WV Food Blog Fall 2011 - WVLIVING.COM

12/01/11

Cake Pops for Every Occasion

Unless you live under a rock—or you're just one of those really healthy types—you've probably picked up on one of the hottest new food trends out there: cake pops. These fun, delectable confections are pretty much irresistible—and I'm not just talking about the fun colors and decorations you can use to make them. I'm talking about the mouthful of goodness you get from biting into one these moist, dense, chocolate-and-candy-covered balls of cake (or brownie). Starbucks has become increasingly popular for the beloved Birthday Cake and Tiramisu Cake Pops, and now they've concocted the latest and greatest Peppermint Brownie Cake Pops. Can I get an "OMG!"? In the spirit of all things festive and domestic, however, I thought I'd pull...

Posted at 11:45 AM Comments

11/22/11

Bite-Sized Thanksgiving Menu

In the latest Winter 2011 issue of WV LIVING Magazine, Publisher/Editor Nikki Bowman dished up a delectable Thanksgiving meal. This isn't just some ordinary Thanksgiving spread, however. This menu is chock-full of delectable finger foods and bite-sized recipes your family and friends will love. No more are the days of sinks full of dirty dinner plates and silverware. No more are the days of feeling so full you're afraid the top button of your pants is going to pop right off (assuming you didn't think ahead and throw on a pair of elastic waist-band sweatpants or a comfortable, loose cotton skirt). This bite-sized mini meal is perfect for a big family Thanksgiving dinner because everyone can just grab a shooter of soup or Thanksgiving dinner in a glass and off they go!...

Posted at 05:52 AM Comments

11/15/11

Spice Up Your Life: Herbs

Cooking would not be the same without them, yet we often forget the important role herbs play in our meals. Not only do the plants add flavor and color, but they also have the potential to improve our health. Check out some of WV LIVING's favorite recipes that include herbs such as rosemary in Fire Roasted Mixed Potatoes. Discover a healthier you by integrating herbs into your meals! If you are “free of disease,” are you “healthy” or is there a more optimal level of health that we should strive to reach? The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, father of modern medicine, is known for having said, “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” Nearly 2,500 years after his death, people are again embracing the idea that...

Posted at 06:36 AM Comments: 1

11/08/11

Perfetto! Homemade Pizza

Pizza! It’s a staple of the American diet—a quick dinner that many of us grab on the go or buy frozen, and most of us shy away from making in our own kitchens because it takes too much time or effort. For me, making homemade dough was the step I struggled with for a number of years. The dough wouldn’t properly rise or its consistency was either too wet or too stiff. So, I would buy a pre-made crust or frozen dough from the grocery store. Then, I found this fool-proof bread recipe, which I customized for pizza dough. The formula for this bread recipe uses a wet dough and a long rising time. No mess and no kneading! Just mix all the ingredients listed below in a bowl before you go to work and come home to ready-to-bake dough. (Note: View the video for tips on...

Posted at 06:27 AM Comments

11/01/11

Friends of Food Dinner

West Virginia’s rich agriculture and culinary heritage will be celebrated on November 7, 2011, when the Morgantown Event Center hosts a Friends of Food dinner in partnership with WV Farm2U Collaborative. Five of the region’s most renowned chefs will be on-hand creating delicacies unique to the Mountain State. A five-course dinner will highlight an evening centered on educating the mind while pleasing the palate. Each course will be prepared by a separate chef who will share with attendees the inspiration for the culinary creation that incorporates the flavors native to Appalachia. “West Virginia has a rich agricultural and culinary heritage,” says Dan Watts, general manager of Waterfront Place Hotel and Morgantown Event Center. “We appreciate being...

Posted at 08:30 AM Comments: 1

10/25/11

Fingers and Eyeballs and Spiders, Oh My!

