Weeknight Favorite Recipes
Nancy’s Sweet and Tangy Salad Dressing
While attending a dinner a few months ago where my mother received a well-deserved award for her many years of service to our local Boys & Girls Club, a family friend approached and told me of his wife’s incredible salad dressing. “Nancy always has a jar of her special dressing in the fridge and everybody…
Blue Cheese and Bacon Braised Trout
When we visit my in-laws’ cabin in Blooming Grove, Pennsylvania, the guys do a lot of fishing. (Usually, after I catch one fish, I say I am good for the year!) Some of the fishing is done from a row boat in the lake, but most is done casting from the shores of one of…
100% Whole Wheat Pancakes
Looking for a light, fluffy pancake recipe that offers a nutritional boost? This delicious stack is packed with whole grains and fiber－but no one will ever suspect they’re healthy! A few weeks ago, my younger son, Christian, and I were the only ones home for dinner. I asked him if, for…
Foot Bridge Grilled Chicken (also known as A Third-A Third-A Third Chicken)
A flavor-packed marinade with just three basic ingredients makes this oldie-but-goodie ideal for both busy weeknights and casual backyard entertaining. I always prepare more than I need the first night, as leftovers are delicious cold, reheated, and as a leveled-up base for your favorite chicken salads. The marinade works beautifully with vegetables too. Over the…
Sausage, Mushroom & Pasta Bake (gluten-free option)
Possibly a bigger challenge than creating recipes is naming them! Sometimes, there are lots of delicious ingredients in one recipe, so I feel a need to include as many of them in the name, knowing that different people are grabbed by different ingredients. But then, a recipe name can get rather wordy! Sometimes, I go…
Homemade Ricotta
When cheese is made, the leftover whey is used to make ricotta. In general, to create cheese, live cultures (a fancy name for bacteria) are typically added to fresh milk. This starts a fermentation process that results in the milk separating into curds and whey. Depending on the type of cheese being made, the curds…
Sesame Peanut Noodles
I have two favorite preparations for noodles in a peanut sauce so, before I chose one for this space, I made them both for dinner recently. My family declared a tie in the side-by-side comparison. They were no help! It almost came down to a coin toss, but ultimately, I chose this recipe because I…
Millet Breakfast Porridge
Looking to add new grains to your diet? A hearty, wholesome bowl of millet has a light, nutty flavor and offers make-ahead convenience. Since I recently introduced millet to the repertoire of grains included on this website, I felt compelled to include a few tasty ways to use it! I began with a Millet…
Hoisin Beef Skewers (or Whole Flank Steak)
Prep-ahead convenience, versatility, and appealing flavor make this recipe a go-to for easy weeknight grilling and weekend entertaining. I’m the type of person who thinks about dinner as I am eating breakfast. So, it may not be surprising that I ponder what to cook for my newspaper column up to a month in advance!…
Baked Greens with Mushrooms and Blue Cheese
As my garden grows and local market stands overflow with spring greens, I have been diving deeper into one of my two assigned food trends: bitter greens. For those who may not have read previously, I am on a yearlong journey with Sargento Cheese, developing recipes and exploring the food trends that were developed by…
Chicken and Spinach Parmesan Pizza
When we eat this pizza, I feel as though we are enjoying a gourmet pizza that took minutes to prepare. It happens to be a favorite of my 14-year-old son, who is usually all about pepperoni pizza! Typically, I love a good saucy pizza–meaning the tomato version. This white sauce, however, is quick, easy and…
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Three basic ingredients come together with ease in this flourless, dairy-free cookie that is sure to become a favorite! This recipe originally came from my friend Abby, who has a delightful blog called Manila Spoon. Besides being incredibly easy, the cookies are grain- and dairy-free to boot. My gluten-free dad adores them, yet those who can…
