Blog Anniversary Week 3 | Fresh Fridays, March 18
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What a fabulous and fun week is has been, I so enjoyed reading all of your comments about your favorite foods from your states! More on that below!
Congratulations to Barb from Kentucky our week 2 giveaway winner!! You won the 6 qt Instant Pot!! Reach out to me if you did not receive my email. P.S. Her favorite food is Kentucky Derby Pie with a splash of bourbon!
Read below for all of the great information about our Week #3 giveaway!
I am writing this on March 17th, which is my actual blog anniversary, the date that with nervousness and excitement I hit publish for the first time! My husband, parents and close friends were my first subscribers, my kids mostly willing recipe testers!
It’s been a rollercoaster ride, I had no idea what I was doing back then but with the help of my friend, neighbor and fellow blogger, Eliza (check out her blog!) I began to learn. Eliza and I still blog together at our local library almost every Monday. How grateful I am for ALL of my Fresh Cooky family of readers!
And I wouldn’t be where I am today without being pushed, taught, challenged and encouraged by the women in my mastermind group. A huge shout out to each one of these amazing and beautiful women! Check out their blogs too!
- Art From My Table | Chellie is a Michigan blogger, who has the best healthy and delicious recipes!
- Life, Love and Good Food | Sheila lives in Tennessee and has down home, Southern good food
- Nourish & Nestle | Lynn is a crafter, DIY’er, Knitter, Gardner and recipe maker in North Carolina
- Soulfully Made | Nikki is a southern food blogger in the Winter Strawberry capital of Florida!
It was so much fun to read everyone’s comments about their favorite state foods. Here are some of the highlights! Browse through last weeks comments, they are a fun and informative read.
- North Carolina and South Carolina Barbecue! A variety of cuts of meat, definitely different sauces, I could spend a year just enjoying all of the different barbecue varieties! Oh and Livermush, I was told to not knock it before I try it. I always say, I’ll try (almost) anything once – I put my foot down at anything that is still moving.
- Ohio Buckeyes! Even though I was raised in California, my grandmother, a native of Colorado made Buckeyes every Christmas, it’s a treasured memory I have making those with her. I have a similar recipe on the blog, Browned Butter Buckeye Bars, so yummy!
- From Colorado we have Pork Green Chile and Rocky Mountain Oysters (if you don’t know what they are, check out this post). Better known for our produce; juicy Palisade peaches, Rocky Ford Cantaloupe, and Olathe Sweet Corn. These Zucchini Corn Fritters used Olathe sweet corn.
- Pennsylvania came in with Philly Cheesesteaks, and of course Utz pretzels and chips, ShooFly Pie, Whoopie Pies and the creators of Peeps! Pennsylvania Dutch Ham Pot Pies (a stew and not a pie).
- Marionberries from Oregon, along with the creators of the Tator Tot (did you know that Ore-Ida comes from the combo of Oregon and Idaho? Thank you Cheryl!) Utah boasts green Jello-O salad and fry dipping sauce.
- Chislic and Kuchen’s from South Dakota and California came in with Sour Dough, Mexican food and avocado’s of course!
- Missouri is famous for Kansas City BBQ, along with St. Louis’s Toasted Raviolis, they also invented the ice cream cone and the Cherry Mash Candy Bar.
- Mississippi Mud Pie (drool!) and fried catfish with hushpuppies; Louisiana Gumbo and Texas with its TexMex, Texas Caviar aka Cowboy Caviar.
- Virginia is proud of their Smoked Country Ham, Virginia Peanuts and Brunswick Stew.
- Michigan by far rules the Pasties (pronounced PASS-tees) a savory hand held meat pie and Paczkis’s a Polish donut.
What’s New in the Kitchen
Brand new recipe, crispy, but tender, roasted Asparagus ready in about 10 minutes in your air fryer! This healthy and quick vegetable side dish goes great with Ground Beef Stroganoff and Oven Baked Barbecue Beef Brisket.
