Make-Ahead Recipes
Chili Lime Chicken
Add memorable flavor to basic chicken with a blend of spices you likely have on hand. Perfect as is and in burrito bowls, with or without the optional sauce. When I first wrote about this chicken for a newspaper recipe column in 2015, I alluded to a debate I was having with myself as to…
Mom’s Classic Strawberry Shortcake
While this classic recipe is traditionally served as dessert, my family has long enjoyed it for the occasional dinner when local strawberries are in season. Served with milk or yogurt, it’s great for breakfast too! Making strawberry shortcake with freshly picked, local berries has long been tradition in my family. My sister and I loved…
Pink Pony Cocktail
The Pink Pony is a spin on a Greyhound with Paloma vibes and options to use vodka, gin, or tequila. It’s the ultimate customizable drink and a party favorite! My favorite cocktail is a little number we call the Pink Pony. Inspired by the classic Greyhound cocktail with a Paloma vibe, it’s a citrus-forward drink…
Derby Pie
This irresistible dessert is everything you love about a chocolate chip cookie but in pie form, plus a hint of Southern charm. Easy to make and always a hit! Derby Pie is essentially a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie with pecans (or walnuts if you prefer) nestled in a flaky pie crust. More pie details…
Roasted Carrots with Za’atar
A singular spice rub, a sprinkle of feta, and a quick stint in a hot oven will reinvent cooked carrots and add delicious variety to your usual veggie routine. The secret to perfectly roasted vegetables rests in the details. In the case of the following recipe, the tricks include a high enough oven temperature (to…
Toll House Pie
Everything you love about a chocolate chip cookie but in pie form, this irresistible dessert is a breeze to make and always a hit! This pie dates back to when my boys, now in their twenties, were toddlers and we’d often get together with friends and their kids for casual weekend dinners. The kids would…
Egg White Muffins
A filling, wholesome, grab-and-go breakfast, egg white muffins are protein-rich, reheat well, and freezer friendly. Plus, there are options to use the whole egg, vary the add-ins, and customize for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. I’m the sort of person who likes to know what I’ll be eating for breakfast before I go to…
Easy Roasted Sausage, Peppers, and Onions
Sausage, peppers, and onions are tossed with simple Italian seasonings and then roasted to perfection for an easy meal that can be enjoyed over rice, pasta, or as the best sausage sandwiches. Easy, colorful, and hearty. This meal is versatile comfort food at its best. The most basic of ingredients – sausage, vegetables, and seasonings…
Homemade Sausage
Enjoy sausage with all the flavor of classic Italian sausage but without nitrates, nitrites, and other ingredients you prefer to avoid. There’s an oft-repeated saying that bacon makes everything better. Cooking with sausage is much the same way. From pizza, pasta, and egg sandwiches to soups, stews, spaghetti sauce, and casseroles (I could go on!),…
Valentine’s Day Heart Brownies
A little ingenuity and a heart-shaped cookie cutter is all that’s needed to make Valentine’s Day feel extra special! A heart-shaped cookie cutter does it again.. Start with this classically delicious homemade brownie recipe (minus the Halloween candy theme), an equally scrumptious Nutella brownie, or store-bought brownies, with Ghirardelli leading the pack in my humble…
Valentine’s Day Cheerio’s Snack Mix
This creative (and low effort!) snack may be all that’s needed to make Valentine’s Day feel extra special this year. 💘 For years, this effortless, no-cook mix was a regular after-school and lunch box snack for my boys. Thanks to the simple combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy, they continue to enjoy it now…
Valentine’s Day Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
A simple message of love can begin with something as simple as a cookie cutter. 💘 Grilled cheese and tomato soup have long been considered a match made it heaven…one that becomes infinitely more fabulous with a festive (and extremely easy) presentation. When I was a child, I fully preferred chicken noodle soup to tomato, so…
