[SeMissourian.com] Fair ~ 58°F  
River stage: 32.55 ft. Rising
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Recipes amassed from a number of places (05/19/13)
I seem to get recipes in some of the funniest places. People give me recipes in the grocery store written on their shopping list, work, church, at family or social gatherings and restaurants. Recently, while enjoying a Wib's barbeque sandwich Tracy Taylor told me about this really great strawberry cake recipe she tried and some of the other wait-staff agreed that it was a very delicious cake. Tracy emailed the recipe to me and so I want to share it with you today...
Recipes in celebration of Mother's Day (05/12/13)
Mother's Day is always a very special day for women all across America. Children pamper and honor their mothers on this day set aside to pay special recognition. My mother, Marilyn Kinsey cooked for the six of us children easily with no effort at all. She could make anything out of nothing and stretch food like no other person I knew. We worked hard, ate well, and enjoyed meals together...
Recipes in honor of grandmother (05/05/13)
My grandmother, Connie Hoyt Kinsey was born on this date in 1891. I have so many memories of her and her house, but most of my memories involve food. She made these out-of-this-world noodles which were a favorite of all the grandchildren. She used the egg yolks in the noodles, so with the egg whites, there was always a tall, fresh-baked angel food cake with maraschino cherry icing. It was absolutely wonderful...
Recipes to fulfill your poke cake craving (04/28/13)
At the Senior Center we served an old favorite for our St. Patrick's Day dessert: Poke Cake. We did lime poke cake and it was so pretty on the tray sprinkled with green sugar on top. That dessert started a conversation about poke cakes and desserts we have not made in a long time. ...
Sunday school reveals delicious recipe (04/21/13)
Jackie Otto and I are in the same Sunday school class, and recently she made Crème Brulee French toast for a Sunday school brunch our class hosted. After the brunch, several people wanted the recipe, so I talked her into giving me the recipe to include into this column so everyone could have it. I hope you enjoy it as much as our class did...
A few recipes shared the old-fashioned way (04/14/13)
By now you know how much I enjoy getting mail from you, the readers of this column. During the past several months, I have been asking for you to send in mail and share recipes with other readers. While the whole time, there were four pieces of mail sitting in my small mailbox at the Southeast Missourian...
Recipes sent in from readers like you everywhere (04/07/13)
I love it when I have pieces of reader mail, and this week I have several pieces. It is always fun to see where mail comes from and what readers are wanting to pass along. Enjoy all of today's recipes and maybe they will find their way into your "favorite recipe" file...
Start your Easter with a great breakfast (03/24/13)
Every family has their own traditions for Easter Resurrection Sunday. Some families attend sunrise services at church and others do a late morning service then brunch afterwards. This year is going to be very different for us, as we usually do our big meal in the later afternoon, but our son has to leave to go back to school. Our plans may be a little different for the meal, but getting to worship together will be the best part of he day...
An early start for Easter dinner preparation (03/17/13)
Even though today is St. Patrick's Day, I am already looking toward Easter and our dinner menu plans. The ham and turkey are standard, but side dishes are always fun to play with and try new recipes. All these recipes are some of our favorites and they certainly are not reserved just for Easter. Give any or all of these recipes a try and enjoy them on your own Easter buffet...
C.A.R.E Bears provide great cookbook (03/10/13)
My brother has worked for the Illinois State Police for 15 years and has become good friends with those with whom he works most closely. Recently he bought me a cookbook from the Operation C.A.R.E. Bears program through the former Illinois State Police headquarters in Ullin, Ill. ...
Sandwich recipes worth digging into (03/03/13)
The wide world of sandwiches stretches from cold meats to hot, grilled, or even desserts. The possibilities are endless. In the book "The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches" by Susan Russo, you can quickly see that if you can dream it up, it can be done. I like the way the book is indexed by ingredients and not sandwich names. If I want to use raspberry preserves, I look under that ingredient and it lists all the sandwiches in the book that call for that ingredient...
Recipes to celebrate an anniversary (02/24/13)
Scott and I are celebrating our wedding anniversary today. It is fun to recall details from that day 23 years ago. It was an unusually warm day, and we ran the air conditioner at the church to keep the wedding party and guests comfortable. My brother served as head usher and was extremely tired having stayed up all night finishing our beautiful wedding cake, and my three small nieces were precious in their darling white dresses all serving as flower girls. ...
