Mass Blogging Day - Family Relationships

According to author Thomas Wolfe, “There is no spectacle on earth more appealing than that of a beautiful woman in the act of cooking dinner for someone she loves.”

I wonder if Wolfe knew the females in my family.

My mom mixed, tossed, and threw ingredients into a pan. She seldom used a measuring cup. The dish would be delicious.

Both of my grandmothers cooked in that manner, too. Grandma Larson baked the best chocolate chip cookies. Nothing compared to the moist melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Grandma Fields made superb pies, but the ultimate delicacy was found her in canning room. Jars of pickled cherries lined the shelves. When we were young, my cousin, Brian, and I would grab a jar and wander around the farm, savoring the sweet-sour combination.

Each of my aunts is known for her specialty: Ginny’s popcorn balls, Joyce’s cherry fruit salad, Deana’s various soup recipes.

Sure, there have been a few failures in the kitchen. The skunk stew incident still causes laughter during family gatherings. And at my house, there mere mention of a certain concoction of lime gelatin, diced cucumbers, and mayonnaise elicits a nasty look from Scott.
For me, cooking is an art form. It’s self-expression at its tastiest. It’s a visual palette where the cook selects each ingredient and molds it into a masterpiece.

The kitchen is where I dabble in art. Sometimes, there’s a bonus to being a creative cook.
Last weekend, I was one of five finalists in the Nebraska Beef “What’s For Dinner” Cook-off. It’s the second time I’ve made the cut. I prepared beefy taco bells. In other words, I stuffed fresh peppers with taco meat and garnished them with cheese, tomatoes, salsa and sour cream. I finished in second place.

I enjoy cooking and sharing. I learned that from the women in my family.
For many families, food is a common bond that brings them together. Look beyond the platter of rib-eyes or the bowl of three bean salad placed in front of you. Glimpse into the kitchen in many homes across Nebraska and you’ll find something wonderful happening.

You’ll find families spending time together in the kitchen, cooking, creating, and conversing.
I learned to cook by spending time in the kitchen. I’d watch my mom, aunts, and grandma gather in that room and prepare fantastic meals. I observed how the simple tasks of slicing and dicing cut through more than vegetables; it cut to the heart of the matter –family time.

Cooking is a generational phenomenon.

When my kids grew up, I kept them in the kitchen with me and tried to establish that connection. It wasn’t always an easy task; between my school schedule and their activities, we often consumed more spicy nachos, lukewarm hot dogs, and bland sloppy joes than home-cooked meals.

But as they got older, they ventured into their great-grandmother’s kitchen and watched the magic. And they’ve learned the secrets of cooking.

Can there be too many cooks in the kitchen?

Not in our family.

from Nebraska-isms: A Fresh Look At Our State, by LuAnn Schindler

And the winner is . . .

Saturday was the Nebraska Beef Cook-off 'What's For Dinner' contest. It's part of the River City Roundup and was held at the Qwest Center in beautiful downtown Omaha.

Good recipes. Good food. And I earned 5th place. I'm happy with it, especially since it was my first time competing in a live contest; however, it was fun to listen to some of the other cooks talk about how they thought things would turn out.

I'm already thinking of what I can create for next year's contest.... :)

Beef Cookoff

Tomorrow's the Nebraska Beef Council's "What's For Dinner?" Beef Cookoff. I'll be cooking live from the Qwest Center at 3:15. Winner brings home new kitchen appliances!

I need to get my tote packed with all my cooking supplies. Will stop on way to Omaha and pick p shrimp and easy to heat red beans and rice mix.

Husker Jambalaya is so good!

Will post pics after contest.

A Saturday without Husker football....

is depressing. So depressing. But, it will allow me to get some work accomplished at home!

Gearing up for the Nebraska Beef Cookoff which is the same day as the Va Tech game. Husker Jambalaya at the Qwest Center! Woo hoo!

Beef! It's What's for Dinner

So the dairy farmer's wife entered a cooking contest...

I'm a finalist in the Nebraska Beef Council's 'What's For Dinner' Beef Cook-Off. Around this farm, beef is what's for dinner nearly EVERY night (except in the middle of summer when we have roasting ears, fresh tomato slices, and watermelon).

I'll be cooking live from the Qwest Center, Omaha, at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, September 27. It'll have to suffice for our tailgating party since we won't be able to go to the Husker game and instead, my sister and my dad will attend. But that is OK with me. Grand prize = new kitchen appliances! I'm all in favor of that!!

That just means that if we have the appliances, we really need to get going on the new house. :)

At least that's my theory!

I'll whip up a scrumptious batch of Husker Jambalaya. No recipe posted until AFTER the contest.

Made a crock pot full of it this weekend - used Nebraska 'Jersey' sirloin steak. Mmmm Mmmm! Tender, juicy and spicy!