Smidgen
78 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 21 ratingsSomewhere between a pinch and a dash is a smidgen, and when it comes to good cooking, a smidgen can make all the difference! Smidgen is the podcast of Red Stick Spice Company. Join host Anne Milneck as she talks with a variety of interesting people from the food world, plus real-world cooking segments prepared live from the Red Stick Spice Test Kitchen.
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Episodes
Indulge in Elegance: How to Create a Perfect Afternoon Tea Setting in Your Own Home
April 11, 2024 05:05 - 29 minutes - 41 MBPeople love enjoying an Afternoon Tea. While it is less of a regular event in the United States, many people, including Anne Milneck—host of Smidgen, and chef/owner of Red Stick Spice Company—have fond memories of special tea outings. Did you know you can enjoy a special Afternoon Tea at home with family or friends? On this episode of Smidgen, Anne shares tips on how to pick the teas to serve your guests; how to put together a savory course, a scone course, and a sweet course (and recipes OF...
When Do I Use Fresh Herbs and When Do I Use Dried Herbs?
March 28, 2024 08:33 - 27 minutes - 38.4 MBIf you have questions about using dried herbs or fresh herbs in your home cooking, this informative Smidgen episode is for you. Anne Milneck—host of Smidgen, and chef/owner of Red Stick Spice Company—answers the top two questions she gets asked about dried vs. fresh herbs (can you guess what they are?) plus Anne spotlights a bounty of recipes that will give you a chance to experience some dishes where fresh herbs get to shine and some dishes where dried herbs excel. Trust us—you are going to...
Easter Brunch ideas that will have you and your guests rejoicing
March 14, 2024 07:55 - 25 minutes - 36.1 MBEaster is here! If you are planning on hosting a brunch (or attending an Easter brunch) Anne Milneck—host of Smidgen, and chef/owner of Red Stick Spice Company—has a brunch menu that will have you rejoicing. Yes, we talk about brunch a lot—but brunch is flexible and fun, a perfect time to try out some new, fresh spring flavors and prepare your favorites. What is a good Easter Brunch menu? - Anne mentioned the yummy butternut squash hummus: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/butternut...
Are Sweet Potatoes and Yams the Same Thing?
February 29, 2024 09:33 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MBSweet Potato love is a real thing. But have you ever wondered what the difference is between yams and sweet potatoes? Well, our host Anne Milneck (chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company) dives into the history of yams—or should we say “yams”—in the United States and reveals all, including how Louisiana lost out on being the Yam (or Sweet Potato) capitol of the world and if there is such a thing as sweet potato fudge. After “nerding out” on the history, Anne gives a set of sweet potato re...
7 Lenten Meals to Cook for Your Family (That Aren't Just Fish)
February 15, 2024 09:33 - 27 minutes - 38.2 MBThe Lenten Season changes the menu for some families as they observe the 40-day period before Easter. Traditionally, this has meant a lot of fish meals (especially on Fridays.) But what if you want to observe lent without leaning too heavily on fish? This new episode of Smidgen—hosted by Anne Milneck, owner of Red Stick Spice Company is here to help. What are the best meals to serve during Lent? - Read Anne’s blog post on the Lenten meals here: - Want to share Smidgen podcast with som...
How to Cook an Amazing and Romantic Valentine's Day Dinner at Home
February 01, 2024 09:33 - 18 minutes - 26 MBYou can make a lovely and romantic dinner for Valentine’s Day at home! Anne Milneck of Red Stick Spice Company has you covered with an elegant, multi-course meal that will impress—and that you can actually successfully make—that is sure to make your evening in something special. What is a good menu for home cooked Valentine’s dinner? - Read Anne’s blog post on Valentine’s, complete with menu and optional variations. Click here to read Anne’s blog post. - Did someone say vanilla bals...
What Are the Best Food Trends for 2024 and How Can I Use Them in My Kitchen?
January 18, 2024 09:51 - 31 minutes - 43.1 MBWhat food trends are home cooks going to be seeing everywhere in 2024, and maybe more importantly, what are some of the recipes that will help you explore the best this new year has to offer? Smidgen host and owner of Red Stick Spice Company Anne Milneck loves food trends. So when she saw Southern Living’s list of pertinent food trends for 2024, she knew she wanted to talk about them on the show—and bring some exciting recipes from the Red Stick Spice Company teaching kitchen to help our cus...
