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
Man, I’ve been having a rough go of it in what I think we can all agree has been a rough year. My fiancé and I decided to throw on our favorite guilty pleasure tv show, Guys Grocery Games. Hearing you talk about your partner, your desire to donate to a larger cause – man it made me remember for a second that those of us who live with someone they love are lucky every day.
Thank you for the reminder to be well man. Now excuse me while I scour your blog for recipes to cook while I hide from the rest of 2020!
Pat, you have no idea how happy you have made us with this comment. The world seems dark and scary at the moment, and you are so right…it’s especially during these times that we need to hold onto to what matters most in life: love. And good food, too, of course!! Thank you so much for sending us this note, it means the world to us! Do stay in touch!! All the very best, Kris & Wesley
So happy I just happened to find you on the “web”. Bought an instapot and watched your video on short ribs. Well, you sure made me feel more comfortable with that new method of cooking, and the ribs are delicious! So, thank you both, and I look forward to learning more cooking tips and recipes.
Hi Kathleen!! We are THRILLED you found us and we found YOU!! Yay! Congrats on your new Instant Pot! You will get more and more comfortable with it the more you use it. We have quite a few recipes that we think are great IP dishes. And we’ve got more on the way! Thank you for the great review and please stay in touch!! All the very best, Kris & Wesley
Hi Kris and Wesley,
I just went to the store and am about to make your Bolognese sauce. But I just had to tell you first how much I love you guys. Your videos make me happy (sometimes I just stream a bunch for entertainment purposes:) and get me excited about getting in the kitchen and whipping up something fabulous for my husband. I think he loves to eat almost as much as Wesley! Have made several of your recipes and can’t wait to add this one to my “Amazing” list. Even though I haven’t made this yet the 5 star rating is for y’all. Wonderful website, fun and mouth watering videos, amazing recipes and pictures. You guys are the total package. God bless
Hi Darlene!! We can’t express enough how much this means to us!! We do what we do because of awesome people like you!! And it’s great to have a partner in life who loves to eat your culinary creations, right?? LOL!! Let us know how the bolognese sauce turned out and what you and your husband thought of it!! Thanks again for the wonderfully kind words and the GREAT review! That means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Hey guys! This is way more than a cooking experience! Cooking and food is a form of sharing, loving, and letting people know they are important. You guys are the ambassadors to all of the above! You allow people who would never attempt to cook from scratch the confidence and knowledge to expand their hidden culinary skills! We are so blessed to have you guys! Keep up the amazing work and I’m still waiting on the loon cookbook! Will be a New York Times bestseller!!
Jay!!! You have no idea how much you have filled our hearts with joy from reading your message to us! We love doing what we do because of people like you!! Thank you so much. That truly means the world to us! Stay in touch and stay tuned…lots more food and fun on the way!! And eventually a cookbook, we promise!! All the very best, Kris & Wesley
I make your ‘Best Ever Chicken Salad’ every Sunday evening for my lunch during the week! I usually put it on top of a bed of arugula drizzled with olive oil and red wine vinegar! IT IS THE BEST!! When I make it, people are always commenting on how good it is!! Thank you for such a great recipe!! You guys make me smile!!!!!
Hi Cara! And YOU make us smile!!! We are so happy you are loving our chicken salad recipe! And thank you for letting us know! We appreciate that so very much!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Kris:
While Primio Taglia is a decent “supermarket” brand of cold cuts, they are not as good as Boar’s Head. But Thuman’s is better than either and even their cheeses are quite good.
Chuck
Hi guys. I came across your recipes while I was searching for how to make Tomato Pie .
I found you guys, and made my first tomato pie last weekend. My hubby and I planted 4 tomato plants in April, and we usually have about 50 tomatoes sitting on our dining room table (at any one time) and we are cooking many types of roasted tomatoes, tomatoes cooked w/ herbs w/ chicken breast, garlic, etc.
I am on “Weight Watchers” and have lost almost 94 lbs in the last 2 years so try to count my points and eat healthy…….so, I only ate 1 piece of the tomato pie, but gave the leftovers away to family. (They loved it)
I do appreciate that you give very good verbal directions, as I am “legally blind/ low vision”, and use very large print or braille, but I take notes and type up the recipes later.
Glad I found your site. I w/ keep watching, and making some of your great recipes…
Thank you.
Debby Leung
San Leandro, CA 94579
Hi Debby! Your words make us so very happy to hear. Congrats on the amazing weight loss! That is so inspiring! And 50 tomatoes on your dining room table are inspiring, too!! We are so pleased to hear that our videos help you in preparing the recipe. If there is anything else we can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We just completed a full ADA audit of our site, and have begun the process of implementing steps to make sure it is as 100% accessible to everyone as humanly possible.