Who knew Corned Beef & Cabbage would be a hit!
Last week I featured my brand new recipe for Baked Corned Beef and Cabbage and wow, you all loved it! Grab some today, it might be on sale at your grocery store! Don’t forget the Irish Soda bread!
Recipes for Lent
Whether or not you give up something for lent, I’ve got a few meatless recipes for you to enjoy!
I gave up refined sugar for Lent except for Saturday’s, so I can still recipe test for Easter! You might enjoy these refined sugar free recipes.
5 Year Anniversary Giveaway Week #3
For those of you who are just joining us, we are in the middle of my 5 year blog anniversary celebration, where I am giving away something fun to one blessed winner each week! Want to read more about it, check out the first Fresh Friday’s post.
On to the giveaway!
Week #3 | One winner will receive a 6qt Dutch Oven + my favorite Wooden Spoon!
Have you made a rustic bread in a Dutch Oven? If not, you have got to try this No Knead Overnight Cranberry Walnut Bread (use any dried fruit or nut combination you choose!), or maybe you want a comforting pot of stew or this juicy Bread & Butter pot roast!
How to Enter the Giveaway
Comment at the bottom of the post, answering this question:
What is your favorite cuisine (country) and favorite dish of that cuisine?
This giveaway is just for you, my readers; as a huge thank you for 5 years and growing! Did you know one of the biggest ways I grow is by word of mouth! Share with a friend!
One winner per week, giveaway #3 will be open until Wednesday, March 23 at 12 pm MDT. Winner will be chosen using a random name picker and will be notified via email and announced next Friday.
Song of the week
This song and video just made me sing, clap my hands and stomp my feet, smile and sing! Zach Williams “Old Church Choir“. I hope you sang along with everyone, especially the kids! 🙂
Sur la Table Warehouse Sale
There are some fantastic deals in this warehouse sale from Sur la Table! Check them out! My personal favorite is the Staub Rectangular Bakers, I have the two smaller ones, but would love this trio!
Shop Sur la Table’s 50% Warehouse Sale, click the link or the image below.
**As an affiliate of Sur la Table I earn a small commission costing you nothing if you purchase from this link.
I love your kind comments, encouragement and questions! Pop down below or reply to the email.
With joy and hope,
P.S. Be sure to browse through last weeks Fresh Fridays for more great recipes!
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About Kathleen Pope
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.
Am I the only one feeling like this is a trick question??? I have sooooooo many favorite cuisines; Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Indian, French…… but the one closest to my heart is Italian. Pasta {especially gnocchi} is my favorite.
Haha, not at all, so hard to pick just one for me too! All things Mediterranean for me, but Italian has my heart! Do you have a favorite gnocchi recipe?
German potato salad and for sweets: stollens or kuchens.
German’s make the best kuchen’s!
My favorite cuisine is Italian. Both my husband and I are Italian so we do eat a lot
of Italian food. My favorite is Ravioli. When I was younger, my Grandmother would visit
and we would spend the whole day making Raviolis for our Thanksgiving and Christmas
Dinners. They were delicious. Stay well.
What a precious memory you have, I can only imagine how delicious those ravioli were! What did you stuff in them?
My grandmother would use beef. Sometimes beef and spinach.
My job was cutting the rows of dough. So good fresh.
Mmm, so good and fresh!
My favorite cuisine is Italian. Both my husband and I are Italian so we eat Italian a lot.
I like all Italian cuisine but my absolute favorite is Raviolis. When I was a kid, my Italian grand
mother would visit and we would spend the whole day making raviolis that we would serve
on Thanksgiving and Christmas. They were so good. Stay safe.
Hi my dear friend,
I would have to say that Italy is my favorite cuisine, and a favorite (or two) are cannoli and baked stuffed manicotti. Speaking of those, I haven’t had either one in a while! They don’t always go with the healthy diets we are trying to be on.
