Make-Ahead Recipes

No-Bake Refrigerator Peanut Butter Oat Squares

A wholesome, no-bake recipe with peanut butter and chocolate (what’s not to love?), these chewy bars never last long!   Since my kids were little, one of their favorite lunchbox treats has been a chewy peanut butter chocolate chip granola bar. What’s not to like? With their convenient portable packaging and ever-growing assortment of flavors,…

Not-Mushy Oatmeal (aka Chewy Granola)

This tasty, toasty twist on the usual bowl of stovetop oatmeal may be served hot or cold with your favorite milk. Or layer it with yogurt and fresh fruit for a satisfying breakfast parfait.       Did you ever think a bowl of stovetop oatmeal could look like this?  I mean, you can actually…

4-Ingredient Low-Carb Cloud Bread

Use these unconventional but tasty rolls for hamburgers, breakfast sandwiches, and the classic ham and cheese. Lightly toasting the rolls and topping with peanut butter and jam is a very good option, too.   Sometimes, I post photos of in-the-works recipes on Instagram or Facebook.  If I want to do some trouble-shooting or tweaking, I…

Pan-Seared Heart Chicken

A few simple cuts of the knife transform a boneless, skinless chicken breast into a festive meal. Fun for Valentine’s Day…or any time! ❤️ Special occasion dinners can be memorable for many reasons. Perhaps the artistically plated tapas at a swanky new restaurant made an impression, or the view while cracking crabs by the bay…

Curried Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Soup

Red lentils add a hearty dose of protein and minerals to this much-loved seasonal soup, yet no one would ever know they’re there. This Curried Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Soup is kosher, gluten-free, easily made vegan, and so very satisfying!     Many of us hardly know what we’re making for dinner next week, let…

Make-Ahead Pineapple Blueberry Breakfast Parfaits

These wholesome, prep-ahead jars are reminiscent of Bircher muesli with a tropical twist. In the morning, simply add milk to your desired consistency, give the jars a good stir, and dig in!   Golden pineapples are a staple on my weekly grocery list throughout the winter.  Their tropical sweetness seems almost summer-like at a time…

Build-Your-Own Veggie and Grain Salad

It’s January.  The weather is cold (at least it is here!) and the holiday festivities are behind us. Eating well can be a challenge when the mercury plummets, colds and flus rear their ugly heads, and warm sunshine and flip flops seem a long way off. Of course, all of this makes heavy comfort foods…

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

This hands-off slow cooker meal brings great flavor to the table with tremendous ease. The recipe is also flexible, allowing for several complementary substitutions and additions. For many years, I owned a slow cooker that I hardly used.  It was my grandmother’s old Crock Pot, and it had a small crack down the side of…

Winter Porridge

The formula for the basic porridge is easy, and you can prepare it in advance for speedy breakfasts throughout the week.   I’ve always been amazed by people who go sockless in cold weather. When my feet are cold, everything is cold. So, it’s remarkable that, since the beginning of fall, I’ve only worn socks…

5-Ingredient Tropical Green Smoothie

I was skeptical.  I purchase fresh spinach in a 5-ounce box, and the thought of putting all of it into a single smoothie recipe seemed…well…excessive. But in the name of helping a friend, I gamely tried this recipe.  Ally Phillips, cookbook author, blogger, and longtime friend in food, was looking for a little assistance as…

Greek Chicken Meatballs

Nutrient-rich and flavorful, these versatile baked meatballs work well with ground turkey and freeze well too. People often ask me when I’m going to write a cookbook. Although I have plenty of recipes, I haven’t quite figured out how to pull off a book. My friend, Sonali, has written three cookbooks and has another on…

Pineapple Serrano Hummus

I grew up watching the Parade of Roses every New Year’s Day.  Flowers have always been a hobby for my mom.  She had a greenhouse, an undisputed green thumb, and a knack for arranging flowers in the most beautiful way.  I remember being utterly amazed when she told me that all of the parade floats…

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