Are you planning turkey day already? You can bet I am! I know friends are too because the questions about ‘where can I order a turkey?’ are pouring in. Here are the best local options I am aware of: Turkey Bowman and Landes – I grew up visiting my grandmother who worked at Bowman and Landes farm in Springfield, OH. The turkeys have ample room to roam and the meat is free from hormones and [...]

I am fortunate to come from a family of home cooks. Women are not the only ones in the kitchen – my father, uncle, and grandfather don aprons and feed the family as well. This recipe is for my mother’s father’s grilled chicken. The marinade is nothing particularly special, but the method of re-basting it creates a succulent crispy glazed skin. In honor of Grandpa, I never change the spices. Without nostalgia holding you back, [...]

When you think of squirrel, what comes to mind? Do you picture a cute fluffy tailed animal, some backyard wildlife? Or  is your vision something more sinister? Are your squirrels tomato thieves, bird feeder destroyers, and dog taunters? Is anyone thinking savory and delectable? I am. About Squirrel Meat While squirrels are ubiquitous in most American neighborhoods, they are almost never on the dinner table. Why? It has nothing to do with the outstanding dark [...]

Ever wondered how to make bacon? Why nitrites/nitrates are sometimes used? Do you enjoy making meat jokes? I will cover all this and more in my Charcuterie Class on October 18 at Wild Goose Creative, the last of my Preserving Series. Participants get to go home with tasting samples in their belly and a few fresh sausages to boot. One lucky reader can win a place at the meaty table! Just leave a comment below [...]

Last week I was looking for a first course for a corporate cooking class that was easy to prepare and certain to please. I decided to test making bacon wrapped dates. Am I ever glad I did. The bites are salty and crisp on the outside, soft and sweet in the middle and contain a dense, satisfying almond in the very center. They are best served very warm. These babies are so simple that I [...]

Click any picture to view full size. 1. Butter, homemade lamb lard, and flour. 2. Fats cut into flour. 3. Chopping homegrown onions. 4. Mixing egg and water for pastry. 5. Pastry dough on plastic, ready to chill. 6. Pastry dough chilling in fridge. 7. Grinder cooling in freezer. 8. Onions sweating in olive oil. 9. Chopping pork butt. 10. Lil picking fresh thyme. 11. Herb, salt, and pepper mix. 12. Bowls ready to grind. [...]

It’s hard to be a native Ohioan and have an appreciation for seafood. I rarely ate fresh fish as a child and when I did, it wasn’t very good. It wasn’t that my parents were poor cooks; twenty years ago it was hard to find seafood worth cooking. These days, life is different. Fish is flown in from all over the world to several places in the city. Seafood can be great here now but [...]