American Cuisine Recipes
Apple Pecan Spring Greens with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
Apples, pecans, and blue cheese are the base of this versatile salad, and the speedy maple-Dijon-cider vinaigrette makes it a keeper. As I was walking my boys home from school one day last spring, a friend of mine drove by and yelled a funny thing out her car window. “I love your maple Dijon vinaigrette…
Banana Nut Quinoa Muffins (Gluten-Free)
For those looking for baking alternatives to wheat flour, whether for a gluten-free requirement or simply to introduce healthy options into your diet, quinoa flakes might just be something to add to your grocery list. While I first enjoyed quinoa flakes as a quick breakfast option similar to cream of wheat, in the last year…
Almond Bark with Sea Salt
Every year before Easter, I find myself up to my elbows in chocolate. For as long as I can remember, making homemade chocolates has been part of my family’s holiday tradition. I have so many fond memories of making Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs with my grandmother. Dipping Coconut Cream Eggs with a dear friend, who…
Caramel Popcorn with Salted Peanuts
Make gourmet-quality popcorn at home with these easy instructions and helpful tips. Delicious for anytime snacking and makes a fabulous gift too. Salty, sweet, and crunchy. What better combination could one hope for? My aunt made a similar recipe years ago and gave tins filled with this mouth-watering mixture as holiday gifts. I noticed that…
Avocado Egg Salad
Enjoy this healthy egg salad in a wrap, as a salad, or serve with carrot and celery sticks for a chunky and super-satisfying dip! Lauren Kelly is a certified nutritionist, not to mention a dear foodie friend of mine. She recently published a comprehensive book on eating wheat-free and kindly shared it with me. It…
BBQ Chicken Salad with Better-for-You Buttermilk Ranch
This is a frequent occurrence in our house. A hearty salad, thrown together at the last minute. For me, the trick to a speedy dinner that tastes great often lies in a simple homemade dressing. I have many that I like to make. (See the Dip, Dressings, Sauces & Salsas section on the right-hand side…
Baked Cheddar Spinach Squares
Easy, cheesy spinach squares are a retro appetizer that make an equally delicious side dish. The squares may be baked ahead and reheated and freeze well too. The look of today’s menu item may remind you of a crustless quiche. In this recipe, however, two eggs serve as a binder for the remaining ingredients…
Raspberry Almond Baked Oatmeal with Quinoa
Those who have visited my kitchen, virtual or otherwise, are most likely familiar with my penchant for baked oatmeal! Months ago, I saw the idea of combining oats and quinoa from Cooking Quinoa–a fabulous resource for additional quinoa recipes, by the way–and I thought this could be an interesting spin on my standard of using all oats.…
Better-for-You Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Update: As I made a fresh batch of this tasty dressing for the big game tonight, I thought it worth linking in a few more ways I like to use this beyond the typical dressing or dip (links provided below). Also, my friend, Carrie, kindly figured out the nutritional information which I have included below.…
Baked Oatmeal and a Weekend in Miami…
It is hard to believe a humble oatmeal dish took my husband, Jack, and me on a trip to Miami. When Smart Balance asked me to participate in their national recipe contest, I almost didn’t do it. Would asking for votes, repeatedly over a month, be an annoyance to people? I certainly didn’t want to be…
Cheeseburger Frittata
With four backyard chickens, if I don’t make eggs for a week, we end up with a fridge full of eggs! A frittata is the perfect way to enjoy eggs for dinner and, even if you don’t have chickens of your own, is an economical way to provide a flavorful, high-protein meal. Frittatas are easy…
Golden Oreo Bark (or Mint or Doublestuff or….)
For my younger son’s last birthday treat at school, he requested Oreo Bark. Treats are to be delivered during lunch, and when I arrived at the appointed time with the small bags we had packaged for each of his classmates (each bag held a small piece of golden and a small piece of mint Oreo…
