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...
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...
CORTLAND – It's five days before the big day. The Model A dashes down West Fourth Street. Its driver pulls up to a brick storefront and strolls inside, jaunty, dressed in his Sunday best. The black-and-white scene turns technicolor, like a Gage County "Pleasantville," as a brunette with cherry red lips leans in with a coffee pot and winks. Welcome to Paper Moon Pastries, the 1930s-style small-town bakery inspired by a classic movie – its public introduction captured by drone and iPhone. Tha...
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...
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...
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'...
Some weeks ideas for this column come easy. Others, not so much. Sometimes they just come together. Other times, I sit in front of my computer, deadline on the horizon, and have no idea what I'm going to share. This week was different from either scenario. There is too much to choose from. With the big game on Sunday and Valentine's Day on Monday, I had a dilemma: Which one to choose as the focus for this column? Tasty tailgating snacks? Or a romantic holiday dinner to fix for your sweetheart?...
If I had been locked in a cave over the past few days with only Words With Friends on my phone to keep me occupied, I still would have known it was the New Year's holiday weekend. Even without my calendar app, Facebook or the Internet (except for the WWF connection), I would have known it was Jan. 1, 2022. How? Because all of a sudden every other ad that popped up between games was for NutriSystem or Weight Watchers. Marie Osmond and Oprah were working overtime. Because with the New Year comes...
The headline is intriguing: What’s your state’s favorite Christmas cookie? The deck headline provides the source for the nationwide poll: Google shares unique holiday searches. According to the accompanying graphic, Nebraska’s favorite Christmas cookie is ... wait for it ... Christmas cookie fudge. What? Interesting ... especially since our neighbors to the south searched for M&M Christmas cookies, while Coloradoans, Wyomingites, South Dakotans and Iowagens searched for Keto Christmas cookie rec...
It's no secret I'm not a big fan of pumpkin pie. Especially pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream. I know for some folks confessing I don't like pumpkin pie is practically criminal, but it is what it is. It's not that I hate pumpkin pie, it's just not my first choice. If I have one piece a year (hold the whipped cream, please), I'm good. When it comes to holiday desserts, there are other choices for me. And I don't dislike pumpkin in general (but don't get me started on pumpkin spice!). Several...
As summer draws to a close (where did it go?), so does the peak season for stone fruit. Stone fruits are a classification of fruits also know as drupes: They have a thin skin and a "stone" in the center, which contains the seed. They're in season starting in early spring and continue though early fall. Peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums and cherries are all in vogue and ready for plucking and eating. Named for their pits that are hard as stone, the fruits have a fleshy, edible outer layer...
I don't know about you, but every year when back-to-school time rolls around, I look back and wonder just what happened to summer. It seems like Memorial Day was last week and the Fourth of July was yesterday, but yet here it is: The first day of school is looming right around the corner. And with school starting soon, it's time to think about what all those hungry kids are going to eat when they get home from school. "Healthy snacks can help children get the nutrients they need after a long day...
It's not hard to see why food on a stick is so popular at fairs around the country, including county fairs that are in full swing in the area and our very own Nebraska State Fair which opens later this month in Grand Island. The portability factor makes these foods easy to hang onto and easy to eat while strolling the fairgrounds in search of the best exhibit or midway ride. But the shear variety of foods that can be put on a stick boggles the mind. Who would have thought you could put a...
Who doesn’t like a sandwich? That perfect, easy to eat, quick meal on the go. Just slap some meat, a slice of cheese or two, a bit of lettuce and tomato, and your condiment of choice between a couple of slices of bread and you’re done. But what can be done to spice it up a bit? I mean bread is great and all that, but there must be a some easy way to jazz up your sandwich. Have you had a wrap lately? These sandwiches are popular when eating out but you can make your own “wrap” sandwich at home...
I know all too well how easy it is to either: 1) skip breakfast, or 2) grab something on the run that isn't exactly the most nutritious food in the world. When I do make time for breakfast, I have a tendency to grab a couple of frozen breakfast burritos or one of those sandwiches made up of a croissant, sausage patty, egg and cheese. I'm afraid to look at the nutrition label on either one. That alone should be my first clue I need to do a better job of choosing my breakfast menu. And with the...
By Terri Hahn With social distancing still the norm and the common sense move of "shelter in place," a big family gathering to celebrate Mom, Grandma and other important women in our lives probably isn't going to happen on a grand scale this year. That doesn't mean we can't celebrate Mother's Day, no doubt it's going to be different. FaceTime and Zoom conferencing don't replace actual one-on-one contact of course, but in these uncertain times, that's the best thing to do. And of course, they...
The grilled cheese sandwich. Pretty simple. Pretty straightforward. Take a couple of slices of buttered bread and a slice or two of your favorite cheese and heat it up on a griddle. What could be easier? Served with tomato soup it's about as comfortable as comfort food can get. But there can be so much more to this basic sandwich. To be honest, I've never been much of fan of basic grilled cheese. My mom always made them with a slice or two of ham in addition to the cheese and that's the way I...
It's funny when people on the coasts figure out Midwestern culture. For several months, I've read magazine articles about and website postings dedicated to what may be a true middle-of-the-country delicacy: the pairing of chili with cinnamon rolls. It's even funnier when Midwestern folk figure out what's popular in the Midwest. Even a Sioux Falls radio station featured a segment on the union of soup and dessert, noting it's popular in Nebraska, Colorado, Utah Montana and Kansas. In South Dakota?...
