Cooking Without Photos

Cooking Without Photos – Festive Lemon Bread

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Hello all! I’ve been focusing on trying not to melt. It’s been sooooo stinkin’ hot here. I haven’t even turned the oven on in 4 days. My family was starting to revolt so I figured I’d make more than one thing since the oven was on anyway. So, we had dinner and I made some dessert too. Score!

This week we travel to good ol’ Dickinson, North Dakota. Have I ever been there? Nope. I picked up this cookbook in Conway, AR at a thrift store. Whooop! Maybe someday I’ll get out west. There’s a lot out that way that I’d like to see. It’s just that..well, the beach isn’t that way…unless I drive super far!

I digress, Dickinson, ND. Dickinson was founded by a New Yorker named W. S. Dickinson in 1881. In just one short year, there were 100 buildings in Dickinson. Growth was helped out immensely by the railroad.

I had no idea, but a HUGE population of folks from the Ukraine settled there. They even have a Ukrainian Cultural Institute there. I’d love to see that!

On the total opposite end of the tourist spectrum is the Dickinson Dinosaur Museum. I know a little boy that would probably trade some Pokémon cards to get into that museum.

Now I read down the list of notable people from Dickinson and I only recognized one name and it was the actor who played Emmett Cullen from the Twilight movies 😬. Maybe some of you sports freaks will find their list more interesting.

On to the recipe!

This is a pretty big cookbook. I didn’t get too far at all thru, “ A Harvest Of Recipes: St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church Dickinson, North Dakota” and stumbled across Festive Lemon Bread. Puddin in bread?! Let’s do it!

Couple things:

  1. Salad oil = Vegetable oil
  2. I thought 1/4 cup of poppy seeds was too much. Turns out that it was a fine amount.

Perfect! Y’all enjoy!!

Cooking Without Photos – Glorified Chicken With Mushrooms

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Totally forgot about this one! Remember a couple of weeks ago when I talked about putting too much cayenne pepper in the zucchini with garbanzo beans? Then I said I figured out how to fix it by using part of this recipe. Let’s get into it!

Picture it. The early 90’s. You’re watching tv and a commercial comes on for “Chicken Tonight”. Then, before you know it, you start singing the jingle and flapping your arms up and down like a chicken. I can still hear it now, 🎶🎵I feel like chicken tonight, like chicken tonight. CHICKEN TONIGHT!!!🎵🎶

My mom used to make this for us and of course they stopped making it. Annoying! I’ve thought about this recipe on and off FOREVER!!! I remembered that the chicken was browned before the liquid was added and that my fave was mushroom flavored…I know you’re shocked.

Anyway, fast forward to a few weeks ago. I was flipping thru the previously shared cookbook, “What Would Zoo Like For Dinner” and came across Glorified Chicken With Mushrooms. JACKPOT!!! This was it! This was the dish straight from my childhood.

Couple Things:

  1. I used real mushrooms because we like them better.
  2. I used a big can of cream of chicken. It just made sense.
  3. Even when you pour the liquid over your chicken to serve, you will have a lot left over.
  4. This is where the zucchini and garbanzo bean recipe comes in.

I took the leftover zucchini dish and chopped it all up. Then, I took the left over chicken and deboned that. Next, I added all of that back into the liquid that was leftover from the chicken. Finally, I added a carton of chicken stock and it made the most delicious soup! Laws!!! It was delicious!

Y’all need to try it allllll!

Cooking Without Photos – Tomato Black Bean and Corn Salsa

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Here’s another recipe from the previously shared cookbook, “Petit Jean Mountain Tomato Cookbook”.

Couple things:

  1. 3/4 cup cilantro…that’s a lot and I like cilantro. You do you.
  2. I’ve learned to really rinse black beans or they have a chalk taste.

