By James Friend Dickerson   In 1999 we traveled through Scotland touring the country and visiting Masonic Lodges. After many Lodge meetings, we enjoyed Harmony (food, drink, music, and spirited conversation). One of my favorite food items during Harmony were the sausage rolls. When Jen Christenson made her sausage rolls using an Australian recipe, they were just like the ones we enjoyed … [Read more...]

I had owned my Oster Bread Making Machine for a couple weeks before I realized that it did not necessarily have to take 3 ½ hours to bake a 2-pound loaf of bread. Upon further review of the instructions, I read that the machine had an Express Mode that took only 58 minutes to bake a loaf of traditional white bread. “Probably sucks,” I thought. But what the heck, all it would cost would be 4 … [Read more...]

Several weeks ago I invested in an Oster Bread Making Machine and I have since been a busy baker. I have suggested that all my Foodie Readers also buy a bread machine, or dust off their old one, so we can swap recipes and compare results. Probably there are one or two who ignored my suggestion and still have no bread machine, but it’s their loss. Let’s start baking some bread. There are two … [Read more...]

Eat fish. Eat chicken. Avoid red meats. That seems to be the mantra for today’s health conscious families. But another healthy option – one low in calories and fat, but with dynamite flavor – is pork. Specifically, a pork tenderloin. As is my wont, I was rummaging through the meat department at Kroger’s, casing the joint for good buys and ideas for that evening’s entrée when I saw a pound and a … [Read more...]

As an amateur chef, I enjoy thumbing through old recipe books, especially ones from garden clubs and church circles from the 50’s and 60’s. My wife Nancy often referred to a her Southern Living Quick & Easy Recipe book in the early 70s, and those tried and true dishes were staple dishes for our young family. One of those recipes was for Mock Lasagna, a dish that my son Jimmie loved. We … [Read more...]

Sometimes it’s not the recipe nor the ingredients you use. Sometimes it’s the pot you cook in that gets great results. My go-to pot is a 6-quart, red porcelain enameled, cast iron covered Dutch oven by Tramontina. I love it. My daughter Laura –a great chef in her own right – gave me the “Big Red Pot” for Christmas. When I felt the weight of the package, I thought it was a bowling ball. It was … [Read more...]

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...]