Make-Ahead Recipes
Little Bites
Too often, I make new things but don’t get around to sharing them. I jot down the ingredients I’ve thrown together with every intention of typing them later. The piece of scrap paper I’ve inevitably grabbed to write down the recipe is, occasionally, never to be found again. Or the pile of papers I placed…
Barbecued Bean Salad
A crowd-pleasing, family-friendly alternative to baked beans, this protein-rich salad can be prepared in advance and the flavor improves over time. As I walked to school with my younger son one morning last month, he mentioned that his 6th grade history classโs Colonial unit would be culminating with a special lunch. All students were…
Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler (gluten-free with an almond-oat topping)
Sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb are a match made in heaven in this easy-to-make dessert that is destined to become a seasonal favorite! In an effort to make my tried-and-true recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp into an equally loved gluten-free dessert for company a couple of years ago, I realized that I had essentially turned…
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…
Pick-a-Grain Trail Mix Salad with Honey Yogurt Dressing
As part of a project with Stonyfield and Bob’s Red Mill (two companies with high-quality products and the nicest people behind the scenes, by the way), I was recently challenged to create a salad using one of the lesser known ancient grains–think amaranth, bulgur, farro, and sorghum–and yogurt. Loving the mild, nutty flavor and hearty…
Rustic Polenta Cake with Rhubarb
Rhubarb always reminds me of my grandmother. ย Late every spring, she froze rhubarb to enjoy throughout the year. ย To my grandmother, the word rhubarb did not just refer to the celery-like stalk, it was the actual recipe. ย Her rhubarb was just like applesauce, only red and with a perfect balance of sweet and tart. Though…
Basil-Orange Edamame & Bean Salad
Quick and easy and loaded with fresh flavor, this wholesome dish complements chicken, fish, steak, and pork or can be the basis of a filling plant-based meal. As a bonus, a simple ingredient adjustment will create a new recipe! Even those who claim they don’t care for bean salad have been known to have…
Crab, Avocado & Corn Salad with Cilantro & Lime
Memorial Day weekend officially launches the season of cookouts, picnics, and pool time. A repertoire of simple, make-ahead recipes can ensure more time enjoying the outdoor fun and less time sweating it out in the kitchen. The following crab salad was an early addition to my blog and has developed a loyal fan base. My…
Rhubarb Pineapple Jam
Over the last couple weeks, I’ve noticed rhubarb reappearing at our local farmers markets. I have held out buying any as the two rhubarb plants in our backyard garden have been growing quickly. I marvel at how briskly rhubarb grows ever spring, from those first early leaves that poke out of the ground when it…
Strawberry Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Yogurt Dressing
For many years, my father had a hush-hush arrangement with a stand holder at Lancaster Central Market. I only learned about it last year when he delivered a coveted box of the first homegrown strawberries after I had come home empty handed only hours before. After shopping at Market for sixty-plus years, my father…
White Bean, Tomato & Chicken Pasta
A go-to meal that’s hearty, healthy, and easy to make with basic ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights yet worthy of casual entertaining, too. We’re all looking for an arsenal of easy meals on those all-too-frequent busy nights, right? In the spirit of helping its volunteers, Girls on the Run recently asked its coaches…
Peanut Butter Energy Bars
Six years ago, my friend Carrie Johnson asked me to meet her for coffee to discuss a program she had been researching. Carrie was seeking input and, as a runner who volunteered in the community, she figured I might have an opinion or two. A few weeks prior to our meeting, Carrie and her husband…
