Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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With Thanksgiving fast approaching, this is a good time to learn about the real all-American fruit – the cranberry. Cranberries are grown throughout the United States, mainly in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington and Oregon. Cranberries are small, round, tart berries with a tangy flavor. Cranberries are often added to recipes or made into other products rather than eaten alone. Nutrition All cranberry products provide similar health benefits and are easy to incorporate into the diet. Cranberries are high in nutrients and a...
Autumn is the peak season for crisp, crunchy apples of all kinds. Apples vary greatly in their looks, flavors and textures. Did you know some varieties are better for eating and snacking? There are many different types of apples across the sweet-tart-crisp-crunchy spectrum. I find myself searching for a crunch-tastic apple! The crunch of an apple is a burst of flavor exploding in your mouth. Here are some varieties to try this fall. If you’re looking for an apple to snack on, select harder varieties that maintain their crunch longer. Sink y...
As the calendar turns to October, the air will start to cool, pumpkin food and beverages will be featured, it’ll get darker earlier and autumn plans will fill the calendar! Pumpkins, it seems, are everywhere this time of year. What can you do with a pumpkin? There are endless possibilities! All pumpkins are squash, but not all squash are pumpkins, and not all pumpkins are created equally! The big jack-o’-lantern orange pumpkins you typically see on everyone’s porches in the fall aren’t the best variety for baking or eating. They are stringy...
Have you ever discovered a key lime and wondered how different it is from the common Persian lime? There are two main types you’re likely to come across at the grocery store: the Persian lime and the Key lime. Persian Limes Persian limes, or Tahiti limes, are the variety most commonly found in grocery stores and recipes. They have origins in the region of southern Iraq and Persia, which is now Iran. They have thicker dark green skin, a characteristic oval shape with tapered ends, and are usually 2 to 2½-inches wide and 3 to 4 inches long. Pe...
Green and yellow zucchini are also types of summer squash. There are numerous varieties of zucchini. Each has unique features (appearance, color and taste) distinguishing it from other varieties. If you want an inexpensive vegetable, you can find an abundance of zucchini this time of year. While zucchini is treated as a vegetable in the culinary realm, it's technically the fruit of the zucchini flower. Squash Blossoms Did you know that the blossoms of summer squash plants are also edible? Be...
An authentic Caesar salad is all about crisp, chilled romaine hearts served with homemade creamy dressing and croutons. It is quick, simple and bursting with flavor! Today, I will share with you how to make a Caesar salad from scratch. Everything from the dressing to the croutons. Once you try this, you’ll never want the store-bought dressing and croutons again! The classic lettuce to use is Romaine, which has a crispy, mild, sweet flavor. Instead of using Romaine lettuce, I recommend using Romaine hearts because they are crisper than the o...
Raspberries have been calling me as I peruse the fruit section of the market. A raspberry tart is a versatile dessert with a buttery pastry crust, creamy filling and fresh raspberries. Unlike a pie, the sides of tarts are commonly shallow, and they are never made with a layer of pastry on top. Tarts can come in many sizes, from large, shareable options to petite, individual servings. A fluted tart pan with a removable bottom makes releasing and filling this tart a much easier process. The fluted edges look elegant, while the removable bottom...
Eggs Benedict is a delicious dish consisting of an English muffin, poached egg, Canadian bacon and a homemade hollandaise sauce. This breakfast dish is the epitome of luxury! People are intimidated, most likely by poaching the eggs and making a hollandaise sauce. If you don’t know how to poach eggs or make hollandaise sauce, try learning new culinary skills. Eggs Benedict is easier than it looks! Plating the individual dish components while they are hot takes some planning. Here are the steps I recommend to do it: 1. Measure out the h...
It is important to pay attention to heart health all year long, and with February being Heart Health Month, now is a good time to establish a healthy eating plan. The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease. Following a heart-healthy diet is the best way to care for your heart. These guidelines are not just for those with heart disease or a history in their family, they are for everyone. The American Heart Association (AHA) encourages the public to make heart-healthy decisions with their diet. The guidelines emphasize...
A meal of chicken and dumplings creates a sense of coziness. Chicken and dumplings combine cooked chicken simmered with dumplings in a flavorful, creamy broth. Additional vegetables, like carrots, onion, and celery, are also routinely part of the recipe, adding savoriness. Herbs and seasonings are also often added to brighten the flavor. Avoid flavorless chicken and doughy dumplings. With these top tips, you can ensure your chicken and dumplings are a phenomenal meal. Chicken – Rather than using...
Prime rib roast is the undisputed king when it comes to a large cut of beef. Prime rib is a spectacular centerpiece for a holiday dinner. Prime rib is expensive because it’s a highly desirable, delectable meat cut known for being juicy, flavorful and tender. However, if you have ever had a well-cooked cut of prime rib, you know it is worth every penny for this beautiful, show-stopping piece of meat. The prime rib is a tender, flavorful roast cut from the center of the rib section of the animal. It is incredibly flavorful and juicy because it is...
Gumbo isn’t that just Jambalaya? Gumbo is not the same as Jambalaya, the main difference is the use of rice in each dish. Gumbo is a soup or stew over rice while Jambalaya is cooked with the rice in the dish. Gumbo should be less rice than liquid and Jambalaya should not be mushy or liquid. Gumbo is a Cajun and Creole specialty throughout the state of Louisiana. Gumbo is a stew made from seafood, meat or vegetables that is served over hot rice. It can be made thicker with okra, filé or a roux. The best part about Gumbo is that it can be ma...
