About the Author

Rita Heikenfeld

Starting with the most important, I'm a wife, mom, grandma, aunt and sister to a very large family. My own family includes husband Frank, 3 grown sons and, to date, 11 grandchildren. We live on a little patch of heaven outside of Batavia, Ohio where we raise produce and herbs, and chickens for eggs. We heat with wood that we gather. Professionally, I've had numerous "careers". I'm an herbalist, educator, media personality, speaker, journalist and author. I've published books on kids & adults nutrition, gifts from the kitchen and garden, and herbs. My website abouteating.com reaches people who share their tips, thoughts, recipes and memories. My philosophy is simple. I have a deep faith and believe in the law of abundance: share your talents, encourage others. I love writing for the Countryside group and it's fun to see so many like-minded folks sharing my vision!

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Articles by Rita Heikenfeld

Pavlova Dessert: Easy and Elegant

August 11, 2019 . Rita Heikenfeld · Eggs & Meat

Pavlova is one of the easiest and eye-catching meringue desserts to make. You need to bake Pavlova at a low temperature for a relatively long time. This technique allows the meringue to dry properly, becoming crisp on the outside, with a slightly marshmallow-like texture on the inside.

Roast Chicken with Green Beans, Tomatoes, and Olives

August 7, 2019 . Rita Heikenfeld · Eggs & Meat

One of my family’s favorite dinners is roast chicken with green beans, tomatoes and a handful of Greek olives tossed in.

Chicken Marsala: Make It Tonight!

March 13, 2019 . Rita Heikenfeld · Eggs & Meat

I distinctly recall my first bite of chicken Marsala. It was at a local Italian restaurant where I spied it on the menu. No idea, really, of what it was …

Sheet Pan Roast Chicken Recipes

March 13, 2019 . Rita Heikenfeld · Eggs & Meat

Whether it’s an oven fried chicken recipe, an old-fashioned chicken pot pie recipe or a Mediterranean style chicken eggplant recipe, roast chicken recipes are becoming staples in our kitchens. Here …

Make Your Own Cured Salted Egg Yolks

February 22, 2019 . Rita Heikenfeld · Eggs & Meat

Raising chickens for eggs allows me to be pretty free with creating new recipes. But one trendy recipe I had yet to try was cured, salted egg yolks. The whole …

Crème Brûlée 101

February 22, 2019 . Rita Heikenfeld · Eggs & Meat

Crème brûlée with burnt sugar “crust.” Don’t let the fancy name fool you. Learning how to make crème brûlée is surprisingly easy. Impressive with its shiny crackling sugar top shielding …

Holiday Entertaining Made Easy

February 22, 2019 . Rita Heikenfeld · Eggs & Meat

Whether it’s an elaborate feast with the perfect roast turkey or a simple supper, Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks for our abundant blessings, and to remember it’s not …

The Secrets To Perfect Fluffy Scrambled Eggs

February 22, 2019 . Rita Heikenfeld · Eggs & Meat

When we were kids, Mom would sometimes fix us perfect fluffy scrambled eggs. I can still see her working her way through two large cast iron skillets filled with moist …

Chicken Caesar Salad – With Classic or Pesto Dressing Plus Homemade Croutons

February 22, 2019 . Rita Heikenfeld · Eggs & Meat

The first time I saw my husband making his signature Caesar salad at a restaurant where we both worked, I was pretty impressed. Why? He wasn’t known to embrace cooking, …

Homemade Cream Puffs and Eclairs

February 22, 2019 . Rita Heikenfeld · Eggs & Meat

The first time I made cream puffs was for a client during my catering days. At the time I could make just about any kind of dessert, including pie recipes from …