From the cookbook of Dorothy Points (02/17/13)
There are so many fun and friendly people who come to the senior center, and of course we get to know them very well. Over the years we have laughed and cried with many people. Dorothy Points visits the senior center everyday, and at least once a week she brings in a treat to share with others. I decided to include a few of her recipes today in hopes that you can share them with your friends someday, as well...
Special recipes for Lexi's birthday (02/10/13)
Happy birthday, Lexie! Today is our daughter's 16th birthday. We have gone through a wild and exciting time of transition from a love of black and white cows, the Wizard of Oz, Wicked the musical, Glee and a myriad bands and musical groups, to now being able to drive a car. My goodness, I find myself wondering where all that time went. It has been an absolutely wonderful 16 years and our lives are greatly changed for the better because of her...
Gulf Coast recipes for your sweet tooth (02/03/13)
My mother-in-law, Barbara McClanahan, and her friend Cheryl Gilges are out to showing everyone up by sending in recipes two weeks in a row. This week it is all cake recipes from the Gulf Coast. Cheryl lives in Gulf Shores and all of these recipes are ones she has shared with Barb, and I am sure they are delicious. Give them a try, or clip them out and file away for your next special occasion...
Recipes straight from the Gulf of Mexico (01/27/13)
My mother and father-in-law, Barbara and Jerry McClanahan, have very special, close friends who live in Gulf Shores, Ala., so visiting with them is usually by email. Cheryl and Ralph Gilges have been friends of my in-laws for many years, and they have had some wonderful times together. In recent years, Cheryl and Barb have shared recipes back and forth, and today they are sharing a few of them with you...
Recipes to break out of the 'supper rut' (01/20/13)
I was visiting with a friend recently about entreé supper options, and we both agreed we needed to find a few new recipes to try. So, I went to Taste of Home for some ideas, and I found several recipes that sounded interesting and worth a try. It may take me awhile, but I plan to give each of these a taste, and I think you might do the same. Break out of the supper rut and try something new...
Over-the-top Lone Star specialties (01/13/13)
In the past I have told you about my cousin Cindy Dude, now residing in McKinney, Texas. She is a fabulous cook and an extraordinary entertainer. She takes the term "radical hospitality" to a whole new level. She takes simple, delicious and easy recipes and presents them in a way that makes them seem difficult and over the top...
Simple soup recipes for winter months (01/06/13)
After the New Year, when days are short and gloomy, I often turn to soup for our supper options. My husband would not like soup every night, but I can sneak it in once in a while without too much fuss. I chose a couple of soup recipes to include that are really good and can be made in a short period of time...
Ringing in the New Year right .. with taste! (12/30/12)
Several people I know will be staying home this year to ring in the new year with family or friends. We all know that any New Year's Eve celebration always involves food. So, I went looking for some quick and simple recipes you might consider for your New Year's Eve menu or for anytime during the year. I included a couple of recipes that have bacon in the ingredient listing, because bacon is such a popular food right now...
Recipes to help you celebrate the season (12/16/12)
Everyone seems busy planning Christmas menus and getting grocery shopping started. There are main dish decisions to be made, then all of the side dishes, not to mention the dessert options. I have included a coupe of recipes here today that might help with a side dish or two, a quick dessert and a couple of other recipes that might find their way to your Christmas celebration this year...
Recipes for a festive and delicious party (12/09/12)
This time of year I am usually asked about quick, simple yet delicious appetizers and snacks that can be easily put together and served at parties with friends, coworkers or family. In anticipation of those questions, I decided to head to the bookcase and pull a few Christmas cookbooks off the shelves and find a few that fit the most often asked question this time of year...
Switch up your holiday side dishes (12/02/12)
I recently had a conversation with a friend about au gratin potatoes and scalloped potatoes, but I have never used a recipe for them. I just make them like mom always did. So I went looking and found Jodi Thompson of Jackson had one in her myriad of emailed recipes. I like the variations the recipe lists and you can experiment with different cheeses, as well...
Ideas for transforming leftover turkey (11/25/12)
After Thanksgiving, there always seems to be some turkey in the freezer, and it needs to be used up within a reasonable amount of time. Of course, my mother's homemade pot pie is so amazing and is such a treat every year, but some of you may be looking for something besides pot pie for that leftover turkey...
Thinking about Thanksgiving treats (11/18/12)
Thoughts are turning to the Thanksgiving holiday very quickly. In our family, we have been planning the day's menu for a couple of weeks now, which is so much fun. The blessing of family and our time together is so special and dear. Now that our son is away at college, our time together when he is home is very precious, and I find myself guarding that time maybe just a bit too closely...
