Make-Ahead Recipes
Easy Scalloped Apples
An easy-to-make alternative to applesauce that can be enjoyed as a side dish, over oatmeal, mixed with yogurt, or even as a cheater version of apple crisp. (Just sprinkle with granola!) The inspiration for this recipe goes all the way back to 5th grade and THE BEST after-school playdates. In the dwindling days of summer…
Mock Grape Nuts
Missing your Grape-Nuts? This easy recipe replicates the much-loved brand in a wholesome, gluten-free way. You may even like it better! Update: I may have a creative tendency or two, but my older sister is true artist. When she graduated from Rhode Island School of Design, the talented painting major could have scored…
Vermont Breakfast Bread
As I was packing my bag for a weekend work trip last month, I scanned the shelves for a new book or magazine to pass the time on the plane. My destination was Vermont. The purpose was a farm tour. Stonyfield, a company perhaps best known for making yogurt, had extended the invitation. Some time…
Single Serve “Baked” Oatmeal Cup
Easy advance prep and the protein of a whole egg make this portable, customizable meal a winner. There’s something so satisfying about these lightly sweet, hearty muffins. Without a doubt, this meal-in-a-cup has become my go-to travel fare, and I keep a stash of these handy cups in my pantry for all the times…
Tomato Tuna Melts
Light on mayo and big on flavor, two of these speedy Tomato Tuna Melts deliver 25 grams of protein with just 10 grams of carbohydrates and 289 calories. Most Mondays since the early ‘90s, my father has eaten a tuna melt. He belongs to a men’s lunch group that meets weekly, and after all…
Classic Chex Party Mix
Making your own Chex mix is easy and will outscore store-bought any day! This variation on the classic mix is a little nuttier and offers several ways to customize according to taste. Plus, it makes a big batch…for which you will likely be grateful! My boys recently had their annual physical at the pediatrician’s office,…
Sweet Tea Brined Chicken
Sweet tea provides unexpected magic in this incredibly easy, marinated chicken that takes mere minutes to prep. Rest assured, the finished chicken is tender and juicy but doesn’t actually taste like iced tea! When Mitch Nugent made a point by connecting two things I love—live theater and ice cream–I perked up.…
Peanut Butter Popsicles
Four easy ingredients create a refreshing, protein-rich treat that the whole family will love. Perfect for healthy snacks and dessert－and they will pass for breakfast! Hot days call for cold treats. We’ve made our fair share of ice cream runs this summer (major thanks to Penny’s and Lancaster Sweet Shoppe 🙂…
Green Goddess Dressing… and a trip to the Green Mountain State
For much of my life, summers have been all about New England. As a girl, I spent many memorable years going to camp near Camden, Maine, and camp was followed by family vacation on Squam Lake in New Hampshire. My sons veered only slightly off my path, attending a boys camp along the coast of…
Classic Gazpacho (A toppings bar makes it a meal－or a party!)
A selection of toppings turns this classic summer soup into a filling meal. Simple advance prep makes it ideal for casual entertaining and easy weeknight meals alike, and the flavor improves over time! While living in Spain for six months many years ago, I was told that when the weather gets hot, even a…
Honey Nut Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
This twist on the usual overnight oats is a deliciously satisfying way to use leftover quinoa and may be scaled up for grab-and-go breakfasts throughout the week. Does anyone else start thinking about dinner while breakfast is still digesting? And do you go to bed thinking about breakfast? I’ve always been the sort…
Grilled Shishito Peppers
Serve these sweet and (almost always!) mild Japanese peppers as a quick, easy, and surprisingly popular appetizer or side dish. Have you ever heard of chili peppers that are mild…most of the time? Such is the case with the shishito pepper, a small, slender sweet pepper that originated in Asia. A year or two…
