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You are here: home → archives → columns → Cooking with John
John Overton is the Local Rag's ombudsman in addition to writing this column. His background in the catering business and eclectic taste in foods usually provide us with a good selection of recipes, and he's showed us how to cook everything from groundhogs to Spaghetti alla Carbona.
by John Overton
To my way of thinking, appetizers are a tool to make the beginning of a gathering more comfortable for both the hosts and guests. While newcomers are getting acclimated to a new environment, the appetizers make an automatic topic of conversation. Everyone can relate to food!
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by John Overton
Well, I probably don't have to remind you that this is the last month until February during which we can cook and eat like relatively normal human beings.
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by John Overton
Our daughter went to culinary school in Missouri, and she picked up some great recipes from that experience. One of those recipes is simply called, "Our Favorite Salad." The recipe for the salad, and the honey poppyseed dressing that it's served with, are here on page 34.
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by John Overton
The month of July is almost completely consumed by the fourth day of the month. This is "Independence Day," the day we celebrate our independence from England. Duh! Who doesn't know this?
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by John Overton
I usually think of June as the beginning of summer. Maybe that's because June 21st is the official first day of summer, regardless of the temperature or how much snow is on the ground.
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by John Overton
Mother's Day has much history! From the ancient Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans, there are stories honoring mothers. In early Europe, the holiday was formalized to honor motherhood and celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent. In the 1600's they called it Mothering Day.
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by John Overton
April is a hectic month, in my opinion. Most of us are in a tizzy preparing our income tax and anticipating paying. This month also includes Lent, Palm Sunday, and Easter. It is a time when we want to have something that it easy to cook and inexpensive as well, in this economically troubled time.
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by John Overton
Can you believe it's March already? "In like a lion, out like a lamb." Or sometimes "In like a lamb, out like a lion." In either case, I don't have any lion recipes, so let's do lamb for this month!
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by John Overton
John covers the art of the Valentine Chocolate-Cherry Ice Cream Bombe.
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by John Overton
What do you think of when you think Thanksgiving? Ninety-nine and forty-four one-hundredths percent will say the two main things are roast turkey and pumpkin pie.
We are not talking turkey this time.
The following recipes are ways to add some spice to your desserts for Thanksgiving. These are not your mother's pumpkin pie.
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by John Overton
Oktoberfest (HOFBRAU-FESTZELT) began as a celebration of a Royal German wedding in 1810 on October 12. The wedding was Bavarian Prince Ludwig and Saxon Princess Therese. It has grown each time since, is celebrated in Munich, and is the largest festival in the world.
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by John Overton
My younger days were spent in Omaha, Nebraska and it is a city noted for its restaurants. Businessmen loved to come to Omaha because of the great selection. From the Reuben Sandwich to the Swanson T.V. dinner to Omaha Steaks: it all started there. Whether it is sitting down for a family dinner or savoring a delicious meal at one of their legendary restaurants, food is the center of their lives.
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by John Overton
Festival of Nations means flags, dancing, and of course, food. To celebrate the "Festival of Foods," I've selected Finnish, Italian, German, and Scottish recipes.
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by John Overton
When it comes to cooking, July starts with the 4th. Fireworks, parades, rodeo; who has time to cook? Western outdoor entertaining requires nothing more than a barbecue grill and a warm smile. The parade--and of course, the rodeo--are very western, and western means barbecue. I ran across the following recipe in Luckenbach, Texas (with Waylon, Willie, and the Boys).
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by John Overton
A great song from a great musical (Oklahoma). I was planning on doing more with this title, but Shirley made me promise that I wouldn't go there.
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by John Overton
John goes over his delectable Meatballs in Tomato-Serrano Chile Sauce and Tamale Pie, in the spirit of Cinco de Mayo.
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by John Overton
John explains 3 real groundhog recipes: The Country-Style Groundhog, the Hopping John, and Big Reba's Fruit Cocktail Cobbler. No joke, these are real.
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by John Overton
The 17th of March is St. Patrick's Day. It is the day that supposedly celebrates the day of St Patrick's death in 460 A.D. Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have been--the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the Ice Age. Ahh--Irish tales!
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by John Overton
The other day, I was browsing the local grocery and spotted a friend standing in front of the dairy case. I stopped to say hi, and noticed she was reaching for the eggnog. It suddenly dawned on me that it was Eggnog Time of the year.
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