Holiday Recipes
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is easy to make at home with just two ingredients. The following how-to offers helpful details on which beans and liquor to use and how to store for practical use and gifting. Every year, I tell myself that I’m going to do my Christmas shopping early—and wrap the gifts too. In September,…
Maple Pumpkin Pie
Easy to make and delightful to eat, you may find yourself baking this pie well after the holiday season. For a pudding-like option, skip the crust and bake the filling in a lightly greased baking dish or individual ramekins. If I counted the number of times I’ve made this recipe for “testing”…
Almond Flour Pie Crust (gluten-free)
A scrumptious grain-free pie crust is easy to make with this recipe and a few helpful hints. Perfect for all your favorite fillings! The perfect pie deserves the perfect crust. Traditional rolled crusts can be daunting for many, and some simply can’t eat the wheat flour. Whatever the reason, this nutty, cookie-like crust is a…
Turkey Tetrazzini with Mushrooms and Kale
This update on the classic casserole is lighter, leaner, and loaded with wholesome vegetables. It’s a complete meal that can be made in advance and freezes well. If you have leftover Thanksgiving turkey, tetrazzini is a perfect way to enjoy it in a whole new way. If there are no leftovers to speak of,…
Secret Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Skillet Cookie
A happy fusion of a fudgy brownie and the perfect peanut butter cookie, this grain-free dessert can be dairy-free with the use of dairy-free chocolate chips. When I purchase a new product, I often look to see if there’s a recipe on the package. Until I started The Fountain Avenue Kitchen, I never thought…
Spooky Spaghetti Stuffed Peppers
A kid-friendly meal that adults love too. Carving the bell peppers can be part of the fun! It’s dinnertime. You have leftover spaghetti but not enough to feed the family. What to do? In mid-October, “spooky” spaghetti stuffed peppers are sure to delight. I saw this silly idea years ago but forgot about it as…
Pumpkin Ginger Cookies
The addition of pumpkin supplies moisture and enhances the spices in this otherwise traditional (and utterly delicious!) ginger-molasses cookie. A few weeks ago, I bumped into a friend and walked away with a bag of egg replacer in my hands. If this sounds a little strange, read on… Phil Lapp and his wife, Laura, are…
No-Sugar Homemade Jam (choose your favorite flavor－even use frozen fruit－in this easy, small batch recipe)
This flexible, small batch recipe doesn’t use pectin as a thickener, so there’s no need for a copious amount of granulated sugar as is used in traditional jams. Instead it relies on heart healthy chia seeds and a small amount of maple syrup or honey. Healthy jam that tastes great…really? The perks of…
Baked Pineapple Casserole
A delicious addition to a holiday table and anytime ham is served, this quick and easy recipe may be doubled and baked in a 9×13-inch casserole. Can Easter really be less than a week away? After a weekend of delightful weather－so welcome after the long, cold, snowy winter－it’s actually starting to feel a bit…
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
This meaty sauce is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. The yield is a generous 3+ quarts, so there’s plenty to freeze or to share! This meaty sauce is the ideal foundation for a winning spaghetti dinner. It’s also perfect for sharing with a friend (or two) while having enough for your family as…
Butterscotch Bread Pudding
Crispy edges, tender insides, and notes of caramel and butter take the classic bread pudding to new heights. Easy and irresistible! Last fall, I mentioned that I was all set to share a recipe for butterscotch bread pudding when a thoughtful reader emailed me the recipe for her prized beet cake. Like my chicken in…
O’Brien Irish Stew
This classic Irish stew was passed down from the decades old recipe box of an Irish friend. The tried-and-true recipe offers oven and slow cooker options, and the flavor improves over time, making it a great make-ahead meal. Most Americans think of stew as having a thick gravy base. But traditional Irish stew is…