5 Cooking Resolutions that Will Be Game Changers for Your 2024 Kitchen
January 04, 2024 09:33 - 21 minutes - 30.6 MBHello, 2024! Are you ready to cook up a storm this year? Do you want to love your kitchen and your home cooking even more this year? On this episode of Smidgen, Anne Milneck—chef and proprietor of Red Stick Spice Company—has some practical resolutions that you can easily incorporate to your routines and are you ready for this? Are resolutions you can actually stick to. What are cooking resolutions can I actually stick to? Meal prep one thing each week (just one!); try a new recipe from ...
12 Home Cooking Tips So You Can Love Your Holiday Kitchen
December 14, 2023 09:33 - 30 minutes - 42.6 MBThe holidays and Christmas season is here! Are you or a favorite home cook feeling stressed? Less than jolly? Anne Milneck, chef, owner of Red Stick Spice Company, and host of Smidgen has some help for you. Lots of outlets churn out “helpful hints for the holidays” lists that… let’s face it… are a little less than robust. We need real help this year, and Anne delivers on this episode of Smidgen. What are the best tips to make holiday cooking easier? - Read Anne’s blog post with 12 Holida...
5 Homemade Gifts from Your Kitchen Friends are Going to Love
December 07, 2023 09:33 - 30 minutes - 42.9 MBWe’ve all said it: we don’t want more “stuff” and we want to keep our Holiday budget intact. But we also don’t want to go empty handed to our friend’s house this season. Anne Milneck—chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company has a delicious solution on this episode of Smidgen. Have fun and a joyful kitchen as you make these 5 wonderful gifts from your kitchen to share with the people you love. What are the best homemade Christmas gifts? From scratch granola, shortbread, sumptuous dessert...
Leftover Love: Makeover meals for your Thanksgiving leftovers
November 23, 2023 14:28 - 22 minutes - 31.1 MBOh my! What are we going to do with all this food?? If you are looking upon your Thanksgiving Leftovers with a little bit of dread, Anne Milneck—chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company reveals her skill as a meal makeover artist in this episode of Smidgen. Now, keep in mind: we are pro-leftover on Smidgen; this is not about simply eating down the Thanksgiving meal. Rather, this episode is all about fully transformed meals, using food from Thanksgiving. Each of the recipes Anne discusses ar...
What's the best way to cook turkey this Thanksgiving?
November 09, 2023 10:14 - 22 minutes - 31.4 MBSpatchcock your Thanksgiving turkey for gorgeous crispy skin and juicy turkey meat. Smidgen host Anne Milneck of Red Stick Spice Company details on this episode why everyone should consider taking a note out of Kenji Lopez-Alt’s book (or podcast appearance) and spatchcocking this year’s Thanksgiving turkey. What do you get? CRISPY, crispy golden lovely delicious skin Plump, juicy turkey (NO dry bird—you’re not relying on all the great Thanksgiving sides to carry the m...
Halloween: 7 Halloween Recipes for Spooky Fun
October 26, 2023 09:01 - 24 minutes - 33.6 MBBoo! Halloween is a fun and special time for Smidgen host Anne Milneck and Red Stick Spice Company. Anne likes to go big with costumes, decorations, and Halloween festivities! You can too—even at this date, you can pull together a delightful and delicious Halloween celebration for friends and neighbors. On this episode, 7 Halloween recipes that are easy and can feed a crowd. Spooky root beer, sheet pan nachos, pumpkin soup, mummy-wrapped baked brie, sloppy joes, ogre-green matcha popcorn, wi...
More than Pumpkin Spice: 5 Essential Fall Recipes to Celebrate the Season
October 12, 2023 09:10 - 24 minutes - 34.6 MBDoesn’t everyone love Fall? A reprieve from the heat, leaves change color, root veggies show up at the Farmer’s market, and soup sounds lovely for dinner. Some of us wait all year for the flavors of Autumn. Anne Milneck, host of the Smidgen podcast and owner of Red Stick Spice Company has 5 essential recipes for Fall that prove the season is much more than a bunch of PSL talk. What are some good Fall recipes? - Get all the recipes Anne shares in this episode in one blog post: https://bl...
