Chipotle Lime Crema
Fashioned after a friend’s recipe for lime crema, which she uses as an awesome finishing touch on her chili, this easy sauce adds the smoky heat of a chipotle pepper. The spiced-up version is perfect for chili and most anything based on south-of-the-border flavors. I use this versatile condiment on a couple of recipes…
Shortcut Blender Tomato Sauce
Great tomato sauce is so easy with this simple technique. The recipe may be doubled or halved based on the amount of tomatoes you have. Simply blend larger quantities in batches and choose a pot that accommodates. Freezes well! It never fails. Every summer I anxiously await the first of the red, ripe tomatoes…
Blueberry Lime Jam
Homemade jam is a breeze with these clear, simple instructions － even true beginners will feel like a pro. And thanks to the hint of lime, the end result is worthy of a specialty store! One of my fondest memories from my grandmother’s dinner table is, silly as it may sound,…
Dinner (and leftovers) out of one 3-ingredient marinade
Minimal ingredients come together with flavor-packed ease in this wholesome, all-in-one meal that can be customized to taste. Effortless summer cooking at its best! So, I did what I have been strictly avoiding for a very long time. I cooked on live TV. The thought of preparing something delicious in two to three…
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
I conducted a family taste test with both versions of this recipe and our favorite store-bought brand, and we were surprised by how much we preferred the fresher taste of the homemade options. I like to prepare the sauce in advance to have on hand for easy dinners of baked or grilled chicken, pork, or…
Greeked-Out Gorgonzola Dressing
Blue Cheese Dressing was the first salad dressing I ever tried at a restaurant, at a long-shuttered establishment called The Rose Bowl. It became a favorite and still is. Nowadays, I often pass it by because–tasty though it is, it’s so laden with fat. Happily, the following recipe is an option that is every bit…
Strawberry Rhubarb Sauce
Four simple ingredients come together with ease in this vibrant sauce that adds sweet and tangy flavor to yogurt, oatmeal, vanilla ice cream, pound cake, and more. Or enjoy it by the spoonful–just like applesauce. Freezes well too. For many years, my maternal great-grandmother taught in a one-room Amish schoolhouse. That meant teaching all…
Classic Guacamole
The best guacamole keeps it simple: ripe avocados plus a short list of flavorful add-ins in just the right amounts. Perfect as a dip, in tacos, on sandwiches, burrito bowls, and more. I tend to tuck recipes away and wait for what I hope will be just the right occasion for my readers. This…
Pimento Cheese Spread
This cheddar-based dip is just the right balance of cheesy, peppery, and tangy and can be enjoyed in so many ways. A Southern classic! Last weekend, my in-laws celebrated 50 wonderful years of marriage with a family trip to The Greenbriar in West Virginia. Their three children along with spouses, significant others and eight grandchildren…
Mango Pineapple Salsa
Recently, my friend Justine asked if I would create an orange recipe to shine a light on something near and dear to her heart. You may be wondering… Why orange? Orange is the official color of the non-profit Cycle for Survival, an indoor cycling event (a four hour relay to be precise!) that raises funds for rare…
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…
