I have a kitchen cabinet full of rubs and spices, all the latest and greatest. But sometimes the old friends, the basic seasonings, are as good if not better. One of the best and most versatile seasonings in any larder is Good Seasonings Italian Dressing mix. Made by Kraft, the mix was designed to be added to a cruet of vinegar, oil and water for a simple, healthy Italian salad dressing. But it … [Read more...]

James Baker served as Chief of Staff under Ronald Reagan and was later appointed Secretary of State in the George H.W. Bush administration. I’m thinking about changing my name to James Baker Brewer because I have caught the baking bug. I love to cook, but frankly don’t know a lot about the art of baking. I’m not even sure how to put those two “turny” things in the mixer. As a mater of fact, I … [Read more...]

For 11 months a year, we are forced to buy fresh peaches that are anything but. They are likely imports from Mexico or South America that were picked months in advance and stored in cold lockers. These alien peaches are as hard as rocks and tasteless. But now, fellow peach aficionados, our time has come. The white peaches are in season and many local and regional orchards are bringing them to … [Read more...]

By Terry Tigner   (Ed. Note: Some recipees are worth repeating. This is one of them. Terry shared this recipee in one of our first editions of CvilleBuzz. It has become a staple in our kitchen, so here goes again.)   I am not a great cook. In fact, I would rate myself an only slightly better than average cook, giving myself a slight edge only because I love to cook. I am a … [Read more...]

I can’t imagine going grocery shopping only once or twice a week. How would you ever know what looked good on a particular day or what’s on special? I go at least five times a week and rarely buy more than one day ahead. Grocery shopping is something I really enjoy. Last week I stopped by the seafood counter at Kroger’s. I felt a little “fishy” that night. The salmon looked good but we had … [Read more...]

Meat loaf is a staple in our house. It cooks quickly, in about an hour and a half, so we can throw it in the oven after work and still eat by seven. The dish is economical and the leftovers make dynamite sandwiches. Only one problem with meat loaf – grease. No matter how lean the beef, you always have fat sitting in the bottom of your pan, which you must pour off at some point, but there is … [Read more...]

I confess. I am a Cooking Channel junkie. I find it fascinating to watch the chefs battle it out on Chopped and I love to see Robert Irvine hammering the amateurish chefs at failing restaurants on Restaurant Impossible. One thing I have noticed on all these cooking shows: A main complaint from the judges in their critiques is a lack of seasoning. These – many experienced chefs from top … [Read more...]

Sometimes what you use to cook with is as important as the recipe with which you use to cook the dish. Electric skillets, for example. I have owned a series of electric skillets and found them useful when a larger surface area was needed - as in pan-frying fish or a large batch of squash and onions. Until recently, my electric skillets were poor quality overall. The non-stick surfaces sometimes … [Read more...]

It’s bluegill time at a farm pond near you! You can’t buy bluegills in a grocery store or a seafood market, but they are such a culinary delight that all fish lovers should head out and catch a few. One word of advice. Fish very early in the day or late in the afternoon. Bluegills are sunfish and the sun hurts their eyes. Therefore they swim to deep water during the hat of the day and return … [Read more...]

I like chicken wings, but I think they are among the poorest values in the entire meat department. Because of America’s propensity to order chicken wings as appetizers at all the sports bars across country, the demand for wings is higher than the supply, thus the price is inflated. Sometimes – sometimes – you can buy wings at $1.99 a pound if you buy enough to serve Madison Square Garden at a … [Read more...]