Faith Nanney
When Faith Nanney, 12, heard about a recipe division in the Calhoun County Fair, she wanted to enter. “I asked my grandmother for measurements of some recipes we had done together, and my mom and I looked for some of the desserts and things we had made. I put the recipes together in a little wooden recipe box and entered it in the fair. I was so excited when I realized I had won!”
Interested in cooking and baking for some time, Faith’s first memories in the kitchen are those of baking with her grandmother, Nita West. “I stood on my little step stool and made tea cakes with her. She started me cooking, and in my eyes, she is the best cook in the world.”
Faith says she, her two brothers, little sister, and two first cousins have all been on that stool many times to make cookies, cut out biscuits, or be with their grandmother in the kitchen. “I love when Grandmommy makes a big home-cooked meal and we go over to eat and spend time together.”
She also credits her mom, Charlotte, as having a big part in her learning to cook. “She would let me sit on the counter when I was little and watch her cook dinner.” Now, they try to simplify recipes or taste and tweak as they go.
“My mom is big on ‘the fewer ingredients the better.’ Long recipes can be intimidating and you are not as likely to have the time to go into that much detail or have all of the ingredients on hand.”
They have a couple of simple and quick family favorites. One is smoked tuna dip, which Faith makes all of the time.
“When my parents used to go on trips to Florida, they loved smoked tuna dip which must have been a local favorite.” A friend surprised them and had some shipped to them for Christmas. Her mom looked at the ingredients and created her own simplified version. “Our favorite meal as a family is a fruit and cheese platter with smoked tuna dip and hummus.”
Another favorite of her dad, Ethan, and older brother, Harrison, is Spoon Burgers. “It’s a Nanney family favorite my grandfather used to make.” Younger brother, Samuel, tends to be their pickiest eater, but she says she can’t go wrong with anything peanut butter. “He’s even eaten a peanut butter hamburger!”
The Red Velvet Balls recipe was found on Pinterest when she was planning a Christmas party for ladies and girls at church. “My family jokes that I’m the activities coordinator at home so I decided to branch out.” She and her mom made them for the party and left a few at home since red velvet cake is a favorite of her dad’s.
Faith looks forward to getting her little sister Ella Green, 3, in on the fun and hopes to show her a few things she has learned in the kitchen. “Right now she thinks she’s the boss so we might have a little trouble.”
Pinterest is where Faith has found and kept most of her recipes, but as far as the little wooden recipe box, she sees many more recipes being added. “I didn’t realize I have made several things I haven’t written down.”
The box was a wedding gift received by her mom 20 years ago. “Mom’s recipes outgrew the box so she told me I could begin collecting my recipes in it. Maybe one day, mine will outgrow it and I can pass it on to my daughter, too.”
Bacon-Pancake Dippers
1 box pancake mix
1 package fully-cooked bacon
Pancake syrup
Make pancake mix according to directions. Heat griddle and pour pancake mix in long shape similar to hot dog bun. When pancake begins to lightly brown on bottom, place one slice of bacon in center. Flip and finish cooking pancake. Serve with small bowl of syrup for dipping.
Smoked Tuna Dip
1 large can solid white tuna (or 3 small cans)
1 1/2 tsp. liquid smoke
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Drain tuna and break apart chunks with fork. Add other ingredients and mix thoroughly. Serve immediately with tortilla chips/crackers, or chill. The longer it sits the better it gets!
Spoon Burgers
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 small onion
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 bottle Kraft original barbeque sauce
Brown ground beef and onion. Drain. Mix equal parts sweetened condensed milk and barbeque sauce in bowl. Add to beef and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Serve on hamburger buns.
Red Velvet Balls
1 box red velvet cake mix (along with other ingredients: eggs, oil, water)
1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese, softened
1 (12 oz.) package white chocolate chips or almond bark
Milk chocolate chips (optional)
Prepare the cake according to instructions. Let cool completely. Using your hands, break the cake into fine crumbs into a large bowl. Add softened cream cheese and knead until fully incorporated. Roll into approximately 40 cake balls and place on waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Place in the fridge to chill while preparing chocolate/bark.
Heat chocolate or bark until completely melted. Remove cake balls from fridge and place one ball at a time into melted chocolate. Using a fork, evenly coat each ball and return each to baking sheet. Return to fridge until chocolate/bark is firm. For an extra special touch, melt milk chocolate and drizzle over balls. Store in fridge.
