Area Cooks Share Recipes: Hermit Cookies

Cook shares favorite America's Test Kitchen recipe

By Lorna Carlisle
Area Cooks Share Recipes: Hermit Cookies

HERMIT COOKIES (America’s Test Kitchen recipe).  Makes about 20 cookies 1 cup raisins 2 tbsp. crystallized ginger, finely chopped 8 tbsp. unsalted butter 1 tsp. ground cinnamon ¼ tsp. ground allspice 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt ¾ cup (5 ¼ ounces) packed dark brown sugar ½ cup molasses (mild […]

What’s in a Label?

By Lorna Carlisle

When you’re shopping, there can be an overwhelming amount of information (and disinformation) on the product label. Chickens used to spend their entire life in a cage with no room to stretch and move about. They were treated as “egg laying machines” and not as sentient beings. I have raised chickens most of my life […]

Local Cooks Share Recipes: Bourbon Pecan Pie

Wells family holiday favorite

By Ken Wells
Local Cooks Share Recipes: Bourbon Pecan Pie

This has become a Wells family holiday favorite, adapted from our North Carolina friend’s recipe, whose family made theirs for many generations from the huge old “PEA-can” tree in their front yard. Sadly, the grand old tree blew down in a hurricane a few years back, but you can make sure the recipe lives on! […]

Recollection of Turkey Day in 1962 Brings Warm Memories

Recipe for stuffing with clams and water chestnuts

By Ken Wells

When I was the youngest member of my family (besides my brother, who was an infant), I was fortunate to have a full complement of four living great-grandparents. My great-gramma Niemeyer was commander of the kitchen on the morning of our annual Thanksgiving Day feast and would chuckle and laugh as she put everyone to […]

Area Cooks Share Recipes: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

A fall favorite; full of spice

By Lorna Carlisle
Area Cooks Share Recipes: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

2 c. brown sugar 1 c. vegetable oil 2 eggs 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder ½ Tbsp. ground cloves ½ tsp. ginger 1 ½ Tbsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. vanilla 1 ½ c. pumpkin puree 3 c. flour Cream sugar and oil.  Add eggs, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cloves, […]

Neighbors Share Recipes: Homemade Hummus

Homemade hummus is delicious and easy to make

By Lorna Carlisle
Neighbors Share Recipes: Homemade Hummus

Hummus ¼ cup water 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (some people use cannellini beans) 3 Tbsp. lemon juice 6 Tbsp. tahini 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1–2 cloves garlic ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. cumin pinch cayenne pepper  1 Tbsp. fresh parsley or cilantro Using a food processor makes a very smooth hummus. (It might work […]

The Sausage Dog

By Janet Moore

Many years ago, before I moved to Andover where Christmases were reliably cold and snowy, Toby the Lab and Little Bear the Newf ruled the roost (chickens, anyone?) at Elbow Pond Road. One year, as the Texas relatives and Maryland families arrived, full of treats, presents, and good cheer, a buzz went around, something about […]

Area Cooks Share Recipes: Chicken with Cheese, Spices, and Brandy

Recipe found in Roemertopf, the Clay-pot Cookbook

By Ken Wells
Area Cooks Share Recipes: Chicken with Cheese, Spices, and Brandy

An ancient recipe, rediscovered About the time that the Egyptians were building the Great Pyramids, the Etruscans, living along the Italian coast just north of the future site of Rome, devised what I think may be the very best way to cook a bird. They used an unglazed terra cotta pot with a lid, presoaked […]

Neighbors Share Recipes: Shaker Pickles

Shake your way to great pickles

By Lorna Carlisle
Neighbors Share Recipes: Shaker Pickles

These are not called Shaker Pickles because of the religious group, but because you shake the jar for seven days. I don’t like to process in a hot water bath because I think the pickles become soft. I like crunchy!  Shaker Pickles 1 gallon sliced cucumbers (about 7–8, depending on size) 3 cups white vinegar […]

Neighbors Share Recipes: Roasted Red Pepper and Eggplant Bruschetta

This easy spread makes a wonderful everyday appetizer, and is perfect for gatherings

By Lorna Carlisle
Neighbors Share Recipes: Roasted Red Pepper and Eggplant Bruschetta

Roasted Red Pepper and Eggplant Bruschetta 4 red bell peppers (about 1 1/2 lbs.) 2 large eggplants   (2–3 lbs.) 2–3 fresh garlic cloves 1/4 cup olive oil 2 large ripe tomatoes 3–4 Tbsp. fresh basil 1 small red onion 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella 2–4 Tbsp. balsamic or red wine vinegar 1–2 tsp. salt 1/2 […]