Halloween is creeping up and we are crawling with food ideas for a quick and easy party where kids and adults alike will have a ghoulishly good time. Here are a few spine-tingling treats: Finger Food 20 slices of white bread Cream cheese or peanut butter Strawberry jam Almonds Trim the crusts off of the white bread and gently roll each slice out with a rolling pin. Spread 1 tablespoon of cream cheese or peanut butter on the bread. Starting along the long edge, roll the slice of bread. Using the blunt edge of a knife, make indentations for the knuckles. Place an almond on each "finger." A bit of peanut butter or cream cheese works well to secure it. Add a bit of blood by spreading strawberry jam along the opposite end....

Posted at 06:35 AM Comments

10/19/11

Acorn Squash, Cranberry, and Blue Cheese Salad with Creamy Fall Spice Dressing

What many people love about fall are the bright colors, so I've captured those very colors in this dish—from the bright orange of the roasted acorn squash to the pop of dried red cranberries. My inspiration for this creation is drawn from two great fall dishes: Roasted Butternut Squash with Blue Cheese and Blue Cheese and Dried Cranberry Tossed Salad. The blue cheese, of course, is what inspires both dishes. This perfectly autumn-themed salad full of color and flavor is a great accompaniment to your favorite pork dish. Acorn Squash, Cranberry, and Blue Cheese Salad 2 heads romaine lettuce 1 medium acorn squash 2 tablespoons dried cranberries 4 tablespoons blue cheese or gorgonzola crumbles 3 tablespoons almonds or walnuts, roughly chopped 1 Vidalia onion,...

Posted at 11:34 AM Comments

10/18/11

Extend Your Gardening Season: Tunnels & Beds

Fall may be here, but that doesn’t mean you have to hang up your gardening gloves. Methods such as tunneling and row covers can help extend your gardening season without the high cost that other methods may demand. Whether it’s flowers or herbs that appear in your garden, keep them longer with these do-it-yourself home gardening techniques. Gardeners are interested in finding ways to extend West Virginia’s relatively short garden season. Small glass greenhouses or cold frames are effective but very expensive. While we cannot change the state’s climate zone, we can change the micro-climate of our gardens. Some recent technological developments can help gardeners extend the growing season. High Tunnels Looking much like plastic-covered...

Posted at 09:00 AM Comments

10/11/11

32nd Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival

From the coronation of a queen to a sports breakfast to a grand ball and the Apple Trample 5K, the 32nd annual Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival in Martinsburg, West Virginia, is an event fit for a queen—and just about everyone else, too! The festival kicks off this Thursday, October 13, 2011, and concludes with a variety of events at the Berkeley County Youth Fairgrounds on Sunday, October 16, 2011. The Apple Harvest royal court will make an appearance on Friday evening for the Coronation of Queen Pomona XXXII and the Queen's Reception. Then festival-goers can tap their toes and clap their hands to the sounds of Souled Out. Saturday is a full day with a pancake breakfast, a photography contest, arts and crafts, the Apple Trample 5K, and the grand...

Posted at 09:00 AM Comments

10/04/11

Pop the Top: Canning Season

Bread and Butter Pickles 25 cucumbers, thinly sliced 6 onions, thinly sliced 2 green bell peppers, diced 3 cloves garlic, chopped ½ cup salt 3 cups cider vinegar 5 cups white sugar 2 tablespoons mustard seed 1 tablespoon ground turmeric In a large bowl, mix together cucumbers, onions, green bell peppers, garlic, and salt. Allow to stand approximately 3 hours. In a large saucepan, mix the cider vinegar, white sugar, mustard seed, and turmeric. Bring to a boil. Drain liquid from the cucumber mixture. Stir the mixture into the boiling vinegar mixture. Remove from heat shortly before the combined mixtures return to boil. Transfer to sterile containers. Seal and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. A simple online...

