Food Bites & Articles
Awaken the Possibilities of Cooking with Coffee
Coffee isn't just for breakfast anymore! It seems like all the cooks are doing it these days, making the morning staple a big-time player in some unexpected dishes. While once reserved as my morning eye-opener, I myself can often be...
A Little Bit Sweet, A Little Bit Tart: Balsamic Vinegar Adds Sass to Classic Recipes
Throughout culinary history there have arisen many great pairings: salt and pepper, chocolate and peanut butter, chips and salsa. But there exists one often overlooked pair that I simply could not do without.With their complimentary coloring, silky textures and subtle...
Butter Really Does Make It All Better
The Kitchen Crew and I recently had the sweet fortune of whipping up Laura Davis' recipe for Kentucky Butter Cake. I freely admit to having a soft spot in my heart for Kentucky, butter AND cake, so we had great...
Desserts Shape Up to Be Extra Special
Doesn't everything just seem to taste better when it's baked in a pretty little Bundt pan? To me, there's nothing more festive than a table full of delectable sweets. And the crowning jewel always seems to be a moist Bundt...
An Abundance of Zucchini… Recipes!
It never fails; this time each year the Just A Pinch Kitchen Crew and I begin getting e-mails from green-thumbed folks around the country asking for ideas about what they can do with the abundance of zucchini sprouting from the...
Heavenly Hamburgers Fresh Off the Grill
Hamburgers are a summertime staple for my family. And while they're certainly good all year 'round, there's just nothing like a hot, juicy burger straight off an outdoor grill. Am I right? In my quest for the perfect burger, I...
Blue Ribbon Showcase Sweet Treat for All
Oh, what a delicious time we had at the second Just A Pinch Blue Ribbon Showcase! An enthusiastic crowd joined me and the Kitchen Crew in welcoming Springtime Cake Contest winner Jane Freed and her husband Bud to the Viking...
Fresh Herbs Pack Powerful Summertime Punch
Summer’s beautiful bounty is upon us… now what to do with it all?! My herb garden is overflowing, and I’m constantly on the hunt for nifty new ways to make use of all these green goodies. Often the unsung heroes...
Roasting Garlic Adds New Flavor to Old Favorites
Want to turn an old favorite on its ear? Try roasting some garlic! Roasted garlic has a sweeter, milder flavor than the unroasted sort and can be used in any number of ways. I first tasted roasted garlic served on...
Kid-Friendly Cooking for a Memorable Summer
Kid-friendly, fun treats can turn those long summer days into fond family memories... filled with good things to eat! Member Maven Argyle has started a Discussion Group especially for these kid-friendly cooking ideas and there has been no shortage of...
Summer Means Getting Social with Ice Cream
Thinking back to my memories of Fourth of July, I recall the bicycles decorated with streamers, the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers sizzling on the grill, the blankets laid out on the lawn mid-morning for fireworks that wouldn't start...
Test Kitchen is Heating Up with Hot New Salsa Recipes
Things sure have been getting spicy around here lately! The Test Kitchen has been heating up... and not just because of the temps outside. We've been prepping and testing some delicious salsa recipes that you members have been posting, and...
What’s A Grill to Do? So Many Recipes, So Little Time
Helloooooo, summer! Oh, how I've missed you so. The cozy fires and walks in the snow were charming and all, but these wet boots are messing up the hallway and my garden tools are gathering dust. I hereby declare it...
Jane Louise of Clarkston, MI Wins Cake Contest!
After weeks of mixing, flouring, icing and TASTING (mmm...) the Kitchen Crew and I are proud to announce Jane Louise's Great Spring Rhubarb Coffee Cake as the Grand Prize winner of our Springtime Cake Contest! We were overwhelmed by the...
Flat Recipes Don’t Fall Short on Inspiration
What's more all-American than apple pie? Pizza! Well, ok, maybe that's debatable, but there are some mighty crafty folks out there making delicious, thrifty dishes that are big on flavor... and short on stature. Flat foods can be a fun...
Freshen Up Spices for Maximum Flavor
Winter clothes stashed for the season? Check. Floors mopped and vacuumed? Check. Dust, dust and dust some more? Check, check and check! Spices refreshed? Um... no.I fancy myself a bit of a Spring-cleaning pro, but it sure was news to...
Surprising Ingredients Add Unexpected Twist to Fruits of Your Labor
We all know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but did you know that onion and pear make for delicious fare? Ok, ok, so my poetry skills may need a little polishing up, but the fact remains:...
The Daily Grind Never Tasted So Good
Up until very recently the extent of my experience with a mortar and pestle involved dipping a tortilla chip down into the mortar to procure another bite of guacamole! However, thanks to member Chip Burrus of Glen Dale, WV, my...
Dear Onion, I’m Done Crying Over You.
Over the years, a burnt steak or fallen soufflé have been known to cause a tear or two in my kitchen. Nothing gets my waterworks flowing more often, though, than the pesky (but oh-so-tasty) onion.The eye-irritating enzyme released by onions...
Friends and Flavors Shine at First Blue Ribbon Showcase
Whew, what a whirlwind week! As storms blew through Tennessee, so did sunny Jan Mullikin, the delightful winner of the Just A Pinch Savory Soup Spectacular. Jan and her lovely daughter Hope were guests of honor at the very first...