Hello! Welcome to How To Feed a Loon! We are thrilled you stopped by!! If you’re new to our blog, you may be wondering, What in the world does “How To Feed a Loon” mean? We’re glad you asked!
We (Kris Longwell and Wesley Loon) have been married for over 30 years! We met in 1989 in New York City and it was truly love at first sight.
To repeat: Wesley’s last name is ‘Loon.’ As you may have noticed, there has never been a more aptly named person in the world. Which is why I affectionately refer to him as my “Loon.” And, he loves to eat my food and gets such joy helping me in the kitchen. When trying to think of a name for our blog way back when it all started, it came pretty naturally: How to Feed a Loon.
CULTIVATING CULINARY SKILLS
Throughout the years, I have continuously worked to hone my skills as an expert home cook. I have studied with some amazing chefs, participated in intensive culinary ‘boot camps’ at the world-renowned Culinary Institute of America in New York, and have read and devoured what seems like every cookbook and food blog in the world. Wesley and I have had the honor of cooking and demonstrating our skills at numerous home and culinary shows throughout the country.
I had the exhilarating and somewhat surreal opportunity to compete on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games on the first-ever “Home Cooks” edition. Before filming began, Guy explained to us that he was reluctant to have a ‘home cooks’ episode, because the show is so demanding, and, up until then, only included professional (and often high-profile) chefs.
He told us four contestants that his producers scoured the internet and after many, many auditions and interviews, landed with four of the best home cooks in the country. I was honored, and admittedly terrified. But it was amazing and the judges loved my food.
In the fall of 2013, How To Feed a Loon started as a hobby, but soon turned into something beyond our wildest dreams. Throughout our journey, Wesley has become a master at food photography, video editing, food styling, and much more. His photography has appeared in dining/recipe calendars published by BIC Graphic, digital and hardcover cookbooks, and on the Cooking Channel.
You will notice that many of our recipes include a video of us in the kitchen making the dish. Through plenty of laughter, we show you exactly what you need to know to make the “Loon Approved” dish at home.
TEACHING WHILE HAVING FUN
We have the most amazing fans and followers on the planet. What we hear most is how we help home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen. We strive to bring joy and fun as you prepare comforting dishes that you will not only be proud to serve to family and friends, but recipes that you will want to make time and time again.
Here is a comment from a wonderful home cook in Texas that touched us so deeply:
“As are all of your recipes, y’all (yes I’m from Texas) are both gifted with the ability to take some of the most difficult and seemingly incomprehensible recipes and show us how to prepare them in such a way that we feel there’s nothing we can’t do in the kitchen….Y’all are a part of my family, from my sons and daughter that cook to my husband , myself and many more extended members of our family that I have shared your amazing site with.So from our family to yours; Love and thanks from Deep in the heart of Texas ❤️”
We have a simple premise here at How To Feed a Loon: Let’s do really delicious food, and let’s have a ton of fun doing it.
And most importantly, let’s show you exactly how it’s done in an easy-to-understand way, so your kitchen becomes your ‘happy place.’
Thanks for stopping by. Please come back often. And don’t ever hesitate to send us a note with any questions, thoughts, or feedback about a particular recipe or video, or anything that might be on your mind!
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND NETWORK TV!
And don’t forget to follow us on: YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. And if you are a subscriber to the RCN Network, check out our TV Show (check local listings for air-times).
We love hearing from our friends and fans! We couldn’t do what we do without you or our two beautiful dogs, Ebenezer and Florence, or as we call them…Eb and Flo.
And why would we want to?
We wish you the very best life has to offer…and here’s to Fun, Food and Fabulousness!!
Cheers!
Kris & Wesley
Omg y’all are the best! I stumbled (and darn glad I didJ onto y’alls site searching for Tex-mex fajitas! I’m a homesick Texan living in Georgia and I just miss it so, and so do many recipes. They just don’t taste the same, anyway y’alls did! I made the chicken but not the beef yet, next on my list. Thank you sooo much! And are y’all from Texas? If not you have the best grasp on it out there! Thanks again!
Shannon
Hey Shannon, and fellow-Texan!! Woo hoo!! So so so glad you liked our fajitas recipe! We are HUGE fajita lovers and we’ve been making them for years. I (Kris) am a native Texan, but moved to NYC 30 years ago, which is where Wesley (the Loon) and I met. We moved back to Texas in 2018 and love it so much. We have family and friends in GA, too. Thanks for reaching out to us and let us know how the steak fajitas turn out. Those are our favorite! And check out our other Tex-Mex recipes…we’ve got a lot!!! Stay in touch! xoxoxo Kris & Wesley
Hey gentlemen – great to discover you!
Was attracted by the pic of your Jumbo Lump Crab Au Gratin on Pinterest.
Have a lot of friends from the Gulf Coast and have learned from them something you might add to your suggestions about selecting jumbo lump crab meat – Always try to buy non-pasteurized crab meat.
True, you need to keep it directly over ice until cooking but it’s all the difference in the world in the final dish!
