Meals for Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day
Warm Yellow Lentil Salad with Double Mustard Soy Vinaigrette
Quick-cooking yellow lentils provide beautiful color and a lightly nutty flavor in this satisfying, plant-based meal, but brown or green lentils work well too. When it comes to recipes, I try not to overuse the word “favorite.” But the truth is, I have lots of favorites. Whether it is a favorite color, number, season,…
Baby Kale Chopped Salad
Once I put together the salad part of this recipe, I experimented with quite a few new dressings to really make it shine. My extended family served as official taste testers over several Sunday dinners. I offered two bowls, each with different dressings so everyone could offer his or her opinion. They had to keep…
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…
Roasted Tomatoes with Whipped Feta…and some kitchen experimenting
My sister is an artist. At a very young age, she stunned everyone with an amazingly accurate sketch of a horse. Eventually, she became a painting major at Rhode Island School of Design. I always joked that she got all the artistic abilities and I got none! As I grew older, I realized that my…
Easiest Marinated Grilled Veggies
Equal parts of 3 basic ingredients create a flavorful marinade that can be used in so many ways. So easy you can memorize it! These colorful grilled veggies are a regular here. Alongside the classic grilled steak, barbecued chicken, pork or seafood, they are truly the only side you need…and as easy as they are flavorful…
Italian Hoagie Salad
A reader-favorite (and reader-created!) recipe, this satisfying pasta salad was inspired by the classic sandwich and is a tried-and-true crowdpleaser. Easy to make too! It is always a joy to receive recipes from those who read my newspaper column or blog. When readers send me their family favorites, I am always happy to cook them…
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,…
Zucchini Pizza Casserole
This family-friendly meal is a deliciously clever way to use an abundance of zucchini. Naturally gluten- and grain-free too! Fresh herbs and zucchini are currently overflowing from our garden. The kale, chard, and spinach will make a comeback as cooler weather returns. So, for the next recipe in my Sargento flavor journey, I…
Balsamic Grilled Chicken with Tomato Feta Salsa
Whether it is too hot to cook or you would simply rather be at the pool, summertime cooking begs to be easy. With a few fresh ingredients, a grill, and a versatile, make-ahead dressing, dinner can truly be as effortless as it is delicious. One of my friends mentioned a few months ago that she…
Tropical Watermelon Slushy
Two simple ingredients are all that’s needed for this fruit-sweetened frozen treat. And whether you call it a slushy, Slurpee, Slush Puppie, ICEE, or slosh, it’s sure to refresh all summer long! My family LOVES slushies! A make-at-home version is tasty and easy. With some chopped watermelon stored in the freezer, it can also…
Prosciutto Wrapped Grilled String Cheese
Two simple ingredients are all you need for a fast, flavor-packed appetizer that is guaranteed to be the hit of the party! When visiting my in-laws recently, we got talking about cheese. Most every night before dinner, we enjoy cheese and crackers when we are with them. Given the flavor journey I have been working…
Walking Tacos
Walking Tacos offer a fun, portable way to enjoy the traditional taco salad and are perfect for kids’ parties and casual dinners. Those who prefer a plated taco salad may absolutely eat the meal that way. Both of my sons are swimmers and, like so many sports activities, the summer swim meets are always over…
