Make-Ahead Meals
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Protein-rich beans replace the cream in this flavorful soup, creating exceptional texture and staying power. Just before Thanksgiving, my older son endured the displeasure of jaw surgery. To eliminate additional procedures down the road, he had his wisdom teeth pulled, too. Lucky boy. In the week or so that followed, pureed or very soft…
Turkey Tetrazzini with Mushrooms and Kale
This update on the classic casserole is lighter, leaner, and loaded with wholesome vegetables. It’s a complete meal that can be made in advance and freezes well. If you have leftover Thanksgiving turkey, tetrazzini is a perfect way to enjoy it in a whole new way. If there are no leftovers to speak of,…
Slow Cooker Spicy Mango Chicken Chili
A couple of Sundays ago, this recipe appeared in my weekly newspaper column. A few days later, I received an email from Jane from Mrs. Renfro’s salsa company thanking me for mentioning their product. As a thoughtful gesture, she offered to send me any four of their products. I truly love the flavor and ingredients…
Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Skillet
All the flavor of traditional cabbage rolls in one easy pot – or skillet! As the days grow shorter and the nights become colder, this is a meal we eat often. Comfort food for all the right reasons. It’s an economical, one-pan meal that can be assembled quickly and left to simmer. Hearty yet…
Whole-Can-of-Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
Last fall, a friend mentioned that when she uses part of a can of pumpkin, the leftover portion always seems to go bad before she gets a chance to finish it. To avoid this problem, feel free to click on the link to my Pumpkin Roundup, below. But also consider giving the following recipe a…
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos
Whether it is kids’ sports practices, crazy work schedules, meetings, or a class at the gym, weekdays can be especially full. Everyone seems busy, it’s just the details that are different! I often find myself cooking extra on the weekends to guarantee a couple of quick meals throughout the week. There are many nights when…
Cuban Black Bean Soup
Hearty and wholesome, this soup is a favorite in my family for its incredible flavor. Delightful on its own, although the optional toppings add to the soup’s broad appeal. For years I, like many cooks, rarely measured ingredients. We eat a lot of hearty soups, salads, and one-pot meals in our house, and this sort of cooking…
Chicken, Butternut Squash and White Bean Soup
After 12 fabulous years, I recently said farewell to the only car my almost 12-year-old son ever knew. Even my 15-year-old son hardly remembered the car that preceded this one, but after sinking progressively more money into it, the time had come. I had no idea what sort of car I wanted next, and we…
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken
We all experience times when motivation is lacking. I love cooking for its creative outlet, but the nightly ritual of getting dinner on the table can be a chore. Sometimes, feeding one’s family feels like a monumental effort. Even for me. Of course, we still get hungry and, sadly, there is no Dinner Fairy. Pouring…
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…
Apple Almond Baked Quinoa
Sometimes, I prepare a recipe many, many times, allowing for one adjustment at a time in efforts to achieve the precise texture and taste I envision. I always learn a lot from these little challenges. Occasionally, I end up with several worthy variations of the same recipe, never publishing the recipe because I have made…
Jen’s Incredible Baked Meatballs
These tender, flavorful baked meatballs have been a family and reader favorite for many years. Hundreds of readers have called them the best meatballs ever! Serve them with spaghetti and your favorite sauce, as an appetizer, in a meatball sandwich－or all by themselves. A perfect meal prep recipe that freezes well too! Perhaps you are like…
