FOOD WRITINGS by Meta

In addition to cooking, I like to write about cooks, cooking and food in general . . .

MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS include:

  • Freedom from Hunger (Eisenhower policy as detailed by Jennifer Ifft, an agricultural economist at Kansas State University + EZ Does It Recipe from K-State Extensions SNAP-ED collection).KANSAS! 2024, vol 80 / issue 2, pp. 22026. For access to the featured recipe, click on Slow Cooker WHITE CHICKEN CHILI
  • Poems & Banana Bread (Kansas Poet Laureate Traci Brimhall), KANSAS! 2024, vol 80 / issue 1, pp. 24-28. For access to the featured recipe, click on Mom's Banana Bread.
  • Crispin's Museum of the Wonder Drugs of Yesteryear (Jack Crispin's museum in Lincoln, KS), KANSAS! 2024, vol 80 / issue 1, pp. 36-38.
  • Sharing Experiences and Celebrations (Wandering Vine restaurant at The Castle in KC), KANSAS! 2023, vol. 70 / issue 4 / pp. 24-27. For access to the recipe featured in the Taste section, click on Apple Pumpkin Muffins
  • Wildcat Dining Star, KANSAS! 2023, vol. 79 / issue 3 / pp. 22-26; the story of K-State dining halls and Professor Mary Molt—their many accolades and accomplishments. Click here for Mary's Sweet Yeast Dough recipe featured in the article. 
  • Creating Legacy, KANSAS! 2023, vol. 79 / issue 2 / pp. 26-29; the story of the fusion of Brookville chicken with Munson beef . Digital version available @ https://www.travelks.com/kansas-magazine/articles/post/creating-legacy-in-abilene; click on Munson's Meatloaf for access to the featured recipe in the article.
  • Pies by Pro, Lawrence magazine, spring 2023, story about a 13-year old pie baker and her connection to a famous pie shop in NY. Digital version: https://issuu.com/sunflower_publishing/docs/lm23sp
  • Kansas Pecans, KANSAS! 2023, vol. 79 / issue 1 / pp. 26-31; includes 4 easy, holiday-inspired pecan recipes and contact info for purchasing fresh Kansas pecans.
  • Fly Boy (a Farm to Table restaurant and brewery in Sylvan Grove), KANSAS! 2022, vol. 78, issue 5, pp. 48-57 including Smoked Honey & Thyme Sweet Potato recipe + one page features on Labertew Apiaries & 4 Ranches Beef. 
  • There's no place like home (a story about Master Farmers Nathan & Suzie Larson), Kansas Farmer online, Aug. 9, 2022.
  • Life is never dull at Double GL Farms (a story about Master Farmers Wayne & Carrie Grimm & their 5 daughters), Kansas Farmer online, July 19 2022
  • Kansas Cheesemaker, KANSAS! Magazine, 2022, Vol. 78, Issue 4, pp. 28-33. Includes recipe for Beer Cheese Dip and a guide to assembling a charcuterie board. 
  • The flavors of Kansas: Jerky rises in popularity among consumers, story featured on Kansas Farmer website, July 17, 2022. 
  • A leap of faith (a story about Master Farmers David & Sara Combes of Lebo, 1st of 3 articles on Master Farmers, Kansas Farmer online, June 8, 2022
  • Hatch local businesses with incubator kitchens, Kansas Farmer online, May 13, 2022
  • Danduland features Kamila Dandue's recipes for unique Spicy Pesto, and Roasted Eggplant in Spicy Yogurt Sauce + it explores her amazing gardening and culinary skills. KANSAS! Magazine, 2022, Vol. 78, Issue 3, pp. 30-35.
  • Adding more local food to school lunches means win-win for all -- the Food to School/Plate movement in Kansas, Kansas Farmer online, April 1, 2022
  • Strawberry Hill's Baked Heritage of Taste (including Grandma's Bread Pudding using povitica) KANSAS! 2022, vol. 78, issu3 1, pp. 29-32
  • One Kansas Farmer Feeds . . . Billboard message continues to resonate on Kansas highways, Kansas Farmer online, Nov. 4, 2021
  • Dia de Muertos outlines the history of the Day of the Dead celebration, chronicles food related celebrations around the state & includes two family recipes including Vangie Henry's Polvorones de New (Mexican Pecan Cookies and Pan de Polvo (Cinnamon Sugar Cookies) KANSAS! 2021, vol. 77, issue 5, pp. 48-56. 
  • Soy in the Mix (interview with Charlene Ptton, consumer media specialist for the Kansas Soybean Commission), KANSAS! 2021, vol. 77, issue 4, pp. 32-37. (no online magazine line but click on 2 Soy-based Recipes for  related recipe link)
  • A Different Oil Field (Wright Sunflower Oil with Don & Dennis Wright in northwest KS), KANSAS! 2021, vol. 77, issue 3, pp. 32-37. (no online magazine line but click on Fluffy Rolls for  related recipe link)
  • The Cooking Shows (including an interview Marie Fiebach, KAKE-TV. KANSAS! 2021, vol 77, issue 2, pp. 32-37 (no online magazine link but click on Almond Cake with Strawberries and Cream for related recipe)
