“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” ― Rudyard Kipling
Food and recipes that interest Wade
Homemade granola tastes good and it’s good for you. Chock-full of nutritious goodies, probably the best thing about making granola at home is that you can pretty much tailor it to suit yourself. Granola with skim or almond milk makes a terrific and healthy breakfast. Or you can just eat a handful for a guilt-free snack.
(Note that the nutrition information provided at the bottom is based on my recipe. If you alter the recipe your information will change).
There’s nothing better on a cold Kentucky morning than this traditional breakfast of country ham and red eye gravy. If you’ve got an active morning raking leaves ahead of you, try this breakfast on for extra taste and stamina. Continue reading “Kentucky Country Ham and Red Eye Gravy”
Every fall my sweet tooth begins to throb for something homemade. And easy-to-make pralines are high on the list.
Pralines (pronounced “prah-leens”) are among the simplest and most delicious of all Southern confections. Like most anything, pralines are best when made fresh at home–much better than those you see wrapped in plastic near a store’s cash register. This recipe has never failed me. Try them! Continue reading “Perfect Pralines”
Ingredients-steak
When I lived in Virginia this was a favorite. You would often see it at bake sales and fairs. I wanted this recipe for years and finally got it. (Courtesy of my friend, Ina).
It’s absolutely yummy. Continue reading “Old-Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake”
Paducah has its share of chain type restaurants, as well as fancier eating establishments. Many of them have good food and service. But it also has a number of laid-back, down-home eating places near and dear to my heart. Here are five: Continue reading “Five Favorite Laid-back Paducah Restaurants”
Let’s face it: You either like blue cheese or you don’t. If you like it you know there’s no other flavor quite like it. Just a whiff of it sets my mouth to drooling. And those who don’t like it–and there are many–really don’t like it, and are prone to wrinkling their nose in disgust. (My own father makes gagging noises).
Be that as it may, it seldom deters those of us who love it from ordering it. It’s just too tempting. A few years back I had the opportunity to save the following recipe from a five star hotel. It always gets raves from the ” blue lovers” whenever I make it.
Here’s an easy recipe I use for making tender pork chops with a savory mushroom gravy. There’s usually plenty of gravy left over to go with mashed potatoes, which is pretty much a requirement in our family. Try it, you’ll like it.
For EASY Instructions click “Read More” below. Continue reading “Baked Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy”
So creamy and delicious you many never buy them in packages again.
I first made these between Thanksgiving and Christmas last year. Friends and family kept asking me when I was going to make more. Then of course I got the obligatory request for the recipe. This is the recipe I used, and having made several batches I can report it never failed. You can whip up a batch fairly quickly. For best results use a candy thermometer whenever making candy. It’s a very worthwhile investment. Continue reading “Fantastic Home Made Caramels”
It’s that time of year. Tomatoes are ripening and nothing tastes better than this simple sliced tomato and garlic salad. There are many variations of it*, but I still prefer this most basic of primary flavors.
I first had this particular salad at an Italian restaurant in Key West many years ago. The chef gave me the very simple recipe, which I didn’t have to write down. It’s that easy. Click “Read More” for the simple recipe. Continue reading “Simplest Tomato Salad”
You can make a delicious home made chocolate syrup (or sauce) that takes just minutes and tastes terrific!
I grew up several miles from a grocery store. Quite often we simply had to “make do” to keep from traveling into town. We kept a cupboard stocked with basics and learned to make a lot of things ourselves. Chocolate syrup is one of the easy ones. Continue reading “E-Z Home Made Chocolate Syrup”
Along about the holidays each year I get the calls for my broccoli casserole recipe.
It isn’t really mine, of course. Years ago—when I lived in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia–I was introduced one Christmas to this broccoli casserole, and it was the best I had ever tasted. There are many versions of it, of course. Some use rice, or celery, even chestnuts. You name it and I’ve tasted it. Some leave out the onion, which is a big no-no around my house. Somehow, this one just tasted “right.”
The woman who made it got it from her mother, but there wasn’t anything extraordinary about it. No “hidden” ingredients or special treatment. Just an excellent combination of ingredients that make for a heavenly rich and crunchy dish. You may have made this same recipe yourself. If you haven’t, you should. Here it is: Continue reading “The Ballyhooed Broccoli Casserole”
Hummus is easy to make, extremely flavorful, and relatively healthy, especially when compared with sour cream based dips. There are many variations, but my favorite is still the basic hummus recipe. Continue reading “The Humble and Healthy Hummus”
Grandma gave birth (at home, during the Great Depression) to twelve children. To say that she knew how to cook would be a massive understatement. To keep her hungry brood fed she made everything from chocolate pie to churned butter, from cornbread to country fried steak–and all of it from scratch.
One of my favorite foods (among dozens) of Grandma’s was her cornbread. Not too moist, not too sweet, just always perfect enough to eat by itself (though I usually slathered her home-churned butter on it, soft from sitting out on the table). Continue reading “Grandma’s Cornbread”
In the U.S. hot dogs are like BBQ in that everyone has their favorite. It’s mostly a regional thing. I’ve had both all over the lower 48 and most of them were good. But the best hot dog I’ve ever had—by far—was from the Roanoke Weiner Stand on the Market Square in Roanoke, Virginia. Continue reading “My Favorite Hot Dog Stand”
I almost never tell someone that chocolate is my weakness that they don’t agree. Frankly, I have always been suspicious of anyone proclaiming they don’t like chocolate–and I just don’t trust them. It’s not normal, people!
 Recently I made this amazing chocolate torte, and then somehow promptly lost the recipe. I know it had Baker’s Chocolate, English walnuts, eggs, and other goodies in it. Trust me, it was tasty to my face and I would share the recipe if I still had it. |
© Wade Kingston