I had the pleasure of having a helper in my kitchen the other day. As much as I love it when my boys lend an occasional hand in the kitchen, it was a treat to have a female assistant this time around! Heather Green is an aspiring photographer who, at age 12, started her own…
The quintessential flavor of homemade strawberry jam is easy to achieve thanks to these simple instructions! This is the recipe my grandmother always used for her strawberry jam. It’s traditional strawberry jam at its best. The taste and color when freshly made can’t be beat. Opening a jar in the cold winter months provides the…
A while back, I picked up a good tidbit of information from a stand owner at our local farmer’s market: Rhubarb season lasts through the longest day of the year–the first day of summer. Same for asparagus. I find this helpful as the early days of summer approach. It is a reminder to get my…
This recipe came from Genevieve, an English teacher at Lancaster Country Day School. Another teacher told Genevieve she simply must share this recipe for the Summer Salad Challenge conducted by The Lancaster Sunday News and me. The recipe came from Genevieve’s sister and, conceptually, it caught my attention right away. Beyond offering a novel, seasonal…
Prep-ahead convenience, versatility, and appealing flavor make this recipe a go-to for easy weeknight grilling and weekend entertaining. I’m the type of person who thinks about dinner as I am eating breakfast. So, it may not be surprising that I ponder what to cook for my newspaper column up to a month in advance!…
Happy Mother’s Day! Not only is the following dessert a favorite of my mother, the timing is ideal, as rhubarb’s short season is upon us. If you haven’t baked with rhubarb before, this recipe is a very good starting point. I am not sure how many people would offer up rhubarb bars when asked their…
These crisp, sweet nuts are easy to prepare and make a delightful hostess or holiday gift. Sprinkle in salads or enjoy by the handful! My aunt, who grew up in the original Fountain Avenue kitchen, shared this simple recipe with me years ago, and it has been a favorite in our house ever since.…
Low-carb cheese crisps require only one ingredient (jalapeño slices are optional) and cook in 2 short minutes-and believe it or not, the microwave produces better results than the oven. Perfect with a glass of wine or as a flavorful alternative to a crouton. If I said you could make a light and flavorful…
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…
Sunflower Raisin Brown Bread with Steel Cut Oats is a spin-off of my healthy version of Irish soda bread. I love it for all its texture and natural sweetness and especially for its health value. There isn’t a speck of refined flour, and steel cut oats are thrown in for added goodness and nuttiness. This bread…