Meals Under 30 Minutes
Kale and Eggs
A “busy night” dinner that’s hearty, healthy, colorful and super satisfying. Easy to customize based on preference and what you have on hand. There are lots of “busy night” dinners that I pull together often but have not shared in this space. Why, you may ask? Well, because they are the busy nights,…
STAT Chicken Noodle Soup
This quick, soul-warming soup is loaded with tender chicken and colorful veggies and puts on fun twist on the pasta. Pediatrician recommended and family approved! NOTE: Following is an excerpt from my February 2013 column in the Lancaster Sunday News. For the link to the referenced “Ask the Pediatrician” column, which may be of particular interest if you feel…
Parmesan Crusted Salmon
Wholesome and delicious, this quick and easy salmon can even be prepped ahead, making it equally ideal for busy weeknights and weekend entertaining. A version of this recipe was the first seafood dish I ever served to company when I was newly married 18 or so years ago! I have given this recipe away…
Honey Sweetened Corn Muffins (gluten-free option)
My husband adores cornbread, so I have made it scores of different ways over the years. Since his birthday is today, and because we like to start birthdays in our family with birthday muffins, bagels, donuts or baked oatmeal — basically, anything I can stick candles in to start the day off in a festive…
Raspberry Peach Coconut Smoothie
We sometimes enjoy smoothies for breakfast, although I more frequently make lunch out of them. For a meal on-the-go, the make-ahead recipes (see drinks and smoothies category) are particularly handy. My kids, on the other hand, often request a smoothie as an after-school snack. New flavors are developed based on the fruits they request —…
Better-for-You Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Update: As I made a fresh batch of this tasty dressing for the big game tonight, I thought it worth linking in a few more ways I like to use this beyond the typical dressing or dip (links provided below). Also, my friend, Carrie, kindly figured out the nutritional information which I have included below.…
Prosciutto Wrapped Halibut Salad with Balsamic Tomato Sauce
A few nights ago, I pan seared some wild caught Halibut, wrapped simply in prosciutto. Though I buy fish regularly, I tend not to buy much Halibut. It is a meaty fish, and I tend toward the flaky. (Somehow, that sounds sort of funny, but you know what I mean!) These wild caught pieces of…
Spinach Salad with Citrus, Avocado and Balsamic Reduction
A few weeks ago, a friend emailed me, saying that grapefruit is one of his favorite fruits, and wondered if I had any recipes using this fruit. On one of those aforementioned evenings, when the refrigerator was looking rather bare, I did happen to have a bag of baby spinach, a grapefruit, and a red…
Balsamic Reduction (aka making “good” balsamic from the inexpensive stuff!)
Years ago, a friend gave me a small bottle of aged balsamic vinegar — the real stuff, from Modena, Italy. At that point, I had never experienced this mellow and thick, almost sweet, vinegar and I savored every last drop of that bottle. The terrific thing is that you really don’t need to spend twenty…
Roasted Cauliflower and New Potatoes with Blue Cheese
Super easy and incredibly satisfying, this recipe is veggie-based comfort food at its best. Minimal ingredients equal maximum flavor! Rice makes a perfect “sponge” for the flavorful tomato-based sauce in my easy slow cooker chicken tikka masala. But with this and other dishes for which rice forms a purposeful base, I sometimes replace the…
Cream of Quinoa
My grandmother often made cream of wheat when I was a little girl and I loved eating it, topped simply with a sprinkle of brown sugar. Quinoa flakes offer a modern spin on that tasty breakfast with a gluten-free grain that cooks in two quick minutes. It takes almost as long to pour cereal from…
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…
