Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Chili. Just one little word that causes so much controversy. And no, I'm not talking about the whole "beans-or-no-beans" debate that seems to pit Texas chili purists against the rest of the world. I'm talking about the chili and cinnamon roll combo that so many of us remember from our school lunch days. In 2020, as were all sheltering in place and more of us were cooking at home than we had in years, I was invited to join a Facebook group that focused on "Eating through the pandemic." It was...
Known as "the other white meat," pork got a bad rap for decades. Cook it until it's completely done and it's dry as a bone. Leave it a bit pink in the middle and you'll die of food poisoning. It has too much fat and it's bad for you. Whatever. A lot has changed in the past 10 years or so. America's pig farmers have worked closely with their teams of pig health professionals reviewing and researching what pigs eat and how they are raised and bred to develop leaner, higher quality pork foods that...
While there is no debate as to WHO created the original chocolate chip cookie, there is some "controversy" as to HOW this classic cookie came to be. According to a story on nestle.com: "It all started back in 1938. Ruth Wakefield, who ran the successful Toll House restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts, was mixing a batch of cookies when she decided to add broken pieces of Nestlé Semi-Sweet chocolate into the recipe expecting the chocolate to melt. Instead, the semi-sweet bits held their shape...
I previously wrote about how to save money on your grocery budget even though food costs are on the rise. I offered suggestions from Cami Wells, a Nebraska Extension Educator in Hall County, for foods in the protein, dairy and grains groups. This week, we'll learn ways to save money on fruits and vegetables. Vegetables "Check for sales and purchase those that are in-season," Wells said. "Most of us prefer fresh but canned and frozen vegetables are also healthy choices. Canned and frozen vegetabl...
It's hot. You're hot. And you want a cool treat to cool off. Preferably something that just came out of the freezer. Sure you can go to the grocery store and buy all sorts of frozen goodies: Ice cream sandwiches and bars, popsicles and a variety of novelty treats. But why not get a little creative and make your own? And some of these recipes are easy enough for kids to do on their own. Let's start with the classic ice cream sandwich and a recipe from Alison Ladman. "The classic combination of...
Remember when pasta was pretty much spaghetti and elbow macaroni? Now we have rigatoni and bow-tie and cavatelli and manicotti and fettuccine and paccheri and ... well you get the idea. One website I found listed 35 types of Italian pasta. There are long pastas and short pastas and stretched pastas and filled pastas and soup pastas. And that's just from Italy. So. Much. To. Know. But for the purposes of this column, let's go back to the basics: Dried or fresh? Do you use cooked or uncooked...
I recently asked my Facebook friends and family to tell me some of their favorite foods for Easter dinner. While it's always nice to add new dishes to the menu, there is something about holidays that screams "tradition!" In addition to the traditional ham, deviled eggs, strawberry shortcake, etc., a couple of other dishes were mentioned more than once. Those include Hash Brown Casserole, "Aunt Zina's Chocolate Dessert," (a reference to my Aunt Zina Turner, my mom's older sister), and a tasty...
As you plan your Easter gatherings, don't forget to include everyone's favorite holiday dish: the ham centerpiece. According to the National Pork Board, around 70% of Americans serve ham for Easter each year. But there is much more to know about it than "half or whole?" or "bone-in or boneless?" Here are answers to some frequently asked questions: Do I need a whole or a half ham? And how much ham will I need? A whole ham typically weighs more than 10 pounds. That's a large chunk to deal with in...
I know I've mentioned this in previous columns, but popcorn is one of my favorite snack foods. I bet it's one of yours as well. And our love of popcorn is just one of the reasons there is a lot to celebrate in the New Year including National Popcorn Day (Jan. 19) and the Chinese New Year (Jan, 22). It's hard to believe a snack food that tastes so good can actually be good for you, but it's true. Popcorn is a whole grain that is 100% unprocessed with no additional additives, hidden ingredients...
There are lots of dishes out there that are considered comfort foods (meatloaf, mac and cheese, chicken and noodles), but in my opinion, roasts - both beef and pork - have to be included on that list. Roasting is cooking meat or vegetables in the oven (or over a flame, technically) in an uncovered pot with no liquid, according to food writer Daniel Neman. The meat or vegetables are cooked entirely and evenly by the dry heat of the air around them. I have more experience with beef roasts than I...
For kids and adults alike, hot cocoa is often at the top of the list of favorite winter beverages. And with all the store-bought powdered packets available, it's certainly easy to prepare. But guess what? Making your own isn't that much more difficult, and the effort is worth it. And if you're having a party or family gathering, why not create a hot cocoa bar and let the guests add their toppings of choice? Topping musts for all ages include marshmallows, candy canes or peppermints, colored...
For years, I was all about Christmas cookies. Over the course of several days, I'd bake like 18 dozen of six or seven kinds of cookies. I'd make trays to share with friends and coworkers. I'd try new recipes, adding to the basic repertoire every year. It was always fun. And then something happened. I lost my Christmas spirit and with it, my desire to bake Christmas cookies. But recently, I decided enough was enough and I dug out the recipe box and whipped up several batches of old favorites....
