Valentine’s Day Recipes
Homemade Bailey’s Irish Cream
Quick and easy to make at home and every bit as delicious as the store-bought bottle－less expensive, too. Irish cream is delightful in coffee, on the rocks, or in a variety of baked goods. It’s a novel treat for holiday and hostess gifts and perfect for St. Patrick’s Day! A reader from France kindly…
Holiday Sangria
Infused with cranberry, orange, and apple, this make-ahead cocktail is a festive crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving and all of your holiday celebrations. Looking for a signature drink to complement a festive menu or take to a holiday gathering? Enter the following sangria. This jewel-hued beverage will serve you well from Halloween through New…
Congo Bars
Congo Bars = the ultimate blondie! Perfectly chewy and so much easier to make than a batch of cookies, this foolproof recipe is a childhood favorite that has stood the test of time. Readers occasionally ask me if I ever really mess up a recipe – and the answer is a definite “Yes!” Earlier this…
Martha Stewart’s One-Pan Pasta (and some riffs on the basic recipe)
This all-in-one meal is a versatile weeknight godsend! Once the water boils, the cooking time is a quick 9 minutes. (And there’s a spot-on gluten-free option for those who need it!) Have you ever tried Martha Stewart’s one-pan pasta recipe? The all-in-one meal is a gift on a busy weeknight, for sure. Though…
Easy Mud Pie
This easy, make-ahead recipe is sure to become a favorite for casual entertaining and special occasions. The quick, no-bake homemade crust adds something special (and allows for a gluten-free option) but a store-bought cookie crust works well, too. After a recent swim, I overheard a mother attempting to prepare her young daughter for a nap…
Slow Roasted Salmon
This need-to-know technique assures perfectly cooked, tender salmon every single time－and you can apply the method to other favorite salmon recipes.🐟 In my early days of cooking salmon, I often broiled it. The method is quick, and a little crispy char is delightful. I quickly learned, however, that there’s a fine line between…
PB&J Breakfast Bars
Healthy, filling and easy to make, Rachael Ray herself thinks these tasty bars are a total win! Convenient for grab-and-go breakfasts and anytime snacking. As if a compliment by Rachael Ray isn’t cool enough, the following recipe comes from a cookbook I recently reviewed call The Teen Kitchen －and Amazon just named it one of the best cookbooks…
Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore (with slow cooker option)
Tender, flavorful chicken and lots of healthy veggies are the hallmark of this easy meal that can be made in an Instant Pot or slow cooker. Leftover sauce can be enjoyed like a favorite marinara. Chicken Cacciatore is a classic. Also known as Hunter’s Stew (“cacciatore” means “hunter” in Italian), there are many different interpretations of the meal. The…
Parmesan Garlic Bread
An unexpected ingredient makes for better browning in this flavor-packed Parmesan spread, which can be kept on hand for a quick, crowd-pleasing side to soups, pastas and salads－and feel free to use with a variety of breads beyond the customary baguette. Garlic bread is to spaghetti what milk is to cereal. Ok…maybe a toasty…
Emma’s Favorite Cupcakes (dairy- and gluten-free optional)
What happens when a dear friend requests a spot-on replica of the utterly perfect cupcakes her mom used to make－minus the dairy and gluten? You figure out a way, of course! This cupcake recipe, however, is bigger than any one birthday or Valentine’s Day. It represents love and loss and how we can form everlasting…
Winter Breakfast Bowl
This easy, no-cook breakfast turns the typical yogurt bowl upside down, using the yogurt as a binder and encouraging heavier use of fruits you may not ordinarily consider. Right off the bat I can think of quite a few reasons I’ve been starting my day so frequently with a cool, colorful breakfast bowl…
Maryland Crab Cakes
Crisp edges with no fryer? Prep-ahead convenience AND classic crab cake flavor? This recipe covers all those bases with ease, making it ideal for entertaining yet easy enough for a special meal on a busy weeknight. We have some die-hard crab fans in our family. The perfect summer evening could very well involve sitting out…
