Winter Recipes
Apple Crisp Baked Oatmeal, Holiday Style
Apple Crisp Baked Oatmeal is a super-satisfying breakfast, and this seasonal spin can be prepped and enjoyed over several days. Or serve it for a wholesome holiday brunch. Genetics are a funny thing. When my dad drove me to a recent appointment for outpatient eye surgery, he commented apologetically that I had him to…
Eggnog Quick Bread
Capture the flavor of the holidays with this irresistible quick bread, which makes a lovely gift and is perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. The quick glaze adds a hint of decadence and a snow-capped look but is purely optional. Several times over the years, I’ve seen the claim that a perfect…
7-Minute Holiday Caramel Sauce
7-Minute Holiday Caramel Sauce is a holiday twist on my classic recipe, and adjustments for classic and salted variations are included in the recipe header. Easy and foolproof! As I was purchasing my favorite vanilla bean ice cream a few months ago, a friendly cashier asked me if I had tried a flavor called…
3-Ingredient Cinnamon Ornaments
Three simple ingredients come together with ease for a project that’s fun for adults and kids alike. Once dried, you can decorate as desired or opt for a rustic look. Great as a gift and the aroma will last for years! Choosing the right gifts for the many special people in our lives can…
Jeweled Cranberry Orange Relish… and a Thanksgiving bonus recipe
A cup of jewel-like pomegranate seeds and an orange-enhancing splash of triple sec take classic cranberry relish to new heights! When I was growing up, my family spent every Thanksgiving at my maternal grandparents’ house. My grandmother graciously opened her home to family, and any friends with no family. She put all the extra…
Absolutely Famous Greek Dressing and Marinade
When I look through my ever-growing list of recipes, I notice quite a few that are modeled after memorable restaurant meals or frequently used store-bought products. In an effort to save money or control ingredients, readers sometimes ask if I can replicate items that they like to eat. Recent requests are as varied as belVita…
Amish Baked Oatmeal
This wholesome family favorite can be prepared in advance and tastes a lot like a cinnamon oatmeal cookie. I typically take a minimalist approach, but the recipe is easy to customize through the addition of raisins, nuts, etc. Twenty years ago, when baked oatmeal was hardly a blip on anyone’s breakfast radar, a friend…
Cannellini Tomato Soup… with Grilled Cheese Croutons or Dippers
The unexpected addition of a simple can of cannellini beans provides protein and added creaminess when pureed into the soup…and nobody ever knows it’s there. Whether served with grilled cheese croutons or dippers, what kid (or adult) wouldn’t love it? Plus it’s easy to make with basic, inexpensive, pantry items. You may be wondering how…
Beef Pot Roast
There’s something special about the aroma of a roast as it slowly cooks to fork-tender perfection. The savory smell is homey, comforting, and makes me want to curl up on the sofa with a good book. Curiously, I recently read that one’s sense of smell accounts for 75 to 95 percent of a food’s perceived…
German Steam Pot with Special Sauce
An authentic recipe from a German friend, a steam pot is one of the easiest, most flexible dinners – and the special sauce bumps it up an extra level! What, you may ask, is a steam pot? I first learned about this rustic yet satisfying meal through Marga, a former neighbor and self-described war-child…
Winter Porridge
The formula for the basic porridge is easy, and you can prepare it in advance for speedy breakfasts throughout the week. I’ve always been amazed by people who go sockless in cold weather. When my feet are cold, everything is cold. So, it’s remarkable that, since the beginning of fall, I’ve only worn socks…
5-Ingredient Tropical Green Smoothie
I was skeptical. I purchase fresh spinach in a 5-ounce box, and the thought of putting all of it into a single smoothie recipe seemed…well…excessive. But in the name of helping a friend, I gamely tried this recipe. Ally Phillips, cookbook author, blogger, and longtime friend in food, was looking for a little assistance as…
