Rules are a good thing, Sometimes we’re all forced to stop for a fast food meal, and unfortunately for some children a fast food joint is the only type of “restaurant” they know. But now that we’re back in the Midwest we sometimes take our grandkids out for a “real sit-down” meal…And Peepaw and I […]
My Great Fish Cooking Experiment
Fish is the topic on this first Friday in Lent…so it’s the perfect time to revisit my 2016 experiment. You see…it’s not every day this usually land-locked Iowa Meemaw finds herself standing in front of a fishmonger in a grocery store known for more fresh fish varieties than I’ve ever seen! Penn Dutch Food Center in […]
Soup 101 And Meemaw’s Italian Sausage Veggie Soup
I’ve been making soup for more than 50 years. In fact, here I am in high school…stirring a pot of chili for a fundraising event! Many people have asked me “How do you go about creating all of your original soup recipes?” So today I will try to answer that question, and I’ll also share […]
Meemaw’s Party Planning 101…A Catering Event
My friends are always asking if I will cater their events….and I almost always say no, since the food prep, setting up, and tearing down a large party are all time consuming, and it’s VERY hard work! But one summer evening I agreed to do it for a friend in our neighborhood. The fresh […]
Kitchen Rules For Kids
For several years I taught culinary classes through our local community college, and one of my most popular classes was my Cooking With Kids session. Each child brought an adult “helper” to class, and the children and I created an entire meal together, which we then served to their helpers. We also discussed manners, and I […]
Hard Boiled Eggs Meemaw’s Way
Cooking perfect hard boiled eggs is not as easy as you might think. And it may come as a surprise to you to learn that the yolks of hard boiled eggs should NOT resemble the Dr. Suess version in his book Green Eggs and Ham. Some cooks start the eggs in cold water (like me) […]
Perfect Rice Every Time!
I’m always up for learning new cooking methods and techniques…and my friend Sally from New Jersey has taught me an amazing trick to ensure that I cook perfect rice…every time. I’ve never been happy with any method I’ve tried. The rice always came out overcooked, gummy, and totally unappetizing. Then Sally told me how to […]
How to Eat a Rainbow Every Day
One of the first rules I taught our grandchildren was this one: Eat A Rainbow Every Day. It’s a simple concept. Throughout the day, choose a wide variety of foods which represent every color in the rainbow. That’s it. No counting calories, points, or food groups. So…whether it’s fresh fruits topped with a sprinkle of fresh […]
Sharp Knife Tips To Make “Cutting Up” FUN!
I LOVE my knives…and that’s because I’ve picked up so many useful sharp knife tips in my 65 years on this planet! There is nothing more relaxing for me than to pull some veggies out of the refrigerator and to start chopping. The repetitive motion and the rhythm and cadence simply soothes my soul…and it […]
How to Soften Hard Brown Sugar
If you’re like me you’ve probably had this experience. You are in the middle of stirring up some type of sweet treat. You reach in the cupboard for your brown sugar. And that sugar has been transformed into the Rock of Gibraltar! Have you ever wondered why this happens? I did some research to find out. […]