Birthday Recipes
Foolproof Peanut Butter Frosting
In our family, February is full of birthdays. There are three, all spread out exactly one week after the next. With Valentine’s Day thrown into the mix, there is ample opportunity for cakes and other sweet treats! As I have previously reported, adoration for homemade caramel frosting runs deep on my husband’s side of the family.…
Nutella Latte
Sub-zero temperatures make hot drinks…and soup…taste especially good. I like my coffee black, but I also enjoy a creamy latte or cafe mocha. (Truth be told, I especially like one of these special drinks with a small handful of peanut M&Ms. For a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, I count out 10 or 12 so I don’t eat…
Overnight Oven-Baked French Toast
Amidst the last minute preparations for Christmas Day, there are a few non-negotiable activities on my calendar every December 24th. First and foremost, I must wrap the gifts my dad buys for my mom. To clarify, this annual ritual is not a hardship. In fact, I secretly love it. You see, while I am cutting…
Parmesan Mushroom Polenta
A former White House chef shares his recipe for a versatile side dish, which can be easily transformed into a winning meal. A must make! Early in my marriage, my husband was amused by how I could read a cookbook as though it were a best-selling novel. Well, I recently discovered a cookbook that…
Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar
A popular hostess and holiday gift and a great project for kids to make for friends, Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar are fun to bake, give, and eat. Printable tags included! A delicious cookie-in-a-jar recipe was harder to devise than I expected. Not only did the cookie have to taste great, the mix…
Overnight Lasagna (Turkey and Greens with Options)
If you prefer a saucy lasagna with a light ricotta layer, this recipe is for you. Plus, there’s no need to precook the noodles and the recipe makes one for now, one for later—or one to share with a friend! I love a good lasagna, but it always seems like a big production. I hit…
Homemade Play Dough
Homemade Play Dough is easy with these simple instructions. As an added bonus, the texture is so much smoother than store-bought and there’s less crumby mess! The start of the new school year brought much change to our house. My older son made the leap to high school, and my younger son stepped up to…
Nutella Pops
A cold, creamy treat that’s easy to make, Nutella Pops remind me of the classic chocolate pudding pops that were so popular when I was a girl! Do you remember Pudding Pops? In the 1980s, Bill Cosby was the spokesman for this popular frozen treat. The chocolate version was similar to a creamy fudgesicle,…
Nutella Iced Latte
A cafe-worthy latte is easy to make at home and for a fraction of the price! When the weather is warm, I particularly enjoy an iced latte. As much as I love this coffee house treat, I am always a little annoyed with myself when I spend four dollars for what is essentially…
Blue Cheese and Bacon Braised Trout
When we visit my in-laws’ cabin in Blooming Grove, Pennsylvania, the guys do a lot of fishing. (Usually, after I catch one fish, I say I am good for the year!) Some of the fishing is done from a row boat in the lake, but most is done casting from the shores of one of…
100% Whole Wheat Pancakes
Looking for a light, fluffy pancake recipe that offers a nutritional boost? This delicious stack is packed with whole grains and fiber－but no one will ever suspect they’re healthy! A few weeks ago, my younger son, Christian, and I were the only ones home for dinner. I asked him if, for…
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…
