Birthday Recipes
No-Sugar Homemade Jam (choose your favorite flavor－even use frozen fruit－in this easy, small batch recipe)
This flexible, small batch recipe doesn’t use pectin as a thickener, so there’s no need for a copious amount of granulated sugar as is used in traditional jams. Instead it relies on heart healthy chia seeds and a small amount of maple syrup or honey. Healthy jam that tastes great…really? The perks of…
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…
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…
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,…
Overnight Granola Cups
Bob’s Red Mill has graciously offered to give eight pounds of granola to three lucky readers. (This will include four one-pound bags of both the gluten-free honey oat and apple blueberry varieties.) To enter, simply leave a comment below by noon EDT, Saturday, July 12. A second entry may also be made on LancasterOnline. The winners will…
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…
Dark Chocolate Blondies (grain-free, no refined sugar)
Typically, I don’t mention the specific brand I use in a recipe unless it is integral to the recipe’s success or I just really love the product for one reason or another. I first became familiar with Bob’s Red Mill many years ago when my dad discovered he had to eliminate gluten. He never complained about all the…
Quickie Cookie Baked Oatmeal
When I have the pleasure of some one-on-one time with my 3-year-old niece, I like to think of a project or activity she will really enjoy. Whether it’s making homemade play dough (has to be blue!) or a simple walk to the playground, I have at least as much fun as she does. After making…
Hershey’s Cocoa Cake
Light, moist, and perfect for any celebration, this classic chocolate cake mixes up quickly in a single bowl with ingredients you likely have on hand. (And the gluten-free adaptation fools even the gluten-eaters!) When it comes to chocolate cake, this tried-and-true recipe is, without a doubt, the best that I have found. It has…
Foolproof Peanut Butter Frosting
In our family, February is full of birthdays. There are three, all spread out exactly one week after the next. With Valentine’s Day thrown into the mix, there is ample opportunity for cakes and other sweet treats! As I have previously reported, adoration for homemade caramel frosting runs deep on my husband’s side of the family.…
Nutella Latte
Sub-zero temperatures make hot drinks…and soup…taste especially good. I like my coffee black, but I also enjoy a creamy latte or cafe mocha. (Truth be told, I especially like one of these special drinks with a small handful of peanut M&Ms. For a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, I count out 10 or 12 so I don’t eat…
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…