Thanks again and we are so glad you found us and we found you!!
All the best,
Kris & Wesley
I found you guys searching for popover recipes…I still need to make them but I just wanted you to know your faces brought a smile to my face, you can see your good energy x
please add me to e-mail list!
Hey Kris & Wesley! Just checking in to tell you I made your General Tsao’s Chicken last night and it was amazing! You’re right when you say it’s BETTER than restaurant quality. The tomato paste was a surprise ingredient but made that final sauce beautifully thick and delicious. I will say it’s a lot of “steps and sauces” to do all at once, especially if you’re entertaining – last night was just me and Ken. I imagine next time I could easily prepare all the sauces, mince the ginger and garlic together, and marinate the chicken (with everything but the corn starch) a few hours (or more) ahead of time then “throw it all together” per the recipe when it’s time to cook! The added bonus to preparing this was watching your video again before I started. You guys are a hoot! Hope you’re both well and happy. Until next time, all the best! Rory
PS. I have made your Chinese Dumplings several times to rave reviews and actually pan-fried then steamed them. Deee-licious! Wish I could send you the photos I took of them. They look better than the photos on any Chinese take-out menu!!
Hi Rory! We are so THRILLED to hear that you had such great success with our General Tso’s recipe! You are right, there are quite a few steps, but we have so much fun making it, and it sounds like you did, too. And yes, you can absolutely do a lot of the prep steps in advance. Even a day in advance. Once the cooking starts, it all comes together very quickly!! We are so happy that you are enjoying our site and please keep in touch and let us know of other recipes you try!!! Best, Kris & Wesey
Your Chicken Salad recipe is unequivocally the best I have ever tasted! The blending of so many fresh and vibrant flavors makes what is often just a run of the mill chicken dish a true standout. I’m now greatly enjoying perusing your many recipes, and can’t wait to try more dishes!!
Hi Cynthia! We can’t tell you how much that means to us! We are so thrilled you had such success with the chicken salad recipe and thank you so much for letting us know!! Stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
We are putting together a college cookbook for our grandchildren who attend TCU , A&M and Texas State. We love your Cajun baked shrimp and would love permission to include in the the small booklet, with picture. Please advise if this is acceptable. I was raised in my early childhood in Opelousas and your recipe is very similar to my the one my Mom used. Love your site. Please advise if permissible.
thanks
freddie
Hi Fred, wanted to make sure you saw our response (not sure if it went through). Of course! You’re more than welcome to use our Cajun shrimp recipe with the photo. If you could give credit to us (How To Feed a Loon or http://www.HowToFeedaLoon.com) that would be great!
I just discovered you both searching for a banana dessert recipe to satisfy my craving for banana cream pie! I’m now watching your wedding playlist and crying my eyes out. I am so grateful to have discovered two people who create joy and share it with so many people! Thank you for the amazing gift of this blog and YouTube channel.
Juliette!! You just filled our hearts with such happiness!! THANK YOU so much!! We are so glad you found us and we found YOU!! Please stay in touch!! All the very, very best!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Krids and Wesley, I have fallen in love with your recipes and your blog. You are absolutely fabulous and the food I have been able to create with your guidance dances on my taste buds. Love the two of you and your blog!!
Hi Janie! You have no idea how much that means to us to hear! Thank you so so much and we are so glad you are having fun with our recipes and the blog!! Please stay in touch and stay tuned…lots more on the way!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
I was doing a pork shoulder and found your site. I prepared as recommended and my family of four loved it! I susually do not make gravy but your directions made sence and were simple. My ten year old who doesn’t eat anything couldn’t stop eating it. 🙂
Great job and love your fun attitude.
Hey Felix! We are so glad you hit it out of the park with the pork shoulder. And major win with your 10 year old!! Woo hoo!! Thanks so much for letting us know! Stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
How to feed a loon, indeed! As a first time visitor to your site, I have become an instant fan. Your recipes are simple but not simplistic, delicious and clearly made with joy.
You’ve just given me a big boost in the kitchen during shelter in place, where I’m feeding 4 college age grandchildren who flocked home to be with us. Cooking is love, and you’ve reminded me of how important laughter and appreciation are and how lucky I am. You are talented and such lovely guys – so glad I found you!
Cheers!
Hi Gail!! You are making our hearts swell with joy!! We are so glad you found us and we found you!! We couldn’t be more pleased to hear that we’ve helped in some little way during these challenging times. Thank you so much for your kind words, it truly means so very much to us. Stay safe, stay in touch, and stay tuned…lots more on the way!! Cheers!! Kris & Wesley