A “busy night” dinner that’s hearty, healthy, colorful and super satisfying. Easy to customize based on preference and what you have on hand. There are lots of “busy night” dinners that I pull together often but have not shared in this space. Why, you may ask? Well, because they are the busy nights,…
This quick, soul-warming soup is loaded with tender chicken and colorful veggies and puts on fun twist on the pasta. Pediatrician recommended and family approved! NOTE: Following is an excerpt from my February 2013 column in the Lancaster Sunday News. For the link to the referenced “Ask the Pediatrician” column, which may be of particular interest if you feel…
We sometimes enjoy smoothies for breakfast, although I more frequently make lunch out of them. For a meal on-the-go, the make-ahead recipes (see drinks and smoothies category) are particularly handy. My kids, on the other hand, often request a smoothie as an after-school snack. New flavors are developed based on the fruits they request —…
Easy, cheesy spinach squares are a retro appetizer that make an equally delicious side dish. The squares may be baked ahead and reheated and freeze well too. The look of today’s menu item may remind you of a crustless quiche. In this recipe, however, two eggs serve as a binder for the remaining ingredients…
Those who have visited my kitchen, virtual or otherwise, are most likely familiar with my penchant for baked oatmeal! Months ago, I saw the idea of combining oats and quinoa from Cooking Quinoa–a fabulous resource for additional quinoa recipes, by the way–and I thought this could be an interesting spin on my standard of using all oats.…
A few nights ago, I pan seared some wild caught Halibut, wrapped simply in prosciutto. Though I buy fish regularly, I tend not to buy much Halibut. It is a meaty fish, and I tend toward the flaky. (Somehow, that sounds sort of funny, but you know what I mean!) These wild caught pieces of…
A few weeks ago, a friend emailed me, saying that grapefruit is one of his favorite fruits, and wondered if I had any recipes using this fruit. On one of those aforementioned evenings, when the refrigerator was looking rather bare, I did happen to have a bag of baby spinach, a grapefruit, and a red…
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…
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…
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…
With winter just around the corner, I am sort of thinking I should have chosen a different name for this salad! This is the perfect recipe to get through the cold months when fresh produce is not abundant. It is also a worthy counterbalance to the excesses of the holidays…like all that Oreo Bark! Loving…
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.…