Pioneer Potluck: Monday morning washing and Tuesday ironing

On a farm in Northern Colorado, 1937-1955 As far back as I can remember, I recall my Mother lugging a big basket of wet clothes… Continue reading

  • Oct 17, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood
This Oct. 12 photo shows homemade ginger tea in New York. This drink is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)

Ginger Tea is a soothing drink

With the arrival of the cold-and-cough season, you may be thinking about cooking up a big batch of chicken soup as a cure for what… Continue reading

This Oct. 12 photo shows homemade ginger tea in New York. This drink is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)

Pioneer Potluck: Scrubbing and waxing the floors

On the farm in Northern Colorado, 1944 I was looking at our laminated wood floors this morning and thinking that I have it so easy… Continue reading

  • Oct 10, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood
This Oct. 2 photo shows a meatless cheesy oat burger in Bethesda, Md. Part-skim ricotta cheese is the star of a tasty meatless burger patty that looks almost like a turkey burger, but tastes more like an Italian-inspired fried cheese appetizer. (Melissa D’Arabian via AP)

Cheese stars in this meatless burger that has a yum factor

As much as I love a juicy beef burger, I’ve become a little obsessed with creating veggie burgers that step in and satisfy without any… Continue reading

  • Oct 10, 2017
  • By MELISSA D’ARABIAN
  • LifeFood
This Oct. 2 photo shows a meatless cheesy oat burger in Bethesda, Md. Part-skim ricotta cheese is the star of a tasty meatless burger patty that looks almost like a turkey burger, but tastes more like an Italian-inspired fried cheese appetizer. (Melissa D’Arabian via AP)
This Nov. 21, 2016 photo shows red lentil and chicken slow-cooker soup in New York. The soup is thick from the lentils, and fragrant with cumin and coriander. (Sarah E Crowder via AP)

COOKING ON DEADLINE: Red Lentil and Chicken Slow-Cooker Soup

I am a Football Mom. A New York City Football Mom, so Football Moms from, say, Texas or California might smirk at me a little.… Continue reading

This Nov. 21, 2016 photo shows red lentil and chicken slow-cooker soup in New York. The soup is thick from the lentils, and fragrant with cumin and coriander. (Sarah E Crowder via AP)
This Oct. 2 photo shows an Italian sausage frittata in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)

Flexible Frittata is thick, satisfying omelet

What to do on a busy weeknight when you poke your head into the fridge and discover a variety of souvenirs left over from previous… Continue reading

This Oct. 2 photo shows an Italian sausage frittata in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)
This Sept. 17, 2017 photo shows bratwurst sausages being grilled before simmering in beer in Houston. This dish is from a recipe by Elizabeth Karmel. (Elizabeth Karmel via AP)

Don’t toss that old beer: Make some delicious bratwurst

When I first moved to Chicago from North Carolina, I was amazed at the variety of sausages. There were polish sausages, bratwurst, bockwurst, Italian; sweet… Continue reading

This Sept. 17, 2017 photo shows bratwurst sausages being grilled before simmering in beer in Houston. This dish is from a recipe by Elizabeth Karmel. (Elizabeth Karmel via AP)
This Monday, Sept. 25, 2017 photo shows Kung Pao cod in Bethesda, Md. This dish is from a recipe by Melissa d’Arabian. (AP Photo/Melissa d’Arabian)

Scratch the itch of Asian takeout craving with Kung Pao Cod

Eating healthy doesn’t mean there isn’t room for occasional treats like Chinese takeout or a drive-thru for our favorite one-of-a-kind cheeseburger. As long as we… Continue reading

  • Oct 3, 2017
  • By MELISSA D’ARABIAN
  • LifeFood
This Monday, Sept. 25, 2017 photo shows Kung Pao cod in Bethesda, Md. This dish is from a recipe by Melissa d’Arabian. (AP Photo/Melissa d’Arabian)
This Sept. 25 photo shows pumpkin coconut squares in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)

Pumpkin Coconut Squares are scrumptious treat for Halloween

Here’s a scrumptious treat for Halloween. It happens to be too delicate to give away to the trick-or-treaters, but it’s just right for y-o-u and… Continue reading

This Sept. 25 photo shows pumpkin coconut squares in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)
This Sept. 15 photo provided by The Culinary Institute of America shows pumpkin bread French toast in Hyde Park, N.Y. This dish is from a recipe by the CIA. (Phil Mansfield/The Culinary Institute of America via AP)

Face it, you need some pumpkin to really ring in the season

There are some major misconceptions about brunch, like that it’s just an excuse for people to drink mimosas and bloody marys before noon. And, well,… Continue reading

