My favorite recipes

Nichole Kopp doesn’t like to cook.

She said she cooks out of necessity because she has a husband and two growing boys.

But she loves to bake and decorate.

Kopp and her husband, Jeff, moved to Colfax seven and a half years ago from Colorado when Jeff got a job with Schwietzer Engineering in Pullman.

“We definitely miss our mountains, but the rolling hills are pretty here too, especially in the spring when everything is so green,” she said.

The Kopps have been married 18 years and have two boys, Riley, 15, a sophomore at Pullman High School, and Samuel, 10, who goes to Jennings Elementary.

Nichole has been with the Whitman County Library for five years and recently got a new position as teen librarian and program specialist. She will promote teen-related programs at the library.

She said one teen program coming in October is Zombie Fest and another program in November will celebrate the release of the second Hunger Games movie.

“We want to find programs that are current to them,” she said. “We have a lot of competition.”

She said the library has programs to assist teens with computers and downloading books onto e-readers.

Kopp also will still be the children’s assistant and will still do baby story times on Thursday mornings.

“Cooking is not my favorite,” she said. “I love to bake and I love to decorate, like sugar cookies and cakes, and I love to decorate the table for holidays. We have big, holiday meals.”

With the family’s busy schedule, Kopp said she uses her slow cooker a lot.

“I like to make quick and simple things,” she said.

Kopp said she throws in a pork roast with a can of root beer and lets it slowly cook all day. When the family is ready for dinner, she drains the juice off the roast, shreds it, adds barbecue sauce and has pulled pork sandwiches ready.

Kopp said while the boys are having meat, she’ll generally have a salad.

“I don’t eat meat, but I’ll occasionally have chicken,” she said. She is not vegan, but doesn’t like the texture of any kind of meat.

Kopp said she’ll also put a beef roast in the slow cooker and adds potatoes and vegetables for her family’s dinner.

Her favorite time of year is Halloween and the Kopps not only have treats for all the trick-or-treaters, but they also host a costume party.

“I can be very creative with Halloween,” she said. “Last year, Jeff and I were G.I Joe and Barbie.”

The Kopps have games for the kids who come to the party and Nichole not only has fun decorating the house and her table, she cooks the main dish for the party, such as taco soup. Guests also bring treats. She said she’s still thinking about what character she will be this year.

“I always think when the leaves start falling, it’s time to get ready for Halloween,” she said.

Recipes

Sour Cream Enchiladas

1 family-size can cream of chicken soup

1 small can green chilies

32 oz. sour cream

1 pound Colby Jack cheese, grated

1 bunch green onions, chopped

6-12 corn tortillas

Mix soup, chilies and sour cream. Spread thin layer of soup mix in 9x13-inch cake pan. Spread soup mixture onto a corn tortilla, sprinkle with cheese, roll and place in pan, seam side down. Once all tortillas are filled, spread remaining soup mixture over rolled tortillas covering well. Sprinkle with diced onion and remaining cheese. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes.

Variation: Add pre-cooked diced chicken to soup mixture.

Christmas Morning Casserole

1 pound bulk sausage, browned and drained

7 eggs

2 cups milk

1 tsp. salt and pepper

6 slices white bread, cubed

1 cup Colby Jack cheese, grated, and more for topping

Beat eggs and milk. Add remaining ingredients to a lightly greased 9x13-inch cake pan.

Refrigerate overnight.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done.