Make-Ahead Recipes

Easy Winter Fruit Salad

A straight-forward combination of fresh fruits with a little something extra to elevate the simple salad into something sublime.   From the time my kids could hold a crayon, I helped them make the gifts they’d give their loved ones on Christmas morning. My hope was that amidst all the material trappings of the holiday,…

Rosemary Roasted Cashews

Rosemary, salt, and a hint of heat makes these easy-to-prepare nuts a snacking favorite. A jarful provides a welcome gift, too!         When I visit my parents in the weeks leading up to Christmas, my eyes always scan their kitchen counter for a large, red canister. I keep my fingers crossed that…

3-Ingredient Oreo Fudge (with mint option)

This recipe is for all those times you have to make a dessert for a bake sale, a potluck, or a holiday cookie tray and you just don’t have time.  Sometimes, even an easy cookie recipe seems daunting when the days are hectic and you’re fretting about rolling out several dozen little balls! I can…

Party Salmon

Enjoy hot out of the oven for an easy weeknight meal or serve at room temperature for a delightful addition to any buffet table. For a delicious breakfast or brunch, serve in place of lox with an assortment of bagels, cream cheese, chopped hard-boiled egg, capers, minced red onion, and thinly sliced cucumber. Party Salmon…

Creamy Horseradish Dill Sauce

Bright, herby, and quick to make, this creamy sauce will elevate fish, crab cakes, latkes, baked potatoes and more.    Not every actor in a movie can have a starring role. Strong supporting characters are integral to the success of any movie – or play or television show for that matter. That’s how I view…

Aunt Glenna’s Flourless Fudge Pie

Certain days are easy to remember. Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November, and Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May. For my family, there’s another annual occurrence penned in our family calendar for the Sunday before Thanksgiving–The Apple Pie Auction & Variety Show. First Presbyterian of Lancaster—our family church—hosts the evening in the…

Creamy (Healthy) Peanut Butter Dip… and some acceptable “double dipping”

Recipes have a way of evolving over time. Preferences shift, dietary needs change, and we learn from trial and error. Sometimes, we simply have a clever idea. At face value, the following recipe is a simple dip for apples, bananas, pretzels, and more. Mixing peanut butter and maple syrup into a base of Greek yogurt…

Roasted Beet Hummus

Serve this gorgeous show-stopper as a make-ahead appetizer, a satisfying snack, or as a base for an anything-but-boring lunch.   When I first laid eyes upon this colorful sister of the traditional middle eastern dip, I was smitten by its vibrant ruby hue. Thanks to the addition of a humble root vegetable, the color is…

Rio Grande Skillet Dinner

This easy, all-in-one meal is healthy, economical and so family friendly!       When I open my cupboard, I see more than enough food to sustain my family for a week, and likely much longer. For too many people, this is not the case. This problem isn’t limited to some far-flung locale. It’s an…

Pumpkin Pie Breakfast Bars with Easy Granola Crumb Crust

She had me at pumpkin pie for breakfast.  Of course, if you’ve been reading this blog for a few seasons now, you’ve likely read that my family has been known to eat strawberry shortcake and apple dumplings for dinner.  Though this seasonal dessert-turned-meal concept shocked my husband when we were newly married (at that point,…

Pumpkin “Bran” Muffins (a gluten- and dairy-free adaptation of an FAK favorite)

A gluten-free variation on the classic bran muffin meets a whole can of pumpkin in this wholesome recipe the whole family will love!  Bran muffins are a seemingly wholesome way to start the day, yet so many bran muffins rely on sugar and oil to create moisture and flavor. Enter pumpkin! My original recipe for…

Overnight No-Cook Oatmeal Yogurt Cups

This classic recipe for no-cook overnight oats offers meal prep convenience and is loaded with fruit, fiber, and protein-packed staying power!   Overnight oats have a lot going for them. The no-cook, prep-ahead recipe makes the morning routine a breeze with its winning combination of protein, calcium, fiber, and Omega-3s. And it tastes great! In…

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