Holiday Recipes
Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce or Simple Au Jus
Golden on the outside and pink in the middle, a perfectly cooked beef tenderloin will be the centerpiece of any special dinner. The recipe offers a less expensive alternative, as well as tips on how much meat to purchase per person. My husband and I had been friends for many years before we began dating, so I…
Favorite Flourless Chocolate Cake
Decadent and delicious, this flourless cake will be a special addition to any holiday table and is also a good option for those who need a gluten-free dessert. When it comes to chocolate cake, I’ve always preferred light and fluffy over rich and dense. When my husband and I married, I wanted a chocolate…
Roasted Feta with Honey
A dear friend called this delicious appetizer easy but “showy,” and it’s a perfect description! As the New Year approaches, it’s natural to ponder our hopes and dreams and to consider the multitude of resolutions we could make (and possibly break) in the months ahead. It’s also a good time to look back…
Overnight French Toast Casserole
Lightly sweet and tender with delightfully crispy edges, this mouthwatering baked French toast can be prepared in advance with basic ingredients. It’s special enough for holiday breakfasts and brunches but easy enough for any given Saturday or Sunday. Warm fires, sweet cookies, festive packages, and lots of holiday cheer with family and friends—this is…
Homemade Dog Treats
Homemade Dog Treats are easy to make and will delight your furry friends－with ingredients you approve of! Many years ago, when my then-two-year-old son was recovering from a tonsillectomy, our dog Angus got sick. Really sick. I vividly remember walking my older son to the bus stop one cold winter morning. My husband had just left…
Easy Hand & Body Sugar Scrub
This customizable, boutique-worthy scrub is effective, economical, and smells good enough to eat. It also makes a thoughtful gift that can be made in minutes! Dry, cracked, or otherwise flaky skin isn’t the most exciting topic of conversation, although I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who deals with it. But guess what?…
Birdseed Ornaments
It’s hard to come up with the perfect gift for parents, teachers, neighbors, aunt and uncles, and family friends. Birdseed ornaments are fun to make and economical, too — and your feathered friends will thank you! 🐦 At first glance, a recipe featuring birdseed might suggest that I’m dishing up unappetizing diet fare as punishment…
Sparkling Cranberries
Two ingredients come together with ease for a stunning holiday dessert decoration or cheese plate garnish. The leftover syrup is delicious in cocktails, mocktails, and lemonade! What holiday spread wouldn’t be perked up by something colorful and sparkly? These sweet-tart jewels are simple to make and can be used to decorate cakes and pies,…
Morning Glory Baked Oatmeal
The warm, spiced flavors of the classic muffin find their way into a satisfying baked oatmeal for a nourishing, make-ahead way to start your day! In October of 2015, Kim asked via email if I happened to have a recipe for morning glory baked oatmeal. Kim mentioned that her brother had purchased something similar…
Chocolate Caramel Matzo Brittle
Sweet, salty, and crunchy, this traditional Passover treat will be a crowdpleaser any time of year! Good recipes have roots in the most unexpected places. Standing on the sidelines of a lacrosse game last year, the grandmother of my son’s good buddy and teammate mentioned a seasonal recipe she likes to make for family…
Slow Cooker Corned Beef & Cabbage Soup
All the flavor of the classic Irish dish in soul-warming soup form. Easy, satisfying, and leftovers are a treat! I was jinxed! The very same day a friend asked me if I had ever made something that flat-out flopped, it happened. Usually, my kitchen disasters hinge on my general clumsiness, like dropped salad bowls…
Reader Favorites from the First 5 Years
One of the fifth grade teachers at my elementary school was as popular for his likeable personality and teaching style as he was for his birthday–he was born on Leap Day. We all thought it was so funny that he was only 7 or 8 years old, but I remember feeling a little sad for…
