Christmas Recipes

Farmhouse Roasted Chestnuts

Lightly salted, these chestnuts are delicious served warm and straight from the shell. They’re perfect for Thanksgiving stuffing and soups too!   Autumn is the time of year when the American Chestnut Trees in the northeast drop the nuts from their prickly burrs. As an interesting bit of trivia, there are typically three chestnuts per…

Chocolate Acorns

These adorable fall treats are easy to make and fun to eat! Chocolate acorns are great project for kids and make a lovely host gift. Just place in a cellophane bag and tie with a bow.    My kids and I made these festive fall treats for the first time last year and, like the…

Apple Crisp Baked Oatmeal

  By now, my love of baked oatmeal has been well established.  Truth be told, I hold back some of my variations because I don’t want to over-oatmeal people.  I think the time has come, however, to release another! My sister-in-law, Melissa, is to thank for this delicious creation.  She is a nurse who leaves…

No Bake Butterscotch Haystacks

Three ingredients are all you need for this salty-sweet, crunchy treat that takes mere minutes to make. No baking required!   Butterscotch Haystacks are, without a doubt, my younger son’s favorite cookie. I always make them over the holidays and he frequently requests them throughout the year.  When his science class organized a nature-themed bake…

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…

Spiced Pecans

These crisp, sweet nuts are easy to prepare and make a delightful hostess or holiday gift. Sprinkle in salads or enjoy by the handful! My aunt, who grew up in the original Fountain Avenue kitchen, shared this simple recipe with me years ago, and it has been a favorite in our house ever since. These…

Cheese Crisps

Low-carb cheese crisps require only one ingredient (jalapeño slices are optional) and cook in 2 short minutes-and believe it or not, the microwave produces better results than the oven. Perfect with a glass of wine or as a flavorful alternative to a crouton.     If I said you could make a light and flavorful…

White Chocolate Gorp

Easy to make and fun to eat, this tasty treat makes a festive addition to any holiday celebration with the use of seasonal M&Ms.   As a kid at camp in Maine, I loved to sign up for the hiking trips. Typically, we hiked portions of the Appalachian Trial, usually carrying supplies in a frame…

Almond Bark with Sea Salt

Salty-sweet almond bark is the ultimate treat and takes mere minutes to make with three simple ingredients. Every year before Easter, I find myself up to my elbows in chocolate.   For as long as I can remember, making homemade chocolates has been part of my family’s holiday tradition. I have so many fond memories…

Maple Cinnamon Roasted Garbanzos

Recently, I posted my new and improved technique for roasting garbanzo beans–also known as chickpeas.  Additionally, I had fun experimenting with roasting various other types of beans lurking in my pantry.  (To see the details, click here.) Somewhere between the black eyed peas and the butter beans, My Whole Food Life shared her sweeter version of this…

Roasted Garbanzos…and other roasted beans

A simple technique and helpful hints for the best crunchy snack–that happens to be healthy, protein-rich, economical, and easy!   Last year, when I first posted my recipe for roasting garbanzo beans, a couple of my friends mentioned that a few of the beans popped in their oven!  We quickly determined that the garbanzos still…

Orange-Infused Chocolate Chunk Brownies

A hint of citrusy flavor complements the classic chocolate brownie for an elevated take on an old favorite! Who remembers the Pepsi Challenge? Years ago, I remember going to a mall while with my family in the Poconos and seeing the stand. I thought it was so cool that we ran into the real, live…

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