Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
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Springtime means mid-week soup suppers for many area folks. Some cooks have a signature soup they bring to every soup meal, while others like to try a new recipe each time. Soups range in flavors from savory to spicy, with a few having sweet/sour overtones. Some are thick with vegetables or a cream base broth; others are meat or vegetable broth-based with plenty of liquid for sopping up with some toasted bread or crackers. French Chicken Stew is a combination of both styles....
Meal planning as a season ends can get stuck in the rut of the same old thing. Adding a new side dish and company meals will bring interest to every day. Debbie Buscher brought a potato casserole to a winter potluck that was well received. Based on a recipe she found in the Staff of Life II, Odessa Memorial Hospital Cookbook. The original recipe, attributed to Ann Keyes, is a variation of what is known locally as funeral potatoes. Debbie changed the recipe to accommodate...
January is an excellent time to clear out your pantry, take inventory and restock. I always seem to have a few things intended for the holidays that didn’t get used. Taking stock this year, I discovered a package of dates that needed to be used. Dates will last almost forever, but they will dry out and get very hard. To use them up, I made some changes to an everyday Date Bar recipe and came up with a winning combination that was favorably received at a recent quilters gathering. Date Bars Date Filling: 3 cups chopped d...
What to fix for dinner? To paraphrase a saying circulating in social media recently, I didn’t realize that being an adult meant wondering what to fix for dinner for the rest of my life would be the most challenging question. Throw picky eaters, sudden schedule changes and forgetting to thaw meat into the mix and you may end up with lukewarm takeout or heating a frozen pizza. More home-cooked meals may have been on your New Years’ resolution list. You have scanned the internet for recipe ideas. All you need now is to fol...
By Laura Estes Quick and easy is the number one criteria for many cooks selecting holiday recipes these next few weeks—a bonus for young cooks who can safely make with limited supervision. For example, Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are mixed on the stovetop and dropped onto prepared pans to cool and set. Then, add sprinkles for a festive addition to dessert tables. Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies 1.2 cup butter 2 cups granulated sugar 1/2 cup cold milk 1/2 cup peanut butter 3 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal 1 Tbsp vanilla e...
Holiday baking time is here. Parties, programs, gatherings of all kinds and wintery weather call for warm beverages and sweet treats. Cookies, cocoa, or an Irish coffee are a welcome refreshment this time of year. Springerle, a German-origin cookie, is very firm, like pfeffernusse and somewhat candy-like, they keep well, and the flavor improves as they age. There are special rolling pins for imprinting the intricate designs on the pillow-shaped cookies, but the bottom of a fancy drinking glass or a decorative cookie press...
November and December are often filled with many family and community gatherings. Potluck meals call for easy transport and keep warm dishes. Pinterest and recipe blogs fill our lists with new recipes to try and meanwhile there are everyday meals to prepare. Scalloped potatoes are an easy side option for potluck meals and buffet tables. Buffet Scalloped Potatoes, a recipe that has been in my collection since 1978, has stood the test of time and adapted well to a variety of...
Thanksgiving menus are on the minds of many area cooks. Turkey, beef roast, ham, or a combination? What sides and desserts will fit in range and refrigerator space? What oven dishes will cook in the meat standing time? Fresh turkeys should be kept refrigerated until ready to use. If you are brining a turkey, keep the brining bird refrigerated. A frozen turkey will need to be thawed under refrigeration, beginning 4 to 5 days before use, depending on size. Be sure to put a pan...
Casseroles are perfect for fall days. Fragrant and warm from the oven, they make for cozy evening meals. Casseroles that are quick to fix or easy to prepare ahead are a boon to area cooks. With some area eating establishments closing for the winter and others shutting down permanently, I have been getting requests for ideas of what to fix when you can’t fill in with take out. Cheeseburger Rice, a recipe I found on the Minute Rice box nearly 30 years ago, is one of my go to mai...
What can you do with a pound of ground beef when you are in a hurry, everyone is starving, and it is less than an hour before the next event deadline? Try Easy Skillet Beef and Hash Browns, ready in 20 minutes and easily adjusts to ingredients on hand. Easy Skillet Beef and Hash Browns 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 pound ground beef 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed Cream of Celery soup, regular or low fat 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup ketchup 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 cups frozen...
Fall and winter root crops, potatoes, carrots and rutabagas are showing up in farmers markets and produce aisles. Winter squash will soon follow. John Madden’s Thick Beef Vegetable Stew, a recipe that was added to my collection in 1987, is a favorite at our house throughout fall and winter. This recipe incorporates all the winter vegetables. John Madden’s Thick Beef Vegetable Stew 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 1/4 tsp salt 2 1/2 pounds bottom round stea...
September and October bring more fall festivals and celebrations. Many feature an Oktoberfest theme and bake sales are a common attraction. Lebkucken, a German heritage recipe, is a honey and spice flavored cookie, popular at such bake sales. This recipe comes from a Hutterite cookbook from the Bow Island area of Alberta. Canada. Lebkuchen 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar 1/2 cup water 1 cup honey 2 Tbsp butter 1 egg, well beaten 1/4 cup finely chopped nuts 1/3 cup finely chopped...
