This story became larger than life! That’s why I decided to turn it into a series of articles. This first piece introduces all the key players and events in the form of a chronological timeline. Honestly, sometimes I got dizzy trying to keep it all straight, so this is the best way to connect the...
What are Buckeyes? Growing up in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area, I never knew what Buckeyes were. Moving to Ohio was a bit of a culture shock for this reason. In Ohio, reference to the Buckeye is unavoidable. Ohioans take great pride in their state’s correlation with the Buckeye, which is apparent in naming...
When you think cheesecake, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is a dense, cracked dessert that needs toppings to taste great. But what if we told you there was a way to make a creamy cheesecake that would not crack, is Low GI, gluten-free, and tastes better than any cheesecake you have...
Why is Brown Food so Crave-able? One of my favorite culinary quotes is Anne Burrell exclaiming, “Brown food tastes good!” No one can argue that seared meats, roasted nuts, chocolate, vanilla, and coffee are not loved by the masses, but what exactly makes brown food so irresistible? It turns out, the secret is the foundation...
Choc-Oat-Chip Cookies: There Is A Demand! I remember the first time I watched the season 8 episode of The Office called “Tallahassee.” At the end of the episode, the hilariously awkward Erin Hannon (Ellie Kemper) approaches Famous Amos saying, “Hi, Famous. I’m sure you get ideas for new cookies all the time, but I…” He...
Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies by Name Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies got their name for obvious reasons, but why are Hershey’s Kisses called “kisses”? No one knows for sure–despite the widespread adoption of the popular possibility that it came from the sound of the chocolate morsels being dispensed onto the conveyor belt. While this is an...
Sugar Cookie Memories I have memories of decorating sugar cookies that go back as far back as I can remember. When we were still small, Mom would cut out and bake all the cookies, and my 3 sisters, brother, and I would have so much fun decorating with colored icings, sprinkles, colored sugar, red hots,...
Perfectly Fresh Whether you have an abundance of garden produce or you had a farmer’s market shopping spree, this garden salsa recipe is for you! One day last year we had both. I found myself with WAY TOO MANY vegetables to eat without canning or giving them away. With Covid concerns, the obvious option was...
Vareniki; It May Not Be Pretty… Click here to skip to Tom and Jiffy’s Vereniki Recipe. He told me he was eating his favorite meal called Vareniki. It is basically the special occasion meal of his childhood. He promised me it does not taste how it looks. I promised, given the opportunity, I would try...
Yummy Dip Craving I have tasted a lot of cream cheese dips. When I tasted this dip, I couldn’t get enough! I had to know what was in it. I was again impressed, but this time by the fact that there are only four ingredients! The complexity of the flavor profile is thanks to the...
Dad’s Guacamole Has Roots I bet you know a great cook who generally does not use measuring cups or spoons when they cook. They take ingredients and experience and the result is almost always something delicious. This is my dad. He worked hard as a pipefitter, so most days he was way too tired to...
Cottage Pie Life Not many could handle the controversy, judgment, or exposure that Cottage Pie has handled with such grace for so many years! People always peering in to see the ingredients and judging. People argue about her identity as though she is not right there. People also love to complain about the thickness of...
