No-Cheese Queso Dip

I have long been a hummus fan. But a new cookbook is taking hummus’s main ingredient, tahini, and turning it on its head. The Tahini Table has recipes for pesto and sorbet, granola and sheet pan dinners, all with tahini as the star. I sampled several recipes from the book. This is the one IContinue reading “No-Cheese Queso Dip”

Chocolate Cherry Granola

I love to make my own granola, using all the best ingredients, eating it straight from the pan warm, mixing and matching nuts and seeds and dried fruit to create exactly what I want at that moment. I’ve shared my granola go-to with you before. But here’s another recipe, sure to cheer those dark, coldContinue reading “Chocolate Cherry Granola”

Pear Spice Muffins

Every fall I pick and buy local apples by the box. But this year when area farmers were offering pears in bulk, I decided to give them a try too. Let me say that it’s a little scary to haul home 25 pounds of Asian pears — or beautifully sweet carrots or luscious ears ofContinue reading “Pear Spice Muffins”

Appetizing Apple Chips

Need a garnish to make your table look pretty? Looking for something new to do with all those apples you brought home from the pick-your-own orchard? Want to transform your apples into the perfect backpacking food? Well, here you go. This method of slowly baking sliced apples in your oven is simple and fun. PlusContinue reading “Appetizing Apple Chips”

Simple Slow Cooker Applesauce

This recipe couldn’t be easier. But you wouldn’t believe how many people ooh and ahh over homemade applesauce. It’s so different from anything you pour from a jar. Following these steps will give you a sauce that lets the many, lovely flavors of apples truly shine — the cinnamon only works to bring out theContinue reading “Simple Slow Cooker Applesauce”

Apple Oat Scones

For the month of September I search and tasted and tested, every apple combination I could think of. I wish I could say they were all delicious. (They weren’t.) But this recipe was like: Walk away before you eat them all. People grabbed them for breakfasts, lunch boxes, snacks and desserts. I’m sure it helpedContinue reading “Apple Oat Scones”

Ginger Berry Smoothie Bowl

Smoothies are most often an after-school snack at our house. But these smoothie bowls combine the best of a smoothie and a bowl of cereal. They could be a great snack, but make an even better power breakfast. Feel free to mix and match both smoothie ingredients and toppings to keep things exciting and toContinue reading “Ginger Berry Smoothie Bowl”

Lemon Cream Cheese Scones

My oldest daughter has really found her baking groove this year. After a long week of school or whenever she has a moment, she’ll ask me: “Mom, can I bake?” And I, who will take all the help in the kitchen I can get, quickly make room for my cooking buddy. Her specialties are desserts: cookies,Continue reading “Lemon Cream Cheese Scones”

Brown Sugar and Spice Banana Bread

I have tried so many banana bread recipes over the years. After all, every family needs a go-to recipe for what to do with those bananas after they’ve sprouted brown spots and no one will touch them. But I always come back to this one, from The Moosewood Cookbook. I have tweaked and omitted andContinue reading “Brown Sugar and Spice Banana Bread”

Banana Chip Muffins

Pretty much any time I set foot inside a grocery store, I add a couple half-gallons of milk and a bunch of bananas to my cart. Doesn’t matter the season, doesn’t matter if I went in for a few ingredients or my weekly stock-up shop, milk and bananas are must-haves at our house and weContinue reading “Banana Chip Muffins”