Courtney H. Diener-Stokes

2 months ago | countylinesmagazine.com | Courtney H. Diener-Stokes

Simple ingredients for an elegant yet rustic holiday mealIf you’re hosting Easter dinner this year on April 20th, you’ll want something special on the menu. For some, that’s a glazed ham. But for many, Easter, spring and renewal all mean it’s time to cook lamb. To find where to source locally grown lamb, we talked with owners of a family-run sheep farm in Downingtown.

Feb 27, 2025 | countylinesmagazine.com | Courtney H. Diener-Stokes

Irish soup, stew and a touch of Guinness hit the spotAs we ride out the final weeks of winter, few cuisines speak to us as clearly as Irish food for hearty comfort food on a chilly day. Fortunately for us, the March 17 celebration of St. Patrick’s Day isn’t the only time we can enjoy the authentic tastes of Ireland, such as rich pot pie, savory stew, creamy Guinness and butter-worthy soda bread.

Jan 30, 2025 | countylinesmagazine.com | Courtney H. Diener-Stokes

Homemade bread — amazing aromas and memorable tastesBread of all kinds, shapes and sizes is a food we love any time of day … or night. And it’s bread’s very versatility that guarantees an extra measure of mealtime pleasure. During the chilly winter months, a nourishing bowl of soup or hearty plate of stew feels almost naked without a thick slice of crusty goodness by its side. Other winter comfort foods give bread an opportunity to shine.

Jan 1, 2025 | gridphilly.com | Courtney H. Diener-Stokes

Every Monday around 9 a.m., Kimberton Waldorf School’s Food for Thought lunch program stocks up on Seven Stars Farm maple and vanilla yogurt. Located just across the street, the biodynamic farm is among the many local food producers and growers the school uses to source ingredients for their daily lunch menu.

Dec 30, 2024 | countylinesmagazine.com | Courtney H. Diener-Stokes

Tips to foster culinary independenceAbout six months ago, it dawned on me that I had to begin empowering our three kids in the kitchen. I decided 2025 would be the official launch for their newfound culinary independence. After all, our oldest was nearing 16 and was still announcing “I’m hungry” and “I’m thirsty,” while looking to my husband or me to feed and hydrate him. It was clear that being able to satisfy his own hunger and thirst was an essential first step.