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Seasonal Sundays: Sweet Little Somethings |  |
Welcome to Seasonal Sundays ...
As ever, thank you for welcoming me into your InBox and RSS feed reader. It's your kitchens, your lives, I conjure while writing ... PS And if you like this week's recipes, perhaps you'll share this newsletter with a friend or social circle? If you forward this message, others may subscribe for free right here. Thank you!
Two "holidays" in one week! The Super Bowl today! And Valentine's on Friday!
For now, life goes on as normal for many of us, despite the chaos in the federal government. I was struck by that this week, first at an appointment at the eye doctor's, then at a rare afternoon working at Starbucks. People doing their jobs. Ordering their $7 coffee. Talking to an architect about their new house.
I wonder if this is how it feels, on a whole nother level, in Ukraine. Where life seems like normal. Until it isn't.
So even as we take action, self-care is perhaps more important than ever and that's where pre-ordained events / holidays can help. We don't have to think up "how" to mark the occasion, it's all kinda pre-organized, all we have to do is execute. Wings and guacamole for the Super Bowl. Something romantic for Valentines.
And then enjoy a few hours away from it all ...
So let's, shall we?
Just a reminder, click any food photo to navigate straight to the recipe's page, it's especially handy for all of us who do most of our browsing on our phones and turn all fumble-fingered attempting to click small text links.
In Praise Of ...
- ... hanging out at Starbucks, watching a dad and maybe eight- or nine-year old daughter in earnest conversation and really leaning in to listen to one another. Her feet didn't reach the floor but man, it looks like she hit the jackpot in the father department
- ... a movie in a real theater, big screen, popcorn and everything! we both really enjoyed the Bob Dylan movie, A Complete Unknown, one of the Best Picture nominees
- ... watching the dog flllllllllly around the back yard at full speed again, after ACL/knee surgery on October 1 and a few weeks of deep snow and cold which his made business trips outside, shall we say, brief ...
Democracy Matters
The country needs calm, thoughtful and assertive voices amid the chaos inflicted by a minority hellbent on taking/retaining generational power by strangling democratic principles and equal rights. None of us have to personally change the world. We just have to do our part. Pick one thing for the top of your To Do List this week.
5Calls I've long recommended Jessica Craven's almost-daily calls-to-action newsletter called Chop Wood Carry Water. The name is especially apt, right now, when in the face of it all, every day we need to get up, chop wood and carry water, metaphorically speaking for the most of us no doubt, but still, a reminder that we don't give in, we don't let go, we don't obey in advance, we keep on keepin' on, taking action whenever we can, the whole one step and then another thing.
But this week, I have a new tool that is very, very useful. It's called 5Calls and it's an app that makes it really easy to reach out, every single day, to make our concerns and demands known.
You enter your zip code, the app identifies your Congressperson, your two Senators, even (so far) your state's attorney general.
Every day, a few call topics are offered. Pick the one that hits you hardest, right now, maybe the one where timing is important, like votes on nominees.
What if your reps are all ruby-red Republicans? (Yes, I'm from Missouri. A deep red state.) Call anyway. Frankly, it may well be that your call is even more important. Every single call, I remind them that their job is to represent all of us, not just those who voted for them; that the chaos in Washington is on their watch.
Once you've picked the topic, the app gives you some detail on what's happening, why it's important. Then it offers a call script. Then it dials the number. Then it's your turn, cuz you're motivated AND up-to-date.
A few tips.
Most of my calls have gone to voicemail. That's fine, just take a deep breath and launch in. Apparently, it's important to give your name, address up front for voicemail. It becomes rote. "Hi. This is Alanna Kellogg. I am a constituent in St. Louis County. My address is _______."
Some calls are answered in person by someone who sounds tired but is polite. That person won't prompt you at all, they won't "engage" or "discuss": their job is to log your call and your concern and move on to the next call.
Obviously, be nice, especially if speaking to someone in person, they're the messenger.
