Winter Recipes
Andouille, Lentil & Vegetable Stew
The dump-and-cook approach makes this healthy and hearty soup extra easy to prepare － and the flavor might just make it a new family favorite! Easily adapted for vegan diets too. Who in your household does the weekly food shopping? If it’s you, what type of grocery shopper are you? Where do you go to check…
Healing Ginger Tea
Simmer a potful of this delicious elixir at the first sign of a sore throat or stomach woes, or simply enjoy as an alternative to your favorite herbal tea. The warmly spiced tea is soothing, therapeutic, and caffeine-free and can be easily adjusted for those who enjoy a little extra zing. Once a week, I…
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…
Crustless Cranberry Pie
Festive, seasonal and so easy to make with pantry staples, this sweet-tart treat is fruit forward like a pie but somewhat cakier in texture. This recipe is rooted in practicality: Years ago, I had fresh cranberries that needed to be used before we left town for a week. (I later learned cranberries freeze well!)…
Fruitcake Quick Bread
Finally…a fruitcake you’ll want to eat! This quick and easy batter bread is packed with fruit and nuts but unlike traditional fruitcake is lighter, less sweet, and more mildly spiced. A name isn’t just a name. It’s an identity, and with that, it conjures up feelings and memories. In some cases, it also carries baggage. …
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…
Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes are vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, and full of amazing flavor. Leftovers reheat well and can even be used for satisfying breakfast bowls. During a recent foray into my sons’ closets, I uncovered a bag of clothes that appeared as good as new. Though both of my sons had worn the assortment…
Cinnamon Toast Breakfast Quinoa
My childhood bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch is all grown up (and healthy!) thanks to this crunchy, hearty, perfectly sweet quinoa. So many of us are trying to incorporate more healthy grains into our diets. It’s easy to do it occasionally, but if we’re not wowed by the options, it’s hard to make them…
5-Ingredient Very Berry Smoothie (and make-ahead smoothie packs)
Loaded with filling protein, healthy fats, and a hearty dose of fruit (and optional veggie), this 5-ingredient very berry smoothie checks all the metaphorical boxes—and tastes great, too. For grab-and-go convenience, smoothie packs can be quickly assembled and stored in the freezer. For years, my childhood friend Christine and I would occasionally grab a…
No-Bake Healthy-ish Buckeye Bars
Easy-to-make, four-ingredient Buckeye Bars taste a lot like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and can easily be made gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan. My grandmother’s recipe for chocolate peanut butter eggs, which she frequently made as buckeye bars or balls, has garnered friends from near and far. Sometimes, however, we want something quick,…
Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce or Simple Au Jus
Golden on the outside and pink in the middle, a perfectly cooked beef tenderloin will be the centerpiece of any special dinner. The recipe offers a less expensive alternative, as well as tips on how much meat to purchase per person. My husband and I had been friends for many years before we began dating, so I…
Favorite Flourless Chocolate Cake
Decadent and delicious, this flourless cake will be a special addition to any holiday table and is also a good option for those who need a gluten-free dessert. When it comes to chocolate cake, I’ve always preferred light and fluffy over rich and dense. When my husband and I married, I wanted a chocolate…
