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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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...