Birthday Recipes
How to roll sushi
Successful sushi rolling is easy with these step-by-step instructions. Fun for date nights, girls nights, slumber parties & ringing in the new year. Instructions include how to make the best spicy tuna and sriracha mayo along with tips and shortcuts for creating your own favorite rolls. Midway through a busy month, rolling your own sushi may seem…
Apple Crumb Cake
From holiday meals and casual entertaining to easy weeknight desserts, one-bowl Apple Crumb Cake is a go-to dessert for fall and winter–and it even passes as coffee cake! My grandmother’s apple cake has long been a family favorite. For years, we focused on the sheer deliciousness of it, as well as the fact that we could whip it…
Congo Bars
Congo Bars = the ultimate blondie! Perfectly chewy and so much easier to make than a batch of cookies, this foolproof recipe is a childhood favorite that has stood the test of time. Readers occasionally ask me if I ever really mess up a recipe – and the answer is a definite “Yes!” Earlier this…
Easy Mud Pie
This easy, make-ahead recipe is sure to become a favorite for casual entertaining and special occasions. The quick, no-bake homemade crust adds something special (and allows for a gluten-free option) but a store-bought cookie crust works well, too. After a recent swim, I overheard a mother attempting to prepare her young daughter for a nap…
PB&J Breakfast Bars
Healthy, filling and easy to make, Rachael Ray herself thinks these tasty bars are a total win! Convenient for grab-and-go breakfasts and anytime snacking. As if a compliment by Rachael Ray isn’t cool enough, the following recipe comes from a cookbook I recently reviewed call The Teen Kitchen －and Amazon just named it one of the best cookbooks…
Banana Bread Pancakes (or Waffles)
A wholesome, naturally gluten-free version of the perennial favorite quick bread, these light and fluffy pancakes incorporate heart-healthy oat flour (or oats) and can be prepared as waffles, too. Sometimes we just need a stick-to-our-ribs breakfast – and, happily, we can have it in a deliciously wholesome way! The first banana bread I…
Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore (with slow cooker option)
Tender, flavorful chicken and lots of healthy veggies are the hallmark of this easy meal that can be made in an Instant Pot or slow cooker. Leftover sauce can be enjoyed like a favorite marinara. Chicken Cacciatore is a classic. Also known as Hunter’s Stew (“cacciatore” means “hunter” in Italian), there are many different interpretations of the meal. The…
Emma’s Favorite Cupcakes (dairy- and gluten-free optional)
What happens when a dear friend requests a spot-on replica of the utterly perfect cupcakes her mom used to make－minus the dairy and gluten? You figure out a way, of course! This cupcake recipe, however, is bigger than any one birthday or Valentine’s Day. It represents love and loss and how we can form everlasting…
Salty Sweet Gourmet Sprinkles
Sprinkles are all grown up thanks to this stellar 3-ingredient combination that’s perfect for holiday gift giving! 🎁 The season of gift giving is upon us, and so often we need just a little something to give to a teacher, a co-worker or party host. But it’s fun when that “little something” has a…
No-Churn Kahlua Chip Ice Cream
No-Churn Kahlua Chip Ice Cream is fun to make and oh so delicious to eat—and no fancy ice cream maker is required! It all began with 5-Ingredient No-Churn Vanilla Bean Ice Cream waaaay back in the summer of 2015. At the time, I made a note to share some of the other no-churn ice cream flavors…
PB&J Breakfast Chia Pudding
An option to overnight oats, healthy, prep-ahead PB&J Chia Pudding is surprisingly delicious and satisfying. Feel free to use your favorite jam in place of the chia jam recipe and customize with your favorite fruits and toppings. Cha-cha-cha chia! 🎶🎵 I know what some of you are thinking. Pudding made from chia seeds? Maybe…
Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake
Guaranteed to be the hit of the party, my favorite Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake includes fudge filling, chocolate crunchies, and all. There’s also a worthy gluten-free option for those who need it—and nobody will detect a difference! On birthdays and hot summer nights, cake and ice cream really hit the spot. The following…
