Covid Soup

My go to contribution when a friend or family member is sick, or suffering is some type of casserole or comforting dish. Over the last year and a half, I have been developing a soup specifically for those diagnosed with Covid. This summer, with the little farm stands brimming with summer vegetables, I have taken…

World’s Best Baked Beans

I first had this baked bean recipe at a faculty picnic. I begged Dr. Soles for the recipe. There are six different beans and the combination of taste and texture makes me want to cry to my mother! The zing from the vinegar, the flavor of the bacon, and the delicious heartiness of this dish will make every other potluck guest say, “Did you try those beans?!” Sometimes overlooked, baked beans can get a bad rap, but bring these to the next family picnic and just wait for the reactions!

Yam and Sage Sausage Hash

A couple old friends came over to decoupage Easter eggs yesterday. I served bacon quiche, fresh biscuits, and fruit salad. But the big hit of the day was my yam and sausage hash. Everyone wanted a copy of the recipe. I usually beg, borrow, and improvise when I’m cooking, so I sent them home with…

Carrot, celery, rhubarb cake

I had some family over for a late lunch and I was left with a half-eaten veggie tray. Looking at the pile of baby carrots, I thought, “I should make carrot cake.” But I only had 1-1/2 cups of carrots, so I started looking around to see what else I could use. I had some…

Root Vegetable Casserole

I think my time in the English department is coming to a close, so I want to pay homage to Dr. Sole’s root vegetable casserole. The recipe originally came from Dr. Sole’s family friend Jeanie Racine. I have been blessed to add this casserole to my plate at many department potlucks. The layers of potato,…

Mid-winter Chili Warm Up

It’s after the holidays and our pant buttons are a little more snug than before Thanksgiving. While I’m craving the fullness of laughter and family gatherings, I’m also aware that I need to step back, put the spirits and wine in the basement, and incorporate more salads and water based fruits and veggies. On a…

Jen’s Famous Crab Cakes

My next door neighbor, Jen Quintern, is the most amazing chef. She’s the type that never cuts corners, cleans as she goes, and produces something that makes your mouth water for more every single time. Watching her create in the kitchen, she reminds me of the scene in The Godfather when the mafia guys are…

Sausage Butter Bean Stew – A Pantry-Freezer Gourmet Saver

Sometimes you need a pantry-freezer fall back that is full of deliciousness completely unexpected by the hungry family. If you have no time to reach the store, but want masterpiece magic, this easy, sausage and butter bean stew will satisfy every hunger. Buying the key staple ingredients for this stew means you’ll have a gourmet…

Traveler’s Chicken Noodle Soup

We went on the most… mediocre vacation of a lifetime. No really, the house was mediocre, the weather was terrible, and the highlight was half the Oakley family came down with the flu. But that’s the current count, maybe we’ll all be blessed. What does a girl do when the wind chill is -25 and…

Five Cheese Vegetable Soup

What do you do when you’ve been entertaining heavily over the summer months and the veggie and cheese trays are starting to age out in the fridge? You make this awesome five cheese vegetable soup! Is it sacrilegious to combine cave aged gruyere and brie to Ragu’s double cheddar soup? Who cares? It tastes amazing!…

Retreat Delights

Last year, I made the mistake of bringing grilled chicken to a faculty retreat. I have since learned that most of the people in my department avoid meat. (So embarrassing!) Sometimes we are most creative when we are given limits, especially in cooking or writing poetry! The farm markets have all been opening their doors,…

Winter stores beef stew with sweet potatoes and apples

I have continued the CSA with B&C Christ Farms through the winter. The apples are no longer crisp and perky, so I’ve been baking a lot of pies and making a lot of apple sauce. I get a lot of apples and I don’t want a single one to go to waste. Belonging to the…