Cooking with cranberries isn't just about sauce (11/11/12)
One of my favorite things in the whole world is cranberries. I love them, mostly paired with orange, in hearty dishes, cookies, breads, candy, salads, side dishes (especially my dad's cranberry relish) -- you name it, I love them. While having dinner with my friend Janice Friedrich recently, I told her I had to head home and write a recipe column. ...
Recipes you'll want to share with friends (10/28/12)
Round Robin recipe groups, email recipe groups, recipes from friends and recipes from cookbooks -- there are numerous ways to circulate recipes, and this week the recipes seem to come from everywhere. Read over them, take a look at each one and give them a try. You may even want to pass some of these along to your friends or family...
Fire up the oven and get ready to bake (10/21/12)
My recipe-collecting friends must be thinking about baking and cooking this week, because I had several recipes given to me all within a coupe of days of each other. All of this week's recipes sound really good and interesting. Try each one and see which ones find their way into your favorite recipes files...
Local recipe featured in 'Our Iowa' magazine (10/14/12)
Cape Girardeau's very own Vance Combs and his world-famous, or at least Lynwood Baptist Church-dinner-famous, peanut butter pie was featured this month in the "Our Iowa" magazine. Vance says he is expected to bring at least two of these pies to church dinners and to the church's fish frys. The bi-monthly publication states that Vance was born and raised in southwest Iowa, and I know he still holds strong to those roots...
Fall's here, so break out the apple recipes (10/07/12)
Fall and apple recipes just naturally go together. I am always eager to pull out those favorite apple recipes and smell all of those fabulous fall aromas. This year, Jodi Thompson of Jackson helped me with all of these apple recipes. All but one of these recipes is from the Southern Plate website and blog, which I just love. ...
Welcome fall into your homes with these recipes (09/30/12)
The official calendar season of fall has arrived, and I have to say I am ready. After the extremely long, hot, dry summer, I am ready for cooler weather, rain and the wonderful foods that fall brings to us. So, over the next couple of weeks, we will be concentrating on those amazing foods that welcome fall into our homes. If you have a favorite recipe you enjoy making this time of year, please send it in so it can be included in this column...
Recipes from the Quakers in Pennsylvania (09/23/12)
My cousin Megan Olson recently visited Pennsylvania and shortly after her trip, she sent me a cookbook in the mail called "Quaker Flavors: A Cookbook by Willistown Friends Meeting." I had never given a thought that Quakers were an active group still meeting and functioning, but they are. Friends, what they refer to themselves as, are very much alive and well in today's world...
A variety of recipes from friends and family (09/16/12)
It is so much fun to get recipes from friends and family to include in this column. Once in a while I have to clean up my stack and include them here and add them into my files. So today there is an appetizer, a couple of sandwiches, a beef entree and a simple dessert. I love sandwiches of any kind and don't mind having a sandwich quite often. And both of these sound wonderful and I will be making them...
Recipes to fill bakeware fans' jellyroll pans (09/09/12)
I, like any other foodie, love my kitchen gadgets and especially my bakeware. I am a bakeware junkie. Any baking pan that is different or unique, I am just drawn to it. One of my favorite bake and go pans is the covered jellyroll pan, or sheet pan. When I found one that had a snap-on tightfitting lid, I just had to have it -- well, actually two of them. It is so nice to be able to take sheet cakes to carry-in dinners or to a family who needs food...
SEC-themed recipes as season gets underway (09/02/12)
MIZ-ZOU! MIZZOU-Rah! Woo-Pig-Sooie! Whatever your favorite SEC team cheer is, if you are familiar with the cheers, then you are an official fan. Yes, SEC football is underway and the excitement across the conference is building. I don't even particularly like football, but I do love the food, tailgating and the marching bands of football season...
Several recipes submitted by readers (08/26/12)
Reader mail is always a welcome addition to this column, and I am so happy today to have just that today. A couple of friends of mine shared recipes with me, and in turn I will pass them along to you. This recipe submitted by Ruth Jean Field-Lange is one of her favorite recipes. It is quick, easy, uses common ingredients that almost everyone has on hand and is delicious. Her son-in-law makes this for her when she visits her family and it is always a treat...
Grilling season is packed with great recipes (08/19/12)
It is grilling season, and outdoor cooking enthusiasts are in full swing. Claire Watson got a new grill for Mother's Day, and she has enjoyed trying out the grilling recipes that fill the summer cooking magazines. She has enjoyed them, but she always goes back to the recipe for Teriyaki Beef from her dear Aunt Bernice, who lived in Decatur, Ill. Her family has made this for many years, and they never get tired of it...
