Nancy Thomas is the copy editor for The Apopka Chief. She also authors the Kitchen Kapers with Nancy column every week.
Paper bag chicken and baked potatoes in countertop ovenNancy Thomas
So that I don’t have to heat up my big oven, I use my countertop oven to roast a few potatoes, usually right along with roasting…
Forgo that trip to the pokey and try our Jail-House ChiliNancy Thomas
From Paths of Sunshine Cookbook, we found Jail-House Chili. This way, you won’t have to experience that much-avoided experience to enjoy the so-named chili!
Feast on pork tenderloin, sauerkraut with apples, and lemon cloud pieNancy Thomas
From Sarah Holden at the website of thepioneerwoman.com we have a recipe for Pork and Sauerkraut with the addition of sweet-tart apples. Firm, crisp apples like…
Salmon patties go great with garlic cheese grits and iced teaNancy Thomas
Emily Meggett has a recipe for salmon patties in her book Gullah Geechee Home Cooking. She says, “Salmon patties are almost identical to French salmon croquettes. It’s another example of the…
Summer Garden Vegetable Soup, biscuits, come & get itNancy Thomas
Mark F. Sohn wrote Hearty Country Cooking, a James Beard Award nominee. This book is full of wonderful recipes of Appalachian foods. And while not Florida recipes, they contain ingredients that many of us love using because…
Red, White, and Blueberry dessert for Independence DayNancy Thomas
Tomorrow is Independence Day! What a glorious occasion this day is. We fought hard to win our independence from Great Britain 250 years ago.
Everybody’s favorite for summer: peach ice creamNancy Thomas
With peaches being in season, and we, always being in the mood for ice cream, have a wonderful recipe for ice cream from Neat and Sweet Farms in Lakeland. They are kind enough to share…
Hooray for Dad… six out of ten adult men in the USA are fathersNancy Thomas
This coming Sunday, we celebrate Father’s Day. According to Good Housekeeping Magazine, on July 5, 1908, a father-themed memorial was held by a West Virginia church for the 362 men who were…
Recipes to make your soul singNancy Thomas
Joyce LaFray Young’s book contains a couple of recipes for Mama Lo’s Soul Food Restaurant that used to be in Gainesville. It was known to be a popular place to eat,…
Double Down on this Delicious Corn Dish Nancy Thomas
From the 1982 Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival recipe book, we found Doubly-Delicious Double Corn Pie. This recipe comes from E. L. Williams in Eustis. In case…












