Carol Ann Kates

Beef stroganoff has been a beloved comfort food for generations. When I was first married, I made it quite often. Longing for the good old days, I started making this delicious dish again. Beef stroganoff was gifted to us by the Stroganoff family. According to an article in the Moscow Times by Jennifer Eremeeva, legend has it that Count Grigory Stroganoff (1770-1857) had terrible teeth. In order for the Count to eat hard-to-chew beef, his French chef created a fricassee de bo

Chicken Cacciatore originated in the countryside of central Italy during the Renaissance (14th to 16th centuries). Cacciatore translates to “hunter’s style.” It is a rustic, hearty dish that was prepared for or by hunter’s using easily accessible ingredients. Originally, it was not made with chicken, but whatever the hunter’s had on hand, like rabbit, goose, duck, or veal. The protein was braised hunter-style with onion, tomatoes, bell peppers, and mushrooms. Some recipes inc

Several years ago on New Year’s Day, my friend, Martha Cranor, showed up at our front door with a pot of black-eyed peas. “In the South we eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day for good luck. Your luck hasn’t been so good lately. I brought you this pot of black-eyed peas to change that. You need to eat one pea for every year old you are.” “Thank you,” I said, not quite sure what to make of this gesture. We honored Martha’s wishes, and everyone in my family ate one pea for ev

Nothing says Christmas more than a cup of hot cocoa, and it’s the perfect time to treat our family and friends to the hot chocolate recipes we remember from our childhood. My mother’s hot chocolate recipe brings back fond memories of simple Christmas’s spent sledding, making snow men, and coming in from the cold to a warm mug of hot cocoa. For me, nothing soothes the body and the soul quite like the silky, rich flavor of hot chocolate. If you are serving hot chocolate for a c

The following recipes are my family’s favorite finger foods to eat during the Holidays. Ina Garten’s Mustard and Gruyère Batons are my favorite. Cranberry Brie Tarts is my husband’s favorite. My Baked Brie is my son-in-law, Josh’s, personal favorite, and my Crab Cake Balls are my grandson, Aiden’s, preferred appetizer. Aiden loves crab. Ina Garten’s Mustard and Gruyère Batons In glancing through several Gruyère cheese stick recipes, I came upon Ina Garten’s recipe for Mustard

This time of year we get so busy we often need a super simple recipe that we can prepare in 15 minutes. That is what I love about my Lemon Ricotta Pasta. Easy. Fast. Flavorful. When I had my food column, I subscribed to multiple food magazines to keep up with the latest trends. I still do. The newest issue of Cook’s Illustrated included a recipe for lemon pasta made with red Sichuan peppercorns. Interesting! Italian-Asian fusion. I had to try these peppercorns in my lemon pa

Pecan snowball cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and add a festive flair to Christmas cookie trays. If you haven’t made them before, they are super simple. I have read dozens of pecan snowball cookie recipes and have garnered a few tips. Pecan snowball cookies are made with finely chopped pecans. Toasting the nuts before chopping them is a must. While some recipes may not recommend this process, toasting the pecans enhances their sweet, buttery flavor. Once incorporate

Risotto is the perfect autumn supper—creamy, cozy, delicious. The combination of Gorgonzola cheese and pear is an Italian classic. We love the combined flavors of crisp, buttery pears with the creamy, slightly tangy taste of Gorgonzola Dolce—a perfect pairing. When the crunch of fall leaves is underfoot and the air turns crisp and chilly, we turn to comfort foods. My Risotto with Gorgonzola, Pears, and Walnuts is the perfect Italian comfort food and is absolutely to die for.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Tantalizing odors oozing from the kitchen. The laughter and gentle buzz of family gathered around the dinner table. It is a meal I prepare with loving care. Thanksgiving is not only a time to gather and give thanks but a time to enjoy traditional foods that span generations. And, it is the perfect time to get the whole family involved. Mashing potatoes is the perfect job for teenage boys. My grandmother Gladys always said the secret ingred

What is your favorite comfort food? One of our favorites is chicken and dumplings—fluffy, billowy dumplings atop delicious chicken soup. In our house, chicken and dumplings is the perfect ending to chilly, autumn days. Of late, we have been trying to eat more veggies. My husband requested chicken and dumplings, so when making it this last week, I added green beans, peas, turnips, and parsnips to the veggie mix I normally put into my chicken soup. He loved it. Have More Veggie

One of my favorite things about autumn is the comforting smell of apple pie baking in the oven. I love the aroma of baking apples seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg filling my kitchen with the flavors of fall. When I don’t have the time or energy to make a perfect-looking pie crust, I make crostatas or galettes. Crostata is the Italian version of a rustic, free-form, open fruit tart. The French call this same dessert a galette. These desserts are not make in a pie dish but rat

Perfect for cold, autumn suppers, carbonada is a classic Chilean dish. It is a hearty, flavorful stew made with beef and a variety of seasonal vegetables. Chilean cooks make their stews with potatoes, onions, and carrots just like we do, but they also add corn and peas. In the fall, they add winter squash or pumpkin. The consistency of Chilean carbonada can be thick and stew-like or more brothy like a soup. Traditional Chilean recipes I’ve looked at often add chopped red

Last week I shared a former co-worker’s recipe for Indian Fry Bread, which got me reminiscing about the years I worked for Northwest Exploration Company, located on 15th and Lawrence Street in Denver, just a hop, skip, and a jump from Larimer Square. At that time Larimer Square was filled with quaint shops and wonderful restaurants—the Magic Pan, Platte River Yacht Club, Laffite’s, the Bratskellar, Josephina’s, Café Promenade, and Soapy Smith’s. I could only afford to have lu

My husband and I recently took a driving trip through the Wind River Indian Reservation, the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park,...

Pollo scapariello, also known as Shoemaker’s chicken, is a rustic Italian-American dish made with seared chicken thighs, sausage, and...

Pollo scapariello, also known as Shoemaker’s chicken, is a rustic Italian-American dish made with seared chicken thighs, sausage, and...

It was my turn to take dessert to my PEO meeting this last week. Apple squares seemed like the perfect autumn treat, and this recipe...

Green Hatch chiles are in season from August to September, although depending upon weather conditions, these chile peppers can be...

This flavorful soup is our new favorite to eat as we transition from summer to fall. Like many soups, it is tastier the next day, so it’s...

Empanadas are fried, baked, or grilled pastry turnovers that originated in Spain. They are popular entrées, appetizers, or snacks in...