  • A Heritage of Flavor (community cookbooks & an interview with Louise Hanson), KANSAS! Magazine winter 2020, vol. 76, issue 4, pp. 30-35. (click on story title for online magazine link or on Ice Box Cookies for related recipe)
  • Emmett's Place (Louisburg Cider Mill)KANSAS! Magazine fall 2020, vol. 76, issue 3, pp. 32-37 (click on story title for online magazine link or click on Louisburg Cider Mill's Apple Cider Bread for recipe)
  • Chuckwagon Cooking (Geff & Dawn Dawson)KANSAS! Magazine fall 2020, vol. 76, issue 3, pp. 28-31 (click on story title for online magazine link or click on Dawson's Cowboy Corneybread for recipe)
  • Crepes in a Cowtown (Edward Hammatt), KANSAS! Magazine spring 2020, vol. 75, issue 4, pp. 32-35 (no online magazine link but click here for Edward's crepe recipe)
  • Creating the Next Generation of Beekeepers (Rogan Tokach), KANSAS! Magazine winter 2019, vol. 75, issue 4, pp. 32-35 (no online link but check out the honey recipe that accompanied the story at this link).
  • Dinner, in Good Fairth and Company (church suppers and dinners across Kansas with an emphasis on rural areas), KANSAS! Magazine fall 2019, vol. 75, issue 3, pp. 32-35 (no online link but check out the list of church dinners and suppers at this link).
  • Milking innovation and Tradition (Hildebrand Dairy), KANSAS! Magazine summer 2019, vol. 75, issue 2, pp. 30-33 (no online link but check out the related link I posted on the blog).
  • Rader's Taters (Campfire Cooking recipe), KANSAS! State Parks, 2019 guide, p. 10
  • National Festival of Breads, KANSAS! Magazine, spring 2019, vol. 75, issue 1, pp. 28-33 (no online link but check out the link I posted on the blog about the festival slated for June 8, 2019 in Manhattan KS)
  • A Kansas Standard—Chris LaPorte, Hitching Post Restaurant, KANSAS! Magazine, winter 2018, vol. 74, issue 4, pp. 30-35 (no online link)
  • A Kansas Staple—Enterprise's Hoffman Gristmill, KANSAS! Magazine, fall 2018, vol. 74, issue 3, pp. 31-33  (no online link but featured recipe @ Classic Cobbler)
  • Peppernuts (featuring Kansas commercial bakers, home bakers & community bakes), KANSAS! Magazine, winter 2017, vol 73, issue 4, pp. 26-29. (no online link)
  • The Coachlight Restaurant (Longford, KS) -- restaurant review in article "Twenty Yummy Places," KANSAS! Magazine, winter 2017, vol 73, issue 4, p. 43. (no online link)
  • Artisan Breads (featuring Kansas artisan bakeries) KANSAS! Magazine, fall, 2016, vol 72, issue 3, pp. 30-33. (no online link)
  • Nancy's Back! (Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker), Topeka Magazine, spring, 2016 (includes steak salad recipe)
  • Grilled Gumbo Goodness (Steve Wedel), Sunflower Living Magazine, spring, 2015, pp. 14-17)
  • The Best Bakings Come in Threes (Dorothy, John & Sarah Veach), Sunflower Living Magazine, winter, 2015, pp. 17-21)
  • Explosive Home Cooking (Linda Payne), Sunflower Living Magazine, fall 2014, pp. 24-27.
  • From Wild Boar To Squirrel Stew: A Guide to Cooking The Day's Catch (Brendan French) KANSAS! Magazine, fall 2014, pp. 61-63.
  • The Taste of Wood-Fired (Duane Schrag & Robin Black), Sunflower Living Magazine, summer 2014, pp. 16-17.
  • Dr. Brisket (Bill Alsop), Sunflower Living Magazine, summer 2014, pp. 26-30
  • Dish Harmony (Vangie & Steve Henry), Sunflower Living Magazine, spring 2014, pp. 22-27.
  • A Taste Odyssey (Karen Keehner), Sunflower Living Magazine, winter 2014, pp. 16-21.
  • The Well-Traveled Palate (Margaret Vinson), Sunflower Living Magazine, fall 2013, pp. 20-25. 
  • Farm Fresh Redux (Connie Cooper offers up a modified version of her grandmother's enchilada recipe) Sunflower Living Magazine, summer 2013, pp. 22-27 
  • Dandu Style (Kamila Dandu) Sunflower Living Magazine, spring 2013, pp. 22-27
  • The Coach's Standard (Alan Shuler) Sunflower Living Magazine, winter 2013, pp. 24-29.
  • Cooking Up The Versatile Frittata (Amanda Lindahl), Sunflower Living Magazine,  fall 2012, pp. 28-33.
  • Sunflower Living -  Resume (Amanda Collins), summer 2012 edition of Sunflower Living magazine, p. 8.
  • "The battelefield kitchen —Fort Riley reigns supreme at culinary competitions," July-August 2011 edition of Manhattan Living Magazine, pp. 34 -39 of the digital copy (article is also mentioned at beginning of magazine under "Editor's Note")
  • "Battling It Out," (article about Fort Riley) July-August 2011 edition of Independent Restaurateur magazine, pp. 8-9. No longer available online.)
  • Article about the Kirby House Restaurant in Abilene appeared in a national food service publication -- “Step Back In Time With An Eye To The Future,"  March/April 2009 edition of My Foodservice News (now Independent Restaurateur magazine), p. 25 (Note: This article is no longer available online.)

