Birthday Recipes
Deep Dark Chocolate Fudgesicles with Greek Yogurt
An easy-to-make treat that’s cool, creamy, and super chocolatey! When my friend Nicole mentioned that 40 percent of what we do on a daily basis is habit, it really resonated. For several months, a small voice in my head had been telling me that I was eating too much sugar and that eliminating my…
Low Country Shrimp Boil
This festive, all-in-one meal is sure to become a summertime favorite! For a small gathering or fun weeknight family meal, simply cut the recipe in half. When I offered to cook for a dozen or so family members this past Mother’s Day, I pondered the perfect recipe long and hard. Ideally, the meal would be…
Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookies
When it comes to justifying dessert, I’m never at a loss. Ice cream has calcium, right? And cobblers are loaded with wholesome fruit. Holidays provide ample opportunities for rationalizing a cookie here and a piece of pie there…and we only live once! Yet in the big picture, the healthy lifestyle I strive for is a…
Raspberry Vanilla Muffins
I’m a firm believer in celebrating the little things in life. With all the worry in the world today, why not seize any excuse to create a bit of happiness? For example, every birthday in our house begins with birthday muffins, bagels, or donuts—basically anything round and festive-looking into which candles can be inserted.…
Vermont Breakfast Bread
As I was packing my bag for a weekend work trip last month, I scanned the shelves for a new book or magazine to pass the time on the plane. My destination was Vermont. The purpose was a farm tour. Stonyfield, a company perhaps best known for making yogurt, had extended the invitation. Some time…
John’s Favorite Ice Cream Cake
A few weeks ago, I was working at my computer when the doorbell rang. Although I got up right away, I opened the door to find no one there. A quick glance up and down the street revealed nobody, but as I turned to close the door I noticed a yellow rose, attractively wrapped with…
William’s Habanero Hot Sauce… and a hot sauce taste test
Though we often cheat and hope for no frost (or April snow, as was the case this year), the safe time for backyard planting where I live is always said to begin on Mother’s Day. Ever since my husband and I bought our first house, we’ve planted a garden. There is something so satisfying about…
Simple Vanilla Syrup
A deliciously easy (and economical) way to sweeten homemade iced coffee, lattes, and a variety of other drinks and desserts. For basic simple syrup, simply omit the vanilla. Have you ever added sugar to a glass of iced tea, stirred vigorously to dissolve it, only to find a puddle of semi-dissolved granules at the…
No-Bake Refrigerator Peanut Butter Oat Squares
A wholesome, no-bake recipe with peanut butter and chocolate (what’s not to love?), these chewy bars never last long! Since my kids were little, one of their favorite lunchbox treats has been a chewy peanut butter chocolate chip granola bar. What’s not to like? With their convenient portable packaging and ever-growing assortment of flavors,…
Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies (low sugar and really easy)
These small bites satisfy a sweet tooth with minimal sugar and the added benefit of wholesome fats and protein from the almonds. What’s more, the dough can be quickly mixed by hand with minimal ingredients. There’s something special about shortbread. I’ve always had a soft spot for its buttery goodness, mild sweetness, and subtle…
3-Ingredient Oreo Fudge (with mint option)
This recipe is for all those times you have to make a dessert for a bake sale, a potluck, or a holiday cookie tray and you just don’t have time. Sometimes, even an easy cookie recipe seems daunting when the days are hectic and you’re fretting about rolling out several dozen little balls! I can…
Aunt Glenna’s Flourless Fudge Pie
Certain days are easy to remember. Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November, and Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May. For my family, there’s another annual occurrence penned in our family calendar for the Sunday before Thanksgiving–The Apple Pie Auction & Variety Show. First Presbyterian of Lancaster—our family church—hosts the evening in the…
