Meals for Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day

Sweet Cherry & Feta Quinoa with Peach Vinaigrette

A light, flavor-packed salad that’s delightful paired with virtually any grilled protein but stands alone as a complete vegetarian meal. For a vegan alternative, simply omit the feta. And try substituting dried cherries or cranberries when the fresh cherry season has ended. 🍒 Every summer, I make several varieties of homemade jam that we enjoy throughout the…

Cherry Crisp (Gluten-Free)

I had the pleasure of having a helper in my kitchen the other day.  As much as I love it when my boys lend an occasional hand in the kitchen, it was a treat to have a female assistant this time around!  Heather Green is an aspiring photographer who, at age 12, started her own…

California Potato Salad

Buttery avocado, juicy tomatoes, and a bit of crisp bacon will shake up your potato salad routine for a light yet filling spin on the classic dish.     This absolutely delicious reader recipe was sent to me by Leola, Pennsylvania native Nancy Irvin James, who mentioned that the recipe got its name because she developed it…

Classic Strawberry Jam

The quintessential flavor of homemade strawberry jam is easy to achieve thanks to these simple instructions! This is the recipe my grandmother always used for her strawberry jam. It’s traditional strawberry jam at its best. The taste and color when freshly made can’t be beat. Opening a jar in the cold winter months provides the…

Strawberry Pesto Pasta Salad

This recipe came from Genevieve, an English teacher at Lancaster Country Day School. Another teacher told Genevieve she simply must share this recipe for the Summer Salad Challenge conducted by The Lancaster Sunday News and me.  The recipe came from Genevieve’s sister and, conceptually, it caught my attention right away.  Beyond offering a novel, seasonal…

Hoisin Beef Skewers (or Whole Flank Steak)

Prep-ahead convenience, versatility, and appealing flavor make this recipe a go-to for easy weeknight grilling and weekend entertaining.    I’m the type of person who thinks about dinner as I am eating breakfast. So, it may not be surprising that I ponder what to cook for my newspaper column up to a month in advance!…

Baked Greens with Mushrooms and Blue Cheese

As my garden grows and local market stands overflow with spring greens, I have been diving deeper into one of my two assigned food trends:  bitter greens.  For those who may not have read previously, I am on a yearlong journey with Sargento Cheese, developing recipes and exploring the food trends that were developed by…

Rhubarb Bars

The sweet-tart flavor and slightly gooey filling, which is balanced by a crisp crust, make these bars a must when rhubarb is in season! Happy Mother’s Day! Not only is the following dessert a favorite of my mother, the timing is ideal, as rhubarb’s short season is upon us. If you haven’t baked with rhubarb before,…

Big Batch Peanut Butter Congo Bars

I wasn’t going to cook today.  I really wasn’t.  But then, my kids and their friends wanted to have a lemonade stand.  After a cooler than usual spring, the weather has been sunny and warm.  It was a perfect idea and, somehow, every time there is a lemonade stand in our driveway, I make cookies…

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…

Caramel Popcorn with Salted Peanuts

Make gourmet-quality popcorn at home with these easy instructions and helpful tips. Delicious for anytime snacking and makes a fabulous gift too.  Salty, sweet, and crunchy.  What better combination could one hope for?  My aunt made a similar recipe years ago and gave tins filled with this mouth-watering mixture as holiday gifts. I noticed that…

Honey Sweetened Corn Muffins (gluten-free option)

My husband adores cornbread, so I have made it scores of different ways over the years. Since his birthday is today, and because we like to start birthdays in our family with birthday muffins, bagels, donuts or baked oatmeal — basically, anything I can stick candles in to start the day off in a festive…

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