As you know from reading my column and from seeing me around local food markets, I like to buy our foods from local producers. When I choose other products, I try to find items that are place-based, those products that come from a specific or designated area. Vidalia onion is a perfect example because it [...]

Checking our freezer this time of year is important, to see if there is room for a new supply of venison and for the fresh pork we ordered from a local farmer. Our venison supply was getting low; deer season has arrived and I expect to bag my limit. SHE was off on a two-day [...]

When I was a child, I used to go to the country store with my granddad and eat pickled jalapeños and saltines with the old guys. There was one old gentleman there that they all called “old coot.” I really liked him because he always had a special story to tell me. I always wondered [...]

Take it from me. I am someone who has judged many apple pie contests; and I can tell you that not every pie looks perfect. There are a number of variables that can make a difference; and all home cook have ideas about what makes for a truly perfect final product. I remember a book [...]

Over the last 20 years, chiles have become very popular. It is exciting to me to know that today, in the U.S., more salsa is sold than ketchup. Hot pepper sauces fill a lot more shelf space in grocery stores; and many varieties of dried chiles are readily available throughout supermarkets and ethnic stores. My [...]

There is always something going on in our kitchen. SHE is either preparing for a class or kitchen testing a recipe. Good thing is, I get to be the taster; and I’m used to helping with the prep work. This particular session was a bit out of the ordinary, however. We were in the Armstrong’s [...]

Early in the spring, I had heard that In The Kitchen would feature Beach Food for the July issue. I checked my saltwater tackle, because we always stay a few days, and dine on my catch of fish and crab. In mid-June, I asked when we were going fishing. “Too late”, SHE said. “We only [...]

Anticipation rises when a picnic or cookout is on the agenda. In warm weather, most people take to the backyard, the park, the woods, the banks of a river or to some other outdoor event, often accompanied by food for a picnic or barbecue. The prospect of eating outdoors always creates enthusiasm. Those who are [...]

A lot has been written about barbeque, and everyone who practices the art has a strong opinion. I think that cooking on open fire is a matter of trial and error. Even some of the most experienced are still practicing. Learning to judge with some Kansas City Barbeque folks, I’ve seen many techniques both succeed [...]

The season’s first offerings from farmers markets and CSA will be full of tender spring greens. Even with several staggered plantings, we never seem to have enough lettuce. We purchase more lettuce from local farmers markets and farm stores, where growers have more control over the elements and planting areas. Still, even before the ground [...]

Last year, near St. Patrick’s Day, I asked if SHE knew how to corn beef. We checked The Joy of Cooking and found a recipe. We modified the brining time and decided to keep the meat in the brine for only a week. I found the resulting corned beef and cabbage meal to be very [...]

They say that sausage and legislating are two processes that you don’t want to witness. When you make your own sausage, however, you have complete control over the ingredients and the process. SHE and I have ground sausage by hand for years. We have used both a hand crank grinder and an attachment to our [...]

Now that I have fetched and toted what has seemed like tons of holiday greens and ingredients into our house and out again, it’s time to set things straight…time to get back to normal. First, I tackled our overworked refrigerators. Both SHE and I hate to throw away the last tidbits of ingredients and condiments [...]

When checking the freezer for space, I found that our venison supply was getting low. SHE was off on a two-day jaunt to Lexington and Lynchburg, so I figured I could get in some serious hunting. I chose a spot and prepared my deer stand, high up in a tree that gave me a full [...]

Because I have been writing for In The Kitchen magazine for some years now, readers know that I like to hunt and fish, and to eat my catch. Through the years, SHE and I have developed a number of recipes to make good use of various fish, birds, and game – both small and large. [...]

I am a forager by nature and this time of year you can add gleaner to my character as well.  I’m always willing to help pick the end of a crop because I know that there will be fruits and vegetables remaining that I can take home for free.  Also I let it be known [...]

I’m more fond of grilling meats but after a trip to Planet Earth Diversified farmers market stands* SHE talked me into a grill full of fresh, seasonal vegetables, and it turned out to be a delicious experience. Get a head start on a week’s meal plan by grilling lots of seasonal vegetables. Prepare enough to [...]