American Cuisine Recipes
Baked Oatmeal Breakfast Bowls
Inspired by a menu item at a local cafe, these satisfying breakfast bowls can be prepped in advance and assembled when ready to eat with seasonal fruit of choice. Move over granola (if only briefly)… we’re replacing crunchy with chewy. Traditional breakfast parfaits involve layers of fresh fruit, creamy yogurt, and crisp granola–and what’s…
Asiago Pesto Spread
Two types of cheese and two types of nuts provide nuanced flavor in this time-tested pesto recipe that will add memorable flavor to so many meals. (Freezes well, too!) The flavor of pesto is unbeatable and its uses are many. The only downfall of so many pestos is that they are…
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…
Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shake
A high-protein meal replacement that pulls double duty as dessert? Sign me up! This thick, creamy shake has actually served me quite well over the years. Because of my penchant for a nightly bowl of ice cream–truly one of the hardest habits for me to break–I’m always on the hunt for healthier options that truly…
Amish Baked Oatmeal
This wholesome family favorite can be prepared in advance and tastes a lot like a cinnamon oatmeal cookie. I typically take a minimalist approach, but the recipe is easy to customize through the addition of raisins, nuts, etc. Twenty years ago, when baked oatmeal was hardly a blip on anyone’s breakfast radar, a friend…
Abby’s Watermelon Salad
A little sweet, a little salty… this quick-to-assemble salad is perfect on a summer night paired with something off the grill. Though we only attended the same school for one year and weren’t even in the same grade, my friend Abby and I have a unique history and never fail to relive old memories…
Muesli Baked Oatmeal
If you were to choose your career all over again, what would you be? I love what I do, but I could have been very happy as a scientist. Given my love of experimenting in the kitchen, a career in the lab would have suited me well. Though it’s not exactly research for a new…
Cannellini Tomato Soup… with Grilled Cheese Croutons or Dippers
The unexpected addition of a simple can of cannellini beans provides protein and added creaminess when pureed into the soup…and nobody ever knows it’s there. Whether served with grilled cheese croutons or dippers, what kid (or adult) wouldn’t love it? Plus it’s easy to make with basic, inexpensive, pantry items. You may be wondering how…
Checkerboard Potatoes
A few simple ingredients come together with ease in this visually appealing side dish that’s equal parts fun and delicious! Coming up with a crowd-pleasing entree every night of the week can be challenging. As a result, side dishes don’t always get the attention they deserve. After mixing a marinade for a side of…
No-Bake Refrigerator Peanut Butter Oat Squares
A wholesome, no-bake recipe with peanut butter and chocolate (what’s not to love?), these chewy bars never last long! Since my kids were little, one of their favorite lunchbox treats has been a chewy peanut butter chocolate chip granola bar. What’s not to like? With their convenient portable packaging and ever-growing assortment of flavors,…
Beef Pot Roast
There’s something special about the aroma of a roast as it slowly cooks to fork-tender perfection. The savory smell is homey, comforting, and makes me want to curl up on the sofa with a good book. Curiously, I recently read that one’s sense of smell accounts for 75 to 95 percent of a food’s perceived…
4-Ingredient Low-Carb Cloud Bread
Use these unconventional but tasty rolls for hamburgers, breakfast sandwiches, and the classic ham and cheese. Lightly toasting the rolls and topping with peanut butter and jam is a very good option, too. Sometimes, I post photos of in-the-works recipes on Instagram or Facebook. If I want to do some trouble-shooting or tweaking, I…
