Kid-Friendly Recipes
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…
Amazing Parmesan Garlic Bread
Spaghetti for dinner is always a hit here. If I take a few extra minutes to make this special garlic bread, the smiles are twice as wide! For ease, I usually make the fried garlic a night or two before for this broccoli side dish. But as mentioned below, roasted garlic may also be used.…
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…
Quickie Cookie Baked Oatmeal
When I have the pleasure of some one-on-one time with my 3-year-old niece, I like to think of a project or activity she will really enjoy. Whether it’s making homemade play dough (has to be blue!) or a simple walk to the playground, I have at least as much fun as she does. After making…
April Fool’s Meatloaf Cake
A family favorite meatloaf recipe masquerades as a cake in this tricky dinner that delights kids and adults alike! My dad’s favorite April Fool’s joke wouldn’t play very well this year. When I was a girl, he’d celebrate this mischievous holiday by waking me up with the proclamation that a foot of snow had…
Instant Baked Oatmeal — 4 ingredients with a protein punch!
Four basic ingredients are all that’s needed for single-serve, protein-rich muffins that can be customized to taste…and they take just minutes to make! When preparing a bowl of stovetop oatmeal or one of my many baked oatmeal recipes, I use regular or steel cut oats. So when I was challenged a while back to…
Make-Ahead Granola Parfaits
This slightly different preparation yields surprisingly delicious results. Consider preparing several at one time, as the parfaits will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days. Preferring my granola crunchy, I was skeptical the first time I tried this. After resting in the fridge overnight, I was pretty sure the granola…
Chunky Homemade Granola Snack Mix
Mixing Chunky Homemade Granola with dried cranberries, cashews, and white chocolate chips makes a snack mix so incredibly delicious with the added benefits of being mostly healthy and portable. It’s a welcome lunchbox addition and a convenient on-the-go snack. My husband, a frequent flyer, thinks this mix is the perfect snack to take while traveling…no need to…
