Cooks Who Care

Subitute for dairy

Totally_confused — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:36:11 GMT

I would like to know if there is a subitute for sour cream and cream chesse in our recipes there is a cole slaw that calls for 1/2 cup of heavy cream and a 1/2 cup of sour cream that I would love to try but for the dairy.

How cool are we?

eironeia — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:34:54 GMT

My new "Cooks Who Care"edition arrived today. I was fortunate enough to be one of the people featured in it, so I've been showing it to people and sending emails about it and generally feeling very giddy.

As I've read through the other stories, though, I've realized that my own contributions pale in comparison to the work that some of you do. I'm awed to be in such company.

It's good to be a Cook Who Cares, and I salute all of you!

Virginia Galloway

Sunday Dinners

Kaye1956 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:43:57 GMT

I enjoy cooking and take great pride in sharing with others. I take Sunday Dinner to shut ins in our community as a way of sharing my love for helping others and the ability that God has given to me in cooking. I usually take Sunday Dinners 3 times a month depending what is going on in my Local Church, plus through the week I usually take meals at least 1 or 2 times. Our Church also extends its loves for others by sending cookies and other pastries to shut ins or cooked meals to people that have just gotten out of the hospital or to ladies that have brought their newborns home. We realize how frustating it can be to new mothers to get a meal together. We also take cookies to our Local School for allowing our Church to have programs throughout the year to win others to Jesus. I would really like to share ideas with others as a way of giving joy to those who need it. My latest project is helping a family that a mother has had cancer 4 times. I am planning a fried chicken meal for them on the 19th of October along with dessert. Pass the gift of love to others with the gift that God has given to you in cooking. God Bless

My passion for Cooking

destiny12189 — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:04:57 GMT

I have a great passion for cooking Gourmet I would love to go to a Culinary school if I had the Time I am self taught and try new recipes all the Time I cook in only LeCreuset Cookware and find that my food taste and appearence Have been much better

Bringing Meals to Others is a Breeze

mommyshep — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:18:59 GMT

Hi there,

My name is Lisa, and I'm a mommy of 3 small kids- 4, 3, and 1. One of the best things I got to experience right after my kids were born was my friends and family bringing me meals during that transition time. It was awesome! Well, as many of you know- the process of creating a meal schedule for people who are going through a transitional time in their lives (ie- just had a baby, had surgery, has an ongoing illness, moved, lost a loved one, etc) can be difficult, to say the least. Trying to get everyone on the same page, to know what days to sign up for, etc- is tough! So one night, after being so fed up with trying to get a schedule put together through email for a friend who just had a baby, I told my husband that I wish there was a site where you could sign up for meals, and it was easier to do than what I was trying to do. And he said, let's make one! Well, he and a friend did just that. It's called foodtidings (www.foodtidings.com), and it's a place where you can go and create a meal schedule for a friend or loved one, then invite people to sign up and bring them meals. It's super easy to use, its free, and once someone has signed up to bring someone a meal, it even sends you a reminder email! It's helped me so much- now when someone I know is in need of having meals brought to them, I don't hesitate to head up creating the schedule! It's helped so many people already, and I want to share it with everyone I can!

Thanks,

Lisa Shepherd

National Campaign!! :)

Candy3657 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:30:06 GMT

Anyone in here heard of this awesome campaign called the Great American Bake Sale?? It helps fight childhood hunger across the US!!

Thanksgiving stories

Barb S. — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:58:48 GMT

In each issue of Taste of Home, we spotlight an individual or group that cooks in support of a cause or a charity (visit www.cookswhocare.com to see past stories). It may be a church group that feeds the homeless, someone who bakes cookies for the Ronald McDonald House, a not-for-profit charity that raises funds with a bake sale...you get the idea.

We are looking for a Thanksgiving story that fits the Cooks Who Care criteria. If you are involved with a group that cooks a Thanksgiving dinner to help others or know an individual who bakes/cooks pumpkin pies to raise funds for a non-profit group....or a similar holiday-related story, please reply to this post. I can't guarantee we'll use the idea, but it will be considered and might even be held on file to use down the road.

Thanks!

Barb

Feeding the Needy

chefski — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:21:55 GMT

My name is Chef SKI (Nick) is attend a great culinary school here in the downtown area of Indianapolis, Indiana. On Easter while many of us are going to be digging into our table full of food some of the less forunate are not going to be doing that all. I urge readers of this message to get involved with a food program that helps feed the needy and homeless as they are people too!!! If you are around the Indianapolis area please find a local shelter where you ca join the fight to feed people or help your church get a food kitchen for the day organzied for this cause.