  • Oct 3, 2017
  • By The Culinary Institute of America
  • LifeFood
This Sept. 15 photo provided by The Culinary Institute of America shows pumpkin bread French toast in Hyde Park, N.Y. This dish is from a recipe by the CIA. (Phil Mansfield/The Culinary Institute of America via AP)

Pioneer Potluck: Bear country

North Nikiski For the last two weeks we have been seeing a 2-year-old black bear in our yard or in a neighbor’s yard. He does… Continue reading

  • Sep 26, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood

Pioneer Potluck: About being adopted

A farm in Northern Colorado 1937-1955 Dad always had an explanation for everything, whether it was long or short, right or funny. He could find… Continue reading

  • Sep 19, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood

Pioneer Potluck: Fall chores, floods and fires

Author’s note: Suggestions by Susan Jordan Fall chores on the farm, where my two brothers, two sisters and I grew up, was a busy time… Continue reading

  • Sep 12, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood

Pioneer Potluck: The end of the stinky fish barrel

North Nikiski, 1986-87 A recap of the stinky fish barrel story: Bob and J.T. tried to blow it up — it just blew trees, limbs,… Continue reading

  • Sep 6, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood
This August 2017 photo shows “not fried egg rolls” in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)

Sever egg rolls from the restaurant by making these at home

Who doesn’t love an egg roll? For generations it’s been Chinese cuisine’s No. 1 hit in America. And why not? They’re ubiquitous, they’re fried, they’re… Continue reading

This August 2017 photo shows “not fried egg rolls” in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton. (Sara Moulton via AP)
This 2017 photo provided by The Culinary Institute of America shows a “Cortland Jab” cider cocktail in Hyde Park, N.Y. This drink is from a recipe by the CIA. (Phil Mansfield/The Culinary Institute of America via AP)

Apple brandy and cider mix with vinegar for a fall cocktail

Most seasons have a signature cocktail. We drink fresh and fruity in the summer, brown and brooding in the winter. But what do we drink… Continue reading

  • Sep 6, 2017
  • By The Culinary Institute of America
  • LifeFood
This 2017 photo provided by The Culinary Institute of America shows a “Cortland Jab” cider cocktail in Hyde Park, N.Y. This drink is from a recipe by the CIA. (Phil Mansfield/The Culinary Institute of America via AP)
This July 25 photo shows a beef tenderloin that was given a gentle sous vide cooking before being seared on a grill in Houston, Texas, from a recipe for “The Ultimate Reverse Sear” by Elizabeth Karmel. Reverse-sear is a technique where you cook the meat slowly using a low indirect heat and when it is almost done, you sear it over a high direct heat to brown the outside. (Elizabeth Karmel via AP)

For delicious, tender, juicy meat, try a reverse-sear

If you are a meat geek, then you have read about the reverse sear, which has gained popularity in the grilling and barbecue world in… Continue reading

This July 25 photo shows a beef tenderloin that was given a gentle sous vide cooking before being seared on a grill in Houston, Texas, from a recipe for “The Ultimate Reverse Sear” by Elizabeth Karmel. Reverse-sear is a technique where you cook the meat slowly using a low indirect heat and when it is almost done, you sear it over a high direct heat to brown the outside. (Elizabeth Karmel via AP)

Pioneer Potluck: More from the stinky fish barrel

North Nikiski, 1986 First, an update to all the readers that want to know if we are done with the “renovation of the bathroom project”:… Continue reading

  • Aug 29, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood

Pioneer Potluck: The stinky fish barrel

At the cabins, May 1986 “Peeuuyouh! Uggh! WHAT is that smell? I smell that every once in a while. WHAT IS IT?” I asked Bob… Continue reading

  • Aug 22, 2017
  • By ANN ‘GRANNIE ANNIE’ BERG
  • LifeFood
(Left to right) Kalista, Shaunzi and Kimbra Clements crouch in a patch of low bush cranberries Aug. 15, 2016 on Tsalteshi Trails’ Wolverine Trail in Soldotna, Alaska during the Harvest Moon Festival. (Clarion File Photo)

Celebrating on this harvest moon

The harvest moon marks the end of the growing season as the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox which marks the start of fall. This… Continue reading

(Left to right) Kalista, Shaunzi and Kimbra Clements crouch in a patch of low bush cranberries Aug. 15, 2016 on Tsalteshi Trails’ Wolverine Trail in Soldotna, Alaska during the Harvest Moon Festival. (Clarion File Photo)