Birthday Recipes
Shortcut Soft Pretzels
Roll these clever pretzels into letters and spell out names for special occasions or twist them into the traditional shape. Either way, they’re a fun project and a crowd-pleasing snack! Throughout all my years of being a mom, I can say with 100% certainty that my favorite gifts have been homemade. A handcrafted…
Dark Chocolate Jar Cakes
Curling up with a new cookbook always feels like a treat to me. When said book happens to be penned by a dear friend, is loaded with colorful photos, and literally takes the reader on a magic carpet ride from one end of the globe to the next, that cookbook rivals anything on the New York…
Almond Coconut Strawberry Shortcakes (Gluten- & Grain-Free)
Gluten- & Grain-Free Almond Coconut Strawberry Shortcakes are healthy enough to eat for dinner but delicious enough to be dessert! Delving into my momโs strawberry shortcake was a much-anticipated welcome to the local strawberry season when I was a child. Mom always made her biscuit-like shortcake in a 9×13 pan and served big, warm squares…
Fudgy Yogurt Brownies (egg-free)
Brownies with no eggs, no oil, and lots of protein… Hmmmm. ย Believe it or not, they taste great, too. These homemade treats are just as decadent as “regular” brownies and can be made with ingredients you likely have on hand. ย And if you, like me, adore a thick, chewy, moist, fudgy brownie, these have your…
Dulce de Leche Latte
Since I stumbled upon the overwhelming hit of Crock Pot Dulce de Leche a few years ago, the kids regularly enjoy this caramel-like dip on sliced apples and we drizzle it over ice cream and pound cake. One reader loves it as a topping for Crunchy Top Apples and Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal. I even concocted…
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is easy to make at home with just two ingredients. The following how-to offers helpful details on which beans and liquor to use and how to store for practical use and gifting. Every year, I tell myself that I’m going to do my Christmas shopping earlyโand wrap the gifts too. In September,…
Almond Flour Pie Crust (gluten-free)
A scrumptious grain-free pie crust is easy to make with this recipe and a few helpful hints. Perfect for all your favorite fillings! The perfect pie deserves the perfect crust.ย Traditional rolled crusts can be daunting for many, and some simply can’t eat the wheat flour. ย Whatever the reason, this nutty, cookie-like crust is a…
Secret Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Skillet Cookie
A happy fusion of a fudgy brownie and the perfect peanut butter cookie, this grain-free dessert can be dairy-free with the use of dairy-free chocolate chips. When I purchase a new product, I often look to see if thereโs a recipe on the package. Until I started The Fountain Avenue Kitchen, I never thought…
No-Sugar Homemade Jam (choose your favorite flavor๏ผeven use frozen fruit๏ผin this easy, small batch recipe)
This flexible, small batch recipe doesn’t use pectin as a thickener, so there’s no need for a copious amount of granulated sugar as is used in traditional jams. Instead it relies on heart healthy chia seeds and a small amount of maple syrup or honey. Healthy jam that tastes greatโฆreally? ย The perks of…
Carrot Cake with Almond Flour
Perfectly spiced with a tender crumb, this carrot cake is a family favorite for birthdays, Easter, and just because. Naturally sweetened and gluten-free too. Among my stockpile of much-loved recipes, there are a few I “save.” I wasn’t sure exactly what I was saving this special recipe for–maybe fall when carrots are officially seasonal or…
Bourbon & Coca Cola Steaks
Typically, we keep steak preparation simple in our house. A sprinkle of spice rub is often as fancy as it gets. This clever steak marinade, compliments of Michaela Martin Kenkel (who has a delightful blog called An Affair from the Heart), earned points for originality. Until seeing her recipe, I thought of bourbon and Coke as…
Blueberry Peach Pound Cake
A handful of basic pantry ingredients and fruit are all you need to whip up this fabulous pound cake. Plus, the flavors improve as the cake sits, so the recipe is ideal when looking for day-ahead preparation. On a recent trip to a local farm stand, a longtime employee mentioned that whenever she sees me,…
