Make-Ahead Recipes
Fruitcake Quick Bread
Finally…a fruitcake you’ll want to eat! This quick and easy batter bread is packed with fruit and nuts but unlike traditional fruitcake is lighter, less sweet, and more mildly spiced. A name isn’t just a name. It’s an identity, and with that, it conjures up feelings and memories. In some cases, it also carries baggage. …
Salty Sweet Gourmet Sprinkles
Sprinkles are all grown up thanks to this stellar 3-ingredient combination that’s perfect for holiday gift giving! 🎁 The season of gift giving is upon us, and so often we need just a little something to give to a teacher, a co-worker or party host. But it’s fun when that “little something” has a…
Slow Cooker Taco Chicken (with freezer bag option)
A good freezer bag meal will come to your rescue on busy weeknights and when cooking for a friend in need. Taco chicken is family friendly, endlessly versatile, and quick to prep. Last year I turned the bags into practical gifts for several friends, because who couldn’t use a healthy meal and a night off…
Turkey (or Chicken), Kale & Wild Rice Salad
Turkey (or Chicken), Kale & Wild Rice Salad is a healthy, super satisfying way to turn leftovers into a complete meal. Perfect for a post-holiday detox or clean eating (that tastes great!) any time of year. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 I, for one, am thankful for family, friends and a loyal group of readers who make…
Roasted Carrots & Parsnips with Balsamic Honey Glaze (or just carrots)
Need a healthy, prep-ahead side for your holiday table? This colorful dish has you covered! Don’t have parsnips? Use all carrots. Lately things have been looking rather orange around here. Tis the season, I suppose! Root veggies, winter squash, and Halloween-themed eats provide a golden glow that feels fittingly fall. (For those who are missing…
Stuffing Balls
Clever, portion-controlled, and a surefire hit on a holiday table or alongside poultry and pork dishes throughout the year. Stuffing balls are easy to make for any size crowd and offer prep-ahead convenience. The term “Friendsgiving” first entered my lexicon the November after I graduated from college, when my friend Megan organized a small army…
Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes are vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, and full of amazing flavor. Leftovers reheat well and can even be used for satisfying breakfast bowls. During a recent foray into my sons’ closets, I uncovered a bag of clothes that appeared as good as new. Though both of my sons had worn the assortment…
Pumpkin Maple Vinaigrette (ideal way to use leftover pumpkin!)
Light but flavorful and super speedy, this versatile dressing makes great use of leftover canned pumpkin and might just become a new favorite! When a recipe calls for a cup or so of a canned good like chicken broth, beans, or coconut milk, what happens to the small portion that remains in the can? Lingering…
Clementine Jack-o’-lanterns (plus a few other Halloween treats)
These healthy snacks make a fun project for children, whether at home or school parties, and are a welcome lunchbox surprise. There’s a fun story behind them (plus an important tip for making the ink stick). And because every good celebration can benefit from some themed trivia, I’ve included some Halloween fun facts to use as conversation…
Whole Foods’ Kale Waldorf Salad
This mayo-free variation of the classic Waldorf salad introduces kale to the mix and incorporates apples and nuts into the dressing for a creamy consistency with natural sweetness. The recipe card includes Whole Foods’ original version along with some adaptations I have come to enjoy. If you live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania as I do,…
Sheet Pan Sweet & Sour Chicken
Sweet and spicy mingle with a hint of heat in this family-friendly sheet pan meal that’s worthy of a spot on the weekly dinner rotation. The prep-ahead sauce stores well and makes enough for a second meal another night. Or use it for quick stir fries with your favorite protein and vegetables. Opposites attract, or…
Cinnamon Toast Breakfast Quinoa
My childhood bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch is all grown up (and healthy!) thanks to this crunchy, hearty, perfectly sweet quinoa. So many of us are trying to incorporate more healthy grains into our diets. It’s easy to do it occasionally, but if we’re not wowed by the options, it’s hard to make them…
