Weeknight Favorite Recipes
Polenta Croutons
Tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, these golden bites are simple to make and add staying power to salads－although sneaky fingers are likely to devour them hot off the baking sheet! When I was growing up, clothes shopping with my mom was purely functional. We had fun, of course, but we…
Pesto Baked Chicken
A short list of ingredients and speedy prep make this healthy, flavorful chicken dish worthy of the weeknight rotation － and it’s as easy to cook for one as it is for a big group! I recently saw a list of the top 10 most popular backyard herbs, and basil sat in the number one spot.…
Mediterranean Zucchini Noodle Salad
Sort of like pasta salad (but not!) this flavor-packed recipe offers all the flavors of an Italian sub but with vegetables taking center stage. Think Italian sub in veggie form. That may sound like a strange comparison (and you might say hoagie, depending on where you’re from), but it’s a pretty good way to sum…
Tzatziki (and a few graduation pictures!)
In addition to the requisite photos of this cool, creamy, perfectly summery sauce, I have graduation pictures for you! As I mentioned last week, the past couple of weeks have been equal parts busy and exciting around here. The main event was last Thursday when John and 699 of his classmates paraded across the stage…
Low Country Shrimp Boil
This festive, all-in-one meal is sure to become a summertime favorite! For a small gathering or fun weeknight family meal, simply cut the recipe in half. When I offered to cook for a dozen or so family members this past Mother’s Day, I pondered the perfect recipe long and hard. Ideally, the meal would be…
Honey Yogurt Poppy Seed Dressing
Nothing screams “Summer is almost here!” like red, ripe, juicy strawberries. (Side note: This reminds me of one of my sons’ favorite childhood storybooks, The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear. If you have toddlers in your life and like to read aloud to them, this is a fun one!) But…
Special Sauce recipe… and tips for a better burger
The sauce that makes the burger plus all the tips you need for the best backyard burgers! “Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun….” Can you almost hear the music? This iconic McDonald’s jingle was etched into my childhood brain, even though I never quite made the…
Sautéed Shrimp & Asparagus with Crispy Prosciutto & Parmesan
This wholesome, one-pan meal can be on the table in 15 minutes. For a quick meal another night, swap the shrimp with chicken. Variety is the spice of life, as the saying goes, and in my day-to-day work with The Fountain Avenue Kitchen, I’m lucky to have a hearty helping of it. Beyond the…
Easy Taco Chicken Foil Packets
This great tasting, all-in-one meal is easy to prepare and quick to cleanup. For added convenience, the family-friendly packets may be assembled several hours in advance and refrigerated until ready to bake. My mom could have been the original queen of 30-minute meals. At 5:30 every night, she made her way to the kitchen…
Microwave Kettle Corn
To say that popcorn is a favorite snack in our house would be an enormous understatement. My husband enjoys a bowlful nearly every night as dessert. If our sons are nearby, it’s guaranteed that a second round of popping will follow. My mother-in-law gave us a microwave air popper well over 10 years ago. It’s…
Prosciutto Wrapped Pan Seared Halibut (or Tilapia, Flounder, etc.)
No need to sacrifice flavor for the sake of simplicity with this speedy meal, which is as effortless to cook for one person as it is a crowd. As I was sizing up a new machine at the gym the other day, a man headed toward the ellipticals kindly mentioned that he enjoys seeing me…
Parmesan Cauliflower Rice
A short list of ingredients and quick cooking time add to the appeal of this flavorful, low-carb side dish. Pre-riced cauliflower offers a convenient shortcut! When I was a kid, noodles meant spaghetti, lasagna, macaroni or occasionally ziti, and rice meant plain old white (sometimes the minute variety). These days, a plethora of vegetables…