SOCIAL MEDIA -- Abilene APP (a free phone app) & MyAbileneKansas Webpage 
  • Garfield Wellness Day -- Kids cooking healthy snacks. ( 5/11/15)
  • Abilene High School Students Cook Up Talent -- AHS culinary arts students prepare for competition. (3/1/15)
  • Elinor Haas is Having a Birthday! Local teacher turns 80. (1/5/15)
  • Little Spirit Recipe for the Holidays -- raise your glass with a delicious recipe for Spiced Cranberry Sparkling Cocktail! (12/30/14) 
  • A Marshmallow Treat for Christmas -- marshmallows & hot cocoa are a perfect combination . . . unless someone forget to add the sugar! (12/6/14)
  • Huntington Chicken Memories -- check out the menu that brings retired teachers back to AHS during American Education Week. (Nov. 22, 2014)
  • A Campaign for Cranberries -- an explanation why cranberries should be considered the All-American fruit + 3 family recipes. (Nov. 20, 2014)
  • Manners Matter in Abilene -- a look at what's happening in the 4th & 5th grade Social Lab. (Nov. 15, 2014)
COOKBOOKS
  • Home-Cooking—Dickinson County Style cookbooks are a series of cookbooks sold at the Dickinson County Historical Center. See :LOCAL COOKS COLUMN below for more details. The 13th and last edition of  Home-Cooking—Dickinson County Style went on sale Dec. 7, 2014. 
  • The Kirby House Cookbook, first published in 2001; with a second printing it sold over 10,000 copies. Read reviews of the cookbook at these online sites (click on the name to access those sites that are still viable).
    • Living Victorian
    • Open Library
    • Read a sampling of the book @ "The Shelf," Mennonite Press
    • Unfortunately the Kirby House burnt to the ground on 2/20/2013 and the books are now out-of-print; used copies can be found at several internet sites. 
LOCAL COOKS COLUMN IN Abilene Reflector-Chronicle
For 13 years, I featured a local cook each month in “Home-Cooking—Dickinson County Style,” my food column appeared in the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle.
My first column  ran in November of 2001. The monthly articles were formatted into yearly cookbooks by Abilene High School students and printed for sale at the Dickinson County Heritage Center. All13  editions of the cookbook call be purchased  for $4.95 + tax at the Historical Society; mail-order deliveries sell for $8.50. Contact Dickinson County Historical Society, 412 S. Campbell Abilene, Ks. Phone: 785-263-2681; heritagecenterdk@sbcglobal.net.


Meta's photo as it appeared in her last monthly cooking column for the Abilene  Reflector-Chronicle on 9/20/14 (Photo by Tiffany Roney)
Record of a few of the past articles Abilene Reflector-Chronicle articles; unfortunately the form RC links are no longer viable . . .
  • Farewell and Bon Apetite — Meta West (9/29/14)
  • Meneley's cooking - what if? — Dallas Meneley (5/27/14)
  • Cooking Under Construction — Danny Wuthnow (4/29/14)
  • Whitehairs Cook Up Game Day Grub— Christy & Tony Whitehair (3/25/14)
  • A Blending of Cultures — Janet Allen (2/25/14)
  • Still Cooking Mainly From Scratch — Deanna Whitehair (1/28/14)
  • He Cooks, She Bakes — Jay & A'Lisa Johnson (12/31/13) 
  • Allergy Free for the Holidays — Elaine Mills (11/26/13)
  • Clafoutis and Everyday French — Aline Hunter (10/29/13) 
  • Camp Cooking — Dutch oven style— Kate Rader (9/24/13)
  • KEEP IT SIMPLE in the kitchen & when entertaining— Joan Dawson (8/27/13)
  • Preserving Food & Memories, Too —Vicky Chamberlin (7/3013)
  • Culinary Memories . . . in her own words — Lynda Millican Scheele (6/24/13) 
  • Amy Feigley has mastered Mixes and More  —(5/28/13)
Past articles . . .
  • Food Preparation is a Family Affair (Jim Lillich) -- the original article that appeared in the Abilene RC was reprinted in part, in KSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine  "Lifestyles: newsletter.