Best Appetizer Recipes
Jack’s Favorite Bloody Mary
A pitcher-full of outstanding Bloody Marys is easy to make and infinitely tastier than store-bought mixes. Bloody Maria, Dirty Mary, and Virgin Mary variations are included and are customizable by the glass. For added fun, offer a make-your-own garnish station! An olive loaded Bloody Mary with a crisp stalk of celery and a generous amount…
Pickle Sushi
With just three basic ingredients (and no raw fish!) pickle sushi makes a delicious snack, appetizer, or lunch box addition. A fun kitchen project for kids too! When teaching kids cooking classes, I’ve found it helpful to start with recipes that are easy to pull off but offer a little wow factor. My goal is…
Small Batch Refrigerator Pickles
Quick Pickled Vegetables are easy to make with almost any vegetable and are a practical way to use the odds and ends in your crisper drawer. The tangy, crisp bites are great for snacking and will elevate salads, sandwiches, charcuterie boards, burgers, burrito-type bowls, stir fries, and more. Pickling can be a very simple process.…
Vietnamese-Style Cabbage and Chicken Salad
Shredded chicken and cabbage form the base of this crisp, Vietnamese-inspired dish, which is bursting with flavor, texture, and wholesome appeal. Great for meal prep and entertaining. In the mood for a salad that satisfies like a heartier meal? This is your recipe! Shredded chicken and cabbage form the base of this crisp, Vietnamese-inspired dish,…
Best Breakfast Recipes
Easy Egg Taco
Protein-rich tacos require just three basic ingredients and provide a speedy meal solution whenever needed. A satisfying alternative to fast food that tastes great any time of day! Fast food can be a time-saving treat, but what if I said you could make something just as satisfying in less time than it takes to…
Kitchen Sink Breakfast Cookies
A hearty, wholesome combination of odds and ends you likely have on hand, these one-bowl cookies are worth waking up for! (gluten-free and vegan with dairy-free chocolate chips) When I first started making these cookies, my boys were little and there wasn’t much my younger son would eat. The only thing he wanted was milk,…
Blueberry Lemon Cornbread
This delightful twist on the usual cornbread comes together quickly with pantry ingredients and fresh or frozen blueberries. An easy tip ensures leftovers are never dry—making them perfect for breakfast! Cornbread has long been popular in our house. Partial proof of this statement is evidenced in the multiple cornbread and muffin recipes already on this…
Mother’s Day Menus
Planning a meal to celebrate the special moms in your life but need a little inspiration? From breakfast in bed to brunch and dinner, the following recipes are sure to delight with minimal effort. Helpful menus pairings are included. We hope for the best on Mother’s Day, but the age-old joke often involves…
Best Dinner Recipes
Make-Ahead Baked Mashed Potatoes
This flexible, make-ahead mashed potato recipe is a sure-fire hit on a holiday table. You can even freeze it before baking, and the Parmesan crust will not disappoint! Even though my job is all about cooking, I rely on make-ahead dishes as much as the next person. Ironically, aspects of The Fountain Avenue Kitchen often…
From the Recipe Box: Edition 3!
In this recurring series, I dig into my decades-old recipe boxes and share three tried-and-true recipes, which after over a dozen years, STILL haven’t made it to the blog. A little different from my usual posts, this is more like an old-fashioned recipe swap! The latest edition of From the Recipe Box is seasonal, practical,…
Salmon Verde
This stunning meal comes together quickly on a single baking sheet and is brimming with fresh flavor and wholesome appeal. Minimal ingredients and low effort, it’s equally perfect for busy weeknights and easy entertaining. The vibrant color palette is this easy meal’s first attention grabber. My husband thinks it looks Christmas-y, while a friend claimed…
Pasta with Speedy Baked Cherry Tomato Sauce
An irresistibly easy way to use an abundance of cherry tomatoes, this flavorful recipe relies on a short list of pantry staples and makes a super satisfying, versatile meal. Weeknight cooking has never been so easy. Once the tomatoes are cut in half, this light, flavorful pasta meal practically cooks itself and offers a fabulous…
Best Salad Recipes
From the Recipe Box: Edition 3!
In this recurring series, I dig into my decades-old recipe boxes and share three tried-and-true recipes, which after over a dozen years, STILL haven’t made it to the blog. A little different from my usual posts, this is more like an old-fashioned recipe swap! The latest edition of From the Recipe Box is seasonal, practical,…
Fall Slaw
A bag of slaw mix offers a convenient shortcut in this crisp, wholesome, seasonal salad. The easy vinaigrette is loaded with flavor and can be used in a variety of other salads. Not many recipes have extended runs on the weekly dinner rotation in our house. The continual need to develop new recipes means the…
Confetti Salad
A big bowl of this colorful salad comes together easily and is perfect for backyard barbecues, potlucks, and at-the-ready meals throughout the week! A fresh, colorful addition to a backyard barbecue or potluck, this vibrant salad is equally well suited to packed lunches and speedy dinners. The recipe has many attributes: filling fiber, plant-based protein,…
Vietnamese-Style Cabbage and Chicken Salad
Shredded chicken and cabbage form the base of this crisp, Vietnamese-inspired dish, which is bursting with flavor, texture, and wholesome appeal. Great for meal prep and entertaining. In the mood for a salad that satisfies like a heartier meal? This is your recipe! Shredded chicken and cabbage form the base of this crisp, Vietnamese-inspired dish,…
Best Dessert Recipes
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies
Nothing is more seasonal than hot chocolate…except maybe peppermint. This recipes combines both for a delicious, brownie-like cookie that may be your new family tradition! The name of these cookies caught my attention right away. How unique does a peppermint hot chocolate cookie sound? And what precisely would their taste and texture be like? I…
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Crisp edges, chewy insides, puddles of semi-sweet chocolate chips, and a sea salt topping – plus nutty, caramel notes from the browned butter. These chocolate chip cookies are what dreams are made of! When asked why these cookies are Steve Lindsey’s favorite, his answer was short, sweet, and summed up his award-winning recipe quite succinctly:…
Cherry-Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pillowy dough, chocolate, and just the right amount of orange flavor make these cookies soft batch perfection! I love fruit, yet when it comes to cookies, I lean towards all things chocolate as well as simple butter and sugar cookies. With this in mind, the following recipe for cherry-orange chocolate chip cookies was an unexpected…
Root Beer Float Cookies
Extra points for creativity, root beer fans far and wide will appreciate the addition of this gem to a holiday cookie platter. And don’t forget Christmas in July! As many great recipes start, Tricia Trainer discovered her winning root beer float cookies accidentally. She spied them on a holiday cookie plate, thinking they were molasses…
