Well Seasoned, by Becky Johnson

The holidays are filled with family, festivities, and FOOD.  It’s the time of year when many families take the time to prepare a homemade meal.  Homemade is best because you know what’s going into your food.  You’re in control and you make the choices of ingredients, salt, sugar, and spices. Take this opportunity to get a jump start on a commitment to eating well in 2018.  Clear out your cabinets and refrigerator of foods that have ingredient labels indicative of poor quality.  Look for ingredients that you cannot pronounce or leave you scratching your head in wonder.  Check for ingredients...

Thanksgiving is almost here in the U.S.  Millions of home cooks will be creating fabulous dinners. The star of the meal will likely be a plump bird with all the trimmings to complement it. It can be a challenge to cook a tender bird.  Here's a technique that will help: brine. The best way to achieve a moist and tender bird hot out of the oven is to take some careful steps in preparation.  Any bird – turkey, pheasant, game hens, quail, grouse or chicken (to name a few) will benefit from this technique, no matter how it’s cooked.  You...

If you’re a fan of poppy seeds, try baking this delicious vintage cake recipe. No frosting needed, and it makes a great cake to give as a gift or to take to a party. I've even brought it to work as a breakfast bread. According to Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, immigrants brought poppy seeds with them to America in the early 1900s, with which they created delicious pastries. This sweet cake has a satisfying crunch in each bite. [Excerpted from Memories: Vintage Cake Recipes]. Ingredients: 1/2 cup Home Cook’s Pantry Poppy Seeds 1 cup milk 4 egg...

Now that the weather is cooling down a bit, it’s a good time to heat up the oven and enjoy some homemade comfort food.  Pizza answers the call and pleases many in my picky family. I usually make several pizzas, and have plenty to carry over to breakfast or the next day’s lunch. The best pizza is made with handmade dough.  Store bought is fine in a pinch, but treat yourself once in a while and make your own. It is empowering knowing what’s in your food, and if you make your own pizza dough, you control what goes into...