CHOP SUEY Chop suey is a classic American Chinese-style stir-fry dish. It is an excellent recipe for beginner cooks looking to prepare Chinese food at home or cooks who want to experiment with flavors and ingredients. Chop suey is an incredibly versatile meal, and you can easily substitute your favorite ingredients, making it inexpensive, flexible, and always delicious! In several Chinese dialects, chop suey can be translated to “odds and ends.” Chop suey traditionally features meat, eggs, and leafy or green vegetables like cabbage and bea...
A donut (sometimes known as a doughnut) is a sweet bread that’s been baked or fried. Some donuts are formed into ring shapes, while others look like buns and are filled with cream or jelly. Donuts range from basic and rustic to beautifully decorated with icing, sprinkles, and other designs. A fresh, hot donut is genuinely an amazing treat! The pastries we know as donuts today are a combination of the culinary traditions and techniques of a variety of countries. Here are a few of the main types of donuts: Yeast/raised donuts: This donut v...
If you’ve ever had a piece of crispy outside, juicy inside fried chicken, you know how blissful it can be! Learn how to make fried chicken at home with these tips and tricks for creating fried chicken that will have everyone wanting to steal your secrets. Did you know fried chicken can be controversial? There are debates over brining the meat. People argue over what starch is used to coat the chicken, the fat frying it, and the cooking temperature. Follow these instructions to make the best 5-star fried chicken at home. Chicken You can cut a w...
The cool thing about having a picnic meal is that it can happen in almost any outdoor scenario. There is something special about enjoying a meal outdoors on a nice day. Outside is the way to go, whether you plan to take advantage of your backyard or venture out to a local park. When planning a picnic, some essentials must be on your list. Here is how to plan a picnic you will not forget.: Location Location is the most important variable of any picnic experience. Remember, all picnic spots are not created equal, and finding the right one can...
Feeding a family can be stressful, especially when on a tight budget. Do you plan your meals before grocery shopping? Menu planning doesn’t have to be complicated! Planning meals ahead requires a small investment of time, but can reap great rewards: • A menu plan saves money. A menu plan reduces impulse spending and helps you to stay within a food budget. Using leftovers efficiently cuts food waste and planned buying makes it easy to stockpile food at reduced prices. • A menu plan saves time. There is no dash to the market for a missing ingre...
Who doesn’t love a delicious sweet piece of candy? Whether making a treat for parties, gift giving, or because it is a holiday, candy-making is easy if you know the tricks of the trade. Weather Weather can significantly impact candy. When making candy, it is important to try to pick a day that is dry and not humid. On humid or rainy days, candy may refuse to set. Candy Thermometer A candy thermometer is used to test the temperature when cooking candy, jams, and jellies. Digital thermometers are preferred for their accuracy. Most have an a...
The traditional Mexican dish of enchiladas has a unique flavor and long history. The definition of the enchilada is a rolled tortilla with a filling, usually with meat and served with a chili sauce. In English, the word enchilada means “in chili.” Extensive research suggests that enchiladas not only date back to Mayans but also originated from Mayan people. A staple food of the Mayan people was corn tortillas. Some evidence shows that the first enchiladas were made with these corn tortillas and had fish rolled in them. Spanish conquistadors doc...
There is no doubt that a turkey is the symbol of Thanksgiving. I have a number of safe shortcuts you can take in preparing your holiday turkey and can decrease the time spent in preparation. Use these tips to prepare a turkey that guests will gobble up! When shopping for your turkey, decide on fresh or frozen. Buy a frozen turkey early to thaw it. Keep it frozen at 0°F until ready to thaw for use. To save the time and effort required to thaw a turkey, order or purchase a fresh bird ahead of time and pick it up one or two days before you’ll be...
As people practice self-isolation amid the pandemic and stores run low on certain foods, you may find yourself without baking and cooking staples. What do you do if you don’t have milk? If you are making a recipe that calls for milk, you need to find a substitute for it. You have options. 10 Milk Substitutes 1. Evaporated milk To use it in place of milk, mix with an equal amount of water in a 1:1 ratio. Evaporated milk is shelf-stable canned cow milk that has about 60 percent of the water removed. When evaporated milk is mixed with water, it b...
Forget everything you think you know about tacos! In honor of National Taco Day, October 4, let’s look at the history of tacos, what makes an authentic taco, and consider the limitless variations of this delicious food. Some historians say the Spanish introduced tacos to Mexico, but anthropologists say there is evidence of people in Mexico eating tacos filled with small fish, locusts, and snails before the 16th century. Authentic, traditional tacos are almost always served in soft tortillas. The hard shell taco Americans know today was i...
Do you enjoy fresh bakery bread or making it yourself? A loaf of bread purchased at a supermarket is made with preservatives, which serve to prolong the product shelf life. Homemade bread made without added preservatives will grow mold quicker than a store-bought one. Today, I will share tips on how to store bread, how to freeze bread, and how to refresh bread so that it tastes fresh baked. Bread usually tastes best the day it is made. How to store bread Allow freshly baked bread to cool completely to room temperature before slicing or...
