Weeknight Favorite Recipes
Overnight Cinnamon Pecan Coffee Cake
Classic yet super simple, this longtime family favorite tastes just like a good coffee cake should. The prep-ahead option offers added convenience! Dinner has always been the focal point of our extended family celebrations on major holidays and, fittingly, where much of the time and effort is placed. Breakfast, however, has always been…
Kalua Pork (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker)
Everything you wanted to know about electric pressure cookers PLUS an easy, melt-in-your-mouth pork recipe that you’ll want to make again and again…with a slow cooker option, too! Given its sustained high ranking spot on gift lists and mail-order sites far and wide, chances are good that you or someone you know is the…
Slow Cooker Taco Chicken (with freezer bag option)
A good freezer bag meal will come to your rescue on busy weeknights and when cooking for a friend in need. Taco chicken is family friendly, endlessly versatile, and quick to prep. Last year I turned the bags into practical gifts for several friends, because who couldn’t use a healthy meal and a night off…
Turkey (or Chicken), Kale & Wild Rice Salad
Turkey (or Chicken), Kale & Wild Rice Salad is a healthy, super satisfying way to turn leftovers into a complete meal. Perfect for a post-holiday detox or clean eating (that tastes great!) any time of year. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 I, for one, am thankful for family, friends and a loyal group of readers who make…
Roasted Carrots & Parsnips with Balsamic Honey Glaze (or just carrots)
Need a healthy, prep-ahead side for your holiday table? This colorful dish has you covered! Don’t have parsnips? Use all carrots. Lately things have been looking rather orange around here. Tis the season, I suppose! Root veggies, winter squash, and Halloween-themed eats provide a golden glow that feels fittingly fall. (For those who are missing…
Stuffing Balls
Clever, portion-controlled, and a surefire hit on a holiday table or alongside poultry and pork dishes throughout the year. Stuffing balls are easy to make for any size crowd and offer prep-ahead convenience. The term “Friendsgiving” first entered my lexicon the November after I graduated from college, when my friend Megan organized a small army…
Threaded Hot Dog or Sausage Spaghetti (aka “Spider Dogs”)
Move over meatballs! This squirmy pasta dish makes a fun project for kids and a crowd-pleasing Halloween-themed meal. For a more “mature” version, substitute your favorite cooked sausage for the hot dogs. I’m pretty sure a spoonful of laughter and silliness makes any dinner taste better –and when the preparation of that meal can…
Whole Foods’ Kale Waldorf Salad
This mayo-free variation of the classic Waldorf salad introduces kale to the mix and incorporates apples and nuts into the dressing for a creamy consistency with natural sweetness. The recipe card includes Whole Foods’ original version along with some adaptations I have come to enjoy. If you live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania as I do,…
How to Roast Any Vegetable
When prepared well, roasted vegetables can be serious comfort food – and they can be used well beyond the satisfying side dish that they naturally are. This convenient guide offers cooking times, temperatures, helpful hints and lots of delicious ideas to make the most of inexpensive, healthy, versatile veggies! (Scroll down to see the guide…
Sheet Pan Sweet & Sour Chicken
Sweet and spicy mingle with a hint of heat in this family-friendly sheet pan meal that’s worthy of a spot on the weekly dinner rotation. The prep-ahead sauce stores well and makes enough for a second meal another night. Or use it for quick stir fries with your favorite protein and vegetables. Opposites attract, or…
Sweet Potato Chicken (or Turkey) Poppers
Sweet Potato Chicken (or Turkey) Poppers – These tasty little bites were ranked as the favorite recipe in a recent cooking class…even by those who claim not to like sweet potatoes! For added convenience, the poppers can be prepped in advance, covered, and stored in the fridge until ready to bake. On some…
Baked Tacos
This clever approach to tacos offers a fun twist on an old favorite that’s perfect for weeknight dinners, casual entertaining, and game day. Plus you can serve everyone at once! Taco Tuesday is about to get easier, healthier – and quite possibly a little tastier! Taco night was a big deal when I was…
