Tim Michaels had a successful career in construction for 30 years, but all that time, he had the recipe for a successful food service business right in his back pocket. Tim and his wife Robin …

At Tex’s Fish Camp, in Connelly Springs, the Burns family is as well-known for their giving hearts as they are for their perfect hushpuppies. Tom and Bernese, who built the fish camp 51 years ago in the dirt parking lot of the family’s lumber company, raised their 10 children to give back to the community...

Burke Countians are serious about their livermush. The Paper’s Paper Plate division completed an informal community survey titled: “Which local restaurant serves the best livermush?” Our readers responded by the hundreds. First, a little background for the uninitiated...

I’ll be the first to admit, the name is difficult to get past. LIVERMUSH. Don’t know which of those words conjures up more horrible images – LIVER or MUSH ? Tasted liver only once in my life. A …

The third annual Cavs BBQ Bash hosted by the East Burke High School football team was held Sept. 9 in Icard. The 2023 grand champions were the Hala-Q-Yah team from Sophia, led by pitmaster Steve …

One of the wine world myths I find myself constantly debunking these days is the attribution of a tough morning after drinking wine to the now much-maligned sulfites that were in that wine. Let me unburden you …

Whaddya say we chew the fat about the Pigmaster's Barbecue Challenge coming up in Rutherford College? Do you enjoy those barbecue shows on TV? Well mosey over and walk among 33 teams as the flames dance and the smoke swirls and BBQ masters show their skills...

Who doesn’t love pizza? Good pizza. Not some wanna-be frozen, pre-made, cellophane-wrapped pizza. The real thing that screams Italian with fresh ingredients, bountiful toppings, dough that has been shaped by hand, slid into genuine pizza ovens, and baked to bubbly-crust perfection.

Pork shoulder roasts, also known as “Pork Butts” or “Boston Butts,” are quite possibly the cheapest cuts of meat available in the meat case these days. Because of the tough nature and work …

¼ cup granulated garlic or garlic powder ¼ cup granulated onion or onion powder ¼ cup coarsely ground black pepper ½ cup paprika ½ cup sugar ¾ cup kosher salt 1 tsp MSG (optional) Combine and …

2 cups ketchup 1 cup Heinz chili sauce ¾ cup brown sugar ¾ cup molasses ½ cup cider vinegar 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 teaspoons paprika 1 ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 …

The fall season is approaching and hot, humid days will soon be pushed out by crisp air. Baseball will make way for football and green leaves will become saturated with colors of gold and crimson. …

Gayle Prewitt, who runs the bakery at Apple Hill Orchard and Cider Mill, provided this recipe. Although this is not part of the orchard bakery, it is a fall dessert to try this season. CAKE …

Red wine goes with red meat. White wine goes with fish and poultry. These so-called rules have been around for ages, but just as screwtops have replaced corks in many fine wines, it may be time to …

John Setzler is the big winner in our first-ever recipe contest, the Main Event. His mouth-watering recipe for Osso Buco left us all wanting to cook the dish for our families. He will forever have …

Merrill Mischief’s fudges are finalists in Our State magazine’s Made in NC Awards for the second consecutive year. The Merrills opened Merrill Mischief Candy, Christmas, and Fudge Sweets Shop in …

One of my home-run desserts that works for any occasion is this amazing Blueberry Cream Cheese Pound Cake. I made one last week as my fresh blueberries are being harvested. This one is a real …

The first time I ate spaghetti at someone else’s house, I was in for a rude awakening. My dad did all the cooking at our house. He tried to do the dishes, too, but we put a stop to that as he was …

Food, glorious food, is a great connector and comforter. Few things in life hold as much power as what delights our tastebuds. However, meals consisting of only plants - no meat, dairy, or eggs - …

When Hillman Brewing opened in Morganton last spring, management anticipated it would be a year before the kitchen would be finished, and hoped locals wouldn’t mind waiting to sample the …

OK. We're not too proud to admit it. When John Setzler of Valdese submitted his recipe  for Osso Buco as part of The Paper Plate's Main Event Recipe Contest, we had no idea what it was. We asked …

First of all, I love to cook (not bake – too precise) and experiment with recipes that I make my own. The first time I cook a recipe it may be close to the original, but then I start playing around …

If all goes according to plan, and if all the required inspections go well, Valdese will soon have farm-raised beef, pork, and lamb, fresh-cut and ready for purchase at Highlands Family Farm’s new …

This is one of the best summer salsa recipes I have ever made, and I have tried quite a few. Several years ago, we went to Asheboro for a golfing/catching up weekend with one of my husband …

A slower cooker is hard to beat when it comes to easy and tasty meals. You can throw every ingredient in one pot, set the cooker on low or high depending on the recipe, and forget about it for hours. …