The Giving Pumpkin

By Marilyn Hunter

Once there was a pumpkin…a bright orange pumpkin with dimples, scratches and shine. She loved the two curious little boys who had plucked her from the pumpkin patch. Everyday the boys would come and play with her; pick her up by the stem and gently place her back on the hearth.

They would draw silly faces on her, pretend she was guarding a fortress filled with smaller gourds, and move her to shady spot when the sun shined bright in the room. And one day, near Halloween’s eve, they helped carve her into a spooky Jack O’ Lantern.

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Take a Vacation to the Caribbean from your Kitchen

By David Hu

Who doesn’t like steak and potatoes? Instead of the traditional steakhouse combo, marinate your steak in citrus juices and accompany with sweet potatoes mashed with OJ.

This meal will transport you to the sunny Caribbean, no matter what the weather is like outside your door. It’s really easy to make and marinating tenderizes and infuses the flank steak with flavor. Be careful not to overcook.

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Slow Cooking in a Fast World

By Sandy Hu

Michele Scicolone made me buy a slow cooker. She did it by writing The Italian Slow Cooker cookbook, filled with such irresistible recipes, to tempt anyone who doesn’t own a slow cooker to run out and buy one. Who wouldn’t want to try mouthwatering, traditional Italian dishes made easy?

Michele is a friend of many years and I have always admired her deep knowledge of Italian cooking and her meticulous recipe writing. One of the foremost authorities on Italian cooking, Michele is the prolific author of 14 cookbooks.

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Nothing to Cook

By Sandy Hu

Don’t you hate it when you forget to defrost something in the morning? Or haven’t had time to do the grocery shopping? You’re left rummaging through cupboards, wondering what to cook for dinner!

Linguine with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Anchovies is a quick and easy solution, made mostly with pantry staples. Don’t be scared away by the anchovies. When finely minced, these little morsels disperse and will not overwhelm the dish.

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Messy Meals

By Andrew Hunter

I coach our boys’ football, baseball, basketball and soccer teams. It’s the highlight of my day to be on a field running around with the neighborhood kids. They all enjoy learning to throw spiral passes, catch pop flies and kick goals, but they really, really enjoy getting dirty. They’ll dive for fly balls 10 feet from their gloves and slide into second when the play’s at third…all with the hope of getting dirty.

Dirt’s a badge of honor when you’re a kid. So why would the dinner table be any different?

Messy meals are popular in our house and Sloppy Joes are the perfect messy meal. They’re a saucy concoction of ground meat and vegetables perched precariously between a top and bottom bun. We spike our Joes with onions, tomatoes and fresh herbs, depending on our mood.

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