What do you cook in a Dutch oven? 7 Dutch oven recipes to try
September 21, 2023 08:33 - 29 minutes - 40.7 MBEveryone is re-discovering their Dutch ovens. Make crusty bread, roast a chicken, make a beautiful stew—you can do all of this in a Dutch oven, and more! On this episode of Smidgen, Anne Milneck of Red Stick Spice Company gives a useful lesson about what sets Dutch ovens apart from other cookware (hint: you’ll be inspecting the lid of your favorite cooker after this show.) Plus, Anne shares 7 Dutch oven-ready recipes, each one sounding better than the next. What do you cook in a Dutch oven...
Make a smoothie at home: 5 healthy smoothies you're going to love
September 07, 2023 08:03 - 26 minutes - 36.1 MBSmoothie lovers unite! If you enjoy a smoothie to get your macros or extra nutrition or add some protein to your diet—OR just because they taste good, this is the Smidgen episode for you. Anne Milneck, host and owner of Red Stick Spice Company provides smoothie inspiration with 5 smoothies you make and enjoy today. Yum! What should you put in a smoothie? - Here’s a great blog post from the Red Stick Spice Company website with all the smoothies Anne has for you: ROUND UP: 5 NUTRITION-PA...
Easy Back-to-School Dinner Ideas: 5 Quick Meals Ready in Under 30 Minutes
August 17, 2023 08:33 - 19 minutes - 26.8 MBGetting back into the swing of the school year can be a little tough. Everybody’s schedule changes, how much you are driving around changes, mealtimes change. To help you ensure dinnertime is a pleasant, delicious, and homecooked experience, Anne Milneck—chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company has 5 quick and easy dinners you can use to help the whole family adjust to the school year. What are quick and easy dinners I can make tonight? - Anne has a great blog post that collects all th...
5 Essential Vegan Recipes that Everyone (Yes, Everyone!) Are Going to Love
August 03, 2023 08:33 - 36 minutes - 50.6 MBIf you or someone in your family is going plant-based with their eating, getting some great vegan recipes into your mealtime lineup can be a lifesaver. Smidgen host and owner of Red Stick Spice Company Anne Milneck’s own daughter went vegan and Anne explains some expert tips for how to navigate the culinary landscape that comes with this type of eating. After you learn all of Anne’s tips, it’s on to five essential vegan recipes that you’re going to love to eat—whether you are a vegan or not!...
Get Ready for Summer with These 8 Delicious and Cool Recipes
July 20, 2023 08:33 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MBIt’s too dang hot, y’all. If the thought of cooking in the kitchen has you crying right now, Anne Milneck, chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company shares 8 cooldown recipes to help you take the temp down just a bit. Make the most of produce that’s available now; get some sumptuous sips; indulge in some frozen sweet treats that are sure to make summertime memories. What recipes can I make to cooldown and beat the heat? - Are you intrigued by ice box cakes and pies? Make some space in...
Throw an Unforgettable Tapas Party: 7 Incredible Recipes and Expert Tips
July 06, 2023 09:24 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MBTapas—or small plates—are a signature of Mediterranean and Spanish cooking; Tapas give you a wonderful variety of dishes that give you lots of things to try and experience in a single meal. Tapas are also a phenomenal way to throw an unforgettable party. On this episode of Smidgen, Anne Milneck, chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company shares 7 incredible tapas recipes to help you throw an amazing tapas party, complete with some expert tips. How can I throw a tapas party? Here are some ...
4 Sweet Recipes to Try: Easy Ways to Cook with Honey
June 22, 2023 08:33 - 17 minutes - 24.1 MBHoney is more than a sweetener in a jar, hiding in your pantry. On this episode of Smidgen, host Anne Milneck—chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company—gives us four delicious ways to add honey to our cooking. This episode is to help celebrate pollinator week, a celebration of the buzzing beneficials that help flowers bloom and food grow. (Be sure to follow Red Stick Spice Company on Facebook and Instagram so you can see how Anne is honoring pollinators this week!) What ways can honey be u...
