Tree Nut-Free Recipes

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Balsamic Reduction (aka making “good” balsamic from the inexpensive stuff!)

Years ago, a friend gave me a small bottle of aged balsamic vinegar — the real stuff, from Modena, Italy. At that point, I had never experienced this mellow and thick, almost sweet, vinegar and I savored every last drop of that bottle. The terrific thing is that you really don’t need to spend twenty…

White Bean Soup with Kale and Cheese Toast (Slow Cooker)

This is one of those meals I have been cooking for years and I look forward to a warm bowl of it when the nights are cold.  The aroma wafting from the kitchen takes me right back to my grandmother’s kitchen.  It’s the ham hock.  The good smell it produces is matched only by the…

Roasted Cauliflower and New Potatoes with Blue Cheese

Super easy and incredibly satisfying, this recipe is veggie-based comfort food at its best. Minimal ingredients equal maximum flavor!    Rice makes a perfect “sponge” for the flavorful tomato-based sauce in my easy slow cooker chicken tikka masala. But with this and other dishes for which rice forms a purposeful base, I sometimes replace the…

Cream of Quinoa

My grandmother often made cream of wheat when I was a little girl and I loved eating it, topped simply with a sprinkle of brown sugar.  Quinoa flakes offer a modern spin on that tasty breakfast with a gluten-free grain that cooks in two quick minutes.  It takes almost as long to pour cereal from…

Roasted Peel-and-Eat Shrimp with Homemade Cocktail Sauce

Easy to make and so much fun to eat. This recipe can be made with shrimp that has already been peeled and deveined. Simply adjust the seasoning amount, as noted.   There are certain foods my family refers to a “fun foods”.  Some of these include crabs, artichokes and anything for which we can use…

Homemade Chili Sauce

Forgot to buy chili sauce at the store? No problem, because great chili sauce is quick and easy to make at home! Chili sauce is a condiment I use occasionally, but not often. Needing some for a shrimp recipe I planned to make this weekend, I added it to my grocery list. Or, at least,…

Easy Yogurt Fruit Dip

 A fruit tray is a delicious addition to any party menu as well as a healthy option that looks pretty and is typically a hit with kids and adults alike.  Recently, I hosted an event and wanted a dip to serve alongside the fruit.  I experimented with the following recipe and served it in a…

Golden Oreo Bark (or Mint or Doublestuff or….)

For my younger son’s last birthday treat at school, he requested Oreo Bark.  Treats are to be delivered during lunch, and when I arrived at the appointed time with the small bags we had packaged for each of his classmates (each bag held a small piece of golden and a small piece of mint Oreo…

Santa Cookies

Santa Claus Christmas cookies are festive and fun to make and eat. Perfect for holiday gifting and Santa’s Christmas Eve treat!   In my recent snickerdoodle biscotti post, I mentioned my talented friend, Lisa. Every December, Lisa spends countless hours mixing, rolling and baking hundreds upon hundreds of cookies for the most amazingly delicious and…

Salted Hot Fudge Sauce

This tried-and-true chocolate sauce is thick, velvety, and strikes the right salty-sweet balance. It’s quick and easy to prepare and makes a lovely gift! (Small and big batch recipe cards included.)   While my family enjoys traditional pies for our Thanksgiving dessert, Christmas dinner is always capped off with vanilla ice cream drizzled with homemade hot…

Snickerdoodle Biscotti

Classic, twice-baked biscotti goes Snickerdoodle-style thanks to an easy cinnamon sugar topping. Low in fat and high in flavor, this crisp Italian cookie is perfect for dipping in coffee, tea, and cocoa!   Lisa is a friend who happens to be an incredible baker. Every year in early December, she begins the month-long process of…

Chicken Tortilla Soup

A brimming pot of this wholesome soup is a filling favorite in our house. Topped with grated cheese and a few crushed tortilla chips, it’s extra special! Last year, as I was pondering what to give to several of my friends for Christmas, I struggled to think of something they would really need or want.…

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