Make-Ahead Recipes
Easy Egg Roll Stir Fry
The classic takeout appetizer is reinvented as a complete, one pan meal that comes together quickly with ground beef, pork, or your favorite plant-based alternative. For several years when her children were young, one of my good friends hosted an annual Chinese New Year’s party. Her youngest child was adopted from China, and the yearly…
Snow Cream
Snow Cream is a thing…and it’s delicious! All the kids in your life (and the kids at heart) will enjoy this sweet treat on a snowy day. For those who are checking the calendar: No, it’s not April 1st, and yes, “snow cream” is really a thing! Even if you don’t love the cold,…
Spaghetti Squash Pizza Boats
A takeout favorite meets wholesome veggie in this all-in-one dinner the whole family will enjoy. It even comes with its own bowl! If you were to teach a cooking seminar to nearly 40 middle school girls and boys, what would you make? As you ponder that question, I will mention that Janice Estabrook has…
Easy Pizza Sauce
This simple sauce comes together quickly with pantry staples and makes the most of homemade pizza and stromboli. Use it to lend Italian flavor to other saucy other recipes too. Pizza sauce is one of the easiest things to make and will perk up homemade pizzas and a variety of other recipes with its…
Tuscan Lentil Soup
A hint of sausage supplies smoky, savory flavor in this one-pot soup, which is packed with plant-based protein, colorful veggies and satiating appeal. Wholesome comfort food at its best－and a customer favorite at a regional restaurant chain! It never fails. When one of my sons issues a last-minute request for a friend to stay for…
Pink Pineapple Protein Smoothie
Just five ingredients create a filling smoothie that’s frosty, creamy, sweet, and tangy. Anyone else feeling the need for a post-holiday reboot? Party food and cookies notwithstanding, the bigger assault to my system just so happened to come by way of a nasty virus that hit me just days before Christmas. Instead of attending a…
Magical Reindeer Food
Magical Reindeer Food is a fun activity to do with your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews and brings out the wonder of the season. Perfect for kids to give to their friends or use themselves on Christmas Eve. Printable gift tags included! Years ago, when the kids and I still peered towards the moon in…
5-Can Weeknight Chili
A great bowl of chili is just minutes away thanks to a handful of economical pantry ingredients. Top with a simple sprinkle of cheese or load it up with chopped avocado, crushed tortilla chips, minced onions, etc. The wee hours of Christmas morning last year found my extended family in an airport.…
Homemade Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
Homemade Jiffy corn muffin mix beats the boxed version any day, and it can be made gluten-free! Most of us have a short list of recipes that, for one reason or another, we return to again and again. One of the recipes from my own time-honored list is a cross between baked corn and cornbread…
Apple Crisp Baked Oatmeal, Holiday Style
Apple Crisp Baked Oatmeal is a super-satisfying breakfast, and this seasonal spin can be prepped and enjoyed over several days. Or serve it for a wholesome holiday brunch. Genetics are a funny thing. When my dad drove me to a recent appointment for outpatient eye surgery, he commented apologetically that I had him to…
Eggnog Quick Bread
Capture the flavor of the holidays with this irresistible quick bread, which makes a lovely gift and is perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. The quick glaze adds a hint of decadence and a snow-capped look but is purely optional. Several times over the years, I’ve seen the claim that a perfect…
Spiced Pecan Chex Mix
This sweet and savory spin on the classic snack mix is easy to make and hard to resist. Perfect for gift giving too! Why is it nearly impossible to replace a favorite pair of shoes? You know, the shoes that are really comfortable and go with everything, but their near perfection wasn’t apparent until…
