Pasta Recipes
Cheater Macaroni and Cheese
This shortcut recipe is ideal when you’d prefer not to clean messy pots and pans. You don’t even have to precook the noodles! Settling on a Father’s Day recipe was particularly challenging this year. As is often the case, my inability to decide what to share in this space was more a case…
Greek Pastitsio
My make-at-home version of this classic Greek dish, which is often compared to lasagna, is lighter than the traditional recipe yet still packed with flavor. A family favorite for sure. November is bookended by two incredible feasts. Thanksgiving is the obvious end-of-month celebration, but if you live in my hometown of Lancaster, you may very…
Sausage Soup with Tortellini (and/or Beans)
In a world where monumental decisions are made every day, choosing which recipes to include on this blog and in my weekly newspaper column ranks pretty low on the relevance scale. Yet I deliberate long and hard on this! What will she want to eat? Which recipes might he not merely read, but also…
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…
Seriously Delicious Gluten-Free Crispy-Top Mac & Cheese
My younger son suffered through strep throat nine times before he was 18 months old, endured pneumonia twice before he finished pre-school, had his tonsils and adenoids removed at age two, and started weekly allergy shots before he was five. He felt miserable pretty much all the time and, consequently, did not want to eat…
Turkey Tetrazzini with Mushrooms and Kale
This update on the classic casserole is lighter, leaner, and loaded with wholesome vegetables. It’s a complete meal that can be made in advance and freezes well. If you have leftover Thanksgiving turkey, tetrazzini is a perfect way to enjoy it in a whole new way. If there are no leftovers to speak of,…
Spooky Spaghetti Stuffed Peppers
A kid-friendly meal that adults love too. Carving the bell peppers can be part of the fun! It’s dinnertime. You have leftover spaghetti but not enough to feed the family. What to do? In mid-October, “spooky” spaghetti stuffed peppers are sure to delight. I saw this silly idea years ago but forgot about it as…
Tuna in Rustic Tomato Sauce
Quick, wholesome, and brimming with flavor, this one-pan meal makes a perfect dinner for two, but the recipe doubles easily. As summer dwindles and the days grow shorter, I find myself savoring the many varieties of local produce that will soon be gone until next summer. Sad as I am to say goodbye to…
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…
Leftover Spaghetti Pizza
An easy way to stretch leftovers into a deliciously new dinner, this family-friendly meal is quick to prepare and sure to become a favorite. Economical and easy to customize, too! People often ask me if I spend my days cooking away in my kitchen. It’s a logical question. After all, I write…
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
This meaty sauce is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. The yield is a generous 3+ quarts, so there’s plenty to freeze or to share! This meaty sauce is the ideal foundation for a winning spaghetti dinner. It’s also perfect for sharing with a friend (or two) while having enough for your family as…
Vegetarian Meatballs (also known as neatballs!)
Since I started writing The Fountain Avenue Kitchen newspaper column and blog, I have had the privilege of meeting some truly fascinating people. I’m not referring to big name chefs or foodies either. I am talking about real people, just like you and me, who have some very interesting stories to tell. All of the…