Take care, my dear!
Oh yum, now I am craving those things too! And I hear you, trying to eat healthy, but still craving some of the good stuff!
Anything Mexican….tacos especially as they are can be made with so many different ingredients. Love them!
So very many different ways!! One of our favorites!
Favorite cuisine is from our blessed USA… more specifically ANYTHING from my sweet Grandma, Berneice’s small kitchen. She was the hardest working person I knew and anything she made from their farm was comforting and perfect! 🙂
I can imagine how delicious anything your sweet Grandma Berneice made! Fresh and delicious!!
About the only way I will eat asparagus is wrapped with a strip of bacon. I will take about 4 stalks of asparagus and wrap with a thing slice of bacon. Cover baking sheet with foil, lay down a cooling rack and place your wrapped up asparagus on the rack; sprinkle just a bit of brown sugar and bake in oven. It’s Delicious.
Today Is A Good Day To Have A Good Day.
Enjoy your weekend.
Haha! Well that sounds wonderful, everything is better with bacon! Sounds amazing!
My favorite cuisine is all American comfort food and one of my all time favorite dishes would be Chicken Pot Pie!! Mmmmmmm, makes me want one just writing about it!
Oh chicken pot pie is one of my favorites! I have a great recipe that I really need to get on the blog!
Hi again, we love your pizza crust and pizza sauce recipe. we haven’t tried the deep dish style yet, I’m trying to get my husband on board with it but he isn’t big on thick crust. Thank you for all of your delicious recipes and hard work !
Oh yay and I understand about the thick crust, though you could honestly roll it much thinner if you wanted, but I know not everyone likes that super cheesy thick pizza! Thank you for your support Theresa!
Hi there, I do enjoy looking through your recipes very much ! I think Seafood would be my choice. It may not be a National category, but it is my choice of All. Thank you for such great recipes !, Kim G.
My husband is from the East coast and loves his seafood, especially lobster and crab! I am from the west coast and love my ocean fish, but not so much crustaceans!
Italian food is my favorite and I love my homemade focaccia bread with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and my own basil on it.
Oh yummy! Have you tried making the focaccia art bread that is so popular? I love focaccia and need to make some!
Hi, I would have to say Italy and my favorite dish would be pizza !!! Oh YUM !
Pizza is certainly a favorite in our house too! Thank you!
I Like Chinese with General Tso dish my favorite. Enjoying your blog so much. Thanks for the hard work you put into it.
Thank you Deborah! Love Chinese and that General Tso dish is one of my hubby’s faves too!
It’s a toss up for me. Italian – Chicken parmesan is so comforting!!!
But I also LOVE Mexican food. Authentic chile rellano is delicious!
I hear you, how do you choose just one, love both of those recipes!
American (USA cuisine). Just like the people here this includes the best of all nations. Italian, Greek, Chinese, French, Mexican and a bit of every nation. This with our habits of tweeting. So, saying that, desserts from around the world!!
So very true!! And love the idea of doing desserts from around the world!
Being of German descent, I love Schweineschnitzel, and it is so easy to make!
I love Zach Williams “Old Church Choir“! We don’t have a regular choir anymore, but we get together occasionally and this was one of my favorites to sing.
Mmm, do you have a favorite recipe, I spent time in Germany and am also of German descent would love to hear your easy recipe! Blessings Debbie!
I like Mexican cuisine. My favorite item are the fajitas. The meat and the veggies are so good. And I like spicy food. This is just so satisfying for me.
Oh all of those great flavors!! And yes, you can kick up the spice or knock it down depending on what you like!
I’m southern at heart but I absolutely love Chinese cuisine. All those flavorful veggies. I enjoy Hunan Chicken. A little bit spicy but sooooo good.
Yummo, so many fresh veggies in Chinese cuisine! I am not sure I’ve ever had Hunan chicken, will need to try soon!