Food Gift Recipes
Valentine’s Day Cheerio’s Snack Mix
This creative (and low effort!) snack may be all that’s needed to make Valentine’s Day feel extra special this year. 💘 For years, this effortless, no-cook mix was a regular after-school and lunch box snack for my boys. Thanks to the simple combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy, they continue to enjoy it now…
Food Gift Guide
Looking for a thoughtful (and delicious!) DIY gift that even the most discerning recipient will love? This list is chock full of easy recipes for gifting at all occasions! So often, well intentioned gifts end up in a drawer or closet, never to see the light of day. When we struggle to come up with…
Lavender Syrup
Lavender Syrup is simple to make and adds a sweet, floral note to hot and iced coffee and tea, lattes, lemonade, cocktails, desserts, and more. A clever trick makes the syrup a pretty shade of purple! The first time I had a lavender latte, I didn’t finish it. Despite rave reviews from friends who claimed…
Mix and Match Trail Mix
A wholesome trail mix is easy to make and offers much room for variation, from basic nuts and dried fruit to an assortment of delicious extras. Recipe includes our favorite combinations! I love nuts of all kinds. Their crunch is appealing, and the balance of fats and protein makes them an especially satiating snack. As a…
Butterscotch Rum Ripple Cake
Butterscotch Rum Ripple Cake reinvents the classic pound cake with the addition of caramel-like swirled layers and an irresistible glaze. This recipe goes WAY back. As a newlywed, my husband, Jack, and I drove to Philadelphia to see his niece, Judy, perform in a play. She was in elementary school and had a part…
M&M Cookies (in a jar!)
A popular holiday gift (for any holiday) and a great project for kids to make for friends, M&M Cookies in a Jar are fun to bake, give, and enjoy. Printable tags included! When I first started working with Ann, I cooked my way through many of her delicious recipes, from sweet to savory and everything…
Spanish-Style Marinated Olives
An impressive appetizer recipe that takes five minutes to prep and adds something special to any cocktail hour, cheese board, or antipasto platter. Irresistibly snack-worthy and giftable too! For many of us, olives plucked straight from the jar are incredibly satisfying. They are salty, meaty, and even deliver a dose of monounsaturated fats, fiber,…
Mamie’s Million Dollar Fudge
Ultra-creamy with a delightful chocolate flavor, this foolproof fudge sets up beautifully without the need for a candy thermometer. Perfect for holiday cookie platter and sharing with family and friends. Aunt Peggy came over for an afternoon of cooking yesterday. She wanted to make Party Salmon with Creamy Horseradish Dill Sauce for a holiday potluck…
Cinnamon Honey Butter
This copycat version of Texas Roadhouse restaurant’s popular cinnamon honey butter recipe is a delightful spread for rolls, bagels, toast, muffins, cornbread, and sweet potatoes. Makes a lovely addition to a food gift too. Every year, Cindy, a former coworker of my husband, experiments with a variety of new recipes for her annual holiday…
Our Favorite Things for the Holidays!
We can all use fresh ideas in the gift giving department, right? In that spirit, we’ve been keeping a list and have assembled a collection of our favorite things to give and receive, and it’s loaded with practical and thoughtful ideas for kids and adults alike! Home is where the ❤️ is… The first…
Mix & Match Protein Bites
Customize these protein-filled treats with a list of tasty add-ins, and then keep a stash on hand for lunch boxes, speedy breakfasts, and anytime snacking. In the latest installment of Fountain Avenue Kids, a fabulous group of kids from my Boys & Girls Club cooking classes took over my kitchen to demonstrate one of their favorite snacks. These…
Vanilla and Caramel Iced Coffee (or caramel vanilla!)
A café-worthy drink comes together in minutes – faster than a Starbucks drive-thru and more economical too. You can use this recipe as a guide, choosing an easy-to-make syrup, and adjusting the coffee strength, sweetness, and creaminess to taste. A recent New York Times article asked the following question: Does anyone drink hot coffee…