Sharing my son's favorite recipes (08/12/12)
Our son, Ross, will be leaving for college soon, and this will certainly be a big adjustment at our house, as it will be for all households where there will be a family member leaving to go away. We have been busy getting items together that he will need or want while enjoying dorm life. Over the past week I have made many of his favorite foods as one last farewell gesture for him...
No end to Puppy Chow snack mix possibilities (08/05/12)
My niece Christa and our daughter, Lexie, love the snack mix Puppy Chow more than anyone I know. As you may know, this is for human consumption and is wildly addictive once you start eating it. Christa introduced Lexie to Nutella and Funfetti Puppy Chow, and now there is no end to the possibilities to creating new flavors of this hard-to-resist snack mix. ...
Recipes from a special person, Dorothy Miles (07/29/12)
Today's column is a special one celebrating the memory of Dorothy Miles. Dorothy passed away recently at age 100 and leaves behind a host of friends and family who not only remember the amazing woman she was but also a fantastic cook. Dorothy was many things; a Christian first and foremost, an airplane pilot before there were women pilots, a world traveler having been to China more than nine times, a teacher who loved teaching math to her students and some would say nearly a genius. ...
Mixing things up with varieties of salads (07/22/12)
Our daughter Lexie loves salads and she likes trying all kinds of unusual combinations of ingredients. She certainly is adventurous when it comes to trying new foods and food combinations. With salads, she will put together just about anything and it always comes out just right...
Part two of recipes using fresh produce (07/15/12)
Again this week we have recipes to pass along to you using the season's freshest abundance. Squash, tomato, eggplant and other vegetable plants are producing as best they can in this hot, dry weather. I have found some nice things at the farmers markets and enjoy taking advantage of those fresh ingredients while they last...
Recipes to tackle those bushels of fresh produce (07/08/12)
The weather is hot and the farmers market is a buzz of excitement as garden fresh produce becomes available. I'm not sure what kind of crop we will end up with as the dry weather trend continues. But for now, while we do have a good crop, take advantage of fresh fruits and vegetables that are available...
New cookbook from Perryville County Parish (07/01/12)
Who doesn't enjoy getting a new cookbook? I know I love getting a new book to read and start trying new recipes from the book. For my birthday, my sister Barb gave me the new "Home Cooking at its Best" cookbook from Christ the Savior Parish of Brewer, Mo. ...
Cookbook provides Cape recipes from 1960s (06/24/12)
I survived turning 50 years old without much to-do and don't feel a day older than I did before the birthday. The actual day was wonderful, spending it on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia with our son at Summer Welcome, which is freshman orientation. It was a great couple of days and I didn't even mind staying in the residence halls and getting a feel for that and the food served in the dining halls. It was a great 50th birthday, and I look forward to many more...
Recipes to kick off the summer season (06/17/12)
Claire Watson wrote to this recipe column sharing a cold pasta salad recipe. Since Memorial Day has passed and the unofficial beginning of the summer is here, picnic, potluck, barbecue, and family reunion seasons have begun. Claire sent in a recipe she often makes for such events. It makes a large quantity, so it is best for large groups. She got the original recipe online and then tweaked it based on hundreds of reviews and her personal preferences. She hopes you will enjoy it...
Scraps of paper to the rescue at recipe exchange (06/10/12)
Exchanging recipes with friends and family can be a lot of fun. Oftentimes, the ones we exchange are not written fancy on cards but rather on a scrap of paper, a napkin or a clean paper plate while sitting around a table. Amazingly, the end result is always satisfactory for a memory recited recipe and scribbled down...
Social gathering produces recipe requests (06/03/12)
Recently we had a graduation party for our son Ross. Several people asked for recipes, and I can't remember exactly who wanted which recipes, so I am including those that I know for sure. It was such a great time having so many of the kids together and friends to celebrate the class of 2012 and their accomplishments. I hope you enjoy these recipes, and they find a place into your recipe files as some of your favorites, as they have mine...
Summer recipes that are sure to be a big hit (05/27/12)
The start of summer is about upon us and with that comes cool salads, beverages and maybe a special dessert. Today I have just that for you, a nice assortment of recipes suitable for warmer temperatures and the embrace of summer. Our college intern at the senior center, Samantha McGill is finished now, but we could not part company without exchanging a few more recipes. ...
