Food Bites & Articles
Blue Ribbon Showcase, First-Class Cooks
I never cease to be amazed at how talented you folks in this Club are. No really, I mean it! The Kitchen Crew and I can taste it in the recipes we prepare from you, and we are privileged to...
Pass the Cheese: A Cook Comes Clean
Having the pleasure of trying so many of your recipes on a regular basis, I've come to really appreciate all kinds of unfamiliar flavors and ingredients. I've encountered all types of goodies, and have rarely come up against anything in...
Seasonal Drinks Warm Hearts Though the Generations
Years ago a dear friend introduced me to the flavors of her heritage. With a Puerto Rican father and Dominican mother, she grew up with an endless supply of fresh ingredients, hearty recipes and spices galore. One Christmas she surprised...
Living the Sweet Life with Caramel Coated Memories
As the thermometer dips and the view from my kitchen window transforms into a scene ablaze with the colors of fall, I once again feel a familiar craving inch up. There's something deeply satisfying about the rich, creaminess of fine...
Butternut Squash Perfect Pumpkin Substitute in a Pinch
Necessity is the mother of invention, and last year at about this time I was a grandmother with one serious need for an inventive ingredient swap! That summer's unusual weather had affected the pumpkin crop and made canned pumpkin a...
Food Traditions Inspire Two New Ways to Win… BIG!
How does that saying go: "There's nothing sweeter than the taste of victory"? Well, catch me with a plate full of ginger snaps and I will sure beg to differ! For me the sweetest thing of all is getting to...
Get Cooking with Creative Chicken Combinations
Let's see... what's for dinner? It needs to be inexpensive, something I already have on hand, fun to cook and delicious. I know, how about chicken?! That's right! Gone are the days of boring, dry chicken. I'm leading the charge...
Soup’s On! Comfort Food Makes A Return
A leaf fell in our yard yesterday. You have no idea how happy this makes me. For days I've kept my ear to the oak tree outside believing that I might actually be able to hear that "swish" of the...
How ‘Bout Them Apples? Fall into the Sweetness of Autumn
Caramel apples, apple pie, cobbler, hot cider... this can mean only one thing: autumn is on the way! And for me the cooler days bring with them fond childhood memories of hours spent baking in our warm, family kitchen. As...
Fast, Easy and Delicious Time-Savers
Breakfast-time, dinnertime or anytime in between, time always seems to be an ingredient in short supply these days. With kids and grandkids heading back off to school, there are lunches to be packed, snacks to fix, bake sales to organize!...
Awaken the Possibilities of Cooking with Coffee
Coffee isn't just for breakfast anymore! It seems like all the cooks are doing it these days, making the morning staple a big-time player in some unexpected dishes. While once reserved as my morning eye-opener, I myself can often be...
A Little Bit Sweet, A Little Bit Tart: Balsamic Vinegar Adds Sass to Classic Recipes
Throughout culinary history there have arisen many great pairings: salt and pepper, chocolate and peanut butter, chips and salsa. But there exists one often overlooked pair that I simply could not do without.With their complimentary coloring, silky textures and subtle...
Butter Really Does Make It All Better
The Kitchen Crew and I recently had the sweet fortune of whipping up Laura Davis' recipe for Kentucky Butter Cake. I freely admit to having a soft spot in my heart for Kentucky, butter AND cake, so we had great...
Desserts Shape Up to Be Extra Special
Doesn't everything just seem to taste better when it's baked in a pretty little Bundt pan? To me, there's nothing more festive than a table full of delectable sweets. And the crowning jewel always seems to be a moist Bundt...
An Abundance of Zucchini… Recipes!
It never fails; this time each year the Just A Pinch Kitchen Crew and I begin getting e-mails from green-thumbed folks around the country asking for ideas about what they can do with the abundance of zucchini sprouting from the...
Heavenly Hamburgers Fresh Off the Grill
Hamburgers are a summertime staple for my family. And while they're certainly good all year 'round, there's just nothing like a hot, juicy burger straight off an outdoor grill. Am I right? In my quest for the perfect burger, I...
Blue Ribbon Showcase Sweet Treat for All
Oh, what a delicious time we had at the second Just A Pinch Blue Ribbon Showcase! An enthusiastic crowd joined me and the Kitchen Crew in welcoming Springtime Cake Contest winner Jane Freed and her husband Bud to the Viking...
Fresh Herbs Pack Powerful Summertime Punch
Summer’s beautiful bounty is upon us… now what to do with it all?! My herb garden is overflowing, and I’m constantly on the hunt for nifty new ways to make use of all these green goodies. Often the unsung heroes...
Roasting Garlic Adds New Flavor to Old Favorites
Want to turn an old favorite on its ear? Try roasting some garlic! Roasted garlic has a sweeter, milder flavor than the unroasted sort and can be used in any number of ways. I first tasted roasted garlic served on...
Kid-Friendly Cooking for a Memorable Summer
Kid-friendly, fun treats can turn those long summer days into fond family memories... filled with good things to eat! Member Maven Argyle has started a Discussion Group especially for these kid-friendly cooking ideas and there has been no shortage of...