Ready or not, fall schedules are here with all of the busyness this brings to our weeknight meal planing. At this time of year I find that even my well-intentioned meal plans fall by the wayside if I can get away with serving leftovers for dinner a night or two in a row. And then […]
If you’re planning a brunch for Mother’s Day (or any other fun excuse to have brunch), it’s a great idea to serve savory, protein-rich, veggie-filled dishes. After all, you want to keep chatting and enjoying time with friends and family, which can be hard to do if you’re crashing down from a sugar high. I […]
On particularly busy days, a melody from the Sound of Music floats through my mind. But instead of “how do you solve a problem like Maria,” what I’m singing to myself is, “how do you solve a problem like our dinner?” Sometimes cooking dinner is the last task of a day full of many other […]
When my husband and I lived in Chicago, we started a tradition of avoiding restaurants on Valentine’s Day. We figured they would be just too crowded. But since we still wanted to have a special meal without having to cook all day, we began to put together a great big indoor picnic with different kinds […]
This spring, my sister had an exciting research trip planned all across England, and my family and I decided to tag along. Her travels took her to the gorgeous Cornish coast in southwestern England, London and Oxford. We also made sure we saw the white cliffs of Dover and the cathedral in Canterbury too. Travel […]
Broccoli cheddar soup is the taste of an efficient workday. It’s the taste of being in a place without obligations, surrounded by the hum of conversations that have nothing to do with me. That’s because broccoli cheddar soup is the lunch I usually order at Panera Bread when I clear out of the house so […]
Grilled cheese makes me think of my five-year-old niece. Since I am living with my husband’s family right now, I often get to see this sweet bundle of energy when she comes over a few times a week for one-on-one schoolwork time with her “Grammy,” my husband’s mom. Around noon, they take a break from schoolwork […]
This is a tried and true recipe from our friend Jodi Gauker of Gauker Farms, a 9th-generation Berks County beef farm. Save Print Cheesy Ranch Potatoes Author: Jodi Gauker Recipe type: Side Dish Ingredients 4 medium russet potatoes, cubed 1 t. salt 1 package dry Ranch dressing mix ½ c. milk ½ container sour cream ½ […]
When I browse a menu at a restaurant, it is often the sandwich section that catches my eye. Cheddar cheese? Sourdough bread? Bacon? Fresh tomatoes? Yes, please! I can’t think of a time when a sandwich I’ve ordered has disappointed me, and yet when I’m planning meals at home, I hardly ever remember that sandwiches […]
It’s the time of year when apples turn up in just about everything. I can’t say I’ll complain about that though, because this crisp fruit can add a hint of sweetness or a delightful crunch to many fall dishes. One of my recent favorites is an Apple Cheddar Panini made with multi-grain bread, sliced cheddar […]