5 Brunch Recipes You'll Want to Try This Weekend
June 08, 2023 08:33 - 15 minutes - 9.21 MBWho doesn’t love brunch? Whether you are spending time with friends (nibbling and sipping) or preparing dishes you rarely get to enjoy (like quiche or breakfast rolls) brunch is a delightful meal. And the best part? You don’t have to go out for brunch! As soon as this weekend, you can make a memorable brunch that will wow. On this episode of Smidgen, host Anne Milneck—chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company—shares five brunch ideas (that actually turns into six then seven brunch recipes—...
4 Lessons from The Barefoot Contessa
May 29, 2023 09:41 - 19 minutes - 27.3 MBIna Garten is a cooking icon. Her show, The Barefoot Contessa, has been inspiring home cooks for just over twenty years. Her cookbooks are staples for many, and her knowledge of comfort food cooking; simple but elegant entertaining; and her attention to lovely décor details make her a go-to influencer. It’s no wonder that so many love her and her approach to cooking. On this episode of Smidgen, host Anne Milneck—chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company—shares four lessons you can learn fr...
You Can Cook in Madrid Spain: Join Us for Culinary Madrid
May 04, 2023 08:07 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBClick here to learn more about Culinary Madrid, the cooking (and eating!) travel experience with Anne Milneck and Red Stick Spice Company: Culinary Madrid You can learn to cook the flavors of Spain this Fall in Madrid, Spain. Join Anne and Lili for a six-day food, wine, and cultural experience. Where did this tour come from, how did Anne and Lili get the idea? On this episode of Smidgen, you’ll learn the story of how this experience came together, as well as an overview of each day. Anne s...
Why You Should Try Tarta de Santiago Cake
May 01, 2023 07:54 - 12 minutes - 18.2 MBClick here to learn more about Culinary Madrid, the cooking (and eating!) travel experience with Anne Milneck and Red Stick Spice Company: Culinary Madrid Anne (Red Stick Spice Company owner and host of Smidgen) makes this cake for nearly every family gathering, and you can, too. The Tarta de Santiago has something for everyone according to Anne. Santiago translates to St. James, and this cake, named for this “greater” Saint, traditionally bears a stencil of his sword on top. (Make a simpl...
3 Ways to Cook Like a Spanish Chef with Homemade Sofrito
April 27, 2023 07:40 - 10 minutes - 15.2 MBClick here to learn more about Culinary Madrid, the cooking (and eating!) travel experience with Anne Milneck and Red Stick Spice Company: Culinary Madrid Get to know sofrito—a dynamic base that gives a start to Spanish paella and many other Mediterranean dishes that can be made with ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen right now. Anne Milneck—owner of Red Stick Spice Company and the host of Smidgen loves sofrito after learning it from Jim, the instructor for Red Stick Spice’...
What are Tapas?
April 24, 2023 08:33 - 13 minutes - 18.8 MBClick here to learn more about Culinary Madrid, the cooking (and eating!) travel experience with Anne Milneck and Red Stick Spice Company: Culinary Madrid Tapas—delicious small plates—are a wonderful way to experience a variety of flavors, textures, temperatures, without being overwhelmed at mealtime. Tapas are a great way to try out many different dishes at once and a terrific way to entertain. Tapas are closely associated with Spain (and with good reason!) On this episode of Smidgen, Ann...
Thanksgiving Sides are the Best Part of the Meal: 1 Day Until Thanksgiving
November 23, 2022 06:01 - 6 minutes - 9.51 MBThanksgiving is tomorrow! It’s Wednesday my dudes. All the prep work will be oh so appreciated tomorrow, but today is about most folks’ favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal: the side dishes. Our tasks today, 1 day until Thanksgiving, is to work on the Thanksgiving sides: Ciabatta Sausage Stuffing and Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Thanksgiving Side Dishes Do you call it dressing or stuffing? Either way you are going to adore this Ciabatta and Sausage Stuffing. Make it today and reheat ...
