American Cuisine Recipes

Condiments, Pastas

Balsamic Pesto Tomato Sauce

The taste of marinara sauce made with fresh tomatoes is divine.  Finding the time to peel and seed the required tomatoes can be enough to make you buy a jar!  I decided to try a new approach which eliminated  these tedious steps. The first time I made this, I turned around and bought more tomatoes…

Desserts, Frozen, Pies

Hot Fudge Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie

The winning combination of peanut butter and chocolate make this ice cream pie an instant crowdpleaser. Salted cashews, a drizzle of honey and make-ahead convenience add to the allure!   When I come across a recipe that is tattered and food-splattered, I know it must be good! This ice cream pie recipe is one of…

Salads

Grilled Steak Salad

Leftover steak makes quick work of these satisfying dinner salads, which are easy to customize with a variety of refrigerator and pantry staples. One of my go-to “fast food” meals is this grilled steak salad. Typically, I use leftover flank or flatiron steak, purchased from a grass-fed beef stand at our local farmers market. Recently,…

Desserts, Pies

Almond Crust (Gluten-Free Pie Crust)

Graham cracker crusts can be a crunchy, delicious part of an ice cream or pudding pie.  But if you are gluten-intolerant, a graham crust can make those desserts off limits. For my father’s recent birthday, I created a version he could enjoy using almond meal.  I think my kids loved the nutty, crunchy crust even…

Appetizers, Main Dishes

Apricot Ginger Shrimp Kabobs

Tender shrimp with Asian-inspired flavor is easy to prepare, quick to cook, and makes a popular appetizer or entree.    At a cookout years ago, my friend Judy dished up grilled shrimp that was absolutely delicious: light tasting and tender with just a hint of sweetness.   I jotted down the recipe, which was mayonnaise-based…

Pizzas

Pizza with Goat Cheese, Thyme & Honey Lime Chicken

Years ago, a friend who runs a local cooking school called Essen suggested topping a grilled pizza with Manouri cheese, honey, and thyme. Manouri cheese is a Greek goat’s milk cheese with which I was not  familiar at the time.  What threw me, however, was the honey. Honey on pizza?  I like to mix sweet…

Breakfast

Peach Swirl Baked Oatmeal

Easy to prep ahead with pantry ingredients and fresh peaches, although frozen peaches work well too. Either way, this breakfast is worth waking up for!    Baked oatmeal is such a favorite breakfast in our house, and I have fun inventing new recipes with each season. With its bounty of fresh fruit, summer affords numerous…

Side Dishes

Balsamic Dijon Grilled Vegetables

In my book, grilled veggies are fabulous for so many reasons.  First and foremost, they taste great.  But also, they are easy to prepare and need nothing more than a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper.  However, they can be fancied up with any number of marinades and herbs.  Vegetables can be grilled in…

Main Dishes

Barbecue Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

Meatloaf in muffin form offers a “just right” bite that’s fun to eat and can be frozen for a speedy protein addition to any meal. This flavorful take on the classic meatloaf was inspired a while back by some leftover homemade barbecue sauce. While I often use dry oats as a binder, you may also experiment…

Desserts

Blueberry Crisp (A.K.A. Blueberry Jammie)

An irresistible dessert with a silly nickname, this classic crisp is easy to make and oh-so good to eat!   When we visit my in-laws at their lake house every summer, one of our favorite activities is blueberry picking. We can literally walk out the door, empty pretzel tub in hand, and pick away.  …

Breakfast

Baked Egg Avocados

Sometimes, I “share” an idea on my Fountain Avenue Kitchen Facebook page.  It might be a recipe from another website that I think looks delicious, or perhaps just a helpful hint or novel idea that had never occurred to me. This is one of those shares that I was inspired to try right away.  I…

Pastas, Salads, Side Dishes

BLT Ranch Pasta Salad

Classic flavors come together with ease in this BLT pasta salad that’s equally perfect for family meals, packed lunches, and casual entertaining. Add grilled or rotisserie chicken for a well-rounded meal.   To celebrate my older son’s 14th birthday, we had a group of his friends over for a cookout. He chose hamburgers and hot…

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