This is one of my favorite wintertime soups. Serve with a green salad and biscuits. Actually, you don’t even need the biscuits since this soup is so satisfying. You can even leave off the feta cheese, if you want to make this a vegan dish.Vegetarian Slow Cooker Lentil Soup2 cups brown lentils (washed and picked over if needed)1 medium onion, chopped1 cup chopped celery1 large carrot, peeled and diced8 cups vegetable stock, preferably low sodium1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes1 teaspoon dried thyme1 teaspoon dried oregano1 teaspoon granulated garlic1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepperCrumbled …

I have had this recipe for many years, now, and recently have seen it resurfacing on Internet cooking sites. This is one of the simplest candies to make, it looks gorgeous, and it makes a lot. It is a good make-ahead recipe and can sit in the refrigerator until someone drops in (if you can keep family members away from it, that is).Tiger Butter Candy1 pound white chocolate -- preferably Swiss1/4 cup peanut butter2 ounces semisweet chocolatevegetable cooking sprayLine an 8-inch square pan with foil so the foil extends 2 inches beyond the sides of the pan. Tip: Turn pan upside down and press …

This is the perfect time of year for an apple cake and there are many variations. This one is very moist, not too sweet, and is great with a cup of coffee or cider from the Dexter Cider Mill. You can get the apples there, too!Cider Soaked Apple Cake 1 1/2 cup canola oil1 cup granulated sugar1 cup brown sugar3 large eggs2 teaspoons vanilla extract3 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt3 cups chopped, peeled apples (all one kind or amix of choice; preferably tart) 1 cup toasted wheat germ Cider Soaking Syrup:1 cup granulated sugar1 cup cider2 tablespoons light corn syrup1/…

  Yesterday, we showed you how to be the talk of the town with our almond bar and cream cheese cookie recipes. Today, Anne provides some flair to the traditional chocolate chip cookie. Chocolate Mocha Chunk Cookies Debi Maghes of Dexter provided this recipe and said the cookies can be made ahead of time and frozen, but don’t dip them into chocolate until after they have thawed. “As a chocoholic, I attest the mocha chunk cookies are superb," resident Barb Schultz said. 4 squares semi-sweet chocolate1 stick butter, slightly softened2 tablespoons instant coffee1/2 cup granulated sugar1/4 cup …

I almost hate to admit it, but this kind of appetizer is what I fall back on when I want a festive look, not much work, and want to use up some of the “bits and pieces” in the refrigerator. I usually stick to one or two types, depending on what is on hand, but the variations are endless depending on what is in your fridge and pantry. Baguette Appetizers Base:One loaf French baguetteOlive oil cooking spray First Layer to prevent moisture from seeping through:Soft cheeses such as goat cheese, Ricotta cheese, cream cheese (or butter) Lemon, zested and juicedHorseradishMustard Toppings:Fig …

I often volunteer to bring dessert for special occasions, especially birthdays. When Dexter resident Mary Jo Czubko celebrated her birthday recently, she requested cheesecake. These are two favorites. Brian’s cheesecake is named after my son-in-law because he loved it and I made it before and inbetween overseas deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. And of course, upon his safe return! The second cheesecake is great, also and is gluten-free since it is made without a crust. Brian's Cheesecake 1 cup chocolate wafer cookie crumbs 1 1/2 cups chopped almonds 1/4 cup butter, melted 2 1/2 cups …

This salad is great for potluck dinners, barbecues, or any other summer gathering. When I was making it this time, my husband Allen said, “Are we going to get any of this or are you taking it somewhere for a lot of other people to taste?” He likes it a lot!Lemon Rosemary Potato Salad6 slices uncured turkey bacon or regular bacon1/4 cup fresh lemon juice2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest(I don’t always measure these, but just use a whole lemon, zested and juiced)1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary1/2 teaspoon pepper1 minced garlic clove2/3 cup olive oil3 pounds Red Skin or Yukon Gold potatoes…

The Dexter District Library has a good assortment of cookbooks, so I decided to check out some about grilling. This recipe comes from "Essentials of Grilling" published by Oxmoor House in 2006, and was one of my favorites. The book addresses grilling equipment, fuel types, methods, and safety issues. The recipe sections all start with an informational “About” section that provides detailed information about the item, cuts of meat, types of vegetables and how it all works best on a grill. It also has some good technique photos, along with pictures of the recipes. There are many good recipes, …

Whether you like to serve mom breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day, or bake a special dessert for after dinner, these recipes will fit the bill. The mini frittatas are like little quiches, but don’t require fussing with a crust. White chocolate brownies are special, festive and luscious tasting. Mini Frittatas1/4 pound cubed fully cooked lean ham, smoked turkey, cooked sausage1/2 cup (or more) cooked vegetables of choice1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheese: cheddar, Swiss, goat cheese, Monterey Jack5 large eggs and egg substitute equivalent to 4 eggs (or any combination equivalent to 9 or 10 eggs …

A good source of vitamin C, folic acid, iron and fiber, asparagus is a delicious vegetable with many health benefits. Asparagus spears are at their peak from March through June, but remain available all year round. Asparagus deteriorates quickly, so store the spears in the refrigerator to retain freshness and use as soon as possible. Here are a couple of good ways to use asparagus. Each recipe starts with roasted asparagus, but you could also boil or the steam the asparagus, if preferred.To roast asparagus: Rinse and trim tough ends from asparagus stalks. Toss asparagus with a tablespoon of …

Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? In addition to sharing a couple of healthy and flavorful recipes, I thought I would share some favorite links for even more healthy, nutritional recipes.Cream Cheese Cukes Submitted by Lisa Wandres, Artistica artist and co-owner1 (3-ounce) package of Neufchatel (reduced fat) cream cheese, softened1 tsp. fresh lemon juice1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic2 cucumbers or zucchiniSmoked salmon (optional)Thoroughly combine cream cheese with seasonings until well blended and smooth. Wash …

For a very special Valentine’s Day treat, try making your own truffles. These take more time than simply making a batch of brownies, but do not require fancy equipment or a candy thermometer, and children could help with the rolling and drizzling. These are very luscious, satisfying truffles that last a long time and travel well. A large package of brownie truffles even traveled to Afghanistan in late summer as a treat for my son-in-law, Brian and other members of his military unit. They arrived intact and not melted. Brian is on the way back to the United States as I write this! The next …

Since it is snowing and cold outside, I think it’s time to focus on homemade soup to warm our bodies and souls. Dexter Resident Carol Santoro submitted this go-to recipe that she and her husband Tom love. This is a vegan recipe that mostly requires opening cans and waiting for flavors to simmer together. I’ve included the recipe with a few comments at the end about the minor changes I made.Minestrone Soup3/4 cup chopped onion2 cans Veg-All, drained28-ounce vegetable broth1 can red kidney beans (with liquid)1 (14 ounce) can whole tomatoes (mashed or you can use crushed)2 tablespoons tomato …

This weekend we showed you how to be the talk of the town with our almond bar and cream cheese cookie recipes. Sunday, Anne provided tips to add flair to traditional chocolate chip cookies. Today we will take a look at old-fashioned Venetian and sour cream cookies. Venetian Cookies Dexter resident Jovina Coughlin said this is a family favorite recipe and she can't have Christmas without it. "It is the first cookie that my children and my grandchildren reach for on Christmas Eve. It is an old Italian cookie but I use a recipe I cut out from Family Circle Magazine in 1985," she said. "Yes they …

Thanksgiving is over, Black Friday is done and Shop Local Saturday has ended. Now it’s time to get ready for various upcoming holiday gatherings, and to me that means food. I have six cookie recipes that have been shared and taste-tested by Dexter residents who came to Artistica. I have included two of the recipes today and will provide others in the coming days. Four Ingredient Almond BarsResident Ina Wesenberg states that these cookies were made by her husband’s grandmother, Alma Wesenberg. The recipe was in the Dixboro Methodist Church cookbook, dated 1944. Dexter residents Judi Bogart and…

With the upcoming holidays, I started thinking of favorite recipes to use during family gatherings. Everyone loves pies, but making multiple pies for family gatherings can be time consuming and problematic. This recipe provides 24 servings, instead of the usual eight servings per pie and has an easy to make crust. I decided it was time to send a snack to Dexter’s firefighters, so my husband Allen took these treats to the Dexter Area Fire Department last week. Apple Pie Bars 3 cups flour1 cup margarine3 tablespoons sugar1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest1 tablespoon …

I love to feed teachers: They are so appreciative. My granddaughter Kailyn took this autumn snack cake (apple version) into the teacher’s lounge at New Tech High School in Ypsilanti. Then I made a second version with pears and took it to the Hair Loft in Dexter. Autumn Snack Cake ½ c. butter, softened1 c. sugar1 egg1 c. all-purpose flour½ tsp. baking soda½ tsp. ground cinnamon*2-3 tart applies or pears, peeled and chopped (about 2-2½ c.)½ c. toasted nuts, chopped (I use walnuts with apples and almonds with pears) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cream butter and sugar together until …

I’m often asked to bring dessert to gatherings with friends and family, so I brought these tidbits to my friend Susan Davis’ house recently. Those who have read this column previously may note that these phyllo pastries are really a variation on an earlier theme, since I used my standard “faux pastry cream” recipe. These are simple but yummy.Phyllo Pastries1 package (3 ounces) instant vanilla or cream cheese flavor pudding mix1 cup skim milk3/4 cup low-fat sour cream1/2 teaspoon almond extract1/2 cup chocolate chips1 package Athens mini fillo shells, 15 shells per package (available in the …

We just had a young man over for dinner who is trying to “move toward” a vegetarian diet for health reasons. When he asked if I could make lots of veggies with whatever else I was making, I decided it was a great time to make use of the prolific offerings of tomatoes and zucchini. Since my family also loves roasted broccoli, I added that to the lineup, also. Two of these dishes are really nonrecipes, so I just included guidelines. The third recipe requires planning and prepping ahead, but it is well worth it.Parmesan Tomato Slices Get some ripe, meaty tomatoes (I used some beautiful, large …

My husband, Allen, loves nectarines, but only when they are firm enough to crunch when you bite into them. When they get too soft even for me, I make this upside-down cake. I have also used soft pears in the winter. Both versions are yummy.   Tasters' comments: I shared the pear version with some Dexter Arts Center students. Cindy Wilhemson commented, “It's melt-in-your-mouth yummy. The pear was so sweet and nice—just perfect.” Christina Mitchell mentioned that “the top portion (pear) almost had a custardlike taste.” I’m glad they liked it. Allen said the nectarine version is “always a …