Kid-Friendly Recipes
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…
Homemade Hot Cocoa
A clever method of preparation means there are no lumps or scorched milk in this cozy cocoa recipe. There’s even a cafe mocha variation! Before I started The Fountain Avenue Kitchen, I had very little experience with photography. When I took the typical family snapshots, the camera decided how to focus and when to flash,…
3-Ingredient Mexican Cheese Bites
A curious thing happened a few days after my Mango Chicken Chili recipe appeared in this column a few months back. The chili recipe included mango salsa as a key ingredient. Figuring this might not be a regular grocery list item for many readers, I mentioned two reliable brands. Several days later, I received…
Classic Chicken Rice Soup
Wholesome comfort food as its best, this recipe yield is generous and is perfect for sharing, freezing, or enjoying leftovers throughout the week. As a long-lasting stomach virus worked its way through my family early last month, this soup (along with toast and ginger ale) was the only food some of us wanted to eat…
Honey Lollipops — a Natural Sore Throat Remedy
A 2-ingredient, natural sore throat remedy that’s easy to make and helpful to have on hand. Fun to give away too! In the past few months, I have read several times about the antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties of honey and cinnamon. I am certainly not a doctor, but when I saw the idea from my…
Pancakes in a Jar
The following recipe may be used as a gift but also as your go-to biscuit mix. Economical to make, it tastes fresher than store-bought, too. When presenting as a gift, a small container of maple syrup makes a fitting accompaniment. Who doesn’t love to start a weekend morning with a tall stack of pancakes? In…
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…
Baked Mozzarella Sticks
I’m a snacker. Though I never miss a meal, I still get hungry between those meals. Like many, I’m most prone to absent-minded grazing in the hour or two before dinner, when salty or savory high-carb snacks seem irresistible. Baked Mozzarella Sticks are a pre-dinner nibble I love for several reasons. First, the protein in…
“The Shifter”… plus a showdown and a slice of history
On the heels of Lititz winning the coveted title of America’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…
Giant Chipwich Cake
Get ready to see eyes pop and smiles stretch from ear to ear! As an added bonus, this recipe can be prepared in steps and stored in your freezer until needed. I vividly remember bringing my first baby home from the hospital. That first evening, my husband and I sat in our screen porch just…
Dark Chocolate Blondies (grain-free, no refined sugar)
Typically, I don’t mention the specific brand I use in a recipe unless it is integral to the recipe’s success or I just really love the product for one reason or another. I first became familiar with Bob’s Red Mill many years ago when my dad discovered he had to eliminate gluten. He never complained about all the…
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…
