Make-Ahead Recipes
Homemade French Vanilla Coffee Creamer
Make your own coffee creamer to rival any store-bought alternative. The taste is more pure, and it’s economical too! When I first tried coffee my senior year in high school, I decided I would only drink it if I liked it black. I “learned” to drink tea when I was younger, and from the…
2-Ingredient Breakfast Cookies…with options (and a fun kitchen experiment!)
I never set out to be an oatmeal expert, but one baked oatmeal with an enormous following at a local cafe put the wheels into motion. For those who haven’t read the story in one of my umpteen other recipe posts for baked oatmeal, I initially started making baked oatmeal years ago to replicate…
Warm Yellow Lentil Salad with Double Mustard Soy Vinaigrette
Quick-cooking yellow lentils provide beautiful color and a lightly nutty flavor in this satisfying, plant-based meal, but brown or green lentils work well too. When it comes to recipes, I try not to overuse the word “favorite.” But the truth is, I have lots of favorites. Whether it is a favorite color, number, season,…
Cranberry Almond Baked Oatmeal Muffins
These hearty muffins may be baked in advance for a quick breakfast or healthy snack. They are also ideal for those needing a vegan, eggless, gluten-free, or dairy-free option and can be customized to taste. Those who follow my blog have probably observed my love of baked oatmeal. I have created a dozen or more…
Green Monster Smoothie
I have been off my smoothie kick for months. Maybe it was all the excesses of the holiday season, but I actually craved a green smoothie yesterday. Seriously. And this from a girl who used to cringe at the thought of blending her greens! So, in the spirit of getting back on track, perhaps at…
Overnight Oven-Baked French Toast
Amidst the last minute preparations for Christmas Day, there are a few non-negotiable activities on my calendar every December 24th. First and foremost, I must wrap the gifts my dad buys for my mom. To clarify, this annual ritual is not a hardship. In fact, I secretly love it. You see, while I am cutting…
Old Fashioned Gingerbread with Citrus Glaze
This is one of those recipes that I have made over and over again, tweaking many times until I arrived at an end result that my family loves. It is moist and full of flavor, and I get requests for it often. The citrus glaze is a delightful addition. When I first made a glaze…
Wild Rice and Sausage Casserole (or Stuffing/Dressing)
Initially created as a side to poultry, we enjoy this hearty recipe throughout the year as a main dish. It’s equally delightful paired with a green vegetable or salad. It’s hard to believe that my year of delving into the Top 10 Food Trends as a Sargento Flavor Journey Correspondent is winding…
Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar
A popular hostess and holiday gift and a great project for kids to make for friends, Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar are fun to bake, give, and eat. Printable tags included! A delicious cookie-in-a-jar recipe was harder to devise than I expected. Not only did the cookie have to taste great, the mix…
Fried Garlic
Whole cloves of garlic become golden and buttery and create a flavor-infused oil that can be used in so many ways. In recent months, I have posted several recipes that mention avocado oil as an option to olive oil. I have received many questions about where to buy and comments indicating an interest about…
Slow Cooker Gingerbread Steel Cut Oats (with easy day before method)
Easy prep-ahead method and slow cooker tip results in ready-to-eat oats with toothsome texture and easy cleanup. The classic spice combination is holiday worthy! The best part of this recipe? Lift the bowl of perfectly cooked oatmeal out of the slow cooker, cover and refrigerate for a wholesome breakfast at-the-ready. Done! As…
Roasted Winter Squash
This seasonal family favorite is so easy and so good. For added ease, I like to use Kabocha, Delicata, or another variety of winter squash that doesn’t require peeling. Without the intent of overselling this simple, seasonal side dish, I will mention that my husband recently purchased some winter squash so that I would…
