Easy Yogurt Cream Cheese
Yogurt “cheese” really isn’t cheese at all. It’s simply yogurt that has been thickened into a soft, cream cheese-like consistency…and it’s delightful on your morning bagel or in recipes calling for cream cheese or sour cream. Although I have used fat-free and 2% yogurt to make this creamy spread, I prefer whole milk yogurt for a…
Lipton Onion Soup Mix Copycat Recipe
A homemade version of this popular pantry staple is easy and economical to make for convenient use whenever needed. A single recipe makes 4½ “packets.” Homemade versions of store-bought staples can be really useful. Sometimes, the DIY version is healthier, cheaper, and/or allows you to swap out off-limits ingredients. Most times, they taste better…
Spinach Pomegranate Salad with Vanilla Vinaigrette
As satisfying as it is beautiful, this vibrant salad is worthy of a holiday table or paired with a simple protein any night of the week! When I originally shared my Autumn Salad with Nancy’s Sweet and Tangy Dressing, my friend, Christine, mentioned that she serves a similar salad with a vanilla vinaigrette. Christine said…
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is easy to make at home with just two ingredients. The following how-to offers helpful details on which beans and liquor to use and how to store for practical use and gifting. Every year, I tell myself that I’m going to do my Christmas shopping early—and wrap the gifts too. In September,…
Roasted Root Veggie Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
The easy vinaigrette is key to memorable flavor in this endlessly adaptable, jewel-toned salad. A favorite protein makes it a complete meal. Think of all the people you see regularly, but only in passing. People with whom you may exchange friendly banter but never have the time to really know. Maybe it’s your faithful…
Homemade Bisquick Mix
My husband loves to make pancakes, and he’s a Bisquick kind of a guy. We really enjoy the 100% whole wheat and almond flour versions I often make, but I have to agree. His Bisquick pancakes hit the spot. Sometimes, there’s good reason to make a do-it-yourself version of a favorite store-bought product. Better price,…
No-Sugar Homemade Jam (choose your favorite flavor－even use frozen fruit－in this easy, small batch recipe)
This flexible, small batch recipe doesn’t use pectin as a thickener, so there’s no need for a copious amount of granulated sugar as is used in traditional jams. Instead it relies on heart healthy chia seeds and a small amount of maple syrup or honey. Healthy jam that tastes great…really? The perks of…
Seven-Day Pickles
Seven Day Pickles have been a family favorite around here for too many years to count. The tried-and-true recipe originally came from the grandmother of a dear friend and offers a taste of summer all year long! Every summer, I look forward to making seven-day pickles. Although the name implies a long,…
Old-Fashioned Horseradish Pickles
Make crisp, tangy pickles just like your grandmother used to make them with these step-by-step instructions for naturally fermented pickles. It’s a truly simple process and you can taste and adjust as you go. What is the difference between pickling and fermentation? Pickling involves soaking food in an acidic liquid – usually vinegar-based –…
Classic Peach Jam
Clear, simple instructions make canning your own peach jam a breeze. Perfect for enjoying the sweet taste of summer all year long! There is something special about homemade jam. The smell of fruit cooking is sweet and delicious and the aroma truly takes me back to my grandmother’s kitchen. As someone who lived through The…
Little Bites
Too often, I make new things but don’t get around to sharing them. I jot down the ingredients I’ve thrown together with every intention of typing them later. The piece of scrap paper I’ve inevitably grabbed to write down the recipe is, occasionally, never to be found again. Or the pile of papers I placed…
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 class’s Colonial unit would be culminating with a special lunch. All students were…
