Are you aware that we are right in the middle of it? At least some people are. Before last year (with the fear of gathering), this time between Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah was the busiest time of year for shopping, cooking and entertaining.
Are you aware that we are right in the middle of it? At least some people are. Before last year (with the fear of gathering), this time between Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah was the busiest time of year for shopping, cooking and entertaining.
It’s a little different this year with the Thanksgiving color scheme outside. Instead of a brilliance of autumn colors of red, yellow, orange and browns, I look out the window to roses, geraniums, mandevillas, zinnias and other spring and summer flowers in all their spring and summer glory.
Are we really going to sit down to a turkey-less table this Thanksgiving (as some news reports are warning)?
Hello, Tyler. It’s so nice to be back home (in word and spirit) where I began. We still live in Longview where we have been since 1967, except for a 14-year interlude in South Texas.
Editor’s note: Barbara McClellan’s column has been running in the Longview News-Journal since February 1970 and can now be found in the Tyler Morning Telegraph, too. The Tyler native’s (graduate of Tyler High School) column includes recipes, cooking hints and tips. She looks forward to recei…
Common sense is not exactly common, right? There are some things we should know without being told or taught, though.
First it was bacon, eggs and beef. Then it was full-fat dairy products. Next, grains that included gluten. The latest is refined sugar, which may be the answer to any or all the problems that are found in the above food groups.
Do you have a recipe box? No, I do not mean a shoebox filled with recipes, but an authentic metal box, maybe with “Recipes” on the outside.
Finding time for a family meal during fall means navigating busy schedules full of school, jobs, social events and more.
When bright, sunny days offer opportunities to take it outside for a celebration or casual weeknight dinner, take advantage with the fresh flavors of grilled fare. Good food and good company can combine for a meal to remember with loved ones while enjoying the outdoors.
Popcorn lovers rejoice: October is National Popcorn Poppin’ Month, a seasonal celebration of one of America’s oldest and most beloved snack foods.
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
Reimagining taco night can be as simple as a new protein swap.
The school year can be full of challenges, but fueling kids for a full day of learning tops the priority list. Affordable and easy to prepare, eggs are a key ingredient for successful days in the classroom. From a wide variety of breakfast options for even the pickiest of eaters to a nearly …
When you are craving something sweet, sometimes you just can’t get it off your mind until you have just one bite. You need something small, delicious and something that will ease your cravings. This recipe for Chocolate Coated Strawberry Treats is not only fun to make, but will give you that…
Today we are going to talk about apples and Dee. There are now thousands of varieties of apples, but there is only one Dee Chappell. I met Dee over 10 years ago when we both coached and judged teams from Trinity School of Texas. However, though we go to the same church (different services), …
The same bowl of cereal can get boring after eating it for breakfast day in and day out. You may find yourself looking for something new and exciting to start your whole family’s morning off on the right foot.
Almost every get-together – whether it’s family, friends or neighbors – always has one dish that’s the star of the show time after time. It’s usually a staple dish, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the main course.
With a return to busy fall routines, it can be challenging for many families to find the time to sit down at the table for nutritious meals.
So, where is your happy place? The Longview Public Library is my all yearlong one, but from March until October or November, our back patio is where I would like to live during daylight hours.
Family traditions and in-person connections are important parts of gatherings of loved ones, and many of those get-togethers are centered on food. The entire family coming together around a table covered with warm, delicious food to share stories and create new memories is what makes mealtim…
When you are hungry and searching for something filling, juicy and rich, turning to your pantry for on-hand ingredients can make dinner a breeze. Dodge snack cravings and avoid the temptation to swing by the drive-thru; instead, you can have a homemade meal ready in a matter of minutes by pu…
It’s almost impossible to beat the combination of sweet fruit and decadent desserts. This delicious recipe for Apple Cake highlights the crisp fruit but also the cinnamon sugar-flavored pastry. It’s luscious but doesn’t overdo it on the sweet meter with just the right mix of flavors.
“A good friend is a blessing from God.” This saying (on a small cross) lives in our kitchen window. It was given to me by a good friend about a year ago.