Time to Make Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie: Day 2 Thanksgiving Countdown
November 22, 2022 06:01 - 4 minutes - 6.2 MBTwo days to go! It’s Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Time to bake a sumptuous Pumpkin Cheesecake. This two-layer cheesecake is as gorgeous as it is beautiful. And we don’t want to hear anything about “cracked” cheesecakes—that’s what the Cardamom Infused Whipped Cream is for. Pies to Make for Thanksgiving It’s easy to get Thanksgiving dessert together when you start ahead. Today make Pumpkin Cheesecake with Cardamom Infused Whipped Cream. Recipe: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/pump...
Brine the Turkey, Make Ahead Gravy: Day 3 Thanksgiving Countdown
November 21, 2022 06:01 - 7 minutes - 9.89 MBThree days until Thanksgiving, this is a biggie. Monday: Brine the Bird and whip up a delicious batch of Make Ahead Gravy. How to Brine a Thanksgiving Turkey Anne’s favorite way to brine a Thanksgiving turkey is to dry brine the bird 3 days before Thanksgiving and store it open in the fridge. Use Red Stick Spice Company Dry Brine. Shop Dry Brine Blend here. If you want to learn more about other brining methods, listen to our recent Smidgen episode, Brine Time Anytime. Red Stick Spice ...
Shake Vinaigrette, Cook Cranberry Sauce: Day 4 Thanksgiving Countdown
November 20, 2022 06:01 - 4 minutes - 6.14 MBHappy 4 days until Thanksgiving. It’s Sunday. Today: Shake and store a vinaigrette; cook your cranberry sauce; infuse a cardamom simple syrup. Hint: you’ll use the simple syrup for whipped cream later on with an amazing pie we’re going to make in a few days. Cranberry Sauce for Thanksgiving Make Ginger Pear Cranberry Sauce. You’ll love how the ginger compliments the Fall pear and cranberries. It’s a hit! Recipe here: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/ginger-pear-cranberry-sauce/ P...
Prep Pie Crust and Cookie Dough: Day 5 Thanksgiving Countdown
November 19, 2022 06:01 - 6 minutes - 8.91 MBHappy 5 days until Thanksgiving. It’s Saturday. Today: Prep pie crust and cookie dough. (Have you not heard about fresh cookies on Thanksgiving? It’s a tradition at Anne’s house. With the recipes ahead, you’re going to want start this tradition for your family!) Pie Crust for Thanksgiving Use your food processor to make this Flaky Pie Crust recipe (one batch at a time!) The secret ingredient is vodka. See the recipe here: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/flaky-pie-crust/ Cookies for...
5 Spices to Add to Your Spice Rack
November 09, 2022 06:01 - 33 minutes - 19.7 MBOn Smidgen, we love to bring you new insight on your favorites. Adding new spices to your standbys can give new life and new perspectives to dishes you prepare all the time. Like tacos? Try them with new chiles for a whole new taste sensation. Like hot chocolate? Mix in this spice for a whole new sipping experience. Want more like this? In this season finale episode, Smidgen host Anne Milneck will give you 5 spices to explore plus dishes to try out these new spices. There’s nothing more fun ...
3 New Ways to Use Olive Oil
November 03, 2022 05:01 - 34 minutes - 20.1 MBYou can’t get more down to basics than olive oil. Don’t let the familiarity of olive oil prevent you from finding new and intriguing ways to use (and enjoy!) this kitchen must-have. Besides all the glorious regions that produce a variety of olive oils, there is an array of flavored olive oils to sample and savor (Smidgen host Anne Milneck shares some suggestions for you to try—available from Red Stick Spice Company.) If you are ready to get some new eyes for olive oil, dive into this episo...
4 Sheet Pan Suppers You Haven't Tried
October 27, 2022 05:01 - 27 minutes - 16.4 MBWe love sheet pans! Sheet pan suppers, sheet pans themselves—if it can be made on a sheet pan, we are here for it. Anne Milneck—host of Smidgen, chef/owner of Red Stick Spice Company, and unabashed sheet pan enthusiast—has four new* recipes for home cooks to try and enjoy. (*New? Maybe not. Anne explains how most sheet pan recipes are actually a combination of techniques. In any case, each recipe is fun, flavorful, sets you up for success, and can solve your dinner quandaries this week!) M...
