Fountain Avenue Kitchen

Ann Fulton, author, recipe developer, and cook behind Fountain Avenue Kitchen

A Trip to Japan 🇯🇵

Planning a trip to Japan or just curious about its culture? Discover the food, fun facts, and itinerary from our familyโ€™s recent journey. Japan had been on our familyโ€™s wish list for yearsโ€ฆand it somehow managed to exceed our expectations. Between the immaculate cities, deeply rooted traditions, legendary food culture, efficient transportation, and the sheer…

Summer Book List 2026

Top 10 picks for summer reading…plus a few honorable mentions! Daisy didn’t choose our latest recommendations, but she’s become my faithful reading companion over the past year. She rarely critiques my selections, never spoils the ending, and is always willing to settle in for a good storyโ€”so it seemed only fitting to give her a…

Lemony Dill Pea Salad with Salmon

Frozen peas and smoked salmon offer a super speedy way to whip up this fresh, flavorful salad, which can be enjoyed as an easy lunch, light dinner, or unique side dish when entertaining. A family trip to Paris last summer and a memorable meal at a chic little bistro inspired this herby, lemony, salmon and…

Black Bean Dip (or Salsa or Salad)

Enjoy this easy, endlessly versatile recipe as a dip with chips, a salsa for fish or chicken, a super simple salad, or as the foundation of a nutritious, plant-based meal. Perfect for a potluck and can be prepared in advance! Amidst all my experimenting with new recipes, this simple combination of ingredients never grows old…

Bruschetta Chicken (grill and stovetop options)

Bruschetta Chicken turns the classic appetizer into a summery entree by replacing the crostini base with grilled or pan-seared chicken for a nutritious, versatile meal thatโ€™s easy to make yet worthy of company! Bruschetta Chicken is the perfect summer meal, and the highlight is the no-cook topping made with vine-ripened tomatoes, a drizzle of balsamic…

Easiest Marinated Grilled Veggies

Equal parts of 3 basic ingredients create a flavorful marinade that can be used in so many ways. So easy you can memorize it! These colorful grilled veggies are a regular here. Alongside the classic grilled steak, barbecued chicken, pork or seafood, they are truly the only side you need…and as easy as they are flavorful…

Fiery Grilled Shrimp

Asian and Cajun flavors come together and create new levels of flavor in this prep-ahead recipe that’s delicious as an appetizer or entree. You know how when you eat something at a friendโ€™s house that is so delicious you hope to leave with the recipe? ย This is one of those recipes. When I first looked…

Cajun Seasoning

This classic spice blend mixes up quickly with common herbs and spices and adds a savory kick to a wide variety of recipes, from simple grilled chicken and shrimp to eggs, rice and beans, and popcorn.   A good spice blend offers one of the easiest ways to inject nuanced flavor into your cooking with…

Garden Pesto Grilled Pizza (with a family favorite recipe for grilled pizza dough)

  A layer of pesto under some fresh mozzarrella makes a simple pizza taste extra special.   I love to use my Asiago Pesto Spread and add whatever I happen to have on hand.  In this case, it was a few dabs of leftover Summer Tomato and Leek Sauce and Parmesan Zucchini Bites. You may…

Grilled Chicken Wings

Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, grilled wings are fuss-free and finger licking good. A choice of flavorings will satisfy every taste preference. In the early days of the quarantine, I was asked to start a recipe exchange with a group of women who were feeling cooped up and in need of…

Grilled Rosemary Lamb Chops

Rosemary and lemon zest add singular flavor to these restaurant-worthy lamb chops, which grill quickly to tender, juicy perfection and may just add some welcome variety to the weekly dinner menu. If lamb isn’t a go-to dinner pick for you, this recipe may be reason for that to change. When cooked well, lamb is extremely…

Grilled Shishito Peppers (with stovetop option)

Serve these sweet and (almost always!) mild Japanese peppers as a quick, easy, and surprisingly popular appetizer or side dish. Have you ever heard of chili peppers that are mildโ€ฆmost of the time? Such is the case with the shishito pepper, a small, slender sweet pepper that originated in Asia. A year or two ago,…

Avocado, Watermelon & Mint Salad with Feta Cheese

Bursting with flavor and color, this light summer salad complements grilled chicken, fish, and steak beautifully. The simple prep makes it perfect for effortless weeknight meals and casual entertaining alike. My paternal grandmother and my mother shared an extraordinary knowledge of flowers, an ability to use them in artistic ways, and a general love of…

