Make-Ahead Recipes
Green Monster Smoothie
I have been off my smoothie kick for months. Maybe it was all the excesses of the holiday season, but I actually craved a green smoothie yesterday. Seriously. And this from a girl who used to cringe at the thought of blending her greens! So, in the spirit of getting back on track, perhaps at…
Overnight Oven-Baked French Toast
Amidst the last minute preparations for Christmas Day, there are a few non-negotiable activities on my calendar every December 24th. First and foremost, I must wrap the gifts my dad buys for my mom. To clarify, this annual ritual is not a hardship. In fact, I secretly love it. You see, while I am cutting…
Old Fashioned Gingerbread with Citrus Glaze
This is one of those recipes that I have made over and over again, tweaking many times until I arrived at an end result that my family loves. It is moist and full of flavor, and I get requests for it often. The citrus glaze is a delightful addition. When I first made a glaze…
Wild Rice and Sausage Casserole (or Stuffing/Dressing)
Initially created as a side to poultry, we enjoy this hearty recipe throughout the year as a main dish. It’s equally delightful paired with a green vegetable or salad. It’s hard to believe that my year of delving into the Top 10 Food Trends as a Sargento Flavor Journey Correspondent is winding…
Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar
A popular hostess and holiday gift and a great project for kids to make for friends, Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar are fun to bake, give, and eat. Printable tags included! A delicious cookie-in-a-jar recipe was harder to devise than I expected. Not only did the cookie have to taste great, the mix…
Fried Garlic
Whole cloves of garlic become golden and buttery and create a flavor-infused oil that can be used in so many ways. In recent months, I have posted several recipes that mention avocado oil as an option to olive oil. I have received many questions about where to buy and comments indicating an interest about…
Slow Cooker Gingerbread Steel Cut Oats (with easy day before method)
Easy prep-ahead method and slow cooker tip results in ready-to-eat oats with toothsome texture and easy cleanup. The classic spice combination is holiday worthy! The best part of this recipe? Lift the bowl of perfectly cooked oatmeal out of the slow cooker, cover and refrigerate for a wholesome breakfast at-the-ready. Done! As…
Roasted Winter Squash
This seasonal family favorite is so easy and so good. For added ease, I like to use Kabocha, Delicata, or another variety of winter squash that doesn’t require peeling. Without the intent of overselling this simple, seasonal side dish, I will mention that my husband recently purchased some winter squash so that I would…
Apple Almond Baked Quinoa
Sometimes, I prepare a recipe many, many times, allowing for one adjustment at a time in efforts to achieve the precise texture and taste I envision. I always learn a lot from these little challenges. Occasionally, I end up with several worthy variations of the same recipe, never publishing the recipe because I have made…
Farmhouse Roasted Chestnuts
Lightly salted, these chestnuts are delicious served warm and straight from the shell. They’re perfect for Thanksgiving stuffing and soups too! Autumn is the time of year when the American Chestnut Trees in the northeast drop the nuts from their prickly burrs. As an interesting bit of trivia, there are typically three chestnuts per…
Slow Cooker Maple Applesauce
A small amount of maple syrup is the key to a wholesome applesauce that allows the natural sweetness and flavor of the apples to truly shine. My grandmother was always known for her amazing applesauce. She used transparent or “early” apples–the ones that appear in farmers markets here in mid-July. Their appearance never fails…
Chocolate Acorns
These adorable fall treats are easy to make and fun to eat! Chocolate acorns are great project for kids and make a lovely host gift. Just place in a cellophane bag and tie with a bow. My kids and I made these festive fall treats for the first time last year and, like the…