Having guests for Thanksgiving dinner is great. Having treasured friends and family stick around for a couple of extra days is even better. But guests have to eat and you just spent a week (or more!) preparing that big holiday meal and you're simply "cooked out." Sure, leftovers will work for a meal or two, but eventually you're going to have to prepare something else. And don't forget that big football game coming up on Friday afternoon, with even more games on TV over the weekend. That adds...
Nothing tastes better on a chilly fall day than a big bowl of homemade vegetable beef stew. Add a slice or two of home-baked bread and you've achieved perfection. Nothing controversial about that, right? Well, it depends on your definition of stew. Growing up, my mom made her delicious vegetable beef stew at least once or twice every fall/winter. I remember it simmering on the stove for hours in her big blue-speckled GraniteWare pot she used for canning every summer. We counted down the hours...
Are you ready for the State Fair? It's set to start Friday, Aug. 26, in Grand Island and runs through Labor Day. I've been able to make it the past two years - not sure about this year, although I'm going to make it work. The 2020 fair was unlike any other I'd previously attended thanks to the pandemic. No carnival, no concerts, a reduced number of vendors, and everything spread out, made the fairgrounds seem a little empty. Last year was better although I still couldn't find my favorite food...
I’m not sure there is a food in the world that says “summer” more than watermelon. Although it’s early in the season, we eat it at Memorial Day cook-outs. The Fourth of July isn’t a proper celebration without this tasty treat. And we say good-bye to meteorological summer with a cold, crisp melon on Labor Day weekend. And don’t forget all those family reunions and backyard barbecues in between. For lots of reasons, I didn’t get to know my dad’s parents very well, but I do remember visiti...
This week I'm sharing a few cool treats designed with the Fourth of July in mind: They are all red, white and blue! And they are not only colorful, but created with kids in mind. Most are simple enough for the kids to make (with proper supervision, of course). All of these recipes were developed by Catherine McCord, author of "The Smoothie Project" and founder of the Weelicious website that focuses on homemade food and treats for kids. McCord, mother of three, says, "I created Weelicious way...
It's no secret that grocery prices are on the rise. A trip to the grocery store is going to cost you more than it did a year ago. I'm not going to delve into the "whys" because, to be honest, I didn't do that well in my college economics class years ago, and I still don't really understand how it all works. Besides there are plenty of other places for you to find that info. I just want to help you find a way to continue to feed you and your family healthy foods, without having to raid the kids'...
I recently heard somewhere that burgers cooked in a cast iron skillet on the stovetop are better than burgers cooked on a grill. I’m not buying it. The “experts” say a skillet allows the patties to baste in their own juices as they cook and that’s a huge improvement over losing all-important moisture to the spatters that cause annoying grilling flare-ups. OK, that part I can get behind (and I’ll file the info for non-grilling season), but I still think burgers cooked on a grill are a summer trea...
Many years ago (the exact number will remain a mystery), the very first food section I put together for the daily newspaper I was working for was all about strawberries. It was just about this time of year as May is National Strawberry Month, and I wanted to highlight one of my favorite berries. While a lot has changed over those years, one thing hasn't: I still love strawberries. Standing alone as the only fruit to wear its seeds on the outside, strawberries are loaded with nutrients. According...
Need something quick to make and easy to transport to a family gathering, picnic or potluck? Dessert bars are the answer. They can be made ahead of time. They require no utensils to eat. Unlike cookies, they don’t need to be portioned, scooped out onto a pan and then baked in batches. They can be transported in the pan you bake them in. And they can be any flavor your want: Chocolate. Caramel. Blueberry. Pecan. Even marshmallow. Get creative and have fun. The mild heat and berry undertones of g...
Do you like the idea of decorating eggs for Easter more than the idea of actually eating them? What if you could do the decorating on something a little sweeter? I’ve got the answer to both questions: Easter Egg Cake Bites. That’s right — cake bites shaped — and decorated— like Easter Eggs. Give the crumbled cake filling a light lemony flavor with lemon extract. Easter Egg Cake Bites Cake bites: 1 package (15 ounces) white cake mix 2 teaspoons pure lemon extract Assorted food colors and egg d...
Thursday is St. Patrick's Day and - if you're like me - it snuck up on you this year. Maybe it was that hour of sleep we lost last weekend when we went to Daylight Saving Time. Who knows? But, while green beer always seems to be on tap for the occasion, maybe you're looking for a couple of last-minute snacks and quick supper ideas to help you celebrate all things Irish. Well, the luck of the Irish is with you ... you've found the pot of gold! The Idaho Potato Commission has a collection of...
A few weeks ago, I read somewhere that March is National Peanut Butter Month. "Aha!" I thought. "Perfect topic for a column sometime soon." But when I began doing research, I discovered that whoever wrote that was wrong. As far as I can tell, there is no actual National Peanut Butter Month, although November is recognized as National Peanut Butter Lovers Month. So while peanut butter doesn't get it's own month, people who love peanut butter do. They also get their own day with National Peanut...
My first Crockpot - a three-quart avocado green model with a non-removable crock - came to me in the early 1980s when a friend who had recently gotten married regifted one of her five new Crockpots to me. It wasn't in its original box (so it couldn't be returned) and we suspected at the time someone had regifted it to the newlyweds. I didn't care where it came from, I was just happy to have one. And the apartment in Lincoln where I was living at the time sported decades-old avocado green...