Know your facts. Leave the lies to the other side.
It's okay to be brief, just a few sentences. I definitely cut the scripts way way down.
It's good to be direct, something like, "I am calling to ask Senator So-n-So to vote no on the nominee Kash Patel".
It's good to state specifically what action you're asking of the official such as "I would like Attorney General Such-n-Such to have Missouri join the 12 other states suing the federal government for breaches of data privacy by Elon Musk."
Not sure what you want? Just say, "I would like to know what [senator x or ] is doing about xxx".
If you can, make it personal. Include how you are personally affected.
And be sure to name names, referring not just to "the Senator" or "the Congresswoman" but specifically to "Senator Hawley" and "Congresswoman Wagner".
The first call takes a bit of a deep breath. The second one is easier. By the third day, you're an old pro.
Show Up In Person I did a thing this week. It took a whole day and mustering up some courage. But dang, it felt good.
I gave testimony before a Missouri committee that is attempting to gut a Constitutional Amendment that passed in November that returns abortion rights to the state of Missouri. Yeah, deep-red Missouri voted for reproductive freedom! The Republicans on the committee were deeply dismissive and combative; the Democrats were amazing in countering the GOP BS.
I was just one of about a hundred people who showed up in the State Capitol with 48 hours notice. It was so obvious that we outnumbered the other side, because the practice is to alternate positions. They ran out after about five people. We were still going strong, first three then later two minutes at a time, for hours.
I learned so much.
The overflow room with a big monitor was a much better place than the actual hearing room: more relaxed, an ability to react (groans, claps, depending), to thank the early individual speakers, especially those stood strong when faced with hard-core pushback from Republican committee members.
There were practically zero young people, perhaps no surprise on a random Tuesday late afternoon? But this was a very gray crowd.
Affinities appeared, left and right. There's no forgetting two heads leaning together in conversation, a mom whose youngest is trans, a young woman who grew up nearby whose sister transitioned, then transitioned back.
The issues aren't black and white, especially in the detail-y weeds.
It's easy to demonize people from afar, not so much face-to-face.
It felt great, getting off the phone and off the couch. I recommend it ..
The Words of Wise Women
- READ Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson
- TAKEAWAY, YES IT'S A COUP "The replacement of our constitutional system of government with the whims of an unelected private citizen is a coup. The U.S. president has no authority to cut programs created and funded by Congress, and a private citizen tapped by a president has even less standing to try anything so radical." ~ Heather Cox Richardson 2/3/25
Made Me Think ...
- READ The Logic of Destruction on Substack by historian Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (affiliate link).
- TAKEAWAY "The oligarchs have no plan to govern. They will take what they can, and disable the rest. The destruction is the point. They don't want to control the existing order. They want disorder in which their relative power will grow."
- READ (or LISTEN TO) Don't Believe Hime by Ezra Klein
- TAKEAWAY "That is the tension at the heart of Trump’s whole strategy: Trump is acting like a king because he is too weak to govern like a president. He is trying to substitute perception for reality. He is hoping that perception then becomes reality. That can only happen if we believe him."
THE SEASONAL SEVEN: Sweet Little Somethings
For this week's recipes, I aimed for recipes with romance-friendly flavors and combinations that ...
- ... range from puddings to cakes and cookies to pies and fruity surprises
- ... nuthin but nuthin that takes much time to throw together
- ... no chocolate! (lol if chocolate is mandatory, check out Seasonal Sundays from last year, Chocolate for ♥♥♥ )
- THE RECIPE Banana Cream Pudding For pie, parfaits, pavlova and even (yummm) plain. (PIN This)
- ANOTHER TAKE Easy-Easy Chocolate Coconut Pudding Just five ingredients and ten minutes to pudding.
- THE RECIPE Mini Blueberry Tarts With a "pop" of fresh blueberry right in the middle.
- ANOTHER TAKE Mini Tiramisu Cups with Pralines Tiramisu made with eggs that are cooked, not raw.
