Weeknight Favorite Recipes
Curried Chicken Salad
Tender chicken is bathed in a light, creamy, curry-spiced dressing and studded with crisp celery and crunchy cashews for the ultimate chicken salad you’ll crave for every potluck, backyard BBQ, packed lunch, and casual dinner. I meant to post in the summer of 2015, and here we are 10 years later! This recipe for curried…
Bruschetta Chicken (grill and stovetop options)
Bruschetta Chicken turns the classic appetizer into a summery entree by replacing the crostini base with grilled or pan-seared chicken for a nutritious, versatile meal that’s easy to make yet worthy of company! Bruschetta Chicken is the perfect summer meal, and the highlight is the no-cook topping made with vine-ripened tomatoes, a drizzle of balsamic…
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Popular Mexican street fare is reinvented as a flavor-packed salad that’s quick to prepare and always a hit! I’m pretty sure I was a college graduate before I witnessed someone putting anything but butter and salt on corn on the cob. After all, I grew up in Lancaster County where corn is frequently consumed the…
Classic Kale Caesar Salad
My very favorite (and easy!) Caesar dressing pairs beautifully with shredded kale for a hearty salad that can be enjoyed as a versatile side dish or as a complete meal with the addition of a protein of choice. When contemplating the salads I make most often, this super satisfying number is most definitely in my…
Chili Lime Chicken
Add memorable flavor to basic chicken with a blend of spices you likely have on hand. Perfect as is and in burrito bowls, with or without the optional sauce. When I first wrote about this chicken for a newspaper recipe column in 2015, I alluded to a debate I was having with myself as to…
Roasted Carrots with Za’atar
A singular spice rub, a sprinkle of feta, and a quick stint in a hot oven will reinvent cooked carrots and add delicious variety to your usual veggie routine. The secret to perfectly roasted vegetables rests in the details. In the case of the following recipe, the tricks include a high enough oven temperature (to…
Parmesan Baked Flounder with Lemon Dill Sauce
Lemon, garlic, and a crispy crumb topping turn mild flounder into a dinnertime superstar. Easy enough for weeknight meals yet special enough for company. The roots of this recipe lie in a quick weeknight meal I made often as a young mom. It’s also the dish I credit with making fish lovers out of my…
Roasted or Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
A simple, 3-ingredient marinade heightens mushrooms’ natural umami for a super satisfying side dish that can be roasted or grilled. Great as a burger or vegan entree too! For years, my dad avoided mushrooms, claiming they were “tasteless.” In their raw form, I’ll let this statement slide. After all, uncooked mushrooms are over 90% water…
Egg White Muffins
A filling, wholesome, grab-and-go breakfast, egg white muffins are protein-rich, reheat well, and freezer friendly. Plus, there are options to use the whole egg, vary the add-ins, and customize for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. I’m the sort of person who likes to know what I’ll be eating for breakfast before I go to…
Easy Roasted Sausage, Peppers, and Onions
Sausage, peppers, and onions are tossed with simple Italian seasonings and then roasted to perfection for an easy meal that can be enjoyed over rice, pasta, or as the best sausage sandwiches. Easy, colorful, and hearty. This meal is versatile comfort food at its best. The most basic of ingredients – sausage, vegetables, and seasonings…
Pasta with Escarole, Sausage, and Beans
The classic Tuscan pairing of beans and greens meets sausage and pasta for nourishing comfort food the whole family will enjoy. If I told you that eight ounces of pasta could generously feed four adults and up to six depending on appetite, you may be skeptical. The following recipe, however, accomplishes that in a most…
Homemade Sausage
Enjoy sausage with all the flavor of classic Italian sausage but without nitrates, nitrites, and other ingredients you prefer to avoid. There’s an oft-repeated saying that bacon makes everything better. Cooking with sausage is much the same way. From pizza, pasta, and egg sandwiches to soups, stews, spaghetti sauce, and casseroles (I could go on!),…
