About the Author
Nina Swan-Kohler, home economist, nutritionist, culinary professional and cookbook author, owns and operates Swan-Kohler & Associates Public Relations, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Swan-Kohler earned a bachelor's degree in home economics education from Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO. She earned a master's degree in foods and nutrition and communications from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Swan-Kohler has worked in the culinary and food marketing industry for the past 25 years. She develops and markets creative and delicious recipes for her food clients each year. Her recipes, feature articles and food photography continue to appear in numerous newspapers nationwide. She is an active member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) and the Consumer Trends Forum International (CTFI).
My Road to the Super Bowl...
Besides being a culinary professional, my other "claim to fame" is that I actually played (albeit a clarinet) in Super Bowl V. I was in the Golden Eagles Marching Band from Southeast Missouri State University that was featured during the half-time show. I like to think that I may be the only culinary professional to have actually played in the Super Bowl!
A little bit more about Nina's credentials as a culinary professional, cookbook author, cooking school director and instructor...
Nina has been cooking since the age of 3 when her mother invited her into her kitchen to help bake cookies and brownies. She began learning various cooking skills as she helped her mother. She joined 4-H and took all the foods classes and kept cooking and learning more. In Jr. High School and High School, she took home economics classes. Then in college, Nina majored in Home Economics.
Nina graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in Home Economics. She took a 6-month break and traveled to Trinidad and Tobago, two tiny islands in the Caribbean on a 4-H youth exchange program. She lived with eleven families while there and learned much about their culture and their foods. It was in Trinidad that she first came up-close and personal will all foods tropical. She loves to share tropical foods in her classes when the topic allows - especially her love for passion fruit!
Her first professional job was working as a home economist for the Dairy Industry for 3 years - teaching teachers how to teach nutrition to their students (Kindergarten through Senior Citizens) and how to incorporate dairy products into a balanced diet.
She then went back to school at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo, where she earned a master's degree in foods and nutrition and communications. While finishing up her degree, she worked fulltime for the Missouri Department of Agriculture and developed programs for Missouri food companies to market their products internationally.
Nina returned to the Dairy Council in a newly formed position as Media Specialist. She traveled throughout Missouri and Illinois promoting good nutrition and eating habits via the media - radio, TV and newspapers. She began demonstrating healthy recipes on television in 1978.
In 1981, Nina moved to Cedar Rapids to take the position of Director of Consumer Relations for National Oats Company. In this position, Nina traveled throughout the southern states promoting National Oats products - 3-Minute Brand Oats and Super Pop Popcorn. She managed the test kitchen where all recipes were developed and tested for the company, as well as, promoting those recipes via radio and TV interviews and demonstrations in top markets throughout the south, including Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Atlanta, Birmingham, Albuquerque, New Orleans, Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Again, Nina demonstrated recipes on television throughout the company's marketing territory.
In 1984, Nina took a position with CMF&Z Advertising and Public Relations as an account executive. She provided marketing, advertising and public relations assistance, along with culinary guidance for various food accounts for the agency including Seaboard Farms of Athens (chicken), Better Homes and Gardens, Beatrice Cheese & Jack Frost Sugar.
Numerous trips throughout the US and internationally have helped to open up Nina's world of food knowledge and food experiences.
In 1991, Nina started her own company, Swan-Kohler & Associates Public Relations. She continued doing the same type of work, but for her own company. National Oats Company became her first client and her first project ended up on NBC's The Today Show. Other clients followed: Seaboard Farms, Sunshine Nuts Company, Pioneer Flour Mills, Burleson's Honey, White Lily Foods, Farmland Foods, Kraft Foods, Burke Foods, National Pork Board, West Liberty Foods, Lesaffre Yeast, Java Creek, etc. In addition to developing marketing and public relations plans for these companies, Nina develops and tests recipes to promote the company's various food products. She also develops feature stories that are sent to food editors for their use. Nina develops and implements various marketing plans for her clients.
In 2003, Nina authored and published her first cookbook: "Tailgates to Touchdowns: Fabulous Football Food." She has been featured in Midwest Living Magazine, Southern Living Magazine and Southern Lady Magazine, to name a few. Plus, she has been featured in over 200 newspapers nationwide and had been interviewed on numerous TV and radio stations throughout the country. Nina was also the featured food writer for "The Woman Today" magazine in Cedar Rapids from 2003 to 2007. Since the beginning of 2008, she is the featured food writer for "City Revealed" magazine in Cedar Rapids, IA. She is a member to the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) and Consumer Trends Forum International (CTFI).
