Wilma Knobloch has always enjoyed cooking, and her family has certainly appreciated her efforts. Recently, Wilma's cooking earned her recognition from the country cooking magazine Taste of Home.
Wilma's recipe for Fudgy Fruit Dip is featured in the Good Food That's Good For You section of the January/ February issue of Taste of Home.
Wilma is quoted in the magazine as saying, "This rich chocolaty dip is especially nice at holiday gatherings or served with fresh strawberries."
A Spear, Ill., native, Wilma remembers growing up working in the apple orchards owned by her family. Several of her favorite recipes include apples as an ingredient, according to Wilma.
Wilma learned to cook from her mother and some friends. She also credits several good cookbooks. "Tons of cookbooks," said Wilma's husband, Melvin.
Wilma and Melvin lived on a farm near Steen for 31 years. They raised hogs and butchered chickens. Cooking for five children, Derek, Denton, Julie, Dudley and Dustin, provided lots of opportunities to try new recipes.
Wilma was not aware they were publishing her recipe in Taste of Home. She found out from a friend who received her copy of the magazine in the mail a day earlier than Wilma did.
Wilma submitted six recipes for dips to Taste of Home about three or four years ago. The recipe published was among those recipes.
She has continued to submit periodically to Taste of Home and occasionally to the Farm Journal. Some of her recipes are included in the Lester Cookbook available at the People's State Bank, Lester.
Wilma's all-time favorite recipe is Garden Club Chicken Casserole which is included in this issue of the Crescent.
Her favorite kitchen gadget is the cheese slicer from Pampered Chef.
When asked what his favorite dish is Melvin diplomatically stated, "I like anything she fixes." His particular favorites are chicken noodle soup and apple pie, according to Wilma.
In addition to working at home, Wilma was employed at the Tuff Home for several years, first as a staff nurse, then as director of nursing before moving off the farm to Rock Rapids last year.