Best Appetizer Recipes
Pepper Jack Tomato Soup
Bright tomato flavor is balanced by a hint of creaminess and mild kick in this takeoff of a restaurant favorite. Easy to make and especially tasty with the optional toppings. Those who live in the South Central, Pennsylvania area may be familiar with the pepper jack tomato soup at Isaac’s, a small chain of restaurants…
How to Prepare King Crab Legs
Learn the best way to cook tender, juicy king crab legs for fun and festive meals any time of year. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, birthday celebrations, and “just because” special dinners. If you want to make a statement, king crab legs will do it. The massive crustaceans, which are caught in the…
Jeweled Salad
This stunning salad adds fresh flavor and visual appeal to weeknight dinners and holiday meals alike. And while the recipe is delightful as is, there are many ways to customize depending on what you like and have on hand. Any meal can benefit from the crisp crunch and visual appeal of a good salad. Perhaps…
Jack’s Favorite Bloody Mary
A pitcher-full of outstanding Bloody Marys is easy to make and infinitely tastier than store-bought mixes. Bloody Maria, Dirty Mary, and Virgin Mary variations are included and are customizable by the glass. For added fun, offer a make-your-own garnish station! An olive loaded Bloody Mary with a crisp stalk of celery and a generous amount…
Best Breakfast Recipes
Egg White Muffins
A filling, wholesome, grab-and-go breakfast, egg white muffins are protein-rich, reheat well, and freezer friendly. Plus, there are options to use the whole egg, vary the add-ins, and customize for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. I’m the sort of person who likes to know what I’ll be eating for breakfast before I go to…
Homemade Sausage
Enjoy sausage with all the flavor of classic Italian sausage but without nitrates, nitrites, and other ingredients you prefer to avoid. There’s an oft-repeated saying that bacon makes everything better. Cooking with sausage is much the same way. From pizza, pasta, and egg sandwiches to soups, stews, spaghetti sauce, and casseroles (I could go on!),…
Easy Egg Taco
Protein-rich tacos require just three basic ingredients and provide a speedy meal solution whenever needed. A satisfying alternative to fast food that tastes great any time of day! Fast food can be a time-saving treat, but what if I said you could make something just as satisfying in less time than it takes to…
Kitchen Sink Breakfast Cookies
A hearty, wholesome combination of odds and ends you likely have on hand, these one-bowl cookies are worth waking up for! (gluten-free and vegan optional) When I first started making these cookies, my boys were little and there wasn’t much my younger son would eat. The only thing he wanted was milk, and he would…
Best Dinner Recipes
Chili Lime Chicken
Add memorable flavor to basic chicken with a blend of spices you likely have on hand. Perfect as is and in burrito bowls, with or without the optional sauce. When I first wrote about this chicken for a newspaper recipe column in 2015, I alluded to a debate I was having with myself as to…
Shrimp Creole
Easy to make but company-worthy, a spoonful of rice is all you need to complete this flavor-packed meal. Convenient prep-ahead options included. Shrimp Creole was one of my mom’s special occasion recipes, a meal she served when company came or there was something to celebrate. But the flavor and ease of this Southern Louisiana staple…
Parmesan Baked Flounder with Lemon Dill Sauce
Lemon, garlic, and a crispy crumb topping turn mild flounder into a dinnertime superstar. Easy enough for weeknight meals yet special enough for company. The roots of this recipe lie in a quick weeknight meal I made often as a young mom. It’s also the dish I credit with making fish lovers out of my…
April Fool’s Meatloaf Cupcakes
What’s more fun than playing a harmless practical joke on your family? This one, well…it takes the cake! When I met Ann and started cooking through her long list of recipes, I stumbled upon April Fool’s Fruit Punch. At the time, my kids were 2 and 4, and I knew I had to make it.…
Best Salad Recipes
Jeweled Salad
This stunning salad adds fresh flavor and visual appeal to weeknight dinners and holiday meals alike. And while the recipe is delightful as is, there are many ways to customize depending on what you like and have on hand. Any meal can benefit from the crisp crunch and visual appeal of a good salad. Perhaps…
From the Recipe Box: Edition 3!
In this recurring series, I dig into my decades-old recipe boxes and share three tried-and-true recipes, which after over a dozen years, STILL haven’t made it to the blog. A little different from my usual posts, this is more like an old-fashioned recipe swap! The latest edition of From the Recipe Box is seasonal, practical,…
Fall Slaw
A bag of slaw mix offers a convenient shortcut in this crisp, wholesome, seasonal salad. The easy vinaigrette is loaded with flavor and can be used in a variety of other salads. Not many recipes have extended runs on the weekly dinner rotation in our house. The continual need to develop new recipes means the…
Confetti Salad
A big bowl of this colorful salad comes together easily and is perfect for backyard barbecues, potlucks, and at-the-ready meals throughout the week! A fresh, colorful addition to a backyard barbecue or potluck, this vibrant salad is equally well suited to packed lunches and speedy dinners. The recipe has many attributes: filling fiber, plant-based protein,…
Best Dessert Recipes
Mom’s Classic Strawberry Shortcake
While this classic recipe is traditionally served as dessert, my family has long enjoyed it for the occasional dinner when local strawberries are in season. Served with milk or yogurt, it’s great for breakfast too! Making strawberry shortcake with freshly picked, local berries has long been tradition in my family. My sister and I loved…
Derby Pie
This irresistible dessert is everything you love about a chocolate chip cookie but in pie form, plus a hint of Southern charm. Easy to make and always a hit! Derby Pie is essentially a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie with pecans (or walnuts if you prefer) nestled in a flaky pie crust. More pie details…
Toll House Pie
Everything you love about a chocolate chip cookie but in pie form, this irresistible dessert is a breeze to make and always a hit! This pie dates back to when my boys, now in their twenties, were toddlers and we’d often get together with friends and their kids for casual weekend dinners. The kids would…
Valentine’s Day Heart Brownies
A little ingenuity and a heart-shaped cookie cutter is all that’s needed to make Valentine’s Day feel extra special! A heart-shaped cookie cutter does it again.. Start with this classically delicious homemade brownie recipe (minus the Halloween candy theme), an equally scrumptious Nutella brownie, or store-bought brownies, with Ghirardelli leading the pack in my humble…