- THE RECIPE Cut-Out Spice Cookies My all-time year-round favorite cut-out cookie dough recipe. (PIN This)
- ANOTHER TAKE Sugar Cookie Bars Bake, frost and sprinkle all at once. (PIN This)
- THE RECIPE Lemon Meringue Pie Sunny slivers of the lemony classic.
- ANOTHER TAKE Coconut Cream Pie How to move grown men to silence.
- THE RECIPE Banana Nut Cake with Caramel Frosting My mom's famous (and famously versatile) cake, so banana-y, stays moist for days. (PIN This)
- ANOTHER TAKE Shhh Banana Bread Delicious, low-fat banana bread. (PIN This)
- THE RECIPE Lemon Pudding Cake Tart lemon + juicy raspberries. Or blueberries!
- ANOTHER TAKE Blackberry Sauce Just five minutes and three ingredients!
- THE RECIPE Citrus Slices with Orange Flower Water, Spices & Chocolate Shavings A simple summer dessert.
- ANOTHER TAKE Extra-Crispy Apple Crisp My very own "perfect" recipe, barely sweet apples firm and tart, topped with an extra-crispy topping, thanks to a secret ingredient. (PIN This)
What's Brand-Spankin' New?!
Wondering about a recipe from the last while? Check Recent Recipes from Kitchen Parade and Recent Vegetable Recipes from A Veggie Venture.
- THE RECIPE Buffalo Chicken Dip Just five ingredients, lightened up with a hidden secret ingredient, spaghetti squash. (PIN This)
Compliments!
Please know, YOU really matter here. Your comments and email (my current address is in the FAQs) encourage and inspire and motivate and some times make me laugh out loud or turn a little teary. It's a good day when I can "see" what you're cooking, "hear" how a recipe worked out, "know" what you're loving.
- SHE LIKES IT! "This was the perfect meal prep oatmeal for the week. I prefer my oatmeal savory, but this worked well dressing it up each day as savory with some additional salt and egg, or sweet with nut butter and fruit. Either way, so creamy, delicious, and easy!"~ Amie
- THE RECIPE Creamy Oatmeal Three tricks for the very best oatmeal, all easy! (PIN This)
- SHE NOTICED ALL THE EXTRA TIPS! "Thank you for your excellent blog! I love your recipes and especially your special notes that explain techniques and ingredients so clearly and helpfully. ... Thank you also for your 'Democracy Matters' section. Your comments are well thought out and refreshingly factually based." ~ Anonymous
- AN UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP Way back in 2008, author Sally Denton and I were introduced via email by a mutual friend who knew I was headed to Santa Fe where she then lived. Can you imagine, two strangers meeting just because a mutual friend thought we might like one another? But sure enough, Sally and I (and my now-husband) met for breakfast and hit it off. It was the first and last time we spoke face-to-face. But over the years, we've kept in touch. And this week, I was so touched when she wrote about cooking for her mother who just turned 100 years old and wow, her mom looks amazing! She doesn't look a day over maybe 80 or 85! At 100!!
- SALLY WROTE "... I cooked so many of your recipes for her, you were on my mind every day. She grew up on a farm outside Paducah, Kentucky and somehow your recipes all feel like comfort home cookin' to her! And since it's always a goal to keep weight on her, I love being in her kitchen and cranking out the vittles! :-)"
- HERE'S WHAT HER MOM LOVED These were Sally's mom's favorites ...
- Easy Green Chile Egg Casserole No bread! Just eggs, green chiles, bits of cheese and a surprising ingredient, cottage cheese.
- My Chicken Noodle Soup The way I make it, meaty and noodle-y with just a few noodles. (PIN This)
- At Last! Black Bean Soup My signature recipe for thirty years. (PIN This)
- (Sloooow) Baked Potatoes (How Long to Bake a Baked Potato) One Hour Is Just Not Enough.
- Southern Corn Bread Six tips for perfect cornbread, this recipe or yours. (PIN This)
- May I just say, how cool is this???
