Robin McDaniel

• Cool off with Pineapple Boat during August dog days Published 07/29/2010 at 1:14 p.m.

  If you like pineapples like I do, you will love serving this refreshing and attractive fruit salad in a “pineapple boat.” Pineapples can be eaten fresh or canned and are most commonly used in desserts and salads. A pineapple is ...

• Chessmen cookies replace wafers in modern banana pudding Published 07/21/2010 at 2:30 p.m.

  My niece Emily Longhurst gave me this recipe for a traditional banana pudding with a modern twist. Emily enjoyed it at a Junior Service League committee meeting and passed it on with the recommendation that it “is delicious.” Served in ...

• Have a peachy summer treat with upside-down cake Published 07/15/2010 at 1:20 p.m.

  Peaches and blueberries are in season, so I wanted to put both these delicious fruits into a yummy dessert. This Peach Upside-Down, courtesy of Alton Brown and the Food Network, didn’t call for blueberries, but I modified the recipe to ...

• Classic combo blends fresh tomatoes with basil Published 07/08/2010 at 12:20 p.m.

  Tomatoes and basil are a classic combination, and the duo are the stars of this week’s In the Kitchen offering. When my friend Ron Williams of Friendsville brought me fresh, straight-from-his-garden tomatoes last week, the perfect pairing of tomatoes and ...

• Have a hot-diggity dog Fourth of July Published 06/30/2010 at 2:29 p.m.

  One of the first things you think of when you plan Fourth of July cookouts is hotdogs. Hotdogs are fun to cook and eat and offer quite a few possibilities to be creative. They can be grilled, boiled, broiled, baked ...

• Delicious Tex-Mex salad is best topped off with cool lime dressing Published 06/24/2010 at 10:50 a.m.

  Hot days call for a cool salad. This hearty Tex-Mex salad is made even more of a summertime treat with the addition of the creamy lime dressing. The refreshing taste of the dressing compliments the zesty layers of the salad. ...

• Grill up a chop for Father's Day Published 06/17/2010 at 9:55 p.m.

  ather’s Day will be here Sunday, June 20, and this recipe is sure to get a “thumbs’ up” from dad. The glaze gives the grilled pork chop a great, father-pleasing flavor. Add his favorite vegetable and a salad, then pile ...

• Crank up the freezer for homemade ice cream Published 06/10/2010 at 10:36 a.m.

  The ice cream market has exploded with flavors, ice cream shops and creative ways to create your own special ice cream. Still, there just isn’t anything any better than homemade ice cream -- whether you bring out the old-timey hand-crank ...

• Throw a cabbage on the grill Published 06/03/2010 at 10:26 a.m.

  Cabbage… You either love it or hate it, and I love it. I enjoy cabbage whether it is cooked or raw, but a special treat during the summer is to throw a cabbage on the “barbie “ and grill it. ...

• Celebrating four years of cooking Published 05/27/2010 at 2:21 p.m.

  It’s hard to believe that the In the Kitchen column in Blount Today has been running for four years this month! In looking at our birthday, I tried to think of what recipe over the past four years has gotten ...

• In the Kitchen: Thai Night is family hit Published 10/29/2008 at 2 p.m.

  My family takes a trip in October every year to Florida, and it is always a true family outing. There were 27 of us this year with my father, his kids, their kids and their kids. It is truly a ...

• In The Kitchen Published 10/22/2008 at 6:03 p.m.

  A walk around the block was a “fruitful” jaunt recently when I noticed that neighbors Barney and Carol Lewis had an abundance of pears on their trees this year. Carol said her father, Bill Anthony, planted the pear and apple ...

• In The Kitchen: Load ’em up with healthy toppings Published 10/08/2008 at 6:12 p.m.

  When you think of “loaded” potato skins, there’s not much healthy in those thoughts. After all, the “load” these skins usually carry are cheese, bacon, sour cream --- ummm. There are ways, however, to make healthy potato skins that are ...

• In The Kitchen: You’ll be surprised by this healthy breakfast Published 09/24/2008 at 6:28 p.m.

  My friend (and boss) Brenda Pilson is always bringing something delicious to work. The good thing is that Brenda is very health-conscious, so her treats are almost always low-cholesterol and heart-healthy.

• Versatility and comfort make Baked Ziti a dinner favorite Published 09/17/2008 at 7:09 p.m.

  Baked Ziti is a recipe that is very adaptable to change. The basic premise of ziti pasta is it can be customized to suit your family’s tastes or the ingredients you happen to have in the pantry and refrigerator!

• In The Kitchen: Forget the cobbler, try a Blackberry Cake Published 07/23/2008 at 6:36 p.m.

  It’s blackberry season, and time for cobblers, pies, jams and jellies, or just eating them by the handful.

• In The Kitchen: Lime Pickles are a favorite ‘Aunt Bunch’ recipe Published 07/16/2008 at 6:49 p.m.

  Most gardeners have an abundance of cucumbers and are quick to share with friends and neighbors. My friend Buddy Waters brought some by for us, and I was happy to get them.

• In The Kitchen: Stuffed peppers make a delicious, colorful meal Published 07/09/2008 at 7:18 p.m.

  There are many types of peppers around, but the most popular is the green bell pepper.

• In The Kitchen: Share a seafood boil for July 4th holiday Published 07/02/2008 at 6:02 p.m.

  If you want the ultimate casual summer party you need to try the Seafood Boil. The Dennis and Karen Trentham family has been having them for about three years, and their friends can always count on one for the Fourth ...

• In The Kitchen: Punchbowl Cake is a party treat Published 06/25/2008 at 2:59 p.m.

  When someone is planning a baby shower, bridal shower or a graduation party, I’m often asked, “What is something different, eye-appealing and easy to make?”

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