Serving Franklin County, WA

Articles written by Laura Estes


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  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Jan 5, 2025

    Christmas preparations are in full swing in many Inland Northwest homes. Turkeys over 15 pounds will be set to thawing in the refrigerator by Saturday morning, Sunday for lighter weight turkeys. Cookie baking and candy making will be weekend tasks, amid gift wrapping and last minute decorating. Make-ahead dishes like Hasselback Chicken Cordon Bleu and Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole, are perfect for busy days. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole 2 Tbsp butter 2 boneless chicken...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Nov 25, 2024

    Thanksgiving will soon be here. By the time this issue of The Record Times is in your hands most area cooks in charge of the Thanksgiving meal will be planning the menu and making a list of tasks to do ahead. If you are planning cornbread dressing, you can make the cornbread several days ahead. Any gelatin salads may be made up to two days ahead, as can dinner rolls. Many side dishes reheat well in a microwave, saving on precious oven time and space. Before we get to the Thanksgiving recipes and tips, if you are planning on p...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Oct 15, 2024

    Fall weather, cool nights and sunny days call for end of gardening season recipes. Squash and pumpkins are fully ripe and a light frost has hardened the rinds for long winter keeping. Soups and stews are common fare in area slow-cookers and savory breads and luscious desserts round out menus. Crustless Pumpkin Pie from the website Cupcakes and Kale Chips, is a gluten free recipe, more like a custard than pie, but very rich and smooth. The recipe calls for canned pumpkin but...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Oct 11, 2024

    Enjoyed visiting with so many Welcome to My Kitchen readers who came to Deutschesfest in Odessa, this past weekend. Looking forward to receiving all the recipes we talked about. Over the next few weeks I will be testing the recipes I recently received from several readers and plan to have them in the next column. Near freezing nights in the last week are bringing area gardens to the end of their productive season. Time for relish, and soup recipes to use up the last of the...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes, Special to the Franklin Connection|Updated Sep 11, 2024

    School has started in most of the Inland Northwest, but area fairs and festivals are still scheduled throughout September and October. Many festivals include a fundraising bake sale and Brownie Mallow Bars, a recipe submitted by Kelena Martinez, would be a welcome addition to any bakesale table. Kelena got the recipe from Merleen Smith. Both are Odessa residents. Brownie Mallow Bars 1 package, family size fudge brownie mix (13 x 9 inch pan) Eggs and vegetable oil listed in...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Aug 28, 2024

    August brings county fairs and community celebrations. Many eastern Washington communities have a German influence and have favorite dishes that remain a staple in area menus. Traditional cabbage rolls may evolve to include extra ingredients and dough based recipes such as ranza, bierocks and kuchens come filled with non-traditional fillings. Cabbage rolls are a popular item at a German food court. Heritage Church members serve the following recipe during the September...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Feb 22, 2024

    Weather teases us with just a hint of spring, then more snow, then gray rainy days. Heat from the oven ready casseroles and warm fresh baked cookies are perfect for chasing away the late winter chill. Oriental Chicken Medley, a rice-based casserole, may be made ahead to bake for the evening meal or baked right away after preparing. The recipe easily accommodates a family's preference in ingredients. The original recipe was on a Durkee French Fried onion can around 1992, but I...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Nov 18, 2023

    New friends and family have steered my culinary interests toward gluten and dairy free recipes. For health and wellbeing, some folks must avoid certain ingredients or ingredient properties. Until recently, those avoiding gluten had to make everything from scratch and scrutinize package labels to avoid accidentally ingesting hidden gluten. Dairy is a little easier to spot but sometimes hides in the trace ingredients. Preparing meals for several group events gave me opportunity...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes|Updated Jun 14, 2023

    Warm days and cool nights keep local rhubarb plants producing abundant stalks. Pinterest, Facebook and other social media have been flush with many rhubarb recipes and area Record-Times readers have sent in recipes or pointed out selections. One recipe was sent in by Becky Moeller of Harrington. Rhubarb Mallow Cobbler is her go to recipe when rhubarb is in abundant supply. The inclusion of a layer of marshmallows between the rhubarb filling and the cobbler topping adds extra...

  • Welcome to My Kitchen

    Laura Estes, Special to Franklin Connection|Updated Nov 20, 2022

    Thanksgiving menus are on the minds of many area cooks. Turkey, beef roast, ham, or a combination? What sides and desserts will fit in range and refrigerator space? What oven dishes will cook in the meat standing time? Fresh turkeys should be kept refrigerated until ready to use. If you are brining a turkey, keep the brining bird refrigerated. A frozen turkey will need to be thawed under refrigeration, beginning 4 to 5 days before use, depending on size. Be sure to put a pan...

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