My ancestors were sprinkled throughout the small farming communities of Kansas and Nebraska. Bierocks or runza sandwiches are among the diverse cultural foods influenced by the original settlers of the area. Rooted in the German-Russian history, the bierock dates back to the 18th century. My mother’s recipe has survived many generations. It [...]

My grandmother Jackie McFadden’s favorite recipe to cook and eat was Shoo-Fly Pie. Dessert was a treat for her family, especially this pie. She thinks the desserts of the 1940s were the sweetest and best. She loved to be around the oven and especially making Shoo-Fly Pie with her children.
While cooking this dessert, the family [...]

Full of healing powers and history, dandelion wine is a beverage long forgotten by most and of quite questionable taste to others. Europeans are credited with concocting the recipe, dating back several centuries, to be used as a “cheap-man’s wine”.
In the early development of North America, settlers pioneering the Great Plains continued the tradition. Dandelions [...]

Learning to cook with Grandma Graves was a memorable experience. Recipes were never used and it seemed that the fix to everything was a pinch more of this or a dash more of that. The only exception was this special recipe. This sweet but tangy hot potato salad was one of the few recipes I [...]

Follow directions carefully if you do not wish to have your plumbing system cleaned out and your spouse wishing you were having an affair.
For Christmas many years ago, my grandmother Betty Groves was given this recipe along with a jar of a sour dough starter. This particular batch was named “Herman”.
Ingredients had to be added [...]

Czech cuisine is marked by a strong emphasis on meat dishes. The mix of meats, cream sauces, and butter with heavy carbohydrates creates a mixture that is heavy, but very delicious. Examples of popular Czech foods are dumplings, fried cheese, and fruit dumplings. Two recipes that are a favorite of mine are below.
česneková polévka (garlic [...]