In January, 2006, Nina began teaching cooking classes in her home kitchen: "Cooking in the Kitchen with Nina." She wants to help people get over their fears in the kitchen and make cooking fun-so that people will cook more at home for their friends and family. Most of the recipes Nina shares in her classes are original recipes that she has developed. She teaches several classes each week on a wide range of topics and interests. To get Nina's current class schedule, please send an email to: swankohler@cs.com to be placed on the monthly mailing list. Or, click on the link on this web site: Cooking in the Kitchen with Nina.
Here's what Nina says...
- I've come to realize that football and food go together. You simply can't have one without the other. I wanted to help people make tasty and creative recipes to serve to their fellow tailgaters and football fans. I have been developing various recipes for tailgate and Super Bowl parties over the past few years and the timing just seemed to be right to compile those recipes into a fun-filled football cookbook!
- I really feel strongly about the importance of getting together with friends and family. I think tailgating is becoming one of the most popular forms of entertaining today.
- Anyone can "tackle" these tasty recipes!" I know that people lead busy lives so I have developed recipes that are quick and easy to prepare-in fact, nearly every recipe can be prepared in 30 minutes or less (start to finish).
- The easiest way to get the book is to purchase it online from my web site at www.tailgatestotouchdowns.com. The books are just a mouse click away if you have access to the Internet. Or, you can also write to me at Tailgates to Touchdowns, PO Box 11151, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52410. Send a check made out to Tailgates to Touchdowns for the amount of the cookbook, plus shipping.
- When I develop recipes, I don't stop until they are perfect! One of the criteria that I use is if I can easily stop eating it, then it's not good enough. My recipes have to be the kind that you always want another bite because they taste so good!
- From humble to high-end! If you want to have brats and burgers or grilled salmon, the cookbook has great-tasting recipes for people to enjoy.
- My passion is making foods that are tasty and fun! Football is so fun and I've developed recipes specifically for football fans.
Frequently Asked Questions of Nina:
- What are your favorite recipes? It probably goes without saying that I love them all, but I'd have to say my favorites are the Honey-Ginger Salmon, the Black and White "Referee" Chili and the Chili-Cheese Herb Biscuits. Or the Tex-Mex Cheesy Chicken Chowder. But I also love the Football Biscuits with Caramel-Apple Fondue and the Touchdown Turnovers. I must also say that these recipes are easy and quick to make - or as we say in the game of football cooking - the recipes are easy to tackle!
- You have actually played in the Super Bowl? Tell us about it. Yes, I like to think that I may be the only culinary professional (and likely the only cookbook author) to have actually played in the Super Bowl - OK - I'm sure that by the sound of my voice, it's pretty easy to detect that I was not a football player - but a clarinet player. My college band was the featured half-time show band at Super Bowl V. I remember that being there made quite an impression on me. Baltimore vs. Dallas
- I see that you recommend particular brands of products-can you substitute other brands if you can find those products in your supermarket? Yes, you can substitute other brands for those that I recommend. If you want, you can substitute other baking mixes and gravy mixes for Pioneer, other brands of flour for White Lily and other brands of honey for Burleson's. I will say though, that the brands listed in my book can be purchased nationwide via Pioneer's White Lily's and Burleson's web sites. Their web sites are listed in my book as well as on my web site.
- What is the biggest mistake that you think people make when tailgating? I think people get into habits and they serve the same foods at each and every game. (brats, burgers and beer) My cookbook is filled with enough new recipes for people to make something different for every game during the season. But, if you're stuck on brats or burgers, I have included some great new toppings such as Black Bean Salsa.
- What's the newest thing in tailgating these days? People are getting more and more extravagant with tailgating every year. Some people go the extra effort to set up beautiful tables with tablecloths, china, silver and crystal goblets. There are also more and more specialized products on the market for tailgaters such as special blenders, portable grills, and so forth.
- Are you a big football fan and tailgater yourself? Of course, I'm a football fan, but I must admit that I'm probably more passionate about the food served at tailgate parties than the game itself!
- Do you like to host tailgate parties? Of course, I love to host parties of all kinds - whether they're outside the stadium, outside on the patio or in a park. I love to gather people together and serve great-tasting and festive foods.
- I've noticed that the publisher for your book is Willing Vessel Books? Actually, Willing Vessel Books in the name of my publishing company - one arm of my public relations agency.
- I see that you have your "Top Ten Tailgating Tips" What is the most important thing for people to know as they are tailgating? For me, it's having fun with food and keeping the food safe. Remember to keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot! There are many new products on the market that will help tailgaters - such as coolers filled with ice, Pyrex Portables, special converters that plug into car lighters and so forth.