School starting, community fairs and festivals and a return to routine schedules call for easy to prepare meals, as well as specialty items for bake sales and festival events. Cucumbers, peaches and tomatoes beg for preserving via canning, freezing and drying. Summer temperatures make one hesitant to heat the kitchen for meal preparation in addition to canning and baking. Odessa resident Merleen Smith experimented with a slow-cooker version of Tater Tot Casserole when family...
Gooseberries, an old fashioned fruit, born on prickly branches that deter even our local voracious scabland deer, were plentiful this year. I did a little experimenting with kuchen recipes to come up with a good one for Gooseberry Kuchen. The not too sweet custard with a hint of nutmeg is the perfect balance to the tart fruit. Gooseberry Kuchen Dough for one kuchen 2 cups gooseberries, fresh or frozen 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1 egg 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 1/2 Tbsp...
Zucchini, early peaches and watermelons; all seasonal summer delights. Yes, you can buy most fruits and vegetables year round, but local and fresh is always best. I recently tried a recipe for Super Easy Peach Cobbler, designed for canned peaches. What a difference between fresh ripe peaches and a dash or two of nutmeg made. Following is my version of Super Easy Peach Cobbler. This recipe is perfect for those peaches that are almost over ripe. Super Easy Peach Cobbler 1/2 cup...
Summertime is berry time. Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are most common. Strawberry Shortcake is a favorite of many and was the GoOdessa Summer Recreation Cooking with Laura selection this past week. Some folks like pound cake or sponge cake for the base, but a sweet biscuit base is more common. The sweet biscuit base was the most common among the younger bakers. Sweet Biscuit Shortcake 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 3 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 3 Tbsp...
Summer side dishes are in demand with warmer weather finally arriving. Barbecues, picnics and other outdoor events calling for a dish to share fill calendars. Salads are an easy, portable choice for such events. Pasta, vegetable and potato-based salads often utilize items already in your pantry. Summer Rice Salad is a nice change from the traditional macaroni salad. I developed this recipe several years ago when needing a gluten free salad, and a suitable gluten free pasta was...
Cool and rainy weather makes for a productive rhubarb year. I was asked how to freeze rhubarb so it works well in recipes. Freezing rhubarb is easy. Just slice or dice to desired size pieces, spread on cookie sheets in a single layer and freeze. When firm, package in airtight containers and return to the freezer. Using frozen rhubarb requires a little attention to detail. For most recipes, do not thaw before using. Using in the frozen state will keep the end product from being...
Rhubarb and asparagus, early spring produce offerings, are in abundant supply currently. Those who pickle asparagus should plan to get this done soon, as asparagus season will be winding down. Rhubarb is just coming into peak production and will last until hot weather arrives. Asparagus is a great addition to spring garden salads. Some folks like asparagus raw, sliced thin in salads, but parboiling really brings out the flavor without sacrificing crunchy texture. Sesame Aspara...
Cool weather may not be ideal for most kitchen garden plantings, but rhubarb loves it. Therefore we have a few more rhubarb based recipes to use up some of the bounty. I found a recipe for Rhubarb Cookies on a site called “Dance around the Kitchen”. The recipe is easy to prepare and doesn’t require chilling before baking. Rhubarb Cookies 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup shortening 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar 2 eggs 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1 1/2 cups finely diced rhubarb 3/4 cup old f...
Welcome to My Kitchen Springtime salads are a refreshing change from winter stews and casseroles. Fresh greens, young onions and radishes topped with a flavorful dressing and served with a dinner roll make a light meal. Add diced cooked chicken, well trained tuna, cooked shrimp or ham for a full meal salad. Salad dressing is nearly as important as the salad ingredients. From simple oil and vinegar to elaborate ingredient mixtures, the dressing flavor enhances the salad ingredient flavors while melding all into a savory dish....
Easter festivities often lead to an abundance of hard boiled eggs. Normally the cooked eggs will keep in the refrigerator for 5-6 days, but if they have been out for several hours or overnight, they should be used up right away. Potato salad is often a dish of choice for using the abundance and the dye used to decorate the eggs can make for a colorful salad. The basic ingredient in Potato salad is, of course, potatoes. Any type of potato may be used, depending on personal tastes. Additionally many recipes include boiled...
April showers bring May flowers. Easter celebrations bring spring menus to mind. Some menus include traditional ham, others a roast leg of lamb. Every family has a variety of traditions for this springtime holiday. Honey Apricot Glazed Baked Ham, a sweet and savory method of preparation, produces tender juicy slices from a spiral sliced ham. Reducing the oven temperature makes this the perfect recipe to put in the oven before Easter services or other events. Honey Apricot...
Luau themes are popular for spring and summer gatherings. Leis and Hawaiian print décor and clothing, set the mood. Outdoors, tiki torches and grass table skirting add an island feel. Pineapple, mango, mandarin oranges and other tropical fruits, slow roasted pork and chicken and teriyaki basted kabobs are just a few of the flavors featured in a luau menu. Ambrosia Salad or Ambrosia in the 1959 rendition I found in my dad’s recipe box are nearly identical in ingredients, bu...
Welcome to all in our expanded readership. The Welcome to My Kitchen column first appeared in The Odessa Record on March 11, 2004, as a monthly feature. Within a month, by reader request, the column expanded to twice monthly and several months later became the bi-weekly column it is today. The purpose of this column is to share recipes and kitchen tips with fellow readers. You are invited to share your favorite recipes by sending them to the addresses listed at the end of...