Posted at 01:58 PM Comments

09/27/11

WV LIVING Favorite: Kooky Cookie

Have you ever wondered about those people with a so-called Sweet Tooth? What about people with more than one sweet tooth—a mouth-full of Sweet Teeth? Is there such a thing? Well, this recipe for Kooky Cookie will please one and all! With the sweetness of corn syrup and sugar, the creaminess of peanut butter, and the saltiness of corn chips, this recipe hits the spot. And it just happens to be a WV LIVING favorite! 1 cup corn syrup 1 cup sugar 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 (10 ounce) bag of corn chips Spread corn chips on a large cookie sheet. In a saucepan, combine corn syrup and sugar and bring to a boil (you can let syrup mixture boil for a few minutes). Remove from heat. Add peanut butter and stir until smooth. Pour mixture evenly over corn chips. Let...

Posted at 12:10 PM Comments

09/20/11

RoadKill Cook-Off Festival

Grab your shovels and hit the road! Tonight's dinner could be waiting around the next bend. And we're not talking about your favorite chain restaurant or a quaint country diner. We're talking about roadkill. That's right, freshly laid to rest, meaty animals just waiting to be scooped up into your favorite family recipe. Ok, ok—so maybe we're being a bit hyperbolic, but the folks down in Marlinton in Pocahontas County aren't messing around as they host this year's annual Autumn Harvest and RoadKill Cook-Off Festival this Saturday, September 24, 2011. Real roadkill isn't used, but contestants must use the meat of animals commonly found on the side of the road. So, be ready to try some unusual fare, like "Frogut's Jumpin'...

Posted at 07:07 AM Comments

09/16/11

Ergonomics

No longer do you need to feel the pain that is sometimes associated with gardening. Now tools are being designed specifically for preventing any aches. Next time you go to your local gardening shop keep your eyes out for angled handles, cushioned grips, and brightly colored tools. Research has shown that 30 to 45 minutes of working in a garden, daily, produces significant health benefits. However, many gardening tasks can create extreme stress on the body. Stress on the hands, wrists, knees, and back can be reduced by using new ergonomic garden tools. Ergonomics refers to the science of designing things so that people interact efficiently and safely with them. Ergonomic garden tools are designed to make gardening more comfortable. Features of garden tools that...

