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Articles written by Laura Estes


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  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Dec 18, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to my Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Dec 5, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Nov 20, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to my kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Nov 7, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Oct 24, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Oct 10, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Sep 26, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Sep 12, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Aug 28, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Aug 13, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Jul 31, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Jul 19, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Jul 3, 2024

    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)...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Jun 20, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Jun 5, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated May 23, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated May 9, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Apr 25, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Apr 11, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Mar 28, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Mar 14, 2024

    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 ...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Feb 29, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Feb 15, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Feb 1, 2024

    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...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Jan 17, 2024

    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...

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