Meals for Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day

Almond Coconut Strawberry Shortcakes (Gluten- & Grain-Free)

Gluten- & Grain-Free Almond Coconut Strawberry Shortcakes are healthy enough to eat for dinner but delicious enough to be dessert!   Delving into my momโ€™s strawberry shortcake was a much-anticipated welcome to the local strawberry season when I was a child. Mom always made her biscuit-like shortcake in a 9×13 pan and served big, warm squares…

Classic Guacamole

The best guacamole keeps it simple: ripe avocados plus a short list of flavorful add-ins in just the right amounts. Perfect as a dip, in tacos, on sandwiches, burrito bowls, and more.   I tend to tuck recipes away and wait for what I hope will be just the right occasion for my readers. This…

Mango Pineapple Salsa

Recently, my friend Justine asked if I would create an orange recipe to shine a light on something near and dear to her heart.  You may be wondering… Why orange? Orange is the official color of the non-profit Cycle for Survival, an indoor cycling event (a four hour relay to be precise!) that raises funds for rare…

3-Ingredient Mexican Cheese Bites

  A curious thing happened a few days after my Mango Chicken Chili recipe appeared in this column a few months back. The chili recipe included mango salsa as a key ingredient. Figuring this might not be a regular grocery list item for many readers, I mentioned two reliable brands. Several days later, I received…

Almond Flour Pie Crust (gluten-free)

A scrumptious grain-free pie crust is easy to make with this recipe and a few helpful hints. Perfect for all your favorite fillings! The perfect pie deserves the perfect crust.ย Traditional rolled crusts can be daunting for many, and some simply can’t eat the wheat flour. ย  Whatever the reason, this nutty, cookie-like crust is a…

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…

Seven-Day Pickles

Seven Day Pickles have been a family favorite around here for too many years to count. The tried-and-true recipe originally came from the grandmother of a dear friend and offers a taste of summer all year long!       Every summer, I look forward to making seven-day pickles. ย Although the name implies a long,…

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…

Grilled Apricot Shrimp with Harissa Aioli

These flavor-packed shrimp will impress all who try. They’re equally perfect as an entree or appetizer and can be enjoyed hot off the grill or at room temperature.       From week to week I toilโ€”probably longer than I should๏ผover which recipes to share on this page. The decision becomes more difficult when a…

Grilled Chicken Kabobs

First, I must apologize to the readers who have subscribed to receive recipe posts via email. Yesterday, I inadvertently sent a draft of this post.   Although I am sure to make an occasional ‘woops’ (my family would tease that I make them daily!), it is truly my goal not to send pointless emails. The…

Summer Peach Sangria

A summery spin on the classic sangria, you can use all peaches or mix it up with a combination of fruit, like mangos, cherries, nectarines, plums and/or apples.   After living for a short time in Spain, I developed a love of paella, tortillas Espaรฑolas, and a certain time-honored, fruit-filled drink. Though my recipe for…

Lemon Chicken, 2 Ways

A reader shared her recipes for two lemony marinades, which are simple to prepare and complement a wide range of seasonal side dishes. We both ran side-by-side taste tests with our families to determine a favorite. Which would you choose?   When a reader takes the time to send me a favorite recipe, I am always…

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