Make-Ahead Recipes
California Potato Salad
Buttery avocado, juicy tomatoes, and a bit of crisp bacon will shake up your potato salad routine for a light yet filling spin on the classic dish. This absolutely delicious reader recipe was sent to me by Leola, Pennsylvania native Nancy Irvin James, who mentioned that the recipe got its name because she developed it…
Classic Strawberry Jam
The quintessential flavor of homemade strawberry jam is easy to achieve thanks to these simple instructions! This is the recipe my grandmother always used for her strawberry jam. It’s traditional strawberry jam at its best. The taste and color when freshly made can’t be beat. Opening a jar in the cold winter months provides the…
Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal
A sweet-tart mix of seasonal fruit makes this flexible, prep-ahead recipe equal parts delicious and nutritious! A while back, I picked up a good tidbit of information from a stand owner at our local farmer’s market: Rhubarb season lasts through the longest day of the year๏ผthe first day of summer. Same for asparagus. I find…
Homemade Ricotta
When cheese is made, the leftover whey is used to make ricotta. In general, to create cheese, live cultures (a fancy name for bacteria) are typically added to fresh milk. This starts a fermentation process that results in the milk separating into curds and whey. Depending on the type of cheese being made, the curds…
Sesame Peanut Noodles
Bold, Asian-inspired flavor is the hallmark of this versatile salad, which allows for a variety of veggie add-ins and can be enjoyed as a plant-based entree or heart side dish. I have two favorite preparations for noodles in a peanut sauce so, before I chose one for this space, I made them both for dinner…
Hoisin Beef Skewers (or Whole Flank Steak)
Prep-ahead convenience, versatility, and appealing flavor make this recipe a go-to for easy weeknight grilling and weekend entertaining. Iโm the type of person who thinks about dinner as I am eating breakfast. So, it may not be surprising that I ponder what to cook for my newspaper column up to a month in advance!…
Spring Millet Salad
This springy salad is equally delicious served warm, chilled, or room temperature. And though you could replace the millet with couscous or quinoa, the tiny grain has a mild, corn-like flavor that offers a great way to mix things up. As I continue to experiment with recipes using millet, I have made variations of…
Rhubarb Streusel Muffins
A lovely balance of sweet and tangy with a tender crumb, Rhubarb Streusel Muffins are sure to become a seasonal favorite. The recipe makes a big batch too! When short-lived, seasonal ingredients that you really enjoy become available, do you feel compelled to eat them with abandon to get your fill? With many fruits and vegetables,…
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Three basic ingredients come together with ease in this flourless, dairy-free cookie that is sure to become a favorite! This recipe originally came from my friend Abby, who has a delightful blog called Manila Spoon. Besides being incredibly easy, the cookies are grain- and dairy-free to boot. My gluten-free dad adores them, yet those who can…
Rhubarb Bars
Sweet-tart flavor, gooey filling, and a crisp crust make these bars a must when rhubarb is in season! I’m not sure how many people would list rhubarb bars as their favorite dessert, perhaps favoring something featuring chocolate or ice cream. The first time I made this recipe many years ago, my husbandโwho did not grow…
Homemade Cashew Milk — an easy option to almond or soy milk
A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with my friend Daina after a yoga class and, as it often does, the conversation turned to food. ย Daina is a master gardener and a talented cook who crafts healthy and delicious recipes with ease. ย When she mentioned her favorite go-to dinner which incorporated her homemade cashew…
Big Batch Peanut Butter Congo Bars
I wasn’t going to cook today. I really wasn’t. But then, my kids and their friends wanted to have a lemonade stand. After a cooler than usual spring, the weather has been sunny and warm. It was a perfect idea and, somehow, every time there is a lemonade stand in our driveway, I make cookies…
