Food Bites & Articles
Short on Time, Money? Pasta Saves the Day!
Through my years of cooking for hungry family and friends, there has been one dish that has never failed me. It's quick and inexpensive to prepare, and doesn't require a whole lot of brain power (a good thing, when your...
Grits Worth Kissin’: Southern Favorite Boasts Universal Appeal
"No self-respecting Southerner uses instant grits!"Ahem, I beg to differ! This line from the film My Cousin Vinny may have made the legal case for the lead character, but it doesn't hold water in my way of thinking. I also...
Chili Peppers Add Heat, Flavor to Cold Weather Cooking
Sometimes the perfect thing for a cold day is to get a little hot and spicy! There are all kinds of hot peppers that will add that special kick to your cooking, but I've always been a little unsure about...
Chocolate Chip Therapy Eases the Winter Blues
Last week sure was a doozie. With wintry weather, a busy bee schedule and a case of the sniffles, I sought refuge in my kitchen. All of the yummy Valentines Day recipes you members have shared sure did warm my...
Blue Ribbon Showcase Honors Family-Friendly Cooking
"You all just don't understand how cool this is," exclaimed Family Holiday Traditions contest winner Missy Wimpelberg. Outfitted in a crisp new Just A Pinch apron, Missy stood excitedly before an audience of smiling faces during the recent Blue Ribbon...
Spice Up the Big Game with All-Star Chili Recipes
I may not look it, but I know a thing or two about football... Tackling menus, passing dishes, intercepting fumbled napkins. Oh yes, football parties are my game and there's not a reason in the world why you can't score...
Homemade Dips: An Easy Way to Celebrate the Everyday
Which came first, the party or the party dip? Right here and now I'm going on record with my theory that where there's homemade dip, a party is soon to follow!I remember standing on my tip-toes as a child, peering...
Easy, Delicious Dishes Save Time and Money
Simple recipes don't have to mean boring meals. Not once in my life have I passed up a recipe because it looked "too easy". Can you imagine? I practically jump up and down for joy any time I find a...
Tennessee Mom Wins Grand Prize with Holiday Recipe
Franklin, TN home cook and Holiday Family Traditions Contest Winner Missy Wimpelberg knows a thing or two about cooking for a crowd. Some of her earliest holiday memories are of the entire family - all 40 so of them -...
Eat Sassy, Stay Healthy in the New Year
Frequent readers may be under the impression that I don't spend too much time counting calories or fat grams... well, they'd be right! However, lest you think I'm all about extra cheese and second helpings, I do make a point...
Good Luck is Just One Recipe Away
I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get the New Year off to a terrific start! The best way I know to put my luckiest foot forward is to whip up a spread of good-luck foods. Superstition or...
The Secret to Last-Minute Gifts Is Right in Your Pantry
I absolutely love giving - and receiving - homemade food gifts. Having baked for years, I know first-hand how much care goes into creating handcrafted gifts, and am thrilled to pieces anytime friends and family are willing to share their...
Magical Memories of Sweet Holiday Mornings
One of the sweetest parts of Christmas mornings growing up in Kentucky was the feast that was lovingly laid out on our dining table. As a child it was all my parents could do to tear me from the piles...
Savor the Sweetness of Giving This Holiday Season
Whether you're cooking for one or for a house full of hungry folks, this time of year is perfect for yummy indulgences. A cookie exchange can be a great way to bake a little and taste a lot, but have...
Homemade Bread Warms Heart and Home
Nothing transports me to a happy place faster than the smell of bread baking. There's something comforting, something happy, something thoroughly warming to the soul about that yeasty, nutty aroma. Even as a child, bread-baking time was a favorite for...
Easy Recipes, Fancy Names: Taking the Fear Out of Holiday Cooking
Over the years I have collected many handy tools that I keep close by while cooking. There's one thing, however, that I absolutely refuse to have to use in the kitchen.... a dictionary! There are so many recipes these days...
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...