Hosting a major holiday event is no small effort. It requires close attention to detail from planning, cooking and cleaning to entertaining guests on the big day. Fortunately, just like any good …
Soup is the ultimate comfort food
I’ve found the older I get, the more I find comfort in a good soup – even in the summer. We’re lucky in Edgar County because there are great homemade soups in many of our …
The chilly temperatures of the past weekend certainly helped Edgar County residents realize autumn has arrived. The leaves on the trees lining the streets and throughout the countryside will soon …
Walnut Point offers a hidden gem for the foodie
Where does the time go? The seasons change so quickly, and we are already in autumn. Not everyone has the time to take a week or two away so if the schedule is tight, try what I like to call a Mary …
The Illinois Extension office in Paris has a new team member.
Brittany Smith is Edgar County's new 4-H program coordinator, filling a vacancy that has existed since April.
Smith, originally …
Portable breakfast help with a busy week
Some of us need TLC for our relationship with breakfast. Perhaps the morning meals are forgettable at best or get skipped entirely in favor of a big cup of coffee during the rush to get to the office …
Edgar County claims several natives and/or residents who appeared in major motion pictures over the years including Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer from the “Our Gang” comedies, …
As a society food is taken for granted as always being what it is, but there are some dishes with origins dating back to ancient Roman times that we still feast on today.
One delightful treat …
Patchett's transatlantic journey continues
The adventure continues for us. We took a transatlantic voyage in May with good friends we met on a previous cruise.
It was a repositioning cruise for Celebrity Cruises’ two-year-old ship …
Visiting the D-Day battle area is moving experience
Le Harve, France, located in the province of Normandy, was a port of call during the 15-day transatlantic cruise we took in early May.
Passengers had the option to visit the beaches of Normandy …
Cooking meals to bring loved ones joy is often objective Number One, but creating those flavorful favorites on an appropriate budget is an important aspect of well-rounded, family-friendly recipes. A …
Savory delicacies help celebrate historic date
On May 5, 1862, 8,000 French soldiers converged on the city of Puebla, Mexico. General Ignacio Zaragoza led his Mexican Army of 4,000 soldiers into battle against the French. When the battle ended, …
A love of art is something that should be passed down from one generation to the next, and that is exactly what is happening in Edgar County.
The Link Art Gallery’s Annual Edgar County …
Historians disagree on the origins of bread. Some say the Natufian hunter-gathers made flatbread between 11,600 and 14,600 ye. Others believe Egyptians made the first breads 10,00 years ago around …
Pineapple casserole is a delightful, versatile dish
Anyone who lives in the South for any time at all will quickly dis- cover there are casseroles which are served at nearly any kind of occasion.
If any region has perfected the art of casserole …
Easter is about coming together with loved ones, enjoy- ing beautiful spring weather and eating the family’s favorite foods. The kids will be playing, adults will be chatting and all will be …
The Paris Public Library has launched a seed library and a fishing pole program with a goal of better serving the community.
“We are hoping people can take advantage of both programs,” said …
Competition was palpable as five spirited teams vied in the third year for the Edgar County 4-H Cooking Challenge.
Mary Liz Wright, coordinator of the event, explained the competition rules to the …
If healthier eating holds a prominent spot on your list of goals, you may feel it’s necessary to eliminate some of your sweetest favorites. However, committing to a nutritionally friendly way …
Grocery store shopping can be a real shock. Prices have increased and not just in the egg department.
Most of us have been told wages have increased significantly, but how many have received …
With Christmas and Thanksgiving in the rear-view, many have accepted the post-New Year lull in holiday cheer. However, Saturday, Jan. 28, marked a celebration building enthusiasts should not …
In honor of National Wear Red Day, Horizon Health hosted a luncheon at Betty Jane’s Kitchen. Wear Red Day is a feature of American Heart Month, and the goal is to raise awareness in women about …
Food is something that always brings a community together.
Before handwriting became prevalent the only way to know how to make a dish was by oral tradition. Eventually, people started writing …
Before the late October cruise Tom and I took to the Panama Canal, I had a premonition. It was brought on by Carol King’s song “Sweet Seasons.” For some reason I kept singing (off …
Fat Tuesday has come and gone. Carnival, also known as Mardi Gras, is over and we are now in Lent — a time when millions of people fast and refrain from eating meat.
Fasting before Easter …
