When Cheating is OK

The tangy taste of sourdough bread? Less work involved? The use of a Dutch oven? Visions of Jack London stories, the history of the Gold Rush, San Francisco, the Klondike and my addiction to cooking with cast iron, especially a Dutch oven. I had to try this recipe.

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One Pot Chicken with Vegetables

I have a ridiculous amount of cookbooks. So many that I’m considering starting a library and issuing library cards. I’m not obsessed with the recipes; mostly it’s for the photos. I eat with my eyes. Do you? One of my favorite recipe images is a one-pot dish. Trying to decipher its ingredients and determining how […]

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Slow Cooker Spicy Smoked Chicken Chili

When winter settles in with those long, gray days, I turn to heartier menus. Soups, stews and chilies form the basis of many of our weekly meals. They’re economical, filling and warming and can usually be made in quantities sufficient for 2-3 meals. This Slow Cooker Spicy Smoked Chicken Chili is one I rely upon […]

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Ark-Asian Country Style Pork Ribs

By Arkansas Women Bloggers member Mary Wood of Run of the Mill Mary My introduction to hog farming came at the age of 10. A neighbor’s sow had a litter of pigs. One of the little ones kept being pushed to the side when it came feeding time, and earned the designation of a ‘runt.’ […]

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Cast-Iron Skillet Peach and Blueberry Cobbler

I’ve had pots and pans of all kinds throughout the years. There was the nonstick avocado green set that was all the rage when I got married. The first set of stainless steel was my effort to move away from the “dangers” of the Teflon® scare. (Mostly, I was really tired of avocado green by […]

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Liquid Gold Chicken Stock

Making your own chicken stock is easy. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. A homemade stock is like liquid gold at my house. It makes the food tastier, reduces food waste and it freezes well. Although store bought is convenient, a homemade broth has more flavor. Trust me on this. Before we get started, though, […]

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Loaded for Bear Stew

I love old cookbooks. Back when I worked at the public library, I checked the book donations for old cookbooks. One such rescue was a vintage Wild Game Cookbook from the Remington Sportsman’s Library circa 1968. Thanks to a successful deer season this past year, we have a freezer full of deer meat. We use […]

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Cast Iron Dutch Oven Giveaway ~ Plus, Some Arkansas Deliciousness

The winner according to Random Number Generator: is Stephanie (no, not The Park Wife) who said “stew sounds wonderful in a Dutch oven with cobbler for dessert!” Congratualtions, I will be contacting you!   It’s no secret that I love my cast iron. I admitted my love for all 18 of the pieces I own and […]

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Roux is the Start to a Delicious Duck Gumbo

Learning to make a good roux was a necessary skill to learn after I  married my Louisiana-raised  turned Arkansas outdoorsman husband. With gumbos and etouffees, it all starts with a good roux. A roux is a mixture of nearly equal parts flour and fat – vegetable oil, butter and bacon drippings (oh yea, bacon) are most […]

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