One of my sons is a fan of cast iron cooking when he is camping. As he was looking online at various recipes using cast iron pots, he ran across the technique of baking bread, using a no-knead recipe, in a cast iron Dutch oven. We decided to give it a try and the results…
Category: In the Kitchen
Ranger Cookies
Ranger Cookies 1/2 cup vegetable shortening 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 egg 1 cup flour 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup oatmeal 1 cup cornflakes 1/2 cup chopped nuts 1/2 cup coconut (optional) 1. Cream shortening, sugars, and egg. Add flour, salt,…
Knobby Apple Cake
Nothing says fall like the smell of an apple cake baking in the oven. I have posted several variations of apple cake but here is one more recipe that uses fresh apples coarsely chopped along with some nuts and a touch of cinnamon. Knobby Apple Cake 3 tablespoons butter 1 cup sugar 1 egg, beaten…
Potato Crispies
A favorite of my children… Potato Crispies 1/2 cup butter 3 or 4 large baking potatoes, peeled and cut in 1/2 inch slices 3/4 cup crushed corn flakes 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 2 teaspoons salt 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika 1. Melt butter in jelly-roll pan in 375 degree oven. 2. Add single layer of potatoes,…
Danish Raspberry Bars
For the lovers of raspberries, butter and almonds… a rich and flavorful dessert bar. Danish Raspberry Bars 1 1/2 cups sifted flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup butter or margarine, melted 3/4 cup red raspberry preserves 1/4 cup chopped or slivered almonds Powdered sugar 1. Heat…
Channa Masala
This is an vegetarian dish which uses chickpeas and a lot of spices to make very filling dinner. Serve with rice, naan bread and enjoy. Channa Masala or Chickpea Stew 2 tablespoons butter 1 whole onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 piece fresh ginger (about 1 inch), peeled and chopped 1 whole Jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped 3 tablespoons tomato…
4-H Club Biscuit Bake-Off
Each summer when I was growing up, we would have the 4-H Club County Biscuit and Cookie Bake-Off . The winners of the local clubs’ bake-off comptetitions would meet at the demonstration kitchen in the REA (Rural Electrical Association) office and proceed to make plain sugar cookies and biscuits. We all followed the same recipe and a panel…
Apple Cream Coffeecake
This coffeecake includes slices of apples and a cinnamon-nut mixture in the middle of the cake and extra cinnamon/sugar/nuts sprinkled on top. Apple Cream Coffeecake 1/2 cup chopped nuts 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Zesty Pork Loin
With a marinade or rub, a boneless pork loin is easy to bake or grill. This recipe uses a marinade that includes red pepper flakes to give the outer part of the roast a little zip and a glaze made with apricot preserves. Zesty Pork Loin Boneless pork loin roast (2 – 2 1/2 pounds) Marinade 1/2 cup light…
Pulgogi (Korean Barbeque)
We lived in Seoul, South Korea for two years and during that time, we learned to enjoy many of the Korean foods. Pulgogi (Bulgogi), or Korean Barbeque, is one of best-known Korean dishes. As we traveled around to different sites, it was common to see Koreans cooking pulgogi on a small grill on the sidewalk…
Cornbread – The Essential Food of the Rural South
I grew up in rural southeastern Arkansas. When I say rural, I mean 10 miles on a gravel road from the nearest town which had a population a little below 3,000. We did not have electricity nor indoor plumbing until I was in the first grade. Getting a telephone line out to the house took a lot longer and that did…
Fastnachts (German Doughnuts)
There are two different traditions in my life related to the German yeast doughnuts known as fastnachts or fashnachts. My German mother-in-law made fastnachts on Good Friday because they abstained from meat on that day (I never understood how eating warm freshly made yeast doughnuts was a sacrifice but I considered it a great tradition every Good Friday…
Mmmmm…. Chocolate
Pennsylvania has a long history of chocolate and candy making — from the well-known large companies such as Hershey, Ludens and 5th Avenue (both of the last two companies were originally located in Reading) to small companies such as Wilbur Chocolates in Litiz or Reppert’s in Oley. There are also many very small chocolate makers such as Lorah’s Handmade Chocolates. Started forty…
Clam Chowder
Canned clams make this New England style creamy chowder recipe quick to prepare. Clam Chowder 2 slices bacon, chopped 1 cup onion, chopped 1 cup celery, chopped 1/2 cup carrots, chopped 1 cup chopped, peeled potatoes 1 8-ounce bottle clam juice 1 cup water 2 teaspoons snipped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed 1/4…
Easy Apple Dumplings
This is a quick way to make apple dumplings using refrigerated pie crust to wrap around the cored and peeled apple. Even though the recipe does not use home-made pie crust, by the time you add the apple and drizzle the syrup on top, it tastes great. If you are a fan of nutmeg, add 1/2 teaspoon along…
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
This is a great recipe for oatmeal cookies that includes raisins and nuts. The cookies are thick and chewy but don’t cook them too long in order to preserve the soft texture. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies 1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs
Firecracker Chili
This is a thick rich chili that is a great dinner on a cold day. The number of Jalenpeno peppers can be adjusted depending on personal taste. Firecracker Chili 4 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces 1 large onion, chopped 1/2 large bell pepper, chopped 2 cloves of garlic, minced 2 Jalapeno peppers, chopped
Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings is a favorite of many southern families. There are may different recipes for the dumplings. This is the recipe that my mother used which involves rolling the dough out into a thin rectangle, cutting into squares and dropping in the boiling broth. A pan of hot cornbread always accompanies the chicken and dumplings. Yum,…
Choosing the Right Apple
Pennsylvania is the fourth largest apple producer in the country with hundreds of different varieties grown in the state and within Pennsylvania, Berks County is one of the top five apple producing counties. We are fortunate to live a mile away from a four-generation family farm, Weavers’ Orchard–a great place for fresh fruit and vegetables throughout…
Chunky Apple Cake
Nothing is better in the fall and winter than the smell of apples cooking in the oven. When baking apples I like to use a variety that maintains its shape such as Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Granny Smith, or Braeburn. This recipe takes advantage of that characteristic with slices of apple in the cake. Chunky Apple…
Nature and Life Notes 