Sources for Quantity Cooking Recipes

carlaw — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:58:38 GMT

I am looking for sources of recipes that feed a crowd (25 servings or more). I cook and bake for our church (from Advent/Lenten suppers for 25 to funeral luncheons for 100). I would like budget- friendly recipes that are easy to prepare, without a lot of fancy ingredients, and any that can be made ahead of serving time. I would also like menu ideas (i.e. what do you serve with sloppy joes?). I enjoy 'feeding our flock' but struggle to find good 'comfort food' recipes for a large number of servings. Thank you for any help/suggestions.

Neighbor with Knee Surgery

Amy T. — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:46:02 GMT

Hi there,

My neighbor, Tom, told me that his wife was scheduled to have total knee replacement surgery, and having had knee surgery in the past, I knew they'd need some help. I decided to make a casserole that could be baked-off when they were ready to eat it. Check out my blog, Giving in a Tough Economy, for details of the recipe I made and my experience of giving to others. I'd like to hear if you've had similar experiences. Please share it here or leave a comment on my blog.

Sincerely,

Amy T.

Quantity Cooking

ScottsGrace — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:25:33 GMT

For cooks who care, quantity cooking is probably a key concept depending on the project. Here are some recipes I found that might be great ideas for those projects.

Shannon

Bean and Cheese Dip for 60

1 (#10) can nacho Cheese Sauce (medium hot)
2 (#10) cans refried beans
6 pounds stone ground round tortilla chips

In a 12-quart (or larger) pot, place the cheese sauce and refried beans. Using low heat, bring the mixture to a slow boil. Reduce heat and allow to cook down for two hours. Stir frequently.

Serve warm with chips.

Leftovers may be reheated in the microwave.

Chile Con Queso Nachos

1 cup butter
8 onions, finely chopped
12 to 18 jalapeno chiles, seeded and minced
2 cups chopped red bell pepper
12 to 16 garlic cloves
12 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
12 cups shredded Monterey jack Cheese

12 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
3 teaspoons black pepper
2 teaspoons chile powder
4 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons salt
6 cups half-and-half
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Tortilla chips

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the jalapeno chiles, red peppers, garlic and tomatoes. Continue to cook over medium heat until the vegetables are tender and the tomatoes have released their juices, about 10 minutes. (This can be prepared to this point, cooled and refrigerated for later use.)

Over low heat, melt the cheeses with the vegetable mixture, then add the cayenne pepper, black pepper, chile powder, paprika and salt.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the half-and-half and flour, and slowly stir into the cheese mixture. Continue to heat, stirring occasionally, until the cheese is fully melted. Add more cream, if necessary, if the mixture thickens too much.

Serve warm to drizzle over tortilla chips.

Servings: 16 cups

Creamy Taco Dip

1 pound ground beef
2 pounds Velveeta cheese
1 can Ro*Tel tomatoes (or substitute salsa)
1 can mushroom soup
1 can evaporated milk
1 small can green chiles
1 can Ranch style beans
1 pound tomatoes

Cook and season ground beef.

In a very large pot heat all of the ingredients together.

This makes a huge amount.

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New to Cooks who Care

ScottsGrace — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:31:28 GMT

Hello! I'm Shannon and I'm usually on the Recipes forum. I've been hanging around for just over a year. My tie to the CWC is from when I was a teacher. I taught Home Ec. at a high school in a very poor area of southern Ohio. We decided to adopt a family for the year. Every special occasion we would take a huge meal to them, along with a box of food and some gifts. Christmas was especially nice for them. Single mom with 2 daughters living in a trailor with 2 dogs. They were so tickled to have presents for Christmas! They were nominated by some other teachers in the elementary bldg. We also gave a teacher, who had been going through a terribly rough time, a $500 donation just before Christmas! That was exciting!! She never knew who it came from...I tried to instill that in my students...Random Acts of Kindness is one of the most fulfilling things a person can do.

I don't teach anymore. I substitute so that I can travel whenever the opportunity arrises. I'm getting married in just under a month and will be moving to the other side of the world the very next day. So life is crazy right now!! Crazy in a good way.

OK that's it for now.ttyl

Shannon

Looking for source for cookie cutter

Dustie D — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:10:18 GMT

I am looking for a source for the EXACT cookie cutter shown on page 73 of the Dec.-Jan Taste of Home. It is of a gingerbread boy. The article is titled "Cooks who Care" and "Very Special Delivery". Because of the "Cooks who Care" title, I am hoping someone in this group might be connected and have an idea where I can get the cookie cutter. It is adorable and has taken my eye like no other one has! Thanks so much!

Breakfast for worship team at church

BeckyJayne — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:36:17 GMT

Hi, there!

