There are some holidays where everything comes together miraculously. The food and cheer are plentiful, love abounds, and there are no high emotions or hurt feelings. For both the Nesbitt and Oakley families, Christmas 2016 was a holiday for the books. Appetizers with my family led to eating Christmas dinner at the Oakley-Stilwell home. The…
Tag: featured
Pierogis – A Grabowski Family Tradition
My brother, Chuck Nesbitt, married the lovely Elissa Grabowski. I spent the morning with Elissa and her parents, Fran and Donna. Donna learned how to cook traditional Polish cuisine from Fran’s mother, Josephine, and his Buscha, Catherine. Donna recounted with laughter her early married years and her sometimes not so successful attempts to please her…
Vickie’s Collard Greens and Smoked Turkey Butt
As you approach the home of any descendant of Willie and Betty Cooper, you will hear the raucous laughter of a family that knows how to truly live, laugh and love. Willie and Betty raised five biological children and three foster children in their modest home in Albion. They are a family that believes in…
Hardenbrook Family Ham Loaf
I spent the loveliest afternoon with Kathy (Hardenbrook) Scroger and Mary Ellen (Hardenbrook) Seaman at the Morton Baptist Church. We three cousins made a Hardenbrook family Christmas morning tradition…ham loaf! After obtaining the ground ham and pork from the Alabama Holley Farm Market, these two ladies put together a true Kendall treat! The ham loaf,…
What is this Romanesco and what do I do with it? …lean in.
Sometimes when I rely on the local Wal-Mart, I am forced to make creative compromises. Often times they turn out better. Wal-Mart didn’t have the prosciutto or goat cheese I craved, but thin bacon and the Mexican queso fresco stepped in for a less chalky flavor. (Maybe God does have a place for processed cheese?)…
Barbeque Ranch Chicken Wraps and Spicy Potato Wedges
Busy families need a yummy and quick sports night solution. These are the nights when my daughter, Raine, calls me a good cook, and I have to correct her… I’m a good shopper! Working in Brockport, I take advantage of the prepared food at Wegmans and scoot my cart around the store with purpose, picking up…
A Pan to Please and a Pan to Freeze
So soccer season is coming to a close, and the hustle and bustle is taking a pleasant pause for a Thursday evening. I call my daughter and ask her to list the veggies I stored in the fridge after my CSA pick-up. Eggplant, carrot, broccoli, onions, peppers… sounds like a perfect excuse to go all…
Delicious Delicata
When I first started delving into squash-granola pairings, my co-worker informed me of the upcoming delicata squash harvest. Mary Jo expressed her love of this tender squash and its cylindrical possibilities. So I’ve paired up with goods from my beloved Hurd Orchards and Michele’s granola to offer up this savory, sweet, autumn recipe. Total yum!…
A Simple Soup for an Autumn Day
Living on the far east side of the county, and working in Brockport, how could my foodie soul deny a trip to Wegmans for some autumn soup ingredients. This deliciously creamy chicken, vegetable and cheese sacchettini soup is meant to warm your soul. Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil I large clove of garlic, minced I…
Heather’s Amazing Apple Coffee Cake
Mike Heberle has been working at the Heberle farm on Lakeshore Road in Kendall since he was a young boy. He blesses his mother’s home with fruits, vegetables, and right now, a front yard full of pumpkins for the large, growing family he is a part of. His mom, in turn, blesses her son with…
Crockpot Chili Sauce Chuck Roast
Do you ever walk into Hurd Orchards and see all these beautiful jarred sauces and just stand in awe? I wonder what to do with these vinegars and chutneys …and chili sauces! Well, after some research and experimentation, I think we have a winner! Ingredients: 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 lb. chuck roast 2 medium yellow onions,…
You’re so granola!
So when you pick up your CSA and there is variegated acorn squash and green onion, the wheels in your easily distracted mind start turning. Have a chat with the charmingly creative, Ben Duncan, and things all come together. Add granola. It’s that simple. Granola, Craisins, green onion, brown sugar, Amish butter made with sea salt. I…
Orleans County Cuisine 