Winter Recipes
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 boxesโand 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 Mushroomย 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…
Shortcut Beef Vegetable Soup
Everything for this hearty soup can be kept in your pantry or freezer for a speedy, well-rounded meal whenever needed. Over the past few weeks, Iโve spent hours rolling dough for homemade dog biscuits, decorating gingerbread houses, and figuring out how to make homemade lotion. These activities are all lots of fun, but none will…
Birdseed Ornaments
Itโs hard to come up with the perfect gift for parents, teachers, neighbors, aunt and uncles, and family friends. Birdseed ornaments are fun to make and economical, too — and your feathered friends will thank you! 🐦 At first glance, a recipe featuring birdseed might suggest that Iโm dishing up unappetizing diet fare as punishment…
Sparkling Cranberries
Two ingredients come together with ease for a stunning holiday dessert decoration or cheese plate garnish. The leftover syrup is delicious in cocktails, mocktails, and lemonade! What holiday spread wouldn’t be perked up by something colorful and sparkly? These sweet-tart jewels are simple to make and can be used to decorate cakes and pies,…
A-Plus Swiss Steak
A saucy, slow cooker favorite that’s delicious over pasta, polenta, potatoes, or with a crusty roll for mopping up every last drop. And don’t miss the quick and easy way to transform leftovers into a new meal! Ratios, conversions, measuring, multiplying: thereโs a lot of math in cooking. Every so often, I even use…
Slow Cooker Corned Beef & Cabbage Soup
All the flavor of the classic Irish dish in soul-warming soup form. Easy, satisfying, and leftovers are a treat! I was jinxed! The very same day a friend asked me if I had ever made something that flat-out flopped, it happened. Usually, my kitchen disasters hinge on my general clumsiness, like dropped salad bowls…
Crock Pot Chicken & Wild Rice Soup (with freezer bag option)
Crock Pot Chicken & Wild Rice Soup is classic comfort food that’s wholesome and easy to make. Freezer bag option provides added convenience. We all have days that donโt go as planned. Computers crash, kids get sick, or the car doesn’t start, but we still have to eat. An easy recipe is especially welcome…
Easy Egg Roll Stir Fry
The classic takeout appetizer is reinvented as a complete, one pan meal that comes together quickly with ground beef, pork, or your favorite plant-based alternative. For several years when her children were young, one of my good friends hosted an annual Chinese New Yearโs party. Her youngest child was adopted from China, and the yearly…
Snow Cream
Snow Cream is a thing…and it’s delicious! All the kids in your life (and the kids at heart) will enjoy this sweet treat on a snowy day. For those who are checking the calendar: No, itโs not April 1st, and yes, โsnow creamโ is really a thing! Even if you donโt love the cold,…
