Make-Ahead Recipes

Spanish Rice

Spanish Rice is a worthy addition to any south-of-the-border menu and also complements a wide variety of basic proteins and vegetables. The flavors meld and improve over time, making leftovers extra delicious. You may even prepare it earlier in the day and reheat to make dinnertime a little easier.   April brings longer days and glimpses of warmer weather, yet I’ve…

Nuts & Seeds Overnight N’Oats

Nuts & Seeds Overnight N’Oats is a paleo, vegan, gluten- and dairy-free breakfast that can be customized to taste and provides serious staying power…all that plus meal-prep convenience!    If you’ve spent a little time in the Fountain Avenue Kitchen over the years, you likely know that I’m a fan of oats.  Baked oatmeal, overnight oats,…

Family Favorite Glazed Meatloaf

Family Favorite Glazed Meatloaf tastes great and slices perfectly! The recipe also offers prep ahead convenience and tips for a perfectly shaped loaf.   Most children are discouraged from playing with their food. I learned this lesson at a young age, but as I get older, I occasionally ignore this piece of advice. Let’s face…

No-Bake Healthy-ish Buckeye Bars

Easy-to-make, four-ingredient Buckeye Bars taste a lot like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and can easily be made gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan.     My grandmother’s recipe for chocolate peanut butter eggs, which she frequently made as buckeye bars or balls, has garnered friends from near and far.  Sometimes, however, we want something quick,…

Miso Butter

When kitchen motivation is lacking, multi-purpose, 2-ingredient miso butter is the answer.  This incredibly simple condiment has the power to transform basic meat, vegetables, and pasta into something special.  And chances are that the more you use it, the more ways you will find to work it into your weekly repertoire. (If you’re new to…

Easy Refrigerator Pickled Vegetables

This quick and easy refrigerator method requires no canner or hot water bath and is a clever way to use any odds and ends in your produce drawer!   Pickles are summertime favorites that, in our house, vanish almost as quickly as I can make them. There’s a flavor for every palate (dill, sweet, seven-day,…

Chifrijo (Costa Rican Taco Bowls)

In Costa Rica, these adaptable bowls are often enjoyed with tortilla chips and an Imperial beer and offer a delicious way to reinvent leftovers.   ¡Pura Vida! Directly translated, these two words mean “pure life,” but in Costa Rica, the phrase has become a national motto used to say hello, goodbye, and pretty much everything…

Easy Cheese Sauce

Four ingredients are all you need for this versatile, family-friendly sauce. Best melting cheeses, helpful tips, and recipe suggestions included.    Four simple ingredients are all you need for a versatile, velvety, easy cheese sauce that has the power to transform plain pasta, baked potatoes, steamed broccoli, roast beef sandwiches, and more.  For added flexibility,…

Mary’s African Peanut Soup

An easy, one pot meal that’s loaded with filling protein, wholesome veggies, and satisfying flavor. Leftovers improve with age and freeze well!   Community cookbooks are often much more than a simple collection of recipes. Humble, homey, and frequently spiral-bound, these books use food to tell the story of a people and a place. They’re a…

Heart and Soul Muffins

These muffins are made with no sugar or syrups and are bursting with wholesome ingredients. A few minutes of easy meal prep will provide a week’s worth of filling, grab-and-go breakfasts or snacks.    These muffins are incredibly tender, filling, lightly sweet, and exploding with good-for-you ingredients. They’re just what I, for one, need after the…

Favorite Flourless Chocolate Cake

Decadent and delicious, this flourless cake will be a special addition to any holiday table and is also a good option for those who need a gluten-free dessert.   When it comes to chocolate cake, I’ve always preferred light and fluffy over rich and dense.  When my husband and I married, I wanted a chocolate…

Mayo-Free Cumin Lime Slaw

Use this light vinaigrette for an easy slaw that adds a tangy pop of flavor and crisp crunch to fish tacos, burgers, burrito bowls, BBQ, and more. Or enjoy as a dressing on green salads to accompany your favorite Mexican, South Asian, and American cuisine.   When I think of recipes I make most regularly,…

Get recipes delivered straight to your inbox.