Make-Ahead Recipes

Steel Cut Apple Baked Oatmeal

With their chewy texture and nutty flavor, steel cut oats add something exciting to the world of baked oatmeal. In the following seasonal favorite, fresh apples and warm cinnamon add natural sweetness and flavor for a hearty, prep-ahead breakfast thatโ€™s worth waking up for!   As much as I adore my assortment of baked oatmeal recipes,…

Stuffed Pepper Soup

This all-in-one meal delivers the hearty, wholesome deliciousness of traditional stuffed peppers in a soul-warming soup! A reasonable amount of chopping is the only chore required for this flavorful soup.ย The payoff is wholesome comfort food that appeals to kids and adults alike. The recipe is a riff on the traditional preparation of bell peppers stuffed…

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

  The time-honored pairing of peanut butter and chocolate is elevated with more peanut butter and a dusting of sea salt in this super simple, salty-sweet recipe that will delight any time of year!    Peanut butter and chocolate. What could be better?  Perhaps when that peanut butter and chocolate is enrobed in a peanut butter…

No-Bake Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites

Capture the flavors of the season with these no-bake, satisfying bites that come together quickly and offer an option with no added sugars or syrups.   Filling protein and fiber. Satiating fats. Warm spices. And pumpkin!  These bite-size gems are packed with staying power and seasonal flavor, and a big batch comes together easily thanks…

Easy Cheesy Pepper Poppers

A flavor-packed appetizer that can also be served as a tasty side dish, these 3-ingredient bites are quick to assemble and bake to golden, cheesy perfection. An optional fourth ingredient offers a spicy-sweet variation! Jalapeรฑo poppers have long been a party favorite. But what if you could make a quicker, easier, every-bit-as-tasty popper with mild…

Baked Ham & Cheese Bunwiches

The classic ham sandwich is redefined with two kinds of cheese, a flavorful spread, and a quick trip to the oven. Toasty bunwiches are easy to make ahead and party perfect!   Over the course of two decades and three houses, these toasty sandwiches appeared at many of our game day parties and casual get-togethers.…

Smoky Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

A few key ingredients add vibrant color and flavor to this classically creamy, protein-rich dip. And while perfect as a filling snack or easy appetizer, hummus can be enjoyed in other unexpected ways as well!   Traditional hummus pulls its weight as a filling snack and easy appetizer, but the creamy, protein-rich dip doesn’t stop there.…

Ratatouille

With its roots in Provence, France (not the 2007 Pixar film!) ratatouille is a rustic, end-of-summer, vegetable stew that will make the most of a bounty of fresh produce and can be enjoyed in so many ways.   If you donโ€™t like to chop, I give you permission to skip the following recipe. But before…

Homemade Zesty Italian Dressing Mix

You control the ingredients with this copycat recipe that’s easy to make with everyday spices. Fast, fresh-tasting, economical, and endlessly versatile!   A packet of Good Seasons Zesty Italian Dressing provided a convenient shortcut for me for years. I first discovered it when I was dating my husband and we were invited to a coworkerโ€™s…

Replenish Smoothie

This make-at-home rendition of a local cafe’s customer-favorite smoothie offers natural sweetness, filling fiber, and plant-based protein with just five simple ingredients!   This is my at-home rendition of a smoothie my husband and I have ordered many a Saturday morning from the cafรฉ at a wonderful local market called Lemon Street. The names of…

Classic Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Sweet and tangy with a hint of heat, this easy sauce is the perfect complement to chicken, chops, ribs, brisket, and pulled pork sandwiches. Or stir some into mayo for a delicious sandwich spread!   When I make this barbecue sauce, I still think of the day over 20 years–and a different career–ago when I…

Taco Refrigerator Pickles

Cool, crisp refrigerator pickles get a new flavor twist in this easy recipe that’s perfect for snacking, adding to sandwiches, and serving alongside a variety of barbecue fare. No canning required!     On his holiday shopping expedition last year, Christian stopped in a local store that makes a small but impressive variety of pickles. Along…

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