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

BLT Ranch Pasta Salad

Classic flavors come together with ease in this BLT pasta salad that’s equally perfect for family meals, packed lunches, and casual entertaining. Add grilled or rotisserie chicken for a well-rounded meal.   To celebrate my older son’s 14th birthday, we had a group of his friends over for a cookout. He chose hamburgers and hot…

Watermelon Rosemary Flavored Water

I drink a lot of water, but in the summertime, flavored waters hold a certain appeal to me. Yet, I know they are not all natural and many have artificial sweeteners.  So, when I came across suggestions for various all-natural, flavored waters recently, I decided to give it a go. To me, the watermelon looked…

Aunt Barb’s Strawberry Chiffon Pie

This retro dessert boasts a flavorful custard base that is lightened with egg whites and is the ideal way to make use of summer’s strawberry bounty.    Aunt Barb was not technically my aunt; she was my neighbor growing up. She was a special lady and I was thrilled to get this recipe from her…

Summer Sauté

In the warmer months, many of the green vegetables are so tender, they need only a quick sauté to bring out their best flavor.  I love this combination and will often keep it simple, sautéing in olive oil with a bit of salt and pepper.  In a few extra minutes and with minimal ingredients, however,…

Classic Creamy Cole Slaw–with Options

I just love this cole slaw piled high on a pulled-pork sandwich–almost any sandwich, actually–or served alongside delicious vine-ripened tomatoes, sweet pickles, and just about anything off the grill. Soaking the cabbage in ice-cold water for about an hour after chopping but before mixing with the dressing will add an extra level of crispness to this…

Quinoa Salad with Dried Cranberries and Pistachios

I always think I could have a lot of fun cooking in the kitchen with Amee from  Amee’s Savory Dish.  Her culinary style is appealing, approachable, and doable…not to mention delicious.  I am so pleased to welcome the multi-talented Amee Livingston and her amazing quinoa salad to The Fountain Avenue Kitchen… Amee is a southern…

Grilled Tuna with Avocado Wasabi Sauce

Sitting at our sons’ lacrosse game, my friend, Christina, told me about a marinade that she had recently used on swordfish.  When the evening’s plans went awry and she had to save the already-marinating swordfish for the next night, she realized that an overnight marinade worked quite well with this recipe. She was kind enough…

Kale, Leek and Gorgonzola Swirls

These mouth-watering bites look complicated but are easy to make–and a sure-fire hit!   This recipe was passed along by Beth Rice, an avid cook and reader of The Fountain Avenue Kitchen. It first caught my attention because I love kale. When I saw gorgonzola in the recipe, I was sold! Another reason I wanted…

Grilled Flank Steak with Greeked-Out Gorgonzola and Tomato Salsa

A wholesome, flavor-packed topping adds complementary flavor and fresh appeal to grilled flank steak. Easy to make and leftovers offer an ideal protein topper to a big dinner salad another night. In many ways, flank steak is the perfect entree after a busy day. The prep and cook time are mere minutes and the flavor…

Grilled Romaine and Prosciutto Salad with Greeked-Out Gorgonzola

I don’t cook a lot of red meat, but flank steak is one meal that I enjoy for both is ease of preparation and great flavor.  Plus, it’s inexpensive compared to many other cuts of beef and I like what I can do with the leftovers.  When I first served this grilled romaine salad with…

Kale Waldorf Salad

One of the first recipes I copied from my grandmother was for a simple Waldorf Salad.  I still have that 3×5 card and still enjoy a big bowl of it from time to time, with its hearty crunch and tart-sweet pairing of flavors.  With my love of kale, I developed a new recipe, loosely based…

Maple Blackberry Sauce

Fresh fruits are such a great topping for oatmeal, yogurt, ice cream, pound cake, cottage cheese, shortcake…I’m sure you could add a few more items to the list.  When fresh fruits aren’t available–and after I’ve used the last of the strawberry-rhubarb sauce I freeze every year–I turn to frozen, organic fruit for quick and delicious…

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