Food Gift Recipes
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,…
(Slow Cooker) Chocolate Peanut Clusters with Sea Salt
A big batch of these sweet treats is easy to make in your slow cooker. The portion-controlled bites are hard to resist…and perfect for sharing! Amidst all of the goodies we enjoy throughout the holiday season, there’s a special delivery that stands out from all the rest. It’s a cookie care package sent…
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…
Rosemary Roasted Cashews
Rosemary, salt, and a hint of heat makes these easy-to-prepare nuts a snacking favorite. A jarful provides a welcome gift, too! When I visit my parents in the weeks leading up to Christmas, my eyes always scan their kitchen counter for a large, red canister. I keep my fingers crossed that…
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…
Holiday Gift Guide
Holiday decorations have been up since Halloween in many spots, and Christmas carols can now be heard round the clock on some radio stations. To all of you who have purchased your presents—perhaps even wrapped them—I am impressed! For the rest of us who still have some work to do, I have one helpful hint.…
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…
Pumpkin “Bran” Muffins (a gluten- and dairy-free adaptation of an FAK favorite)
Bran muffins are a seemingly wholesome way to start the day, yet so many bran muffins rely on sugar and oil to create moisture and flavor. Enter pumpkin! My original recipe for Pumpkin Bran Muffins is a family and reader favorite. Over the years, however, I have received many requests for a gluten-free version. However,…
Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Naturally gluten-free and full of deep chocolate flavor, this honey-sweetened loaf covers all the bases, from breakfast to dessert! If I told you that I have a recipe for a baked good that omits dairy, gluten, and refined sugar, words like cardboard and yuck might come to mind. Yet this mildly sweet, tender zucchini…
Crunchy Maple Granola
Typically, dishes like spaghetti and chili are thought to improve with age. But I have always thought that this concept applied to my Chunky Granola, a longtime family and reader favorite. While the taste is absolutely delicious straight off the baking sheet, the flavors really do develop a little something extra by day two or three.…
Blueberry Lime Jam
Homemade jam is a breeze with these clear, simple instructions － even true beginners will feel like a pro. And thanks to the hint of lime, the end result is worthy of a specialty store! One of my fondest memories from my grandmother’s dinner table is, silly as it may sound,…
Shortcut Soft Pretzels
Roll these clever pretzels into letters and spell out names for special occasions or twist them into the traditional shape. Either way, they’re a fun project and a crowd-pleasing snack! Throughout all my years of being a mom, I can say with 100% certainty that my favorite gifts have been homemade. A handcrafted…