I was asked to head up an effort to take care of our worship/sound/media team at our huge church of about 8,000 members. I provide breakfast for about 70 volunteers each weekend and have been doing this since the end of July. I love it. I have a couple of ladies who help me out on occasion and we try to bring in several egg casseroles, overnight french toast, fruit and some sweet breads (muffins, cinnamon rolls, coffee cakes, etc) each week. I tried homemade granola last weekend and they loved it! I'd like to try some new things. Since I cook at home and bring it in the on Saturday night for a volunteer to heat up on Sunday morning, I need things that will keep well overnight. I had a request for pancakes and wonder if any of you have tried making up a bunch of pancakes and reheating them in the oven. Would that work, do you think, or would they be soggy or dry? I'd love to hear from you who are involved in similar endeavors. I love doing this and want to come up with new ideas, recipes, etc. so these folks can continue to look forward to new and yummy breakfasts each week.

Thanks!
Becky in CO

Mailing Holiday Treats

Amy T. — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:05:43 GMT

One of the best ways to brighten a loved one's holiday is with a homemade treat. Often there are special people in our lives that we just can't be with during the holidays. If you like me, consider mailing cookies or bars with a special note to show how much they mean to you. In my blog: Mailing Holiday Treats (click link) I have noted the ‘know-how' to mail your favorite treats so you can share in the holidays with those far away. I hope you find this helpful. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Fisher House - a home away from home for the families of our heros

Kerry Amundson — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:33:22 GMT

If anyone is looking for a place/people to give holiday treats to this year why not think about Fisher House. I believe there is a Fisher House in just about every state. These are like Ronald McDonald houses only for the families of our soldiers to stay in. You can find info on these homes on Fisherhouse.org. Click on the map to bring up your state.

This year my husband and I will deliver holiday treats to the Fisher House on Ft. Lewis in Tacoma, WA. I have a cookie exchange every year and I decided this year to bring a little "taste of home" to these families by bringing them the cookies that would normally go home with my guests. These families spend so much time going back and forth to the hospital that they no doubt are not thinking about baking. Anyway, just an idea.

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday.

Making the Holidays Special for those less fortunate

Gerry P. — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:01:37 GMT

I would like to relate a story about an organization in Ottawa, Canada and how my Sister ended up making over 5,000 pieces of baking 3 times a year for them.

A little over thirty years ago my brother and some of his friends were siting in a local Restaurant discussing the upcoming Christmas Season and their favourite stories regarding friends and family during Holiday Seasons.

One of the friends, who also owned the Restaurant mention how little business he actually received on Holidays as people tend to spend time at their own homes and often do not even realize the Restaurant was open. Someone suggested he not even open the Restaurant on those days, however the owner said he didn't like to because area homeless people often come in to warm themselves. After a lengthy discussion regarding how lucky they each were, they slowly developed an idea.

The next thing you know there was a plan put together where the Restaurant would stay open for Christmas Day AND invite homeless people to come in, get warm and enjoy a free meal.

The first year they didn't get very many people - they had trouble getting the word out to the needy.

The first few years they only did it at Christmas, the clientelle grew and offers of donations came in for food, baking and other essentials.

They started receiving so many donations they had to Register as a Charitable Organization called Dinners Unlimited.

They soon out grew the Restaurant and moved around to various halls etc. and it became so popular that they then started to serve these Dinners 4 times a year.

Their motto was/is if you need a meal or you are feeling lonely join them no "means test" was given. They started seeing seniors who were lonely and just liked being with people as well as young families who were hard on their luck. There is a story of a young man who just moved to Ottawa with his wife and 3 little girls who heard about the Dinner and brought his family in. That man eventually established himself and his family, they (3 girls now grown into young women) are part of the regular list of volunteers who help.

My sister started out as a volunteer serving Dinners and she noticed that one of the main things that always ran out the quickest was the cookies, squares, pies, cakes etc. and she always felt a little sorry when a diner(especially children) came looking for something a little sweet and she had to tell them there was no more. My sister would get her neighbours and friends to help her (chop nuts, mix recipes etc.) and she would bake steady for two weeks prior to each dinner, storing the finished products in the freezers of these same people until it was time to take them to the dinner.

She once told me she had an elderly gentleman who had been out on the street for a number of years come up to her at the dinner and she asked him what would he like, pointing to the many tarts,cookies etc. The kind of looked at her sheepishly and he politely asked if he could have a Rice Krispee Square that my sister usually kept on the side for children. She said of course and the man took it and took one bite and suddenly there were tears in his eyes - he said "My Mom used to make these for me" - my sister was so moved she quickly gave him another and he smiled and said Thank You very much then he slowly left, back to the streets. My sister saw him at a couple more dinners and then didn't see him, she later found out that he had passed away. She still thinks about the look on his face and the tears in his eyes as the Rice Krispy Square stirred up what was obviously a good memory from happier times.

Unfortunately due to health reasons my sister had to relingquish this task she loved so much 3 years ago. Others have stepped up their donations however there are still some "regular" diners who asks about the Dessert Lady and how they enjoyed this or that piece of her baking.