February: Reader Favorites
- THE RECIPE Raspberry-Red Wine Coulis (Reduction Sauce) Sweet-but-tart raspberry sauce, a perfect added-touch for desserts.
- STELLAR WITH Chocolate Decadence Cake The ultimate chocolate experience.
- THE RECIPE Best-Ever Lentil Salad An unusual cooking technique, great for meal prep.
- ANOTHER TAKE Warm Lentil Salad with Spinach & Goat Cheese Way more than the sum of its parts.
Trending NOW ...
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THE SERIES
- Introduction: How to Save Money on Groceries (PIN This)
- Part One Frugal Eating Starts In Our Heads
- Part Two Frugal Food Shopping Requires a Plan
- Part Three How to Shop Wisely for Groceries
- The Homemade Pantry Recipes for foods we could buy but choose to make from scratch. NEW! (PIN This)
- Freezer Surprises Surprising Foods That Freeze Well.
- Pantry Meals: How to Make a Meal with What You Have Select recipes for our favorite pantry ingredients. (PIN This)
- DIY Spice Blends & Homemade Seasonings Made to order, mixed to taste. (PIN This)
- Make Tonight a Pancake Night Move over Taco Tuesday and Pizza Friday. (PIN This)
- Easy Egg Recipes A collection of thrifty egg recipes. (PIN This)
- Considering Convenience: My Favorite Kitchen Tools
EXTRA RESOURCES
February: Recipes Lookin' for a Little Love
- THE RECIPE Lemon Crinkle Cookies with Poppy Seeds Bright and lemony, really charged with lemon flavor.
- ANOTHER TAKE Easy Lemon Poppy Seed Cake How easy? It starts with a cake mix.
- THE RECIPE Hearty Heart-Loving Muffins Whole-grain, low-sugar, just 120 calories, so good!
- ANOTHER TAKE Morning Glory Muffins The classic muffin with carrot, apple, currants and nuts, so good!
The Kitchen Parade Almanac: Looking Ahead ...
- February 9th (duh, today!) - Superbowl Sunday!
- February 14th (Friday) - Valentine's
- February 17th (Monday) - President's Day
- March 1st - Alanna's Unofficial First Day of Spring
- March 2nd (Sunday) - Academy Awards
- March 4th (Tuesday) - Mardi Gras / Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Night
- March 5th (Wednesday) - Ash Wednesday / Beginning of Lent
- Fridays During Lent - Friday Fish
- March 9th (Sunday) - "spring forward" time change
- March 14th (Friday) - Three-One-Four Day, a Celebration of All Thing St. Louis (314 is our area code!)
- March 14th (Friday) - Pi Day
- March 16th (Sunday) - St. Urho's Day
- March 17th (Monday) - St. Patrick's Day
- March 20th (Thursday) - First Official Day of Spring
- March 22nd (Saturday, 8:30pm your local time) - Earth Hour
- March 25th - Equal Pay Day (2024 was March 12th, way to go, ladies!)
- March 27th (Thursday) - Baseball Opening Day!
- April 1 (Tuesday) - April Fool's Day
- April 12 (Saturday) - 20th - Beginning of Passover
- April 20th - Easter (yikes! so late!)
Looking Back ...
-
THIS WEEK, YEARS PAST
- 2020 Mid February & Valentine's Day (Week 7)
- 2021 Mid February (Week 7)
- 2022 Superbowl & Valentines (Week 7)
- 2023 Dinner for ♥♥ (Week 7)
- 2024 Chocolate for ♥♥♥ (Week 7) (PIN This)
Soups & Salads Especially for February
- THE COLLECTION Seasonal Soup & Salad Recipes for February (PIN This)
- BUT DON'T MISS THIS Fennel-Apple Salad with Orange-Zest Candied Black Walnuts A decidedly savory fruit salad topped by not-to-be-missed candied black walnuts brightened with orange zest.