The importance of health and wellness is top of mind for many people. There are many contributing factors to wellness such as diet, physical activity, social engagement and genetics. All are important, but a first step to wellness is choosing healthy foods to fuel the body every day, ideally…
Finding a unique dessert to impress others can be a tall task. Cakes, brownies and cookies are classics but can be boring and repetitive. When you want something easy, delicious and made to impress, think outside the sweet treat box.
During the hustle and bustle of the school year, it can be difficult to find time to sit down for dinner together as a family. However, on weeknights filled with extracurricular activities, homework, meetings and more, it’s still important to put delicious and nutritious meals on the table t…
It’s fall! (Well, sort of. If we forget the calendar and remember the days we considered fall the day after Labor Day when school started, after having been closed since Memorial Day.)
Each school day calls for a multitude of meals and snacks to make sure little learners are energized for time spent in the classroom, playing with friends and completing their homework.
The sun is shining bright in the sky, the flowers are blooming and the temperature is rising every minute. Spring and summer are typically full of fun, laughter, family and friends – not to mention great recipes everyone can enjoy indoors and outdoors throughout the warmer months.
Dinnertime dishes loaded with nutrients help keep loved ones connected while refueling after busy days spent at work and school. Dairy foods – key ingredients in many at-home meals – provide nutrients for people of all ages to grow and maintain stronger bodies and minds.
Do you ever think about how you got from Point A to Point B in life? And I don’t mean geographically, exactly. This has crossed my mind recently because of the graduations and fresh starts for so many students finishing high school or college.
Starting a new school year, whether in the classroom or online, brings excitement for kids of all ages. Opportunities to see friends, make new acquaintances and explore new areas of interest abound.
During the past year, many people have missed the opportunity to travel and experience the sights, sounds and tastes of the world, but it’s easy to explore other cultures and cuisines by experimenting in the kitchen.
Making the most of family meals means dishing up favorites that call loved ones together while also providing wholesome, nutritional flavor.
Lewis Carroll was not the first to speak of “cabbages and kings” in “Through the Looking Glass” in 1871. It has often been quoted in literature and it seems to have a different meaning to all who use the expression.
From little ones learning the game to professional athletes pushing sports to new levels, nutrition impacts the ability to re-energize, stay hydrated and reach peak performance. Now, new data shows that one naturally nutrient-rich beverage provides more benefits than previously thought: dairy milk.
As children head back to school and parents work to balance hectic schedules, it can be difficult to maintain a meal plan that doesn’t consume too much time. Make your morning meals, lunchbox packing and meal prepping easier by including time-saving hacks like easy-to-use ingredients and recipes.
You know the feeling: You eat breakfast, but by 11 a.m. your stomach is growling. You feel like you just ate but somehow you’re hungry and craving something hearty and rich.
For over a week now, I have been going through old recipes. For the most part, they are recipes from past columns. I am going to share several with you today that are from 10 or more years ago.
Filling the kitchen with plant-based ingredients is an easy way to nudge kids toward nutritious after-school snacks and make busy weeknight dinners as healthy as they are delicious.
Warmer months typically call for lighter bites, and one of the first things that comes to mind for many is a fresh and flavorful salad. While a salad is a quick and easy way to up your veggie intake and get food on the table in next to no time, the same formula over and over again can make m…
Ease and convenience can go a long way toward creating weeknight meals that bring the entire family together, which is why it’s helpful to focus your favorite dishes around main ingredients that simplify dinner routines.
Get up right this minute and go find your biggest stewpot or pan. If you are like me, it is not kept in the kitchen, but on a shelf in the garage or storage room.
As many people start getting back into normal routines, they’re returning to familiar on-the-go lifestyles by heading back to work, traveling to new destinations and enjoying time with loved ones.
As kids and parents return to busy schedules full of sports, homework and weeknight activities, building a plan for nutritious and easy meals can be challenging. Piecing together a menu that fuels active minds without spending hours in the kitchen is a common goal for many families.
Fun in the summer sun can mean anything from poolside play and outdoor exercise to simply relaxing in the shade. While these activities make the season special for people of all ages, the heat also leads to the inevitable: sweat.
You have heard me say it before — most or many good recipes have come about in a serendipitous manner. In fact, I believe lots of our favorite recipes that we have been making for as long as we have been cooking for ourselves or our families probably began as something other than the end product.