Avocado Tomato Salsa

Keep this super simple salsa recipe in your back pocket all year round to add flavor and flare to chicken, fish, beans, salads, eggs, and in place of guacamole in your favorite south-of-the-border fare. Perfect as a dip with tortilla chips, too!   My family always enjoys something saucy on grilled meats, and the following…

Barbecued Bean Salad

A crowd-pleasing, family-friendly alternative to baked beans, this protein-rich salad can be prepared in advance and the flavor improves over time.   As I walked to school with my younger son one morning last month, he mentioned that his 6th grade history classโ€™s Colonial unit would be culminating with a special lunch. All students were…

BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado

In recent weeks, I’ve heard from many readers who offered kind praise for my Mexican Street Corn Salad recipe. Many noted the big flavor punch delivered by the small amount of lime juice that’s added to the mayo.  The bright, fresh taste it delivers happens to be my favorite part of the salad, too. In the following…

Best Grilled Caesar Salads

Cool, crisp romaine is quickly seared and then brushed with a classic, creamy Caesar dressing for salad that is sure to become a family and entertaining favorite. For a complete meal, grill salmon, shrimp, chicken, or steak to serve alongside. This is a recipe I lean on when I want a meal that feels effortless…

California Potato Salad

Buttery avocado, juicy tomatoes, and a bit of crisp bacon will shake up your potato salad routine for a light yet filling spin on the classic dish.     This absolutely delicious reader recipe was sent to me by Leola, Pennsylvania native Nancy Irvin James, who mentioned that the recipe got its name because she developed it…

Cilantro Lime Edamame & Black Bean Salad

Quick to prepare and brimming with zippy flavor, this colorful salad can be served as a versatile side dish or as an appetizer with tortilla chips. (We love it with Scoops!) Filling and fiber rich, leftovers make a great lunch. Essentially an elevated version of the age-old three bean salad, this recipe updates that classic with…

Classic Wedge Salad

Crisp, cold, and loaded with flavor, a well-constructed wedge salad complements virtually any meal โ€“ and can be the meal with the addition of a favorite protein. If I could count the number of times Jack has ordered a wedge salad at a restaurant, it would be an impressive number. Serving this salad at home…

Crunchy Top Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

Red, ripe strawberries highlight this seasonal favorite, which offers make-ahead convenience and countless ways to customize. In a pinch, frozen berries may be used.   I clearly remember the first time I served this seasonal addition of my original baked oatmeal recipe. My younger son, who was a rather picky fourth grader at the time, asked…

Overnight French Toast Casserole

Lightly sweet and tender with delightfully crispy edges, this mouthwatering baked French toast can be prepared in advance with basic ingredients. It’s special enough for holiday breakfasts and brunches but easy enough for any given Saturday or Sunday.   Warm fires, sweet cookies, festive packages, and lots of holiday cheer with family and friendsโ€”this is…

Open-Faced Egg Sandwiches (with advance prep options)

Not your usual egg sandwich, the flavor-packed topping can be prepared in advance and then baked on the bread when ready to eat. Crunchy, creamy, and utterly delicious!   My most vivid Easter memories include the year my dog, Ruffy, ate the contents of my Easter basket while we were at church. I also had…

Fruit on the Bottom Yogurt (or Cottage Cheese) Cups

  Almost as quick as store-bought yogurt cups but fresher and endlessly versatile! The convenience of store-bought yogurt cups is undeniable, but there are a few good reasons to keep a stash of this easy, homemade alternative on hand. Ready-made fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt cups tend to be more jammy than fruity, and they’re usually a little…


The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030

There’s so much attention on the new guidelines, but is it for good reason? You be the judge! While Fountain Avenue Kitchen isnโ€™t a platform for political discourse, the new dietary guidelines have sparked significant attentionโ€”and many thoughtful questions from readers. With that in mind, we felt it was important to shed some light on…

Health Benefits of Sourdough Bread

Sourdough bread has a reputation for being healthier than other types of bread, but is that really the case? Some say absolutely, but the full picture isnโ€™t entirely clear.  If you wear a weighted vest, or are trying to eat more protein, or maybe even dabbling in tradwifery, you may also be sourdough-curious! I say this…

Is the Ayurvedic Diet Legit?

The short answer is yes; and it is a complex question with a more nuanced answer. If you’re considering it, the following article provides a review of this very layered (pun intended!) practice as well as how to sniff out potential scams. First Things First โ€“ What is Ayurveda?Ayurveda is a method of healing that originated…

What We Get Wrong About Corn

There’s so much information out there on the nutritional value of corn (or lack there of), some of it valid, some of it not so much. How do we know if we should enjoy our corn or avoid it all together? If vegetables were in a movie, I imagine kale and spinach would probably be…

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