American Cuisine Recipes

Breakfast, Desserts, Pies

Gladys Langford’s Apple Cake

On occasion in this space, I have mentioned the inspiration for The Fountain Avenue Kitchen–my maternal grandmother, Gladys Langford. Amazing aromas continuously wafted from her narrow kitchen, but it was her spunk and zest for life that made people want to sit down in that cozy space and stay a while. Day in and day…

Cookies, Desserts, Snacks

Pumpkin Ginger Cookies

The addition of pumpkin supplies moisture and enhances the spices in this otherwise traditional (and utterly delicious!) ginger-molasses cookie. A few weeks ago, I bumped into a friend and walked away with a bag of egg replacer in my hands.  If this sounds a little strange, read on… Phil Lapp and his wife, Laura, are…

Breakfast, Casseroles

Whole-Can-of-Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Last fall, a friend mentioned that when she uses part of a can of pumpkin, the leftover portion always seems to go bad before she gets a chance to finish it.  To avoid this problem, feel free to click on the link to my Pumpkin Roundup, below.  But also consider giving the following recipe a…

Appetizers, Snacks

Baked Mozzarella Sticks

I’m a snacker.  Though I never miss a meal, I still get hungry between those meals.  Like many, I’m most prone to absent-minded grazing in the hour or two before dinner, when salty or savory high-carb snacks seem irresistible. Baked Mozzarella Sticks are a pre-dinner nibble I love for several reasons.  First, the protein in…

Cakes, Desserts, Snacks

Carrot Cake with Almond Flour

Perfectly spiced with a tender crumb, this carrot cake is a family favorite for birthdays, Easter, and just because. Naturally sweetened and gluten-free too.   Among my stockpile of much-loved recipes, there are a few I “save.”  I wasn’t sure exactly what I was saving this special recipe for–maybe fall when carrots are officially seasonal or…

Breads and Baked Goods, Main Dishes, Sandwiches

“The Shifter”… plus a showdown and a slice of history

On the heels of Lititz winning the coveted title of America’s Coolest Small Town in an online contest conducted by Budget Travel in 2013, Columbia was designated as one of the 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2014 by Smithsonian magazine. I have long considered Lancaster County to be a pretty great place to…

Main Dishes

Bourbon & Coca Cola Steaks

Typically, we keep steak preparation simple in our house. A sprinkle of spice rub is often as fancy as it gets. This clever steak marinade, compliments of Michaela Martin Kenkel (who has a delightful blog called An Affair from the Heart), earned points for originality. Until seeing her recipe, I thought of bourbon and Coke as…

Condiments, Snacks

Old-Fashioned Horseradish Pickles

Make crisp, tangy pickles just like your grandmother used to make them with these step-by-step instructions for naturally fermented pickles. It’s a truly simple process and you can taste and adjust as you go.    What is the difference between pickling and fermentation? Pickling involves soaking food in an acidic liquid – usually vinegar-based –…

Cakes, Desserts

Blueberry Peach Pound Cake

A handful of basic pantry ingredients and fruit are all you need to whip up this fabulous pound cake. Plus, the flavors improve as the cake sits, so the recipe is ideal when looking for day-ahead preparation. On a recent trip to a local farm stand, a longtime employee mentioned that whenever she sees me,…

Breads and Baked Goods, Breakfast, Snacks

Banana Bread Breakfast Bars

A satisfying grab-and-go breakfast or snack, Banana Bread Breakfast Bars are easy to make and allergy friendly.   This basic breakfast bar recipe is made with no refined sugar, wheat flour, or dairy and can be made egg-free. But most importantly, it tastes great. Since hitting on the ingredient combination in the recipe below, I…

Cakes, Desserts, Frozen

Giant Chipwich Cake

Get ready to see eyes pop and smiles stretch from ear to ear! As an added bonus, this recipe can be prepared in steps and stored in your freezer until needed.   I vividly remember bringing my first baby home from the hospital. That first evening, my husband and I sat in our screen porch…

Salads, Side Dishes

Big Batch Bacon Horseradish Broccoli Salad

I adore broccoli.  It doesn’t even have to be fancy.  Simply steamed or raw and dipped in homemade ranch dressing, it’s all good.  Where broccoli salad is concerned, I have a special bond.  But in order to make me really swoon, this salad must meet high standards! The following recipe is one of a few…

Get recipes delivered straight to your inbox.