Hey there, Robert!! So great that you found us!! That’s a great point about the non-pasteurized crab meat. We did know that, but need to share that info with readers. We will definitely update the recipe to include that. Thanks for the note and please stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
I am looking for your Biscuit and sausage gravy That I saw Kris make and now I can not find it Please Help . Thank you
PS I do not know what you mean by website? Please explain Thanks
I am looking for your Biscuit and sausage gravy That I saw Kris make and now I can not find it Please Help . Thank you
Hi Vera, here is the link to the Biscuits and Gravy: https://howtofeedaloon.com/buttermilk-biscuits-sausage-gravy/. Let us know if you have any questions!
Too funny! I came to your website especially for pork shoulder help! You have a brand new fan! I’m gonna be lucky to tear myself away from your website to get to the grocery store. Thanks for the smiles!
I love you guys! Making your pork shoulder recipe for dinner tonight!
Hi Mary!! Thank you so much! Sending lots of love right back at ya!! So, how did the pork shoulder turn out? Really hope you had big success!! Let us know when you have a chance! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Too funny! I came to your website especially for pork shoulder help! You have a brand new fan! I’m gonna be lucky to tear myself away from your website to get to the grocery store. Thanks for the smiles!
Hey Karen!! Woo hoo!! We are soooooooo very happy you found us and we found YOU!! Let us know if you have questions about any of the recipes you are interested in! And stay tuned…lots more to come!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
OMG, it was wonderful! Making it again today!
AWESOME!!!! Woo-hoo!!
Love you guys! I’m a big fan 🙂
Fabulous, best ever chicken salad! I am new here…and will remain forever!
That is so awesome to hear, Barb! So glad you found us! And so happy you loved the chicken salad. That one is near and dear to our hearts, for sure! Stick around, lots of other great recipes and many more on the way!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
This is a fabulous site. I love all your recipes and you show just exactly how to do it step by step. You are both great and make me smile each time I watch you. Please keep sharing and teaching us. LOVEEEEE you guys. MUAH!
Hi, Just wanted to thank you for the scrumptious recipe for chicken salad and homemade mayonnaise. I have made it twice for guests and each time have been told that it is the best they have ever tasted.
Hi Deborah! That is so awesome to hear!! That truly makes us so very happy. We are thrilled that you had success with the chicken salad and the homemade mayo (yay!!). Congratulations and thank you so much for letting us know!! That means the world to us. Please stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Hi guys, nice site. Wesley are you from Canada? I’m, originally, from NFLD.
PS…my step-daughter got her full-degree from the CIA; she’s a master-baker…
r/
Marcel
Hi Marcel!! So sorry for the delayed response!! No, Wesley is actually from South Dakota! But some of our dearest friends are Canadian and it’s one our most favorite places in the world to visit! Congrats to your step daughter! That’s an impressive achievement! I’ve studied at the CIA, too (accelerated program), and it’s top notch! Thanks for the note and please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
Pretty please add me to your email newsletter!! I LOVE YOU GUYS !!!❤️
Hi Leslie!! DONE!! You are added to the list!! Much love!! xoxoxo Kris & Wesley
Kris, thank you for the chicken francese recipe, I’m from Italy but mine always comes out wrong. Please add me to your email list
Hi Mara!
That is so wonderful to hear! We are so happy you had success with our chicken fancese recipe!! And we added you to our email list!! So glad you found us and we found YOU!! Stay tuned…lots more to come, and look around…there’s a lot of good recipes on the site!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Please add me to your email list.
Thank you,
Carolyn
Will do, Carolyn!! Thanks! Kris & Wesley
Hi!
I want to try your amazing crab au gratin recipe but I also want those pots! The link you posted no longer works. I can find 3.5 inch pans but not the depth yours are… please help!
Thank you so much,
Candy
Sent from my iPad
Hi Candy!! Sorry for the delayed response here!! And thanks for the heads up about the expired link. We’ll get that fixed. We use these skillets when preparing this awesome crab au gratin dish! Let us know how it turns out!!! Best, Kris & Wesley
” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>Small Cast Iron Skillets
Lodge Pre-Seasoned 3.5-Inch Cast Iron Skillet Set for Side Dishes or Desserts (Set of 4)
Right, found you on YouTube, then on Insta, now found you on here too. I’m not stalking you, honest!
Just made your okra today, and now I want to make biscuits. Thank you for making it all so accessible, and easy to do.
Lisa (Cookwitch)
Ha!! We love it, Lisa!! So very glad you found us and we found you! On all channels! Even better! Don’t hesitate to ask of any questions or concerns. Now, let’s have some fun in the kitchen!! xo Kris & Wesley
Great site and some fantastic, easy to replicate recipes! Very engaging and I’m looking forward to your sites evolution … and of course more recipes.
Hi gents!
I found your site while searching for meat pie recipes. I’m in a local production of Sweeney Todd and looking to make some pies for the cast party. I love how you put so much flavor in the meat pies!
You both are adorable to watch! And these recipes are great!
Hi Naomi!! Congrats on Sweeney Todd! That’s one of our all-time show!! And we are so glad you are making these meat pies for the cast party! That’s awesome!!! We hope you and the entire cast enjoys them (and not a single pussy cat was harmed into he making of these pies!). Let us know how they turn out! Kris & Wesley