My Favorite Recipes - Meet Michelle Cook, Colfax

Jana Mathia | Jul 21, 20110

While cooking from a box mix is still something Michelle Crook of Colfax is working on, she has long been proficient at cooking from scratch. She is almost to the point of making macaroni and cheese from a box that appeases her husband Robert, but she has such a variety of recipes that it seems she hardly needs to bother.

“Robert cooks from a box, I cook from scratch,” she said.

Michelle likes to try new recipes. She noted that the women at the library often hold new, incoming cookbooks for her.

“I love cooking,” she said. “I like any pasta or anything chocolaty.”

She aims to try two new recipes a week.

“So that way we always have something different,” she said.

She also likes to entertain.

“It’s fun to cook for bigger groups, especially when trying something new,” she commented.

Michelle moved to Colfax in 2006 when she married her husband, Robert. They met while she was living in Priest River, Idaho. He moved to the Palouse with friends and she lived in Post Falls until they were married.

After getting married, she was a stay at home wife for a time. She did a lot of scrapbooking and a recipe exchange. For the recipe exchange she made six cards with the same recipe and sent them to six other women who would send back their own recipe cards.

“I’ve got a box full of them (recipes),” she said.

In 2007 she went to work at Three Fork Orthopedics in Colfax. She started out as a receptionist but now processes referrals and authorizations for that office.

“I like the patient contact, to be honest,” she said. Michelle helps patients understand and use their insurance benefits and works with them to get approval for needed procedures.

She and Robert have a one-year-old son, Emmett, who keeps her busy. She said he is quite the charmer and flirt and he makes everyone smile. She and Emmett enjoy going to the library and park. On Saturdays Michelle spends as much time as she can outside, working in the yard or taking Emmett for walks.

Sundays, after church, they spend time with family. They recently moved her grandmother, Betsy Mart, to Colfax from Coeur d’Alene. According to Michelle, Betsy moved to help take care of Emmett when Michelle works.

Once a week the family tries to have an evening together at home. They get a movie and make a new recipe and spend the evening together.

Robert works at ATK Spear, an ammunition facility, in Lewiston. During his free time he likes to play paintball, surf e-Bay and play XBOX on-line with friends and family.

Michelle enjoys shopping secondhand.

“Thrift store shopping; you can’t beat it,” she said. “I’d rather buy stuff that’s used than new.” She particularly looks for antique frames and old-fashion signs.

She also goes to a lot of yard sales and the Colfax pawn shop, the source of the majority of their movie collection.

Michelle and Robert are looking forward to getting a house in the next year. They have resided in apartments since they married.

“I know I do want a big kitchen so I have more room to cook,” Michelle said.

Recipes:

Bacon Wrapped Smokies

1 lb. bacon, each slice cut in thirds

1 pkg. Little Smokies

1 lb. brown sugar

1 pkg. toothpicks

Wrap each smokie with a section of bacon and insert a toothpick to secure. Put bacon wrapped smokies into a casserole dish. Cover with brown sugar and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes.

Peach Citrus Smoothie

3/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup lemon yogurt

2 cup crushed ice

2 cup sliced fresh or frozen peaches

1/3 cup honey

1 Tbsp. lime juice

Mix all ingredients in blender.

Caprese Orzo Salad

2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

2 cup cubed mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup olive oil