Valentine’s Day Recipes
Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Creamy and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness, this classic frosting can easily be spread or piped onto cakes, cupcakes, and cookies for desserts that look as great as they taste! This recipe will add a glorious final touch to your favorite cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. I most frequently use it to decorate…
Spanish Tapas Board
Elevate your charcuterie game with this epic Spanish tapas board, which comes together easily, looks stunning, and is loaded with savory bites. Perfect for any occasion, from New Year’s celebrations and game days to girls’ nights and book clubs. Optional extras will make it a meal. Charcuterie boards are popular for good reason. They…
Spanish-Style Marinated Olives
An impressive appetizer recipe that takes five minutes to prep and adds something special to any cocktail hour, cheese board, or antipasto platter. Irresistibly snack-worthy and giftable too! For many of us, olives plucked straight from the jar are incredibly satisfying. They are salty, meaty, and even deliver a dose of monounsaturated fats, fiber,…
Mamie’s Million Dollar Fudge
Ultra-creamy with a delightful chocolate flavor, this foolproof fudge sets up beautifully without the need for a candy thermometer. Perfect for holiday cookie platter and sharing with family and friends. Aunt Peggy came over for an afternoon of cooking yesterday. She wanted to make Party Salmon with Creamy Horseradish Dill Sauce for a holiday potluck…
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Mug Cake
A decadently delicious, single serve cake takes a few minutes to make and offers a hearty dose of satisfying protein too! I love a good chocolate cake as much as the next person. Topped with the foolproof peanut butter frosting pictured with the linked cake, it’s a personal favorite that has graced the table of many…
Cinnamon Honey Butter
This copycat version of Texas Roadhouse restaurant’s popular cinnamon honey butter recipe is a delightful spread for rolls, bagels, toast, muffins, cornbread, and sweet potatoes. Makes a lovely addition to a food gift too. Every year, Cindy, a former coworker of my husband, experiments with a variety of new recipes for her annual holiday…
Mix & Match Protein Bites
Customize these protein-filled treats with a list of tasty add-ins, and then keep a stash on hand for lunch boxes, speedy breakfasts, and anytime snacking. In the latest installment of Fountain Avenue Kids, a fabulous group of kids from my Boys & Girls Club cooking classes took over my kitchen to demonstrate one of their favorite snacks. These…
Vanilla and Caramel Iced Coffee (or caramel vanilla!)
A café-worthy drink comes together in minutes – faster than a Starbucks drive-thru and more economical too. You can use this recipe as a guide, choosing an easy-to-make syrup, and adjusting the coffee strength, sweetness, and creaminess to taste. A recent New York Times article asked the following question: Does anyone drink hot coffee…
7-Minute Salted Caramel Sauce
With just five basic ingredients, foolproof caramel sauce is easy to make and is perfect for last minute desserts and holiday gifts. Delicious in coffee too! You’re entertaining and dinner alone feels like a sufficient task. Or maybe you need a last-minute hostess or teacher gift. Or perhaps you’d like to elevate your cup of…
Homemade Whipped Cream
Three ingredients and 15 minutes are all you need to make the freshest tasting whipped cream that is a dreamy topping for so many desserts. Homemade whipped cream adds an irresistible finishing touch to a variety of desserts, from pies and ice cream sundaes to hot chocolate and fresh strawberries. The following tips ensure…
Gluten-Free Graham Cracker Crust
If you’ve struggled to create a gluten-free graham cracker crust that stacks up to the regular version, your wait it over! The first time I made a gluten-free graham cracker crust several years back, I simply replaced the regular graham cracker crumbs in my traditional recipe with a gluten-free alternative. Cup-for-cup gluten-free flours tend…
Homemade Crostini
Crisp, golden crostini are easy to make and form the perfect base for a wide variety of hors d’oeuvres. Delicious for general snacking too! The day I prepared this easy recipe for a photo shoot was “one of those days.” I woke up to no heat and a 59℉ (brrrr!!!) house. Outside temps, by…
