Lucky Cake (or Peanut Butter Chip Cake) with Foolproof Peanut Butter Frosting

A secret ingredient (that no one will guess) makes this cake delicious AND lucky…and who couldn’t use more luck in the New Year?   Would you keep reading if I told you that there’s sauerkraut in this cake? When I see a recipe with an oddball ingredient or an offbeat method of preparation, I’m often…

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,…

Maple Pumpkin Pie

Easy to make and delightful to eat, you may find yourself baking this pie well after the holiday season. For a pudding-like option, skip the crust and bake the filling in a lightly greased baking dish or individual ramekins.       If I counted the number of times I’ve made this recipe for “testing”…

Almond Flour Pie Crust (gluten-free)

A scrumptious grain-free pie crust is easy to make with this recipe and a few helpful hints. Perfect for all your favorite fillings! The perfect pie deserves the perfect crust. Traditional rolled crusts can be daunting for many, and some simply can’t eat the wheat flour.   Whatever the reason, this nutty, cookie-like crust is a…

Secret Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Skillet Cookie

A happy fusion of a fudgy brownie and the perfect peanut butter cookie, this grain-free dessert can be dairy-free with the use of dairy-free chocolate chips.    When I purchase a new product, I often look to see if there’s a recipe on the package. Until I started The Fountain Avenue Kitchen, I never thought…

Gladys Langford’s Apple Cake

On occasion in this space, I have mentioned the inspiration for The Fountain Avenue Kitchen–my maternal grandmother, Gladys Langford. Amazing aromas continuously wafted from her narrow kitchen, but it was her spunk and zest for life that made people want to sit down in that cozy space and stay a while. Day in and day…

Pumpkin Ginger Cookies

The addition of pumpkin supplies moisture and enhances the spices in this otherwise traditional (and utterly delicious!) ginger-molasses cookie. A few weeks ago, I bumped into a friend and walked away with a bag of egg replacer in my hands.  If this sounds a little strange, read on… Phil Lapp and his wife, Laura, are…

Carrot Cake with Almond Flour

Perfectly spiced with a tender crumb, this carrot cake is a family favorite for birthdays, Easter, and just because. Naturally sweetened and gluten-free too.   Among my stockpile of much-loved recipes, there are a few I “save.”  I wasn’t sure exactly what I was saving this special recipe for–maybe fall when carrots are officially seasonal or…

Blueberry Peach Pound Cake

A handful of basic pantry ingredients and fruit are all you need to whip up this fabulous pound cake. Plus, the flavors improve as the cake sits, so the recipe is ideal when looking for day-ahead preparation. On a recent trip to a local farm stand, a longtime employee mentioned that whenever she sees me,…

“Nice Cream” – pick your favorite flavor

One unexpected ingredient creates a creamy treat, to which other flavors can be added for a deliciously satisfying, dairy-free alternative to ice cream. As much as we adore our summertime scoops of ice cream from our favorite parlors (Carmen & David’s or Springer’s anyone?), this faux ice cream is shockingly delicious and refreshing–especially when you…

Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler (gluten-free with an almond-oat topping)

Sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb are a match made in heaven in this easy-to-make dessert that is destined to become a seasonal favorite!  In an effort to make my tried-and-true recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp into an equally loved gluten-free dessert for company a couple of years ago, I realized that I had essentially turned…

Giant Chipwich Cake

Get ready to see eyes pop and smiles stretch from ear to ear! As an added bonus, this recipe can be prepared in steps and stored in your freezer until needed.   I vividly remember bringing my first baby home from the hospital. That first evening, my husband and I sat in our screen porch…

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