Very tasty indeed❤️❤️❤️

Cooking Without Photos – Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes

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Oh Petit Jean, home of Petit Jean State Park and Arkansas’ first state park. Petit Jean State Park is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year.…we won’t talk about how Petit Jean was once in Perry County and the county lines were redrawn just before it became a state park. No. We aren’t bitter over here.

Petit Jean was first settled by Native Americans and evidence of them dates back 10,000 years. Legend has it that Petit Jean was named after a young French lady who followed her beloved to the New World. Disguised as a cabin boy, she had said her name was Jean and because of her petite stature, the crew of the ship called her Petit Jean.

Apparently after her arrival, she had gotten sick either contracting swamp fever or some other illness and she was found out to be a woman. She eventually died and she was buried atop Petit Jean. Her gravesite is visited by thousands each year. I always thought she jumped off…learn something new every day!

Anywho, one of the first settlers of the area was Owen West. He and his family arrived in the 1850’s. The West family is still in the area today, all these years later.

If you’ve never visited Petit Jean, you’re really missing out! They have tons of hiking trails and most are fairly easy. You can have dinner at Mather Lodge, coffee at the Petit Jean Coffeehouse, take in the Museum of Automobiles, go on a trail ride and so much more!

On to the recipe! While flipping thru, “Petit Jean Mountain Tomato Cookbook, Compiled By Petit Jean Extension Homemakers Club”, I decided one thing really quick…I’m gonna have to make everything in this cookbook. So many good recipes…or maybe it’s because we have too many tomatoes and I don’t know what to do with them. At any rate, this book is going to get a workout.

The first one we tried was Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes. Such a good summertime recipe. Especially for times when you don’t want to heat up the oven.

Couple of things:

  1. I know…apples in tuna salad. Believe it or not, when they are shredded up, you only get the sweetness.
  2. I didn’t put any onion in. 1 Tbsp of onion? Might as well leave it out. Did they mean onion flakes? I just didn’t have enough brain power to deal with that.
  3. It called for sweet relish, I used dill…because I don’t like sweet, that’s why.
  4. I only assume they wanted those two eggs boiled before dicing. I mean I figured they weren’t scrambled, poached or fried.

This is really refreshing on a hot day. One that you could for sure make ahead and grab when you’re ready.

Enjoy!!!

Cooking Without Photos – Zucchini and Garbanzos Oregano

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This week we travel out west to Payson, AZ. First things first though, I’ve never been to Arizona. This cookbook somehow made its way to Hot Springs Village, AR where I picked it up. Oh the tales these books could tell.

Payson, AZ was established in 1882 and was originally named Green Valley. A post office arrived in 1884 with the help of Illinois Representative Levi Joseph Payson. The town’s name was changed in his honor.

Payson is home to the World’s Oldest And Continuous Rodeo. The Rodeo began in 1884 and has continued to be held each year since. Das a long time!

Western author Zane Grey wrote several of his books with Payson as the setting. He loved the area so much that he bought some land of his own.

Each year Payson holds the Old Time Fiddlin’ Arizona State Championship. Now that’s something I’d like to see!

On to the recipe!

This week I chose a dish out of the book, “The Versatile Zucchini Cookbook: Compiled by Anglican Church Women, Church Of The Holy Nativity”. First of all, how fitting that a cookbook be dedicated to one vegetable! Somebody was living zucchini every night when they thought this idea up😆

While flipping thru the cookbook, I stopped at Zucchini And Garbanzos Oregano. Garbanzo beans and zucchini together? Let’s do it!

Couple things:

  1. This calls for a ”dash” of cayenne pepper. Apparently my “dash” was too big and I made it entirely too hot for us. Fun fact about me, if I don’t know there is cayenne pepper in a dish then I will go into a coughing fit. I’ll just leave it out next time.
  2. I fixed my blunder by combining it with another dish that I’ll share in a few days. Y’all stay tuned.

Try this! It’s tasty…just lose the cayenne pepper😆😆

Cooking Without Photos – Lemon Squares

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Walking into the Little Rock Zoo, you automatically sense the history that surrounds the entire complex. Personally, I connect with all of the rock work throughout the park. It just makes me feel at home.