Cookbook specializes in cupcakes, muffins (05/20/12)
I have a special friend, Shelby Stafford, who has officially nicknamed herself "Cupcake." On occasion I might call her "Honey" and she is quick to tell me her name is not Honey, it is Cupcake. Cupcake was recently given a book devoted entirely to cupcakes and muffins. "The Taste of Home Cupcakes! Muffins & More" book contains 130 recipes for scrumptious delights for you to try. I think Cupcake's mother will need to get on the ball if she is going to make all of these recipes for her...
Celebrating Mother's Day with mom's recipes (05/13/12)
Today is a special day; it is not only Mother's Day, it is also graduation day for the Centennial graduating class at Cape Girardeau Central High School. Our son Ross is among the students in the class of 2012. Ross has had an amazing high school experience. ...
Recipes from the St. Louis restaurant The Hill (05/06/12)
The Hill in St. Louis certainly has to be one of the most celebrated culinary sites in the Midwest. This mostly Italian community is full of fabulous restaurants, grocery stores and bakeries like no others. As written in the cookbook "A Taste of the Hill": "The Hill has always had a strong commitment to the city of St. ...
Recipes to create a full-course meal (04/29/12)
This is one of those weeks when I do not have a theme to the recipes in this column, and it winds up being a little bit of everything. We will start out with an entree then end up with a couple of sweet treat recipes. This column is so much fun when you, the readers, send in recipes to pass along to other readers. ...
Easter weekend full of delicious food (04/22/12)
My family was fortunate enough to spend Easter weekend with cousins in the Dallas area. I have shared many recipes from my cousin Cindy Dude with you before, and it was at their house that we ate our way through the weekend. Over the weekend we enjoyed overnight blueberry French toast, skillet cookies and ice cream, jalapeno sliders, a variety of smoked meats, Butterfinger pie, and enough food on Resurrection Sunday for a large group. It was so nice to visit, see family and hold new babies...
Putting that leftover corned beef to good use (04/15/12)
Recently, I have had a couple of readers ask about leftover corned beef recipes. They cooked corned beef for St. Patrick's Day, froze the leftover meat and are now looking for ways to use it up. For people who love the taste of a traditional Reuben sandwich, these recipes are sure to become some of your favorites...
Some recipes to kick off a beautiful spring (04/08/12)
Spring has definitely sprung in the weather, flowers, trees and food. Fresh asparagus is wonderful right now and strawberries coming from California and south Texas are pretty good now. So get out your spring recipe file and start cooking all of those favorite dishes to kick off this beautiful spring...
No fooling when it comes to these recipes (04/01/12)
Today being April Fools' Day, I feel like I need to include some silly or crazy recipes that might fool you in some way. However, finding none that really jumped out at me, I decided to turn to reader mail for inspiration. All of today's recipes are from reader mail, and some I have had for quite a while just waiting to get to them...
Recipes to survive the season of Lent (03/25/12)
Rob Weeks of Cape Girardeau hand delivered several recipes to me to use during Lent. During the Lenten season, many Christians give up meat altogether or some just on Fridays, and eat more fish and seafood. Rob thought this would be a good time to share some of his favorite seafood recipes. ...
Cookbook on sale to support VNA Hospice (03/18/12)
VNA Hospice, a service of Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Missouri, has a new cookbook for sale to help support the services offered through the hospice program. VNA has a long tradition of providing comfort to the sick and ministering to the dying, largely through the use of volunteers. VNA Hospice offers free grief support in many communities where they have offices...
CrossRoads church sells cookbooks for improvements (03/07/12)
CrossRoads Church near Jackson has a new cookbook for sale: "CrossRoads Family Recipes: From Our Family To Yours." The proceeds of the sale of this book will go toward church and grounds improvements. There are 182 pages of recipes and a nice section in the back of the book with additional recipes, nutritional tips, household hints, kid's kitchen crafts and gifts from the kitchen with a new look that I had not seen before. ...
Recipes for a leap year birthday (02/29/12)
Happy Birthday to my father-in-law, Jerry McClanahan, on this leap day. He is having his 18th birthday today; you do the math. This past year has been a fun year for our family, as he was 17 and both of his grandsons, Ross and Troy-Lee, were also 17 at one time. ...
Readers submit a variety of recipes (02/22/12)
Once again, the readers of this column have sent in some amazing recipes to share with you this week. I enjoy getting readers' mail, and this week you all came through nicely. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with in the weeks ahead...
Cookbook to support funding women's education (02/15/12)
Adelaide Parsons of Cape Girardeau sent a new cookbook to me, "Cooking with Missouri's P.E.O.s: Recipes from our Missouri State Chapters." The cookbook is a nice softcover, spiral-bound book with 231 pages of recipes in eight categories. Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) was founded in 1869. ...