Posted at 12:09 PM Comments

	12/01/11 Cake Pops for Every Occasion Unless you live under a rock—or you're just one of those really healthy types—you've probably picked up on one of the hottest new food trends out there: cake pops. These fun, delectable confections are pretty much irresistible—and I'm not just talking about the fun colors and decorations you can use to make them. I'm talking about the mouthful of goodness you get from biting into one these moist, dense, chocolate-and-candy-covered balls of cake (or brownie). Starbucks has become increasingly popular for the beloved Birthday Cake and Tiramisu Cake Pops, and now they've concocted the latest and greatest Peppermint Brownie Cake Pops. Can I get an "OMG!"? In the spirit of all things festive and domestic, however, I thought I'd pull... Posted at 11:45 AM Comments
	11/22/11 Bite-Sized Thanksgiving Menu In the latest Winter 2011 issue of WV LIVING Magazine, Publisher/Editor Nikki Bowman dished up a delectable Thanksgiving meal. This isn't just some ordinary Thanksgiving spread, however. This menu is chock-full of delectable finger foods and bite-sized recipes your family and friends will love. No more are the days of sinks full of dirty dinner plates and silverware. No more are the days of feeling so full you're afraid the top button of your pants is going to pop right off (assuming you didn't think ahead and throw on a pair of elastic waist-band sweatpants or a comfortable, loose cotton skirt). This bite-sized mini meal is perfect for a big family Thanksgiving dinner because everyone can just grab a shooter of soup or Thanksgiving dinner in a glass and off they go!... Posted at 05:52 AM Comments
	11/15/11 Spice Up Your Life: Herbs Cooking would not be the same without them, yet we often forget the important role herbs play in our meals. Not only do the plants add flavor and color, but they also have the potential to improve our health. Check out some of WV LIVING's favorite recipes that include herbs such as rosemary in Fire Roasted Mixed Potatoes. Discover a healthier you by integrating herbs into your meals! If you are “free of disease,” are you “healthy” or is there a more optimal level of health that we should strive to reach? The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, father of modern medicine, is known for having said, “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” Nearly 2,500 years after his death, people are again embracing the idea that... Posted at 06:36 AM Comments: 1
	11/08/11 Perfetto! Homemade Pizza Pizza! It’s a staple of the American diet—a quick dinner that many of us grab on the go or buy frozen, and most of us shy away from making in our own kitchens because it takes too much time or effort. For me, making homemade dough was the step I struggled with for a number of years. The dough wouldn’t properly rise or its consistency was either too wet or too stiff. So, I would buy a pre-made crust or frozen dough from the grocery store. Then, I found this fool-proof bread recipe, which I customized for pizza dough. The formula for this bread recipe uses a wet dough and a long rising time. No mess and no kneading! Just mix all the ingredients listed below in a bowl before you go to work and come home to ready-to-bake dough. (Note: View the video for tips on... Posted at 06:27 AM Comments
	11/01/11 Friends of Food Dinner West Virginia’s rich agriculture and culinary heritage will be celebrated on November 7, 2011, when the Morgantown Event Center hosts a Friends of Food dinner in partnership with WV Farm2U Collaborative. Five of the region’s most renowned chefs will be on-hand creating delicacies unique to the Mountain State. A five-course dinner will highlight an evening centered on educating the mind while pleasing the palate. Each course will be prepared by a separate chef who will share with attendees the inspiration for the culinary creation that incorporates the flavors native to Appalachia. “West Virginia has a rich agricultural and culinary heritage,” says Dan Watts, general manager of Waterfront Place Hotel and Morgantown Event Center. “We appreciate being... Posted at 08:30 AM Comments: 1
	10/25/11 Fingers and Eyeballs and Spiders, Oh My! Halloween is creeping up and we are crawling with food ideas for a quick and easy party where kids and adults alike will have a ghoulishly good time. Here are a few spine-tingling treats: Finger Food 20 slices of white bread Cream cheese or peanut butter Strawberry jam Almonds Trim the crusts off of the white bread and gently roll each slice out with a rolling pin. Spread 1 tablespoon of cream cheese or peanut butter on the bread. Starting along the long edge, roll the slice of bread. Using the blunt edge of a knife, make indentations for the knuckles. Place an almond on each "finger." A bit of peanut butter or cream cheese works well to secure it. Add a bit of blood by spreading strawberry jam along the opposite end.... Posted at 06:35 AM Comments
	10/19/11 Acorn Squash, Cranberry, and Blue Cheese Salad with Creamy Fall Spice Dressing What many people love about fall are the bright colors, so I've captured those very colors in this dish—from the bright orange of the roasted acorn squash to the pop of dried red cranberries. My inspiration for this creation is drawn from two great fall dishes: Roasted Butternut Squash with Blue Cheese and Blue Cheese and Dried Cranberry Tossed Salad. The blue cheese, of course, is what inspires both dishes. This perfectly autumn-themed salad full of color and flavor is a great accompaniment to your favorite pork dish. Acorn Squash, Cranberry, and Blue Cheese Salad 2 heads romaine lettuce 1 medium acorn squash 2 tablespoons dried cranberries 4 tablespoons blue cheese or gorgonzola crumbles 3 tablespoons almonds or walnuts, roughly chopped 1 Vidalia onion,... Posted at 11:34 AM Comments
