Meals for Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day
Summer Tomato and Leek Sauce
A simple, summer sauce is the perfect way to enjoy a bounty of vine-ripened tomatoes and works beautifully as a light pasta or pizza sauce or as a flavorful topping for chicken or fish. My original plan for this sauce was to use red onion, until I saw some baby leeks at market. Leeks provide…
Balsamic Dijon Grilled Vegetables
In my book, grilled veggies are fabulous for so many reasons. First and foremost, they taste great. But also, they are easy to prepare and need nothing more than a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper. However, they can be fancied up with any number of marinades and herbs. Vegetables can be grilled in…
Sunflower Zucchini Bread (Gluten-Free with Coconut Flour)
While I typically use my tried-and-true gluten-free flour blend as a cup-for-cup stand in when baking quick breads, cakes, muffins, I have been experimenting more and more with various flours used separately, specifically, almond flour and coconut flour. Coconut flour is unique in that very little of it is required relative to other flours due…
Mango Freeze
In my never-ending quest to satisfy my sweet tooth and provide a worthy alternative to my favorite indulgence, ice cream–not an easy task, mind you!–I hit upon this gem of a dessert. My kids started the mango craze in our house a couple of years ago. They consider mangoes a real treat…sweet like candy. Once…
Kale and Boursin-Stuffed Grilled Portobellos
Mushrooms were never something I ate a lot of growing up, but my husband has always adored them. Since marrying him a few years back (almost 18 to be precise!), I have grown to appreciate the flavor and texture of a wide variety of mushrooms. They are so meaty and satisfying, and their earthy flavor…
Quinoa, Cheddar and Zucchini Bake
Simple ingredients mix up in a snap and then bake to golden perfection for an easy, cheesy meal enjoyed by kids and adults alike! Delicious recipes that allow for seasonal adjustments rank high in my book. Originally, I developed this baked quinoa dish because I wanted to use this wholesome grain in a new…
Blackberry, Feta and Mint Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Last summer, a friend of mine offered me one week of her farm share as her family was leaving town and wouldn’t be home to use the food. Included in the stash of colorful summer veggies was a bunch of fresh spearmint, some crisp greens, and a box of plump, juicy blackberries. My mind immediately…
Black and Blueberry and Oat Muffins
In my mind, blueberry muffins are a delicious, tender, white flour affair–sort of like cake! As often as I create healthy muffin recipes, until now I had not messed with the classic blueberry muffin. But loving blueberries as I do, and because I like muffins to be a healthy breakfast or snack option, it…
Classic Spanish Sangria
Authentic Spanish sangria is simple to make and delivers nuanced flavor with eye-catching appeal. Perfect for entertaining and easy to customize with your favorite fruits and wine. My first taste of sangria came years ago while living in Madrid. It has been a summertime favorite ever since. Fruity and refreshing, it is popular with…
Gluten-Free Grilled Pizza
When my dad had to give up wheat, there were a few things he really missed: his favorite spice cake, a good cinnamon raisin cookie, and pizza. To this day, he gets excited when he sees a restaurant in town that offers gluten-free pizza. Most of the time, however, he reports that he wouldn’t order…
Blueberry Crisp (A.K.A. Blueberry Jammie)
An irresistible dessert with a silly nickname, this classic crisp is easy to make and oh-so good to eat! When we visit my in-laws at their lake house every summer, one of our favorite activities is blueberry picking. We can literally walk out the door, empty pretzel tub in hand, and pick away. …
Strawberry Slushy Punch
This is the perfect summertime, non-alcoholic drink. It makes a special beverage for kids or adults who prefer “unleaded”, as my dad would say. A convenient option to blender drinks, this slush is prepared in advance and stored in the freezer until ready to use. Entertaining made easy! Depending on the size of your group,…
