Dickinson's Cooking Crave team experiments with chocolate

The Cooking Crave mother-daughter duo of Laverne Diede and Rhonda Fitterer have been trying out different recipes to enter into this year’s “A Chocolate Affair.”

They entered last year’s tasting competition, coming in as the runner-up.

“We didn’t think about winning — it was something we were doing to help promote the show, plus help out Best Friends Mentoring, so it was really a pleasant surprise,” Diede said from her home.

Diede has been trying out several recipes for cookies covered in chocolate and a truffle candy.

“I’m not sure what we’ll enter yet, we’re just experimenting,” she said.

Cooking Crave is a cooking show televised over Consolidated’s Channel 18. It airs at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays. It also may be viewed on the website, www.ctctel.com.

Serving as the show’s host, Fitterer said, “I just talk, I don’t cook. Mom’s the cook. Growing up on a farm, she had opportunities to learn there. The show has opportunities for me to learn, but I choose to eat.”

The show was launched three years ago, and Diede wasn’t supposed to be the only guest cook. The show drew a positive response, and she’s been cooking ever since.

“We try to give good recipes that don’t take a lot of time, that are geared for our locality,” Diede said. “We don’t try to do anything gourmet. We try to keep it simple, healthy and good. And we don’t have a lot of time to tape.”

Diede works as a certified para-optometric for Eyewear Concepts, while Fitterer is Consolidated’s customer service representative. The shows are taped after work, but Diede tries to get the ingredients ready ahead of time.

People may not remember her name, but they recognize Diede on the street. Citing one experience, a woman at the grocery store shouted to Diede, “Cooking Crave Lady! Cooking Crave Lady! Where did you get those spices you were talking about?”

“We try to get submitted recipes,” she said. “After almost 3 1/2 years, I’ve probably resourced all my recipes.”

People may submit recipes by mailing them to Consolidated, 507 Main St., Dickinson, or going online to www.ctc

tel.com and click on Cooking Crave.

“I really enjoy it — it’s fun,” she said. “I always wonder what I’m going to do for the next show, but it always falls into place.”

Tags: lifestyle, chocolate, best