Here are some quick facts about the zoo that I bet you didn’t know:

  1. Little Rock zoo began in 1926 with only a timber wolf and a brown bear.
  2. The public quickly rallied, raised money and bought three buffalo. They also donated animals of their own to add to the zoo’s collection.
  3. By 1928, the zoo had about 3 dozen animals.
  4. In 1952 a 13 ft alligator named Big Arkie was on display and drew huge numbers. He lived 18 years at the zoo and was believed to be the largest captive alligator in the western hemisphere at that point.

Over the years several organizations and groups have helped raise money for the zoo and it has held strong. One of those organizations put out a cookbook as a fundraiser for the zoo.

While flipping thru, “What Would Zoo Like For Dinner?: A Cookbook By The Little Rock Chapter AAZK” I came across a recipe for Lemon Squares. Mmmmmmmmm! Yes please!

Couple things:

  1. It didn’t say to use self rising flour. I did.
  2. It says to “mix” the crust ingredients together. I found it difficult to “mix” butter with dry ingredients. I tried a pastry blender too. Nope. Since I’d made a huge mess, I popped it in the microwave and melted the butter. TaDa! Perfection! Just melt your butter to begin with and you won’t have that problem.
  3. Cooks up pretty!
  4. After tasting it, I feel like it may need more lemon🤔

Enjoy!!!

P.S. I’d estimate the cost of this to be under $3. Very cheap and a whole lot of flavor…just add more lemon😆

Cooking Without Photos -Glazed Strawberry Pie

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This week we tour my own county and visit St. Boniface Church in the New Dixie community in Perry County, Arkansas.

New Dixie began being settled around 1880 with the arrival of folks from Germany, Switzerland and other German speaking countries. As far as the actual original church being constructed, there are conflicting reports. Two sources state that the church was being built and almost finished in 1881 and 1882 but the land wasn’t donated by the railroad until 1883. At any rate, a school was started in 1883 and in 1890 nuns were put on staff.

In 1906, a fire broke out in the nun’s house and rapidly spread to the church. The buildings were lost, but they were able to save the alter. The alter was hand carved and imported from Germany. They quickly rebuilt the church and it was dedicated in September 1906. The present day church is listed on the Arkansas Register Of Historic Places.

On to the recipe!!!

Flipping thru, “Community Cookbook: Compiled By St. Boniface Alter Society And Friends” I came across a recipe for Glazed Strawberry Pie.

Couple things:

  1. USE THE RED FOOD COLORING OR YOUR PIE WILL LOOK LIKE MINE AND FOLKS WILL THINK IT IS HELD TOGETHER WITH HOT GLUE😆😆😆 I didn’t use any because I didn’t have any🤷🏻‍♀️
  2. Really that’s it🤷🏻‍♀️ Mrs. Zulpo (pretty sure they spelled her name wrong in the book) knew what she was talking about when she said put in some food coloring.

Great flavor and super easy!!!

Cooking Without Photos – Icie’s Punch

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We head out west this week to Carnegie, Oklahoma. I’m certain I picked this cookbook up somewhere other than Carnegie, since I’ve never once been there.

Carnegie, Oklahoma started out as North and South Latham. The Rock Island Railroad arrived and combined North and South Latham. In 1903 Latham became incorporated and the town’s people voted on changing their name.

They voted to be renamed Carnegie in hopes that Andrew Carnegie would build them a library. However, that plan sadly backfired. Carnegie does have a library, just not built one by Andrew Carnegie. Sad day, fam.

On to the recipe!

We’ve been on a fruit punch kick at our house and this recipe is spectacular…sort of…

I found this week’s recipe in: “Heavenly Dishes: Carnegie Church Of The Nazarene Women’s Ministries”.