[ As a side note: as word spread about this initiative other charitable organizations, schools, church groups etc. started serving meals in various other parts of the city]

I am very proud of what my brother and sister did, they inspired me to make my own contributions in other ways by helping raise food for food banks etc. but they are the real heroes.

I hope all of my neighbours "South of my border" have the best Thanksgiving they can have!

Thank you for letting me share this with you - I know it is long, it is my first Post, I promised to keep them shorter in future

Kitchenware Galore!

skipper — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:09:09 GMT

Just want to add a note about the Kitchen Collection that was part of Cooks Who Care Week (held Nov.10-14) here at Taste of Home. We asked company employees to bring in their gently used pots and pans, kitchen utensils, dinnerware—anything used for cooking and eating— to be donated to families who need these things. I crawled up in the pull-down attic above our garage to find some dishes and things I had tucked away years ago thinking our sons, nieces or nephews might need them for their apartments. Also sorted through my mixing bowls, found duplicates in the utensil drawer and kitchen towels I could spare.

My stuff was just a drop in the bucket! We had a huge response and filled carton after carton. We donated the items to two organizations that provide housewares free to those who need them most.

Many of us donate non-perishables to food drives, especially at this time of year. But this kitchen drive was a little different twist for Cooks Who Care Week.

Cooks Who Care Dinner on Friday, Nov. 14

MarineMom_texas — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:00:11 GMT

We had our dinner on Friday, November 14, for the National Cooks Who Care Week. Here is a link to my blog with pictures of our event. It was a huge success.

http://community.tasteofhome.com/blogs/marinemom_texas/archive/2008/11/16/cooks-who-care-dinner-at-the-pact-hospitality-house-in-fort-worth-texas.aspx

Cooks Who Care- "Just-do-it!"

Amy T. — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:17:47 GMT

If you have the opportunity to cook for a family in need or show someone you care with a warm cooked meal, I say "Just-do-it!" That's exactly what I did, and I have to say it was truly rewarding! The blessings I received in return from giving of myself definitely made it worth the efforts. I saw first-hand that the meal didn't have to be elaborate for it to be appreciated...in fact; I found it to be the simpler the better. For me, it was the best feeling to know I was able to help someone who needed it. To read more of my story "Giving Meals from the Heart" go to: Amy T.'s blog (click link).

Risotto for 100

ChurchChef — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:17:01 GMT

I made risotto for 100 at church tonight. It was a big hit!

1 very large onion, chopped

15 large cloves garlic, chopped

1 cup olive oil

10 lbs arborio rice (no substitutes)

5 gallons hot chicken broth (I used Minors Chicken base mixed with 5 gallons water)

1 bottle dry white wine

In two large flat-bottom stock pots, saute onion and garlic in oil over medium heat, stirrin often. Stir in 5 lbs arborio rice into each pot. Toast lightly over heat, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Pour into each pot 1/2 the bottle of wine. Stir constantly until wine is absorbed. Add hot chicken broth, in even amounts for each pot, about 4 cups at a time. With each addition of broth, stir constantly until that liquid is absorbed. When liquid is absorbed, add more broth, slowly, until all broth is incorporated. This will take about 40 minutes and a LOT of stirring. Finish with 1/2 stick butter and 2 cups grated Parm in each pot. Serve immediately.

Our Efforts for the National Cooks Who Care Week

MarineMom_texas — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:53:49 GMT

I am really excited about the upcoming National Cooks Who Care Week. I wrote a blog about what we are doing during this exciting week. Here is the link to my blog:

http://community.tasteofhome.com/blogs/marinemom_texas/archive/2008/10/31/national-cooks-who-care-week.aspx

I Baked 23 Dozen Cookies!! - Cooks Who Care Week

Amy T. — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:26:56 GMT

November 10th thru 14th is Cooks Who Care Week here at Taste of Home. This weekend, I baked 23 dozen cookies for the company-wide bake sale! The sale kicks-off the week of activities, with all of the sale proceeds going to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. As I baked, I had a great sense of camaraderie and unity teaming with my co-workers to make the bake sale a success. Above all, I know the biggest reward of my efforts will be to help children in need. To read my story of baking 23 dozen cookies go to: Amy T.’s blog (click link)

Sharing around the holidays

Marie P. — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:53:53 GMT

My neighbors along with co-workers here in the Taste of Home Test Kitchen, got together last Christmas and made four very large care packages for four struggling families in the area. The test kitchen staff supplied an overwhelming amount of home-baked treats and soups. What a wonderful feeling that was to knock on their doors with lots of stuff with Santa hats on.

teaching cooking to the poor

maryannet — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:40:36 GMT

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Mary Anne