Mauk Borscht

The name is sort of a play on words, since I’m not sure this is true borscht.  It is published at the request of my daughter Kate, and I hope Alex likes it.

1 large onion, chopped                                      2 cloves garlic, minced                    4-6 slices bacon, chopped

1 28-oz can tomatoes                                         2 stalks celery, sliced                        2   med. carrots, jullienned

1 [...]

Cincinnati Chili from Cleveland

I was first introduced to chili on spaghetti in the sixth grade. The new girl from school invited me to her house for supper.  They had just moved to Winfield from Cleveland, and when her Mom served this, she said they ate chili on spaghetti all the time in Ohio.  I’m a Kansas girl and [...]

Hello! Welcome to my kitchen!

My mom was a great seamstress.  She sewed all the time and all my clothes. Cooking? Not so good; at least I didn’t think so.  I was very happy to let her do all the sewing while I learned to cook with the help of our trusty red plaid Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. Even [...]

Hot Chocolate: Efficiency or Luxury

On cold winter mornings, my children often breakfasted on cinnamon toast and hot cocoa.  (It was whole wheat toast.) I figured it was probably more nutritious than Count Chocula, and almost as easy, since we used a homemade mix.

We always called it cocoa in the Mauk house, although when I was little we called it [...]

Gingersnap Chocolate Chip Cookies

It’s still winter up here in Omaha; so last week Faith baked a batch of our favorite gingersnaps: soft, chewy cookies with lumps of chocolate. What could be better for a cold, windy afternoon? The recipe that I use is typed on a little card with a note from my mom at the bottom:”  Good [...]

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

First, get a loaf of white bread; we’re going old school. Pull out a couple of slices, but NOT THE HEEL!  Grape jelly is preferred, but strawberry is okay — it’s just a little too healthy for our purposes today.  Make sure that you use creamy peanut butter, it’s easier to spread.  And MAKE SURE [...]