Contest recipes using Girl Scout cookies (02/08/12)
The annual Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland "Just Desserts" event was held recently in Cape Girardeau. The fundraiser is a dessert contest in which Girl Scouts team up with area distinguished chefs to make a dessert using Girl Scout cookies. Girl Scouts across the country are celebrating 100 years of service and leadership to girls, and carrying out their mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character, which makes the world a better place. ...
Recipes to share in the middle of basketball season (02/01/12)
I have had a couple of people share recipes with me this week, which is great. I enjoy getting recipes from readers because I think it makes it interesting to see who submitted recipes and where they are from. Also, we are in the middle of basketball season and I find myself in a gym somewhere quite often and it is nice to have these recipes to share with you. For those of you who have thought you might send something in, now is the time. Send in your family favorites today...
Super Bowl party recipes (01/25/12)
Everyone loves Super Bowl parties, which always include fabulous food. Some parties serve lots of snacks, appetizers and finger foods, while others do chili and all of the fixings. Some order out chicken wings and pizza. Whatever your tradition is, it is sure to include some great food, fellowship with friends, and, oh, of course, football...
Recipes full of pumpkin, apples and bacon (01/18/12)
Over the entire Christmas holiday I was given several recipes at different events I attended or friends passed recipes along to me. I would like to share those with you today in hopes that you can use them and they will find a comfortable place in your "favorites" file. The pumpkin muffins are very good, as well as the apple cookies. My husband thinks everything is better with bacon, so the last two recipes today include bacon. I hope you enjoy...
Variety of recipes to keep the taste buds guessing (01/11/12)
Once in a while I do not have a theme for this column and do a variety of different recipes. This week there are a couple of chicken recipes, pork, ground beef and a casserole recipe with an international flare. With that kind of variety, surely you can please every member of your family with something. Good luck! I've tried and it never seems to work out quite like that, but it is still fun to keep trying...
Southeast Missouri Food Bank to benefit from cookbook sales (01/04/12)
The Bank of Missouri has a new cookbook for sale and all proceeds will benefit the Southeast Missouri Food Bank. The book is to commemorate the bank's 120th anniversary and to celebrate 120 years of family traditions. This is a very nice spiral-bound book with 238 pages of recipes in 10 categories. There is a nice variety of recipes from familiar favorites to new and interesting recipes to spark your curiosity. The book is available at many Bank of Missouri locations...
Cheesecake is not only for dessert (12/28/11)
One thing is for sure, these recipes prove that cheesecake is not just for dessert anymore. I know a few people who are really into making cheesecake right now, so I decided to do this column all on savory cheesecakes to ring in the New Year. It would be quite nice to have several different kinds of appetizer cheesecakes on a New Year's Eve party buffet. ...
Cookbook is great last-minute gift idea (12/14/11)
If you are looking for last-minute gift ideas, I have a great suggestion. St. Vincent de Paul Parish has a large cookbook for sale to celebrate their 175th anniversary. This book is a real bargain for the price to get 384 pages of tried-and-true recipes. The book contains a brief history of the parish and seven different sections of recipes...
Flavorful cranberry recipes (12/07/11)
I look so forward to the arrival of fresh cranberries to the store every winter. The common combination of cranberries and orange to me is like candy and a flavor I have learned to love. I have a pretty large collection of cranberry recipes, and enjoy trying new ones quite often during the cranberry season. I purchase extra bags and freeze them to be able to enjoy all year through. Today I have just a couple of recipes for you to try and hope you enjoy these tart, little berries this winter...
Receipes from leftover turkey (11/30/11)
Thanksgiving is over and many of you have put leftover turkey in the freezer. I know one person who puts the turkey carcass in the freezer for a couple of weeks, then pulls it out to make stock and soup for a later meal. For those of you who have frozen your leftovers I have a couple of recipes today that will help you in using those up. It is fun to be creative and see how we can use food items in many ways. I hope you enjoy these and come up with a few of your own...
Recipes from around the world (11/23/11)
My friends from the senior center, Rob and Joan Weeks, lent me "Around the World Cookbook." It is an interesting book featuring 34 countries and popular foods from each country, with a brief write-up about the culinary importance of that country. I really have enjoyed reading it and learning a little something new on every page...
Easy-to-make Thanksgiving recipes (11/16/11)
Most of us are planning or have already planned our Thanksgiving meal. The stores are ready for us to purchase all of the items we need and then some. Today I pulled out a couple of recipes that might be used for your Thanksgiving weekend meal planning. ...