3 Lessons from Julia Child
October 20, 2022 05:01 - 21 minutes - 12.9 MBThe original food influencer? None other than Julia Child. Between hosting one of the most long-running cooking TV shows (really, we wouldn’t have food TV without her) to bringing French cooking to the mainstream American kitchen, Julia Child made an impact. Julia Child’s influence is back in a big way with HBO’s new show Julia, reinvigorating fan’s love for her and introducing a new generation to Julia Child’s work. Smidgen host and owner of Red Stick Spice Company Anne Milneck brings ...
3 Types of Cooks - Which One Are You?
October 13, 2022 05:01 - 34 minutes - 19.9 MBIntuitive cook, Improv cook, Recipe cook—which type are you? What are each of these home cook types like, and how can knowing which type of home cook you are help you be a better cook? In the over 300 cooking classes taught at Red Stick Spice Co., (and YES—Anne’s counted them!) the instructors and staff have noticed some patterns… some styles… some types, if you will. Now, this is no criticism, in fact Smidgen host and owner of Red Stick Spice Co. Anne Milneck thinks knowing your type is act...
5 Pantry Staples to Stock Right Now
October 06, 2022 05:01 - 21 minutes - 12.5 MBYour pantry is your secret weapon. In this season premiere episode of Smidgen, Anne Milneck shares 5 new pantry staples she is loving right now—each item is a gem you should discover and is chock full of meal inspiration. From a rich (adorably packaged) mayo to a protein-packed rice to a roasty toasty Ginger Garlic Toasted Sesame Oil (made just for Red Stick Spice Company!) plus others—you’re going to love hearing about each of these items and how they can make your mealtimes even better. ...
How Do You Appreciate a Good Tea? SoGo Tea Bar
June 09, 2022 05:01 - 43 minutes - 25.1 MBTea is tasted through an activity called cupping, where tea is sipped at various temperatures and is assessed for color, aroma, and finally taste. One aspect of experiencing tea in this way is having a particular vocabulary of vivid words to describe the way the tea looks, smells, and its flavor. That vocabulary comes from daily practice—which means lots and lots of trying tea. On this episode of Smidgen, host Anne Milneck (a self-described perpetual student of tea) is joined by wine profess...
Blackening: Flavor or Cooking Technique?
May 26, 2022 05:01 - 38 minutes - 22.3 MBA simple dredging of melted butter, a beautiful brick red spice blend, and an absolutely scorching hot cast iron skillet are all you need to make tempting blackened fish at home. (You’ll also probably need to temporarily disable your home smoke alarm, but we’ll get to that shortly.) The question comes up: is the blackening the seasoning or the cooking technique? There’s no one better to answer that question than Chef Frank Brigtsen, who with his wife Marna, owns Brigtsen’s restaurant in the ...
Gluten Free Baking Inspiration
May 19, 2022 05:01 - 34 minutes - 20.4 MBBaking gluten-free is a bear, even for experienced bakers. A lot of the usual rules don’t apply and gluten-free baking has tons of methods and practices that bakers need to know before they can achieve “GF” baking success. We get this episode’s question from Connie, who knows her way around an oven; she simply had disaster after disaster trying to bake gluten-free. To help Connie out, Smidgen host (and infamous non-baker) Anne Milneck brings on Kelly Courson of CeliacChicks.com to get into s...
Hop On That Meal Train
May 12, 2022 05:01 - 39 minutes - 23.3 MBWhat do we bring? When there’s a happy occasion like a new baby or a solemn passing like losing a loved one the time-honored tradition of bringing food to our friends and family is a tangible way to show our care and concern. However, there are lots of food handling practices that come into play when we’re cooking for others. Our inspiration question comes from Terry (after experiencing the digital magazine Pathway) and to help properly answer, Smidgen host and owner of Red Stick Spice Compa...
Salt n Pepper Here
May 05, 2022 05:01 - 25 minutes - 14.8 MBSalt is essential! Whether it’s to enhance flavors or get necessary minerals into our diets, salt cannot be divorced from cooking. But should salt and pepper—often thought of going together—be split up? We’re getting salty on this episode of Smidgen, with Anne heading off to the salt mine (so to speak.) JQ Dickenson Salt-Works has been producing salt in West Virginia (you read that right) for over 200 years. Nancy Bruns is a chef and along with her brother Lewis Payne are continuing the fami...
