You will want to serve an array of pumpkin desserts and a flavorful drink this fall. All of these are neighbor and kitchen tested! I will be on FOX5 San Diego 9am Hour Monday, October 24th. If you are not in the viewing area, here it is below:
Double Chocolate Cookies /
How about a batch of rich cookies to put in school lunches this week? Your kids will be the favorite of the lunch hour!
Labor Day: Beat the Heat (or at least try to!) FOX5 September 5th /
Happy Hot Labor Day! Here are the recipes from my morning segment on FOX5 San Diego. I will post the pictures after the segment, but I wanted you to have the recipes now. Stay Cool!
“Beat the Heat Cool Entertaining and Drinks” Here is the segment Link
It is TOOOOO HOT! 🔥🔥🔥 : Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars/Bites /
Happy Labor Day! Southern California is having a heat wave! Here is a non-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar I hope you enjoy. Stay cool!
Tomorrow (Labor Day September 5th, I will be on FOX% San Diego on the 9am hour. I will post the recipes after the show.
New Station New Show! WTF (What The Food Day) August 10th Nat'l S'More Day /
WTF Day! National S’More Day on FOX5 San Diego! Using See’s Candies!
Today I changed channels from CBS8 to FOX5. The kitchen and studio was different in the least. I used to be on the CW in San Diego for years until the station was sold. I had a rolling kitchen, and also one outside for grilling and warm weather. At CBS8, I made my own kitchen with tables and hot plates. Today, the kitchen is in the middle of the newsroom (See pictures below) and it also is the kitchen all of the staff and crew use. Great meeting everyone and so many talked about the aromas coming from the kitchen! Here are all of the recipes for you to they. All have three ingredients! And I used See’s Candies in a few of them.
WIth Kristina in the Kitchen
The kitchen is in the middle of the busy Newsroom at FOX5.
Van De Kamps: Date Nut Loaf and Easter with 1941 VDK /
Happy Easter Weekend! I am going out of line for this one recipe (I am trying to do all of the cookies first). Date Nut Bread. Check out the VDK 1941 Easter Ad and story.
1941: Date Nut Loaf 59 cents!
1941 Easter Ad in the California Eagle Newspaper
1941 Easter story of Van De Kamps
Van De Kamps Almond Ice Box Cookies /
The use of real Almond Paste instead of just a flavor really shows the quality of the ingredients that Van De Kamp used in their formulas. Here is the original recipe made from the formulas.
Van De Kamps Oatmeal Raisin Cookies /
WOW! With every cookie recipe I create from the original formula from VDK I get a few minutes back of my childhood. I just wish I had a few of the original packaging for the products.
Cookie Perfection! Here is the recipe from the original VDK formula. VDK Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
Van De Kamps Maple Pecan Cookies /
Oh the rich pecan maple flavor will get you hooked and take you back to 1956 at Van De Kamps Bakery. This recipe is from the original formula created into a recipe that you can make at home. I convert, test, and retest to make sure the cookie is as best as perfect as possible. If you would like the same results, use a scale and weigh in grams, use the ingredients and tools that I use and you will have great success. I even provide links to the “strange” tools and ingredients you may not have in your pantry. Good luck and Post a picture in the Van De Kamps Facebook Page! VDK Facebook Page Link
April 1956 Ad: 33 cents a package!
Chicken Tortilla Soup.. at its Best! 🌶 /
You can turn up the heat or lower it with this fast and easy soup.
Biscuits.. The World's Best? You decide! /
I love how everyone from the south says.. “My Biscuits are the Best”! Well here is a Buttermilk Biscuit recipe for you to try out. I love them, and use your hands to mix as your hands melt the butter into the flour mixture perfectly!
Van De Kamps Holiday (Shamrock) Cookies /
Holiday time Van De Kamps would sell a package of about a dozen cookies that were of a holiday shape. Here are the Shamrocks for the upcoming March 17th Holiday. Enjoy!
Van De Kamps Peanut Crisp Snack Cookies /
These and the Lemon Snack cookies were made into bite size cookies. Perfect for lunches. You could take Van De Kamps with you! Read the directions and you will have a successful cookie! This recipe is from the original formula of VDK.
Van De Kamps Chocolate Cookies /
A strange recipe from the original formula of the VDK Kitchens. A bit of a process, but i you follow exactly, they work and you will have great success. If you recall the chocolate cookies and want the real deal, these are them. Use a scale and get the ingredients you need.
These cookies look big, but they are about 3 inches in diameter. Post a picture on the Van De Kamps Fan Page on Facebook!
Van De Kamps Lemon Snack Cookies /
A real tart and perfect Lemon Cookie. Van De Kamps Sold these little bitesize in boxes. I have also created a filling if you would like to “sandwich” two together between lemon cream cheese filling. A few new “industrial” ingredients you will need to make these perfect lemon cookies.
Van De Kamps Sugar Cookies /
Below you will find the official recipe from the formula from VDK. These are in grams and some ingredients strange, but if you want the cookie to be as exact as the VDK cookies were, then you will follow the directions.
Please post pictures on the Van de Kamps Facebook Page of your cookies!
Van De Kamps Molasses Cookies /
4th in the VDK Cookie Series. If you have not been following, a former employee of VDK has been sending me the formulas of some of the baked goods. I have been testing and converting them into a recipes for the home use. BUT.. you have to use a scale and grams. It is easier really after you get used to it
If you would like to purchase a personalized copy of Made in California Go to the first page of the website.
Van De Kamps Peanut Butter Cookies /
Here is the 3rd in the Cookie Series of the Van De Kamps Cookies. As before, read the recipe completely, use a scale and you should have success. This recipe came from the VDK Formula of Peanut Butter Cookies. Post Pictures of your success!
Recipe for the Van De Kamps Peanut Butter Cookies: Recipe
REMEMBER TO READ THE ENTIRE RECIPE FIRST!
Here is a Chocolate Drizzle Version on the recipe page.
Van De Kamps: Cherry Almond Cookies /
Van De Kamps was a very special company here on the west coast. It has been a few decades since a store had a full line of VDK products. If you want to follow the VDK Facebook Page Sign up! I have been working on the recipes that have been given to me by an employee. The batches are for hundreds and thousands of pounds of dough. It is not as simple was just dividing the dough smaller. It is chemistry! I have this in weights mostly so you will need a gram scale. Also, please read the entire recipe “formula” .
Here is the Formula Van de Kamps Cherry Almond Cookies
The formula and instructions seem like a lot to read, but I want you to have success!
In a grocery store display.
Here are the cookies dipped in chocolate
Van de Kamps Chocolate Chip Cookies /
Many of you that have my latest books Made in California and LA’s Legendary Restaurants , have read about Van de Kamps Bakeries and Lawry’s Prime Rib. I won’t go into the history here. I have been a member of the VDK Fan Page for a few years on Facebook. Last week the page came up and said that it was unposted now and I could be the host. I thought why not! In time, a former employee with the late quantity recipes from both plants came forward and asked if I wanted some of the recipes to try to create for home use. The group went wild. Lots of factors but would say I came close.
Van de Kamps Chocolate Chip Cookies
Here is the Recipe for VDK Chocolate Chip Cookies