Good friends give gift of church cookbook from Shawneetown (11/09/11)
You know you have good friends when they see a cookbook somewhere and bring it home for you. I had this happen to me last week. Debbie and Steve Chapman were in Shawneetown for a meeting at Trinity Lutheran Church and brought me back a copy of the church's cookbook. ...
Desserts on the mind (11/02/11)
It just happened to work out that all of the recipes for today are desserts. Occasionally there is a theme for this column, and today is one of those days. Some of these desserts have a flavor of fall, others are great all year. I hope you enjoy this extra sweet variety for you today...
A few seasonal recipes for fall (10/26/11)
This week the temperatures dropped and a chill is definitely in the air. As soon as the temperature dropped, I found myself at the store ready to purchase ingredients for a couple of different types of soups and wanting to do some baking. Turning the oven on takes the chill from the air and the children love to have fresh baked items...
Passing on family recipes (10/19/11)
I talked to Winnie at Broadway Prescription Shop where she works, and she asked about my mother's homemade soup. Winnie's sister has had my mom's soup and told her it was the best soup and she wanted the recipe. It is hard to write down a recipe that is in someone's head, but we did the best we could. I hope you enjoy this as much as I have for many years...
Submit your recipes and have them printed (10/12/11)
Reader mail has been great this week. I really like to have input from area readers. It adds a nice variety to the column, and I always enjoy seeing where the mail comes from. Maybe you have a recipe you would like to share with other cooks. If so, send it in and we will share it in this column...
Recipe Swap: Modern Pony Express recipes (09/28/11)
On our return trip from Colorado, we stopped at Gothenburg, Neb., to visit an original Pony Express station. I had been there many years ago, and I thought our children might enjoy it as I did at their age. Of all of the interesting artifacts in the station, I found a cookbook tucked away on a shelf. ...
Recipe Swap: Internet changes means of trading recipes (09/21/11)
Hardly a day goes by that someone does not give me a recipe. Quite often friends give them to me at the senior center, I get some by mail, but mostly by email. The Internet and email sure have changed the way we trade recipes and communicate. Today's recipes are a few I received recently from friends and recipe buddies...
Historical recipes of Ste. Genevieve (09/14/11)
Pat Robert of Cape Girardeau gave me the Ste. Genevieve "Missouri History on the Table: 250 years of Good Cooking and Good Eating." The cookbook was published in 1985, but the historical relevance of the book remains the same. I really like the way the book is divided into sections featuring periods of time and how culinary influences can be seen in each time period. I do not know if the book is still available, but it is a wonderful history book as well as a cookbook. I hope you enjoy...
Safe House recipes from the women of Cape Girardeau (08/31/11)
The Safe House for Women in Cape Girardeau has a new cookbook for sale. Just released, the book is on sale at the organization's office next to the Safe House for Women Thrift Store. The 92 pages of recipes offer an interesting and exciting collection from great cooks in and around Cape Girardeau...
Hall of Fame list of recipes (08/24/11)
For my birthday my parents gave me "The Recipe Hall of Fame Cookbook, Winning Recipes from Hometown America." The 450 selections are from 11,000 recipes in the acclaimed Quail Ridge Press State Cookbook Series. I have a few cookbooks from that series, and they are all great. ...
A little taste of Marquand, Mo. (08/17/11)
Shelby Mouser Shell is originally from Marquand, Mo., and I don't know another person more proud of their hometown and heritage than Shelby is. She frequently returns to Marquand to help in the antique shop, volunteer at the school for special projects, helps with the cemetery fundraiser and work in the museum. ...
Never a shortage of recipes (08/10/11)
Frequently I am asked if I ever run out of recipes or ideas to write about. And always, my answer is no. The possibilities are endless, and the list of topics I could share is just as long. I receive dozens of recipes each week by email from different people, groups and magazines. ...
Colorado cooking (08/03/11)
Our family has just returned home from a trip to Colorado for vacation. We enjoyed the spectacular scenery and the breathtaking surprise views around every corner. We also enjoyed some great food while there. We ate fresh trout nearly every evening -- prepared many ways -- and also enjoyed great Colorado beef...
The salad days of summer (07/27/11)
With summer upon us, I thought you might enjoy a few cool salad recipes. I also love grilled fresh peaches, so I am sharing this recipe with you that includes another favorite of mine: raspberries. All of these recipes are from a new cookbook I picked up, "Picnics, Potlucks and BBQs" published by CQ Products. ...
