Food Adventures of a Comfort Cook

Eating rosemary: (No, its not cannibalism)

My friend, Marsha Birch Frank, in Minnesota, and I were discussing recipes and she sends me a recipe calling it “meatloaf”. Now I was thinking about making meatloaf, so that’s funny right there that she gives me her recipe. Well, the story gets funnier. I follow all her directions, but for the...

Did you know? Meatballs aren’t only Italian. Sometimes they speak Spanish. And who doesn’t love some tasty meatballs? Mary Cokenour photo

Meatballs meet the Old Spanish Trail

“Into the great wide open . . . Under them skies of blue . . . Out in the great wide open . . . A rebel without a clue” Into the Great Wide Open, by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1991 Since around June, hubby and I have taken short riding trips, with our dog, just to get away from the town....

Get in touch with your Italian side by cooking up your own batch of carbonara for your next meal. You won’t be disappointed if you like a tasty pasta. Mary Cokenour photo

An Italian link to Carbon(ara) County

When making new adventure discoveries, whether in food, travel or both combined, I try to find a direct link to a name. Take, for example, the April 25, 2018 article on “Spaghetti alla Puttanesca and Lone Rock in the Kane Creek Canyon Rim”. Lone Rock, aka Prostitute Butte, and puttanesca loosely...

You can once again come enjoy a nice sandwich with all the fixins at The Over Bite in Monticello thanks to new owners Shylowe and Patrick Chadd. Mary Cokenour photo

Opportunity reopens doors of The Over Bite, with more on the way

Due to demands of full-time jobs away from The Over Bite in Monticello, the former owners were forced to say goodbye to their dream child. Fortunately, this provided an opportunity for Shylowe and Patrick Chadd who were seeking a new financial venture. So when opportunity came a-knockin’ they...

Torrone is a favorite Italian candy that’s sold at feasts, given out at weddings, and packed into Christmas stockings. The candy can be hard (duro) or soft (morbido) depending on the proportion of ingredients and cooking process. Mary Cokenour photo

Is your Torrone mood duro or morbido?

One of the great advantages of being raised in an Italian/Croatian neighborhood is not just experiencing two cultures, but sampling the variety of foods. Not everyone has the financial benefit of being able to travel the world to experience what each country has to offer visitors. However,...

Though there are many varieties and substitutions, when it comes to pure comfort food, the mixture of baked potatoes, meat, and vegetables that make up a traditional Shepherd’s Pie is definitely a must-have. Mary Cokenour photo

Traditional British pub food

The title of this article isn’t 100 percent correct. The word “traditional” is geared to the foods that are well known for that part of the United Kingdom. Also, you have to take into account that other countries influence each other. Folks in England didn’t stay put, nor did they in Scotland,...

There are a variety of delicious Mexican sandwiches. Courtesy photo

Mexico does sandwiches, who knew?

Inspiration for my culinary articles can come from the simplest of places: a novel, television show, movie, anime series, manga series, even commercial ads while playing a game on a cellphone. Recently, an ad for “Get Your Guide” popped up and it was about Mexico. Set the scene: Woman on an...

If you’re in the mood for a Japanese sweet treat or two, pick up Sweet and Easy Japanese Desserts by Laure Kie. There are numerous recipes contained inside to help you try your hand at some Japanese baking. Courtesy photo

Reviewing Japanese desserts

It has been a long while since I’ve attempted a book review of any type. Usually, if I’m interested in a book of any genre I will read the reviews already written. Depending on the amount, most either regurgitate reviews from the back of the book or simply say, “I liked it” or “I didn’t like it or...

It’s tough to not want some more: This collection is full of chocolaty goodness. S’mores Brownies (top right) are a great way to collect all the flavors of a S’more in one convenient square, but there are also Eatz Fudge Marshmallow Chocolate Cookies (top left) and of course, traditional S’mores cooked over the campfire. Mary Cokenour photo

Time to say some more to S’mores

Did you ever read one of those survey questions that asked, “How old were you when you found out about ______?” Well, here’s one for me: “How old were you when you had your first s’mores?” I was 52 years old at a cookout at a friend’s home. After the main meal they called the children together and...

A sophisticated date night: shrimp, crab cocktails, crackers with goat cheese, honey and walnuts. Mary Cokenour photo

Edible cocktail created by Prohibition

Once again, we are going back in time to the Prohibition Era (1920-1933) and the banning of alcohol throughout the United States. While most legitimate restaurants and bars were suffering the loss of income, illegal bars, called speakeasies, offered clientele liquored drinks and food. Speakeasies...