American Cuisine Recipes

Breakfast

Crunchy Top Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

This tried-and-true breakfast offers a deliciously wholesome, make-ahead way to start the day. The recipe even won a national contest!    I love oatmeal. I eat it almost every morning. Old-fashioned or steel cut oats, baked oatmeal or boiled, it’s all good. I have experimented with countless baked oatmeal recipes and this is a hands-down…

Breakfast

Baked Pumpkin Pancakes (Grain/Gluten Free)

Pumpkin and almonds hold a special affinity for one another. Generally speaking, combining these two ingredients has the potential for greatness. Yet the concept of combining them to create a gluten-free pancake—baked in the oven, no less–had the potential for epic failure! I remember well the first time I made this recipe. The batter tasted…

Salads, Side Dishes

Apple Quinoa Salad with Lemon, Curry and Mint

A simple protein will turn this wholesome, flavorful, plant-based salad into a complete meal. Easy to make ahead and perfect for meal prep! Years ago, my vegetarian sister introduced me to quinoa.  She first explained that, contrary to what it seems, this grain is pronounced “KEEN-wah.” She further mentioned that quinoa is popular with vegetarians…

Condiments, Pastas

Balsamic Pesto Tomato Sauce

A few special ingredients join forces with ripe tomatoes for a memorable sauce that’s deceptively easy to make. The taste of marinara sauce made with in-season tomatoes is divine. Finding the time to peel and seed the required tomatoes, however, can be enough to make you buy a jar!  I decided to try a new…

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…

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