This classic Irish stew was passed down from the decades old recipe box of an Irish friend. The tried-and-true recipe offers oven and slow cooker options, and the flavor improves over time, making it a great make-ahead meal. Most Americans think of stew as having a thick gravy base. But traditional Irish stew is…
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…
Somewhere between today and tomorrow is the two year anniversary of The Fountain Avenue Kitchen. You see, my site launched on February 29th–Leap Day–of 2012. There was a teacher in my elementary school who was born on Leap Day. I remember the year he turned nine (technically, 36). None of the kids could imagine celebrating…
Hearty and wholesome, this soup is a favorite in my family for its incredible flavor. Delightful on its own, although the optional toppings add to the soup’s broad appeal. For years I, like many cooks, rarely measured ingredients. We eat a lot of hearty soups, salads, and one-pot meals in our house, and this sort of cooking…
This bright green side dish is a recipe I made often in the early years of my marriage after stumbling upon Ina Garten’s very first cookbook. While she used olive oil in a similar preparation, avocado oil works beautifully here because of its extremely high smoke point. It’s a simple yet delicious…
After 12 fabulous years, I recently said farewell to the only car my almost 12-year-old son ever knew. Even my 15-year-old son hardly remembered the car that preceded this one, but after sinking progressively more money into it, the time had come. I had no idea what sort of car I wanted next, and we…
You could say it was love after the first neatball! In all seriousness, I was truly skeptical when Laura Lapp first offered me a bite of the healthy meat alternative that she crafted in her kitchen. But it tasted great. By way of background, Laura began her experimentation process to address her two daughters’ decision…
We all experience times when motivation is lacking. I love cooking for its creative outlet, but the nightly ritual of getting dinner on the table can be a chore. Sometimes, feeding one’s family feels like a monumental effort. Even for me. Of course, we still get hungry and, sadly, there is no Dinner Fairy. Pouring…
Quick-cooking yellow lentils provide beautiful color and a lightly nutty flavor in this satisfying, plant-based meal, but brown or green lentils work well too. When it comes to recipes, I try not to overuse the word “favorite.” But the truth is, I have lots of favorites. Whether it is a favorite color, number, season,…
Today, I have the great privilege of sharing with you a guest recipe by Phoebe Canakis. Phoebe and I became acquainted through Fig magazine for which we are both contributors. With memories of dinner around the table that were created on a budget and not from a box and with roots in a Greek heritage,…
Once I put together the salad part of this recipe, I experimented with quite a few new dressings to really make it shine. My extended family served as official taste testers over several Sunday dinners. I offered two bowls, each with different dressings so everyone could offer his or her opinion. They had to keep…