Food Gift Recipes

Birdseed Ornaments

It’s hard to come up with the perfect gift for parents, teachers, neighbors, aunt and uncles, and family friends.  Birdseed ornaments are fun to make and economical, too — and your feathered friends will thank you! 🐦   At first glance, a recipe featuring birdseed might suggest that I’m dishing up unappetizing diet fare as punishment…

Homemade Cold Remedy

The holidays are full of family, friends, and good cheer. All the fun and festivities, however, seem to go hand-in-hand with a present none of us want—the common cold. There’s no joy to be found in the common cold, and I’ve long been intrigued by any home remedy that claims to alleviate its symptoms. Several…

Morning Glory Baked Oatmeal

The warm, spiced flavors of the classic muffin find their way into a satisfying baked oatmeal for a nourishing, make-ahead way to start your day!   In October of 2015, Kim asked via email if I happened to have a recipe for morning glory baked oatmeal. Kim mentioned that her brother had purchased something similar…

Elisabeth’s Granola Bark

Granola bark is a cross between a thin, crunchy granola bar and those big clusters of loose granola that everyone digs for. Lightly sweet, it’s loaded with healthy whole grains and protein-rich nuts and seeds.   School is back in session, so the lunch-packing factory is once again open for business.  Given the amount of…

John’s Dilly Beans

This is a simple canning process requiring no fancy equipment. You can even use a stockpot instead of a canner.   As I unpacked my older son’s duffle bag after his first summer at camp 10 years ago, I found a small glass jar carefully nestled among the dirty socks and damp towels. When I…

Homemade Chai Concentrate (for iced or hot chai lattes)

  To all the coffee drinkers out there, stay with me! 😀   When my teenagers took a liking to iced chai lattes from our neighborhood coffee shop a few years ago, I figured it was time to come up with an economical DIY version.  While it may require a trip to the market in…

Chocolate Caramel Matzo Brittle 

Sweet, salty, and crunchy, this traditional Passover treat will be a crowdpleaser any time of year!   Good recipes have roots in the most unexpected places. Standing on the sidelines of a lacrosse game last year, the grandmother of my son’s good buddy and teammate mentioned a seasonal recipe she likes to make for family…

Healthy 5 (or 6) Ingredient Blender Muffins -sweetened with whole fruit

Sugar.  It’s a major buzzword these days because so many of us eat too much of it.  Generally speaking, I’m a healthy eater, yet I’m guilty of consuming more than the 25 gram/6 teaspoon daily limit recommended for women.  (The lucky guys among us are afforded 37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons per day.)  So a…

Crock Pot Chicken & Wild Rice Soup (with freezer bag option)

Crock Pot Chicken & Wild Rice Soup is classic comfort food that’s wholesome and easy to make. Freezer bag option provides added convenience.   We all have days that don’t go as planned. Computers crash, kids get sick, or the car doesn’t start, but we still have to eat. An easy recipe is especially welcome…

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.…

Magical Reindeer Food

Magical Reindeer Food is a fun activity to do with your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews and brings out the wonder of the season. Perfect for kids to give to their friends or use themselves on Christmas Eve Printable gift tags included!   Years ago, when the kids and I still peered towards the moon…

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