A reader has asked for a recipe for pickling squash. I found several variations and am using one of the simpler ones. I am also printing a recipe for Watermelon pickles that has been in my family since I was a child. I hope you saved your watermelon rind from your 4th of July picnic.

ASK PAT: What’s the 4th without ice cream, strawberries and watermelon? As a heads-up, if you are having watermelon over the weekend, save and refrigerate the rinds…

Shirley H. in Marion remembers her mother making fig preserves and then cakes with the preserves. She has asked for recipes and I found several choices on-line.
I am offering one each for the preserves and cake. I hope they turn out as good as she remembers.

ASK PAT: Sunday is Father’s Day, and if your father or husband is like mine, he likes his food on the spicy side. Today I’m featuring a recipe for Spicy Barbecue Shrimp. As an appetizer make him some Crispy Tortilla Chips; homemade ones are better than store bought any day.

Give these recipes a try for your next leftover ham! I have some leftover ham and I want to do something different with it. Today’s recipes are two that I might try.

A few weeks back I said we would talk about saving money in the supermarket. I am offering recipes, from time to time, from the cookbook “Miserly Moms.“ This is the second offering from the book and should save money and delight everyone’s sweet tooth.

This week will feature two good dessert recipes; an easy pudding-fruit-cake combination that would be nice for either family or company and a really good icing that will enhance any cake you spread it on.

ASK PAT: A teacher stopped me in the store the other day and asked for ideas for treats she could take to her class for the end of the school year. I’m printing two bar cookie recipes that start with cake mixes so they are fast and easy. It’s hard to believe that the school year is almost over. Thanks to all you hard working teachers for the time and effort you give to help educate the kids of Marion County.

With the price of everything in the supermarket so high, over the next few weeks, I am going to be printing recipes from a cookbook entitled: Miserly Moms.

If you are having company over for Mother’s Day here are a couple of salad recipes you might want to serve. The Pasta salad makes a lot. I hope if you are a Mother you get the day off and someone else does the cooking.

According to Self Magazine, “Oats can help you drop pounds by revving your calorie burn and curbing cravings.”

Pat offers recipes for Fried Green Tomatoes and a Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole…

Pat Koch passes along easy bake and no bake cheesecake recipes.

Pat Koch offers sneaky way to get your children, and some adults, to eat more veggies ...

The month of March is National Celery, National Peanut and National Flour Month. In honor of that, I am printing a recipe for Peanut soup that also calls for celery and flour. And March 4 is National Pound Cake Day so I’m also printing a Sour Cream Pound Cake recipe. I hope you enjoy both.