Some of our old family recipes go back to generations of frugal Midwesterners and further to New England roots, but others have even more interesting back stories. The origins of this cake fit in that latter category. Back before food stamps, “commodity foods” were distributed to clients of our county’s Department of Social Services. With…

Over the years, I have compiled a large number of recipe cards, enough to fill four or five long card files like the kind you used to see in libraries. My primary source of recipe inspiration these days is via internet searches, but there are times when it is fun to review the old tried…

Hanging those new calendars, doing some planning and organizing for the year ahead, or maybe just kicking back to enjoy the last of the college football bowl games–all good ways to spend this last holiday vacation day before going back into the routine of work, school, and meetings. This could also be a good opportunity…

Our local Fareway store has an old-fashioned butcher department, with very helpful staff and, I have discovered, ground pork that is both lean and often on sale. Even at its regular price, it is almost always far more reasonable than ground beef here. After I had decided to make cassoulet for guests, I discovered that…

Now into December, the “pumpkin spice” lattes and bagels (and more) have mostly been replaced in coffee shops and Trader Jo’s with wintry peppermint treats. Still, today I was in the mood for the warm and cozy fragrances I remember from my mother’s kitchen on gray fall and winter days like the weather we’ve been…

Sometimes every rule needs an exception. A basic “rule” for this blog is to never post a recipe that I haven’t tested–very recently–at least once, if not more. I have also been trying to include photos on every entry, even if my camera skills are pretty basic. This entry, however, is going to be an…

A kitchen well supplied with apples. A request for cookies for a community event. Not a lot of time. What better combination of ingredients to try out some apple bar cookies. Why specifically bar cookies?  Almost every bar cookie recipe is quicker to make than any other kind. Mix up the batter, pour it in…

Our summer has been one of frequent rains and lots of warmth. Add in pails and pails of compost to build up my garden soil, and I have lavish bean vines that are taking over several of the planting beds that are supposed to be providing peppers and chard and lots of other things too….

This summer has been one of the warmest we have had in years up here in Minnesota, not the kind of weather that encourages much use of the oven. Still, there are occasions when a special dessert might be called for. With blueberries having been featured at attractive prices for the past several weeks, I…

  One sign that we are well into summer is the appearance of pick up trucks full of fat ears of corn at familiar corners around town. Sweet corn season has arrived! So we buy the first dozen, grilling them to perfection. Then we buy some more because that first dozen was so good. Now…