Smidgen

At Red Stick Spice Company, we love sheet pans . We teach sheet pan classes ; we sell sheet pans . Most important: we use sheet pans all the time to make marvelous meals at home. Anne Milneck (Chef, Smidgen host, sheet pan cheerleader and owner of Red Stick Spice Company ) says we can't really call sheet pan suppers a trend anymore—simply because sheet pan cooking is so ubiquitous and helpful to t...

Did we fall out of love with the Instant Pot ? How long has it been since you've used your Instant Pot? Anne Milneck (Chef, Smidgen host, INSTANT POT USER and owner of Red Stick Spice Company ) thinks it's time to revisit your Instant Pot and give this multi-purpose tool a glow up.   The Instant Pot is so good at what it does… with a few considerations (that Anne goes over in this episode. Spoiler...

The month of May is jammed packed! If you are going to multiple graduation parties Anne Milneck (Chef, Smidgen host, and owner of Red Stick Spice Company ) feels ya! Anne knows the parties can pile up—you may even be hosting multiple parties through this grad season. What is a busy home cook to do? Enter the nearly foolproof graduation party menu from Red Stick Spice Company. Anne has put together...

Make a beautiful, manageable breakfast for Mom! Anne Milneck (Chef, MOM, and owner of Red Stick Spice Company ) has a wonderful menu that you or family members (ESPECIALLY teens or tweens) can make to celebrate Mother's Day. We all cherish memories of children earnestly preparing bowls of cereal… but if you're ready for a slightly more advanced Mother's Day breakfast menu, this episode for you. He...

Attention, Barefoot Contessa fans—Anne Milneck (Chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company ) is back as an Ina Garten superfan on this episode of Smidgen to share some solid recipes, perfect for the home cook to try out. ( Please note : this episode has several homework assignments, including making Overnight Mac & Cheese and Lemon Bars .) Home cooks: If you are looking for approachable yet refined...

People 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 y...

If 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 dishe...

Easter 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? - All i...

Sweet 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 thin...

The 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? R...

You 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 an...

What 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—...

Hello, 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 resolutio...

The 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....

We'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. Wh...

Oh 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 a...

Spatchcock 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, ju...

Boo! 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, sh...

Doesn'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...

Everyone 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 Dut...

Smoothie 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 Sti...

Getting 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...

If 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...

It'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...

Tapas —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 ama...