Make-Ahead Recipes

Roasted Peel-and-Eat Shrimp with Homemade Cocktail Sauce

Easy to make and so much fun to eat. This recipe can be made with shrimp that has already been peeled and deveined. Simply adjust the seasoning amount, as noted.   There are certain foods my family refers to a “fun foods”.  Some of these include crabs, artichokes and anything for which we can use…

Homemade Chili Sauce

Forgot to buy chili sauce at the store? No problem, because great chili sauce is quick and easy to make at home! Chili sauce is a condiment I use occasionally, but not often. Needing some for a shrimp recipe I planned to make this weekend, I added it to my grocery list. Or, at least,…

Easy Yogurt Fruit Dip

 A fruit tray is a delicious addition to any party menu as well as a healthy option that looks pretty and is typically a hit with kids and adults alike.  Recently, I hosted an event and wanted a dip to serve alongside the fruit.  I experimented with the following recipe and served it in a…

Golden Oreo Bark (or Mint or Doublestuff or….)

For my younger son’s last birthday treat at school, he requested Oreo Bark.  Treats are to be delivered during lunch, and when I arrived at the appointed time with the small bags we had packaged for each of his classmates (each bag held a small piece of golden and a small piece of mint Oreo…

Santa Cookies

Santa Claus Christmas cookies are festive and fun to make and eat. Perfect for holiday gifting and Santa’s Christmas Eve treat!   In my recent snickerdoodle biscotti post, I mentioned my talented friend, Lisa. Every December, Lisa spends countless hours mixing, rolling and baking hundreds upon hundreds of cookies for the most amazingly delicious and…

Salted Hot Fudge Sauce

This tried-and-true chocolate sauce is thick, velvety, and strikes the right salty-sweet balance. It’s quick and easy to prepare and makes a lovely gift! (Small and big batch recipe cards included.)   While my family enjoys traditional pies for our Thanksgiving dessert, Christmas dinner is always capped off with vanilla ice cream drizzled with homemade hot…

Snickerdoodle Biscotti

Classic, twice-baked biscotti goes Snickerdoodle-style thanks to an easy cinnamon sugar topping. Low in fat and high in flavor, this crisp Italian cookie is perfect for dipping in coffee, tea, and cocoa!   Lisa is a friend who happens to be an incredible baker. Every year in early December, she begins the month-long process of…

Chicken Tortilla Soup

A brimming pot of this wholesome soup is a filling favorite in our house. Topped with shredded cheese and crumbled tortilla chips, it’s extra special! Last year, as I was pondering my holiday gift list, I struggled to think of something that several friends would really need or enjoy. Eventually, it occurred to me that…

Royal Icing

Making gingerbread houses–well, actually, graham cracker houses –is an annual holiday event in our house.  The first year I thought of doing this, I offered to make enough “bases” for my son’s entire pre-school class.  It was a bit overwhelming at first.  I wondered what the heck I had gotten myself into!  But once you…

White Chocolate Pecan Pie

White chocolate and a graham cracker crust take the classic pecan pie to new heights in this crowd-pleasing dessert that assembles in a mere minutes.   While my husband, Jack, does not often cook, there are two or three dishes he prepares quite well.  Baking, however, is unexplored territory. So, when he bought the ingredients…

So Easy Fresh Pumpkin Puree

Canned pumpkin isn’t the only game in town. It’s easy to make your own pumpkin puree, and the fresh flavor can’t be beat!   As I was wrestling with this pumpkin, trying to cut through it — all the while thinking of several people who have commented that they enjoy winter squash recipes, except for…

Prize-Winning Crunchy Top Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal — and a trip WINNER!

UPDATE: I am thrilled to announce that the winner of the trip to Canyon Ranch in Miami, Florida is Matthew Fairbanks!  Thank you all for voting, entering, and being a friend of The Fountain Avenue Kitchen.  I truly wish I could send you all on a trip!  Congratulations to Matthew and wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving…

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