Couple things:

  1. This calls for strawberry Kool-Aid packets. I could find: orange, cherry, black cherry, grape, tropical punch and watermelon. I decided to substitute with watermelon. I wasn’t wrong. Are y’all surprised?
  2. This also calls for 6-8 CUPS OF SUGAR!!! No. No, Icie Voorhies this doesn’t need ANY sugar. NONE!! DO NOT PUT SUGAR IN THIS!!! Icie must be trying to kill somebody…must run in their family.…
  3. I halved this recipe because I wasn’t going anywhere and we didn’t need to drink two gallons of fruit punch. Next time you go to a function, do it!!! Everyone will love you!!!

Perfectly tart and refreshing!

Enjoy!!!

Cooking Without Photos – Pineapple Dip

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This week we take a short drive to Jacksonville, AR. Before Jacksonville became the community it is today, it was first settled by two brothers from Tennessee. Once Jacob and Shared Gray arrived, their families followed shortly after. Around 1820 the town expanded and they began growing cotton to make their living.

Once the Cairo and Fulton railroad arrived in 1870 and Jacksonville really bloomed. With the railroad came saloons and new businesses. Soon they had a brand new school, grocery store, flour mill and various other ventures.

Fast forward to 1955 and the opening of Little Rock Air Force Base, which is located right in the city limits of Jacksonville. They opened their doors in October 1955 and held an open house with 85,000 people attending. Whoa! They also have the largest C-130 base in the world!

For more information, you could always visit the Jacksonville Museum Of Military History.

On with the recipe!

This week I decided to try something I’ve seen several times. When I first saw a recipe for Pineapple Cheeseball/Dip, I thought…NEXT! Then it just kept showing it’s ugly face in book after book. Gah! Okay, I’ll try it.

I popped open, “First Church Of The Nazarene: Jacksonville, Arkansas Ladies Circle” and there it was on the first page.

Couple Things:

  1. The ones I had read before were labeled “cheeseball”. My brain registered “cheeseball” and not dip. This recipe will never be a “cheeseball” since it calls for undrained pineapple. It’s for sure a dip.
  2. We liked the flavor so much that I tried it with drained pineapple. Cheeseball!
  3. I couldn’t find a small can of pineapple (8 Oz). I doubled the recipe and rolled with it.
  4. I didn’t know what “red seasoned salt” was. I decided it was Lawrey’s. I wasn’t wrong😎

Y’all this a perfect summer dip/cheeseball. Sweet. Tangy. With a little bit of heat. Yesssssss! You’re gonna love it!

Cooking Without Photos – Squash Dressing

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Shoooooo it’s hot! I don’t know about y’all but there’s only so long I can go without some comfort food, no matter how boiling it is. I had to break down and let my husband make me a meatloaf😆. Hey, I made the sides to go with it. We’re a team after all!

Since meatloaf was on the menu, I decided to try something new with it. I found this week’s recipe in, “Recipes From The Flock: Third Assembly Of God Women’s Ministries” from Malvern, Arkansas.

Malvern was founded in 1870 by the Cairo and Fulton Railroad. Then in 1878, Malvern became the county seat of Hot Spring County.

Two neat things about Malvern.

  1. Grapette International calls Malvern home, maker of Grapette soda.
  2. Malvern is the brick capital of the world! What? Yes! They even have Brickfest each year. Brickfest, where there are brick throwing contests, a brick car derby and even a best dressed brick contest! Too bad we missed it this year. It’s always the last weekend in June. Bummer man!

This week I chose Squash Dressing. I’ve seen this several times and especially in southern cookbooks. I’ve never actually had it before though. Y’all, put this in your belly!! Seriously!!

One thing, it says to add 2 cups of milk. I judged my consistency by comparing this dressing to regular cornbread dressing. I ended up using 1 1/2 cup milk. Use your own judgement. Other than that. Go for it! You’re gonna love it!!

Enjoy and share with your friends! ❤️❤️❤️