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Things Cook On Weekends

By Rick Bonino boninobeer@comcast.net

Too busy to think about cooking right now?

That’s OK. If you want to save this section until Saturday or Sunday, we’ll understand.

Not surprisingly, more than half (56 percent) of the people polled for the National Pork Producers Council say they spend more time preparing meals on weekends than they do on weekdays.

Almost half (48 percent) were willing to spend an hour or more in the kitchen on the weekend, compared to only 37 percent during the week.

Four out of 10 said Sunday was when they made their big meal of the week, although cooks in the West were a little more likely to do that on Saturday instead.

And about half (48 percent) of those polled plan ahead by figuring out ways to reuse leftovers from their big dinner in new dishes throughout the week. Sukiyaki surprise, anyone?

For a free 64-page book of pork recipes, send a self-addressed mailing label to “Completing the Course: A Guide to the New Food Literacy,” NPPC, P.O. Box 10383, Des Moines, IA 50306.

Tube steaks

If you’d rather just watch somebody else cook this weekend, KSPS-7, Spokane’s public television station, is presenting its second annual “Cooking With Friends” pledge drive marathon Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Viewers were asked to send in favorite family recipes, and several have been invited to prepare their dishes live on the air. A cookbook of the recipes submitted will be available as a premium for a $60 pledge to the station.

Pork man’s meal

And speaking of pigs, a simple pork and pasta soup (well, as simple as any soup can be that contains Italian sausage and port wine, anyway) is on the menu for Sunday’s annual “Poor Man’s Meal” from noon to 2 p.m. at the House of Charity, 9 W. Main.

Cost is $10, with proceeds helping to support the downtown homeless shelter through the winter. DeCaro’s Little Italy restaurant is supplying the soup.

Fowl-weather friend

Turning to chickens, congratulations to Suzan Ward of Coeur d’Alene, one of 10 national finalists in the first “Crisco Great American Cooks Contest” for child-pleasing chicken recipes.

Ward will visit New York City later this month to prepare her Chicken With Apple-Cream Sauce for a panel of distinguished judges, including “Today” show weathercaster Al Roker. The winner will receive a Walt Disney World family vacation and $5,000 cash.

, DataTimes MEMO: We’re always looking for fresh food news. Write to: The Fresh Sheet, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 88210. Call 459-5446; fax 459-5098.

We’re always looking for fresh food news. Write to: The Fresh Sheet, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 88210. Call 459-5446; fax 459-5098.