	10/18/11 Extend Your Gardening Season: Tunnels & Beds Fall may be here, but that doesn’t mean you have to hang up your gardening gloves. Methods such as tunneling and row covers can help extend your gardening season without the high cost that other methods may demand. Whether it’s flowers or herbs that appear in your garden, keep them longer with these do-it-yourself home gardening techniques. Gardeners are interested in finding ways to extend West Virginia’s relatively short garden season. Small glass greenhouses or cold frames are effective but very expensive. While we cannot change the state’s climate zone, we can change the micro-climate of our gardens. Some recent technological developments can help gardeners extend the growing season. High Tunnels Looking much like plastic-covered... Posted at 09:00 AM Comments
	10/11/11 32nd Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival From the coronation of a queen to a sports breakfast to a grand ball and the Apple Trample 5K, the 32nd annual Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival in Martinsburg, West Virginia, is an event fit for a queen—and just about everyone else, too! The festival kicks off this Thursday, October 13, 2011, and concludes with a variety of events at the Berkeley County Youth Fairgrounds on Sunday, October 16, 2011. The Apple Harvest royal court will make an appearance on Friday evening for the Coronation of Queen Pomona XXXII and the Queen's Reception. Then festival-goers can tap their toes and clap their hands to the sounds of Souled Out. Saturday is a full day with a pancake breakfast, a photography contest, arts and crafts, the Apple Trample 5K, and the grand... Posted at 09:00 AM Comments
	10/04/11 Pop the Top: Canning Season Bread and Butter Pickles 25 cucumbers, thinly sliced 6 onions, thinly sliced 2 green bell peppers, diced 3 cloves garlic, chopped ½ cup salt 3 cups cider vinegar 5 cups white sugar 2 tablespoons mustard seed 1 tablespoon ground turmeric In a large bowl, mix together cucumbers, onions, green bell peppers, garlic, and salt. Allow to stand approximately 3 hours. In a large saucepan, mix the cider vinegar, white sugar, mustard seed, and turmeric. Bring to a boil. Drain liquid from the cucumber mixture. Stir the mixture into the boiling vinegar mixture. Remove from heat shortly before the combined mixtures return to boil. Transfer to sterile containers. Seal and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. A simple online... Posted at 01:58 PM Comments
	09/27/11 WV LIVING Favorite: Kooky Cookie Have you ever wondered about those people with a so-called Sweet Tooth? What about people with more than one sweet tooth—a mouth-full of Sweet Teeth? Is there such a thing? Well, this recipe for Kooky Cookie will please one and all! With the sweetness of corn syrup and sugar, the creaminess of peanut butter, and the saltiness of corn chips, this recipe hits the spot. And it just happens to be a WV LIVING favorite! 1 cup corn syrup 1 cup sugar 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 (10 ounce) bag of corn chips Spread corn chips on a large cookie sheet. In a saucepan, combine corn syrup and sugar and bring to a boil (you can let syrup mixture boil for a few minutes). Remove from heat. Add peanut butter and stir until smooth. Pour mixture evenly over corn chips. Let... Posted at 12:10 PM Comments
	09/20/11 RoadKill Cook-Off Festival Grab your shovels and hit the road! Tonight's dinner could be waiting around the next bend. And we're not talking about your favorite chain restaurant or a quaint country diner. We're talking about roadkill. That's right, freshly laid to rest, meaty animals just waiting to be scooped up into your favorite family recipe. Ok, ok—so maybe we're being a bit hyperbolic, but the folks down in Marlinton in Pocahontas County aren't messing around as they host this year's annual Autumn Harvest and RoadKill Cook-Off Festival this Saturday, September 24, 2011. Real roadkill isn't used, but contestants must use the meat of animals commonly found on the side of the road. So, be ready to try some unusual fare, like "Frogut's Jumpin'... Posted at 07:07 AM Comments
	09/16/11 Ergonomics No longer do you need to feel the pain that is sometimes associated with gardening. Now tools are being designed specifically for preventing any aches. Next time you go to your local gardening shop keep your eyes out for angled handles, cushioned grips, and brightly colored tools. Research has shown that 30 to 45 minutes of working in a garden, daily, produces significant health benefits. However, many gardening tasks can create extreme stress on the body. Stress on the hands, wrists, knees, and back can be reduced by using new ergonomic garden tools. Ergonomics refers to the science of designing things so that people interact efficiently and safely with them. Ergonomic garden tools are designed to make gardening more comfortable. Features of garden tools that... Posted at 12:09 PM Comments

WV Food

WV LIVING shares their favorite foods

Fall 2011