Valentine’s Day Recipes
Dark Chocolate Jar Cakes
Curling up with a new cookbook always feels like a treat to me. When said book happens to be penned by a dear friend, is loaded with colorful photos, and literally takes the reader on a magic carpet ride from one end of the globe to the next, that cookbook rivals anything on the New York…
Make-Ahead Strawberry Rhubarb Breakfast Parfaits
Perfect for busy mornings and great as a filling snack, this simple recipe is protein and calcium-rich, fruity and refreshing, and substitutions are easy. Plus it’s portable! Everyone in my family likes to eat a good breakfast, but no one is willing to sacrifice precious minutes of sleep to prepare one before heading out…
Shrimp Creole
Easy to make but company-worthy, a spoonful of rice is all you need to complete this flavor-packed meal. Convenient prep-ahead options included. Shrimp Creole was one of my mom’s “special dishes,” a meal she served when company came or there was something to celebrate. But the flavor and ease of this southern Louisiana staple makes…
Healthy Peanut Butter Buckeyes
Everyone in my family thinks Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs are the be-all-end-all…the piece de resistance….the bomb! From a nutritional vantage point, they are a bit of bomb. (Of course, we just ignore this fact from time to time!) When I saw a recipe for healthy peanut butter buckeyes from my friend Brianne of Cupcakes and Kale Chips (who,…
No-Bake Energy Bites
Chewy granola bar meets cookie batter in these easy-to-make bites, which include whole oats and a whopping half cup of heart-healthy flax meal. In a bold moment a few years back, I decided to give up ice cream for Lent. It was a test of sorts, as I seriously wondered if I had the discipline…
Fudgy Yogurt Brownies (egg-free)
Brownies with no eggs, no oil, and lots of protein… Hmmmm. Believe it or not, they taste great, too. These homemade treats are just as decadent as “regular” brownies and can be made with ingredients you likely have on hand. And if you, like me, adore a thick, chewy, moist, fudgy brownie, these have your…
Homemade Hot Cocoa
A clever method of preparation means there are no lumps or scorched milk in this cozy cocoa recipe. There’s even a cafe mocha variation! Before I started The Fountain Avenue Kitchen, I had very little experience with photography. When I took the typical family snapshots, the camera decided how to focus and when to flash,…
Dulce de Leche Latte
Since I stumbled upon the overwhelming hit of Crock Pot Dulce de Leche a few years ago, the kids regularly enjoy this caramel-like dip on sliced apples and we drizzle it over ice cream and pound cake. One reader loves it as a topping for Crunchy Top Apples and Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal. I even concocted…
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,…
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…
Overnight Buckwheat Groats — a crunchy, delicious option to oats
If you happen to be a fan of the ever-versatile, no-cook overnight oatmeal, you must try this novel twist. (And if you haven’t ventured into the easy breakfast world of overnight oats, I have several recipes for you!) For those who enjoy steel cut oats, buckwheat groats are quite similar in taste. In raw form,…
Pat’s Seared Sesame Chicken
With a syrupy glaze created by three basic ingredients and loads of flavor, this speedy meal is ideal for the weekly meal rotation. When dashing out to buy a bottle of wine, the logical expectation would be to return with something that may complement a special dinner. Leaving the state store with a…