Eat like a president with White House recipes (07/20/11)
Famous people from time to time submit recipes for inclusion into cookbooks. It may be celebrities or artists, or like today's examples, presidents of the United States and their first ladies. Some of these are more current, while others are quite old, like Abraham Lincoln's vanilla almond cake. You be the judge of which recipes you will try...
Cheesiest column ever (07/13/11)
Cheese is one food item I don't think I have ever devoted an entire column to. Sometimes cheese served simply is the best, with a cracker variety or homemade rolls. Cheese can be the star of a recipe or a complement ingredient that adds to the main attraction. However, cheese is delicious and deserving of its own column. Today it is all about cool and refreshing or warm and comforting cheese...
Fire up the grill (or broiler) for a burger feast (07/06/11)
Following the Independence Day holiday I think of summer and the grilling season in full swing, which for us, usually involves hamburgers on the grill. Ralph and Martha Maxton of Cape Girardeau recently had family in town for a visit. They made this recipe for cherry burgers with cherry ketchup, which sounds absolutely wonderful. I have included one recipe for an indoor cooking process just in case rain puts a damper on your plans...
Get a taste of Belize from your own kitchen (06/29/11)
Our son Ross just returned from a mission trip to Belize. Upon his return, some of the conversations were about the food. You cannot visit or live in Belize without eating rice and beans; they are the national staples, and most people eat them every day. Rice and beans, usually cooked in coconut milk and served together, is often served as a side dish. Another national staple is "fry jack," much like our johnny cakes, that is served for breakfast, often smeared with beans, alongside eggs...
Cool down this summer with flavored iced tea (06/22/11)
Iced tea is always my beverage of choice, and on hot days there is nothing better. I remember as a child my mom made fresh tea every day. Nothing tasted better than that quart jar of iced tea wrapped in newspaper when we got to the end of the soybean row from chopping weeds from the bean rows in the field. Today I am featuring flavored iced tea recipes that you might enjoy on a hot day. The Food Network cookbooks or the website are full of beverage recipes...
Feeling saucy: Try some new barbecue flavors (06/15/11)
Summertime and barbecue just seem to go hand in hand. Our daughter is a condiment lover, especially barbecue sauces. We have purchased nearly every bottle that the stores carry, and when we visit other parts of the country, she is always trying and rating the barbecue sauce. To start out this week, I will share five sauce recipes sent in by Rob Weeks of Cape Girardeau. I am certain we will try all of these at our house...
'Foodie' friend shares some favorite recipes (06/08/11)
Rob Weeks from the senior center loves to collect recipes and cookbooks, grocery shop and cook. He is quite a "foodie," and I guess that is why we are friends. Today, Rob shares four recipes with us that he enjoys making and are great this time of year when fresh fruit and berries are plentiful. I included where he got the recipe if he included that information on the cards. I hope you enjoy a little piece of his recipe collection...
Making the most of strawberries, asparagus (06/01/11)
Strawberries and asparagus are fresh at the farmers market and in the supermarket right now, and they are delicious. We have had some enjoyable strawberries from Aldi that are smaller and meaty and taste like old-fashioned berries we had at home growing up. I have included a few strawberry recipes and a couple of asparagus recipes for you to enjoy while the produce is at its peak of freshness...
Reader shares bounty of online recipe swap (05/25/11)
I have put aside some recipes I received and decided this is the perfect day to share a few of those with you. There is no theme for today, just a variety of entrees and a dessert that I will be making soon. All of the recipes today are from Jodi Thompson of Jackson. Jodi has a large Internet recipe swap group. I get several recipes from her a week and always find a couple to save and try. I hope you find these enticing as well and can add them to your recipe collection...
Appetizers perfect for a graduation party (05/18/11)
Graduation time is here once again. We have had the pleasure of attending several parties where we have enjoyed great fellowship and, of course, fabulous food. Every party is different and the food is different, which makes them fun to attend. I pulled The Dinner Doctor cookbook off my shelf to thumb through and found that it had a nice appetizer section. ...
Make the most of fresh asparagus at its peak (05/11/11)
It is fresh asparagus season, and the crop is beautiful. Our family has enjoyed some of the abundance from Rob Weeks' patch this week along with a few recipes he and his mother shared with us. Asparagus has a natural affinity for parsley, tarragon, soy sauce, sesame, garlic, ginger, lemon, cream, hard-cooked eggs, Parmesan and butter. These recipes seem to use just about all of these ingredients in some form. Enjoy the fresh new crop while it lasts...
Susan McClanahan
Recipe Swap