Make-Ahead Recipes
Emma’s Favorite Cupcakes (dairy- and gluten-free optional)
What happens when a dear friend requests a spot-on replica of the utterly perfect cupcakes her mom used to make－minus the dairy and gluten? You figure out a way, of course! This cupcake recipe, however, is bigger than any one birthday or Valentine’s Day. It represents love and loss and how we can form everlasting…
Southwestern Nourish Bowls
Brimming with colorful vegetables and plant-based protein, these nutrient-dense bowls are filling, adaptable and easy to prep for the week ahead. (Great portable work lunch, too!) Do you have a favorite restaurant meal or prepared food option that you’d like to replicate at home? If so, what is it? With the abundance of…
Cilantro Lime Hummus (tahini-free)
This nourishing, easy-to-make hummus redefines the classic dip by shaking up the usual ingredients and adding south-of-the-border flavor. No need to purchase tahini for this recipe either. My first order of business is to thank longtime reader Mary Lou for this fabulous hummus recipe. She shared it with me several years ago, and why…
Andouille, Lentil & Vegetable Stew
The dump-and-cook approach makes this healthy and hearty soup extra easy to prepare － and the flavor might just make it a new family favorite! Easily adapted for vegan diets too. Who in your household does the weekly food shopping? If it’s you, what type of grocery shopper are you? Where do you go to check…
Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties
Love sausage but trying to eat healthier? Ground pork, turkey, or chicken plus a short list of spices create a healthy alternative that tastes just like sausage and can be used in so many ways. We’ve all heard the claims that processed meat isn’t good for us. So what is included under this umbrella of…
Immunity Boosting Green Soup
Whether it’s something in the broth, the greens, the spices, or simply the hydrating nature of soup, this soul-warming recipe has been a go-to in our house when fighting off fatigue, achiness, and the telltale scratchy throat we all dread. The flexible recipe is also a great way to reset from the holidays － and…
Winter Breakfast Bowl
This easy, no-cook breakfast turns the typical yogurt bowl upside down, using the yogurt as a binder and encouraging heavier use of fruits you may not ordinarily consider. Right off the bat I can think of quite a few reasons I’ve been starting my day so frequently with a cool, colorful breakfast bowl…
Maryland Crab Cakes
Crisp edges with no fryer? Prep-ahead convenience AND classic crab cake flavor? This recipe covers all those bases with ease, making it ideal for entertaining yet easy enough for a special meal on a busy weeknight. We have some die-hard crab fans in our family. The perfect summer evening could very well involve sitting out…
Overnight Cinnamon Pecan Coffee Cake
Classic yet super simple, this longtime family favorite tastes just like a good coffee cake should. The prep-ahead option offers added convenience! Dinner has always been the focal point of our extended family celebrations on major holidays and, fittingly, where much of the time and effort is placed. Breakfast, however, has always been…
Crustless Cranberry Pie
Festive, seasonal and so easy to make with pantry staples, this sweet-tart treat is fruit forward like a pie but somewhat cakier in texture. This recipe is rooted in practicality: Years ago, I had fresh cranberries that needed to be used before we left town for a week. (I later learned cranberries freeze well!)…
Spiced Glazed Nuts & Pretzel Mix
Sweet and spicy mingle with salty and crunchy in this crowd-pleasing cocktail snack that doubles as a convenient hostess or holiday gift. Want to add a gourmet touch to your next batch of chocolate chip cookies – or brownies or caramels for that matter? Dust the surface with the faintest bit of flaky sea…
Easy 2-Ingredient Fermented Sauerkraut
2-ingredient homemade sauerkraut is loaded with gut-healthy probiotics and incredibly easy to make thanks to these step-by-step instructions. If pork & sauerkraut is part of your New Year’s Day tradition, you’re in luck! I wear many hats in my role of food writer and recipe development. Writing, photography, editing, managing a website, the proverbial…
