living way out in the country has lots of positives - being near a good Chinese takeout restaurant is not one of them. I've been trying to use my Instant Pot to cook with more often, instead of using it only for rice, potatoes or hard boiled eggs, or making yogurt. I bought a couple … Continue reading How to Make amazing Wonton Soup!
I just read about making angel food cake in a cast iron pot in a recent issue of Southern Cast Iron Magazine - yes, so surprising, no hole in the center! I just had to try it. It calls for a 4 quart cast iron pot - I used my 3 quart cast iron pot … Continue reading A surprising new way to make Angel Food Cake
Last week I showed how easy it was to make chicken Shake and Bake mix at home - and this week it's time for the pork Shake and Bake home version. I'm also giving you a new recipe to try: stuffed Shake and Bake pork chops with onion gravy. You'll need one pork chop per … Continue reading How To Make Surprisingly Good Stuffed Pork Chops With Gravy