Food Bites & Articles
Summer Means Getting Social with Ice Cream
Thinking back to my memories of Fourth of July, I recall the bicycles decorated with streamers, the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers sizzling on the grill, the blankets laid out on the lawn mid-morning for fireworks that wouldn't start...
Test Kitchen is Heating Up with Hot New Salsa Recipes
Things sure have been getting spicy around here lately! The Test Kitchen has been heating up... and not just because of the temps outside. We've been prepping and testing some delicious salsa recipes that you members have been posting, and...
What’s A Grill to Do? So Many Recipes, So Little Time
Helloooooo, summer! Oh, how I've missed you so. The cozy fires and walks in the snow were charming and all, but these wet boots are messing up the hallway and my garden tools are gathering dust. I hereby declare it...
Jane Louise of Clarkston, MI Wins Cake Contest!
After weeks of mixing, flouring, icing and TASTING (mmm...) the Kitchen Crew and I are proud to announce Jane Louise's Great Spring Rhubarb Coffee Cake as the Grand Prize winner of our Springtime Cake Contest! We were overwhelmed by the...
Flat Recipes Don’t Fall Short on Inspiration
What's more all-American than apple pie? Pizza! Well, ok, maybe that's debatable, but there are some mighty crafty folks out there making delicious, thrifty dishes that are big on flavor... and short on stature. Flat foods can be a fun...
Freshen Up Spices for Maximum Flavor
Winter clothes stashed for the season? Check. Floors mopped and vacuumed? Check. Dust, dust and dust some more? Check, check and check! Spices refreshed? Um... no.I fancy myself a bit of a Spring-cleaning pro, but it sure was news to...
Surprising Ingredients Add Unexpected Twist to Fruits of Your Labor
We all know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but did you know that onion and pear make for delicious fare? Ok, ok, so my poetry skills may need a little polishing up, but the fact remains:...
The Daily Grind Never Tasted So Good
Up until very recently the extent of my experience with a mortar and pestle involved dipping a tortilla chip down into the mortar to procure another bite of guacamole! However, thanks to member Chip Burrus of Glen Dale, WV, my...
Dear Onion, I’m Done Crying Over You.
Over the years, a burnt steak or fallen soufflé have been known to cause a tear or two in my kitchen. Nothing gets my waterworks flowing more often, though, than the pesky (but oh-so-tasty) onion.The eye-irritating enzyme released by onions...
Friends and Flavors Shine at First Blue Ribbon Showcase
Whew, what a whirlwind week! As storms blew through Tennessee, so did sunny Jan Mullikin, the delightful winner of the Just A Pinch Savory Soup Spectacular. Jan and her lovely daughter Hope were guests of honor at the very first...
Potato Ricer Earns Spot in Gadget Hall of Fame
This week's edition of the Notebook falls into the "Who Knew" category of kitchen gadgetry. I am constantly learning new tricks of the trade from you all, and a new favorite involves this little gadget: the potato ricer! Something of...
Kids Find Ways to Get in on Kitchen Fun
As some of you may know, my little grandson Connor is an honorary member of the Just A Pinch Kitchen Crew. Like his grandma, he has a passion for cooking... and for eating! He has helped me out in the...
Lemons Brighten Your Spring Menu
Sure, we may still be in the infant days of Spring, but I just can't help jumping feet-first into the spirit of the season! And nothing says warm weather to me more than the lively, crisp taste of lemon. And...
Cracking the Secret to Perfect Eggs
This time of year eggs seem to be everywhere! If I'm not whipping up a batch of scrambled eggs for the morning rush, then I'm coaxing them into the form of the perfect Sunday Brunch quiche. And if your family...
Sweeten Your Day with a Touch of Honey
Aspartame, saccharin, high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, stevia, refined sugar.... What's a sweet, healthy gal to do?! I've got a hankering for a natural sweet-tooth satisfier that doesn't pack on the guilt. Who's with me?Enter: Honey. That's right, that little...
April 24th Blue Ribbon Showcase Promises Winning Combination
Last week I had the pleasure of announcing Jan Mullikin's Cream of Roasted Red Pepper Chicken Soup as the winning entry in our Just A Pinch Savory Soup Spectacular Contest. What you may have missed, however, is that Jan's prize...
Jan Mullikin of Union, KY Wins Just A Pinch Contest with Roasted Red Pepper Soup!
We've boiled, we've simmered, we've done a LOT of tasting... and now the Kitchen Crew and I are proud to announce the winner of the Just A Pinch Savory Soup Spectacular Contest! Drum roll, please....Congratulations to JAN MULLIKIN of Union,...
Taking a New Spice Route
Growing up I learned to waste not, want not. That was simply our way of life. Now as an adult, I challenge myself every day to be careful with pennies and use only the smallest amount of an ingredient necessary...
Kids Make Kitchen a Warmer Place
As many of you know, my daughter-in-law Krissi is my right-hand gal in the Test Kitchen. We enjoy spending hours together whipping up your recipes and discovering new techniques and flavors. So, when my grandson Connor asked if he could...
Squash Your Pasta Cravings!
Sure, I like winter squash - and I've certainly never turned down a plate of spaghetti and meatballs - but never in my wildest cooking dreams did I ever think that a squash could take the place of my beloved...