Dark Chocolate Jar Cakes
Curling up with a new cookbook always feels like a treat to me. When said book happens to be penned by a dear friend, is loaded with colorful photos, and literally takes the reader on a magic carpet ride from one end of the globe to the next, that cookbook rivals anything on the New York…
Almond Coconut Strawberry Shortcakes (Gluten- & Grain-Free)
Gluten- & Grain-Free Almond Coconut Strawberry Shortcakes are healthy enough to eat for dinner but delicious enough to be dessert! Delving into my mom’s strawberry shortcake was a much-anticipated welcome to the local strawberry season when I was a child. Mom always made her biscuit-like shortcake in a 9×13 pan and served big, warm squares…
Strawberry Rhubarb Sauce
Four simple ingredients come together with ease in this vibrant sauce that adds sweet and tangy flavor to yogurt, oatmeal, vanilla ice cream, pound cake, and more. Or enjoy it by the spoonful–just like applesauce. Freezes well too. For many years, my maternal great-grandmother taught in a one-room Amish schoolhouse. That meant teaching all…
Crunchy Amaranth Granola Rounds
I loved to collect the mail when I was a child. The thought of a special letter or magazine waiting for me fueled the anticipation. Now, letter writing is practically an ancient art form and most of the mail goes directly into the recycling bin. But when a new cookbook arrives unexpectedly…now that’s a good…
Easter Candy Roundup
🐰 🐣 🌷 🐰 🐣 🌷 🐰 🐣 🌷 🐰 🐣 🌷 🐰 🐣 🌷 🐰 🐣 🌷 I know that not everyone makes Easter candy–getting dinner on the table every night can be challenging enough! But all of these recipes have easy-to-follow steps, many of…
Healthy Peanut Butter Buckeyes
Everyone in my family thinks Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs are the be-all-end-all…the piece de resistance….the bomb! From a nutritional vantage point, they are a bit of bomb. (Of course, we just ignore this fact from time to time!) When I saw a recipe for healthy peanut butter buckeyes from my friend Brianne of Cupcakes and Kale Chips (who,…
No-Bake Energy Bites
Chewy granola bar meets cookie batter in these easy-to-make bites, which include whole oats and a whopping half cup of heart-healthy flax meal. In a bold moment a few years back, I decided to give up ice cream for Lent. It was a test of sorts, as I seriously wondered if I had the…
Fudgy Yogurt Brownies (egg-free)
Brownies with no eggs, no oil, and lots of protein… Hmmmm. Believe it or not, they taste great, too. These homemade treats are just as decadent as “regular” brownies and can be made with ingredients you likely have on hand. And if you, like me, adore a thick, chewy, moist, fudgy brownie, these have your…
Honey Lollipops — a Natural Sore Throat Remedy
A 2-ingredient, natural sore throat remedy that’s easy to make and helpful to have on hand. Fun to give away too! In the past few months, I have read several times about the antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties of honey and cinnamon. I am certainly not a doctor, but when I saw the idea from my…
Lucky Cake (or Peanut Butter Chip Cake) with Foolproof Peanut Butter Frosting
A secret ingredient (that no one will guess) makes this cake delicious AND lucky…and who couldn’t use more luck in the New Year? Would you keep reading if I told you that there’s sauerkraut in this cake? When I see a recipe with an oddball ingredient or an offbeat method of preparation, I’m often…
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is easy to make at home with just two ingredients. The following how-to offers helpful details on which beans and liquor to use and how to store for practical use and gifting. Every year, I tell myself that I’m going to do my Christmas shopping early—and wrap the gifts too. In September,…
Maple Pumpkin Pie
Easy to make and delightful to eat, you may find yourself baking this pie well after the holiday season. For a pudding-like option, skip the crust and bake the filling in a lightly greased baking dish or individual ramekins. If I counted the number of times I’ve made this recipe for “testing”…