- & ESPECIALLY THIS Butternut Squash Soup that Actually Tastes Like Butternut Squash Just three ingredients + an unusual technique bumps flavor.
Good to Know!
- FREEZER SURPRISES Surprising Foods That Freeze Well
- PANTRY MEALS How to Make a Meal with What You Have Select recipes for our favorite pantry ingredients. (PIN This)
Silly (But Fun?!) Food Holidays
- February 9 — National Bagels & Lox Day ()
- February 9 — National Pizza Day (Easy Mini Kale Pizzas (Spaghetti Sauce "Doctored" with Kale))
- February 10 (2nd Mon) — Oatmeal Monday (recipes using oatmeal)
- February 13 — National Cheddar Day (recipes using cheddar cheese)
- February 13 — National Tortellini Day (Weight Watchers Spinach & Tortellini Soup)
- February 15 — National Gumdrop Day (Gum Drop Cookies)
A Quick Peek Into a Real-Life Kitchen
Just so you know, everything's not all pretty pictures around here, in the background is a pile of dirty dishes. And just like many (all?) of us, come five o'clock, I too draw a blank about what to make for supper, despite so many recipes I so dearly love. Here's a quick peek from this week.
- THIS WEEK I've changed what time I "start" dinner and it changes my entire mood, cooking. My phone is set for 4pm, I pour a glass of something cold and begin to prep for dinner. We eat way more vegetables. We eat way more salads. We eat way more different things rather than the same dishes over and over. I don't think I spend more time cooking, because I take a break before dinner too. It's just been this week but so far, I'm loving it. I know not everyone has so much time flexibility but really, it's kinda shocking the difference.
- So this week, instead of just cutting up a head of cauliflower to roast (itself, so good), I made Cauliflower Cream, simplifying the recipe in a way I'll share soon. This makes a terrific "under," I served it with spaghetti and meatballs leftover from my husband's lunch out.
- THE RECIPE Cauliflower Cream An easy but almost-decadent ultra-smooth or rustic blend of low-carb cauliflower and sour cream.
- THIS WEEK On Sunday afternoon, my husband picked out this big bag of oranges at Trader Joe's. "Can we really eat them all?" he wondered out loud. Wow. Those oranges are so juicy and sweet that as I write this on Friday, only two are left. (For anyone interested, I think they were just labeled navel oranges and were maybe $6.) The first thing I made was this simple vinaigrette, tossed with fresh arugula and cut-up orange. So good!
- THE RECIPE Orange & Cumin Vinaigrette Bright and vibrant with earthy spice.
- THIS WEEK When that was gone, I mixed up a fast batch of salad dressing, parsley was the herb I had on hand. So good!
- THE RECIPE My Everyday Creamy Herb Salad Dressing Never the same twice.
Just Updated!
- THE RECIPE Sugar-Free Chai Tea Just good ginger, good spices, good tea and good milk. (PIN This)
- ANOTHER TAKE Hibiscus Tea with Ginger & Vanilla My caffeine-free coffee substitute.
Don't Be a Stranger ...
I'd love to hear from you. Comment, send me a quick e-mail (my current address is in the FAQs), dot-dash in Morse code, build a fire for smoke signals, launch a message in a bottle, send a Christmas letter, get the dog to yip, toss me a note wrapped in a rubberband, write a message in the sky, scratch a note in the sand, listen to a seashell, tuck a question into a plastic Easter egg, whatever.
- Any advice for Seasonal Sundays?
- Just one thing that would make it more useful for you?
- Anything else? Chime in, chat away.
Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences.
Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail, you'll find my current address in the FAQs. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. When you make my recipes, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below or better still, on the specific recipe's page.
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2025
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Thank you for taking a moment to write! I read each and every comment, for each and every recipe. If you have a specific question, it's nearly always answered quick-quick. But I also love hearing your reactions, your curiosity, even your concerns! When you've made a recipe, I especially love to know how it turned out, what variations you made, what you'll do differently the next time. ~ Alanna