Is it just me, or has it been particularly difficult to decide what to make for dinner lately? OK, so I know it’s definitely not just me—it’s Joey, too. If you’re not having this same “let’s stare at each other until one of us breaks and makes a decision” moment every evening, I envy you. …
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Let’s embrace the ‘pasta’bilities this week
Until I began this column, I had no idea how many variations of pasta there are. I used to think I was pretty knowledgeable until I continued to discover new types that often were tough to find in small-town Kansas grocery stores. My recipe this week called for ziti, a tube-shaped pasta I’m definitely familiar …
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You’ll have ‘fillings’ for this pot pie casserole
I have a ton of amazing memories about my paternal grandma, who passed away in 2012. She was such an awesome person and a crazy good cook. Near the end of her life, she invited me over to her small apartment for dinner—just the two of us. She made a chicken and biscuits meal with …
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Recipe proves you don’t know ‘lentil’ you try
Well, I did it to myself again. I noticed a lonely bag of 60-cent lentils sitting at my local grocery store, and I decided to bring them home and figure out what to make with them. I mean, 60 cents? Who can resist such a bargain? I’ve only made lentils once before, for a soup, …
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It’s ‘butter’ to double check ingredients
One of the habits my mom taught me when I was first learning to bake is to go back through a recipe before popping something into the oven. Giving each ingredient a once-over to make sure nothing was left out is a good idea, since you inevitably realize you forgot something when the mixture has …
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Fryer lets you ‘air’ in the side of less oil
When I first moved out on my own, one of the first items I acquired for my kitchen was a deep fat fryer. I’m a sucker for anything fried, but I could eat French fries every day and never get sick of them. Joey makes fun of me, because if there is any kind of …
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It’s time to get salty about your sweets
Years ago, when Jimmy Fallon was on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream came out with a flavor called “Late Night Snack,” which was inspired by the show. The combination was “vanilla bean ice cream with a salty caramel swirl and fudge-covered potato chip clusters.” Being slightly ice cream obsessed, I …
This will make you ‘patty’ yourself on the back for a dinner well done
A few weeks ago, I was a bridesmaid in a good friend’s socially distanced wedding, and in preparation for the big day, I did something I have never done before: get a manicure. I opted for French tips—a layer of very light pink on the bottom and white for the ends of each nail. It …
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Bread perfect for leftover that was driving me nuts
I have had this block of leftover almond paste just sitting in the back of my refrigerator for weeks. Every time I would open the fridge, I would just stare at the container, knowing I needed to use it up but not being 100-percent sure how. But then there were beautiful, fresh blueberries sitting in …
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Making a cold version of tacos isn’t mission im’pasta’ble
I was unloading some groceries a few evenings ago, and Joey came to inspect what I was pulling out of the bags. Noting that there was a salsa I don’t normally buy, a container of tomatoes and a box of pasta, he immediately asked what new recipe I was trying for dinner. After being the …
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