“The Shifter”โ€ฆ plus a showdown and a slice of history

On the heels of Lititz winning the coveted title of Americaโ€™s Coolest Small Town in an online contest conducted by Budget Travel in 2013, Columbia was designated as one of the 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2014 by Smithsonian magazine. I have long considered Lancaster County to be a pretty great place to…

Bourbon & Coca Cola Steaks

Typically, we keep steak preparation simple in our house. A sprinkle of spice rub is often as fancy as it gets. This clever steak marinade, compliments of Michaela Martin Kenkel (who has a delightful blog called An Affair from the Heart), earned points for originality. Until seeing her recipe, I thought of bourbon and Coke as…

Grilled Apricot Shrimp with Harissa Aioli

These flavor-packed shrimp will impress all who try. They’re equally perfect as an entree or appetizer and can be enjoyed hot off the grill or at room temperature.       From week to week I toilโ€”probably longer than I should๏ผover which recipes to share on this page. The decision becomes more difficult when a…

Grilled Chicken Kabobs

First, I must apologize to the readers who have subscribed to receive recipe posts via email. Yesterday, I inadvertently sent a draft of this post.   Although I am sure to make an occasional ‘woops’ (my family would tease that I make them daily!), it is truly my goal not to send pointless emails. The…

Lemon Chicken, 2 Ways

A reader shared her recipes for two lemony marinades, which are simple to prepare and complement a wide range of seasonal side dishes. We both ran side-by-side taste tests with our families to determine a favorite. Which would you choose?   When a reader takes the time to send me a favorite recipe, I am always…

Sesame Soy Salmon (an easy 4-ingredient marinade)

Four simple ingredients come together with ease in this flavor-packed marinade that makes the most of salmon and so much more!   I could hardly let a summer pass without sharing some version of my favorite 3-ingredient marinade. This marinade has been quite popular with my family and friends for at least a decade now,…

Slow Grilled Baby Back Ribs

The cooking time for these crowd-pleasing ribs is long but the effort is minimal โ€“ and the results are nothing short of finger-licking good! Though my husband doesnโ€™t do a lot of cooking, his talents shine bright when it comes to the grill. He has the Midas touch when it comes to tender, juicy chicken…

Favorite Thin Gluten-Free Pizza Crust

When planning a recent extended family birthday dinner, my sister-in-law joked that we are a pathetic bunch with the combined list of food restrictions.  Gluten-free, dairy-free, seafood allergy, vegetarian, and allergies to soy and a few other common foods thrown in for good measure.  Picky eaters are the least of our worries! But in all…

Smoked Mozzarella, Pancetta and Kale Pizza

Pizza night is always popular here.  The kids and my husband have a few long-standing favorites, so a new recipe has to be really good to earn a spot in the regular rotation! Recently, I received a delicious care package from Formaggio Cheese to use in a Cooking Planit recipe in conjunction with a contest involving readers’…

White Bean, Tomato & Chicken Pasta

A go-to meal that’s hearty, healthy, and easy to make with basic ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights yet worthy of casual entertaining, too.     We’re all looking for an arsenal of easy meals on those all-too-frequent busy nights, right? In the spirit of helping its volunteers, Girls on the Run recently asked its coaches…

Potato Crusted Broccoli and Bacon Frittata

A complete meal that’s so very satisfying, and you’ll want to use the easy potato crust over and over! All-in-one meals that come together quickly and easily make me a happy cook.  I think many busy people appreciate them as much as I do!  When the recipes offer great flavor and versatility, they often become…

Cheddar Hash Brown Crust

Some time ago, I shared a recipe that was essentially a speedy solution to a missing ingredient.  When I found myself without the ingredients needed to fill the intended recipe–sort of a quiche in a crispy, cheesy potato crust–I made the crust as planned and filled it with what I had on hand.  Everyone here…

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