Brine Time Anytime
April 28, 2022 05:02 - 33 minutes - 19.9 MBWe’re taking on listener questions this season of Smidgen, and on this episode it’s all about BRINE. Wet brine? Dry brine? What proteins can be brined? Our question comes from Caroline and to answer, Red Stick Spice Company store owner and Smidgen host Anne Milneck brings on Rhonda and Danny Titus of Road Toad Smokin’ BBQ. Rhonda—known as the “Chicken Queen” is an award-winning griller and she shares her champion brining secrets on Smidgen. By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly h...
Rollin' in the Pizza Dough
April 21, 2022 05:01 - 37 minutes - 22 MBHow do you keep pizza dough from springing back when you’re making pizza at home? We get our question from Mary, student of the Pizza Masterclass at Red Stick Spice Company. Mary was trying to stretch out her dough and it would not cooperate, instead the dough wanted to stay in a ball. Smidgen host Anne Milneck brings on pizza expert Cara Peterson of Go Eat Concepts and Rocca Pizzeria in Baton Rouge to talk all things pizza making at home. (Cara also happens to be the instructor of the Pizza ...
Pathway: A Tribute to South Louisiana
March 07, 2022 06:15 - 41 minutes - 57 MBDiscover Pathway: A Culinary Journal, Anne’s tribute to South Louisiana. You can also download Pathway as a PDF. In this episode, Anne walks us through Hot & Crispy Des Allemands Catfish Sandwich—you can see all the amazing recipes of Pathway here. Hurricane Ida made landfall on August 29, 2021, cutting a path of destruction across part of South Louisiana. La Place, Louisiana was particularly hard hit, and La Place happens to be the hometown of Smidgen host and owner of Red Stick Spice Co...
Local Love
April 22, 2021 05:00 - 41 minutes - 24.1 MBThe very first interview on the very first episode of Smidgen was with Galen Iverstine of Iverstine Farms Butcher. Galen is back on this Season 3 finale episode of Smidgen to talk about what impact the last year had on his small business; what he learned as a rancher from the pandemic; and what customers are shopping for now at the meat counter. Galen and Anne Milneck, host of Smidgen and owner of Red Stick Spice Co. discuss the realities of shopping local—is “shop local” just a popular s...
Refresh and Restore – Herbal Teas
April 15, 2021 05:00 - 37 minutes - 22 MBWhen you walk into Red Stick Spice Co. looking for tea, the staff will ask you, “Caffeine or no caffeine?” Your answer will set a course for your sipping future. Last week on Smidgen was all about tea from Camelia Sinensis. This episode of Smidgen is the no caffeine side of things—herbals and botanicals. Host Anne Milneck walks us through the leaves, flowers, bushes, roots, and other delights that make up herbal teas. The “rules” of herbal tea are different (in that there really aren’t any...
Enjoy the Joy of Tea
April 08, 2021 05:00 - 51 minutes - 30.1 MBWatch the leaves dance about in the water, allow the aroma to change and develop, maybe gently raise and dunk the infuser in your cup… and in a few minutes, take a sip of something rich and complex. It’s tea—delicious, flavorful joy in a cup. Red Stick Spice Co. is a spice shop, yes, but it’s also a purveyor of tea. Anne Milneck, host of Smidgen, is a tea sommelier and certified tea lover. All of the skills that make Anne passionate about blending spices translate to the world of tea (and wh...
Poultry Power from the Pantry
April 01, 2021 05:08 - 58 minutes - 34.1 MBHere we are, back with our ol’ pal CHICKEN! This reliable protein finds the way onto many of our dinner tables (for lots and lots… and lots of meals.) With all this poultry, it could be easy for chicken to be boring or even a chore. Anne Milneck, chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Co. has some things stored in the pantry to let chicken be the star of dinner. Long time listeners of Smidgen know that Anne might even joke about the most convenient forms of the bird (we’re looking at you, bone...