About

Do you ever get discouraged trying to prepare meals that require several ingredients that you don’t have in your kitchen or pantry, ones that you see in cookbooks or on TV? They certainly sound and look great, but the cost of exotic spices and extra out-of-season add-ins can make you give up before you start.  My name is Nancy, and I personally don’t know many cooks who have fresh Parmesan or goat cheese in their frig.  And have you checked the prices of fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme or cilantro? In Northeast Ohio, where I come from, you cook with what is available in season or on sale, unless you have an unlimited food budget.

The problem with most cooking shows and books is that the author doesn’t take into consideration the average everyday cook who works a full-time job and must come home and put together a complete meal for their family. Growing up, my mom was a full-time, stay at home mother with five children. Even though she didn’t work outside the home, caring for a family of seven would be quite a job for anyone.  She was the original no nonsense, no frills German cook. I spent many hours as a little girl in her kitchen watching her whip up all kinds of main dishes and desserts. She was an excellent pie maker and I learned everything about making pies from her.

We ate hearty meals of primarily meat and potatoes. Nothing was fancy–no exotic anything. Money was tight. We never ate out except for the occasional 14 hamburgers and 7 French fries from Casey’s all for around $5.00 (cheese cost extra so that was out!). We also stopped for donuts after church on Sunday at the local bakery. To make sure no one got the donut you wanted you stuck your finger in it and made your mark. That worked equally as well for cupcakes too!

I was also in 4-H for twelve years. The projects my club was involved in were primarily cooking and sewing, so from a young age I participated in being judged for creative foods and complete meals. I don’t want to brag but I have many blue ribbons to show for all my hard work. Thank you, Lorain County Fair, for teaching me the importance of creating great tasting meals on a budget that not only taste great but look great as well!
Cooking is truly an art, and good cooks are just like artists who paint pictures. Whether you are setting your table or putting together a tasty dish for your family, always keep in mind what it looks like. It is true you eat with your eyes first, so making it pleasing to look at is the first step to a great dish. Whether I am making lattice on a pie, putting together a salad, or serving grilled chicken on a platter, I try to make it look great. People who know me know that I am a little OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) which definitely helps in the “looking perfect” department. I always buy cookbooks WITH photos so I can visually see what it looks like and if I think it is something my family might enjoy.  I thoroughly read through the ingredient list and toss anything that I think will be too time consuming or costly.

So sit back and check out the dishes that my family enjoys, with no nonsense and no frills. Enjoy!