Recipes

Last night I made mac and cheese for dinner. Nothing unusual as far as preschooler-friendly meals go... except it wasn't just mac and cheese. Most of that cheesy color came from butternut squash and you know what else? I put half a cup of extra-firm tofu in there. Oh yes I did. Read More

On lazy Sunday mornings (like today) one of our favorite breakfasts is Alton Brown's Instant Pancakes. If you haven't tried this recipe yet, you must. By making the dry mix ahead of time you get all the convenience of a boxed instant pancake mix without any of the preservatives. Read More

These coconut macaroons are made with a simple batter that's fun for kids to roll into balls before baking. Then you dip the golden cookies in melted chocolate and see if you can wait for the chocolate to cool before digging in. Read More

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for Spring to arrive. Maybe that's why I couldn't resist buying zucchini at the market. It made me think about the warmth to come, about planting seedlings in the ground and then harvesting the fruits of our labor on a summer afternoon. Read More

The munchkin goes to preschool a few mornings a week and it seems like no matter how early we set our alarms we're always in a rush. It drives me crazy. So lately we've been experimenting with a streamlined approach to breakfast on preschool days. Read More

Filled with things like butternut squash, rosemary and tomatoes, this stew is easy to make and will make your home smell amazing. It's the sort of rustic meal that really hits the spot. The munchkin was dubious at first but once we showed him how to dip bread in it he was sold. Read More

Baking is one of those activities that is almost universally loved by kids. I mean, what's better than all that measuring, mixing and pouring? Then, best of all, tasting the fruit of your labor after eagerly peering into the oven window every thirty seconds. Read More

When I woke up this morning big, fluffy flakes of snow were falling from the sky and the backyard was covered in at least 3 inches of snow. There was something about all that wintery beauty that make me think: I want waffles. Read More

This may sound crazy, but have you ever given your preschooler spinach and ginger in a drink? What about carrots and celery? Until recently I was convinced that the munchkin would not drink something green, but I was wrong. In fact, these days his favorite breakfast drink is his Read More

You know a recipe is good when you make it three times and only manage to snag one slice for yourself. That's what happened with this coffeecake: I made it a few times while testing the recipe and it disappeared within a matter of hours every time. I guess that's what I get for Read More

If you're interested in mixing things up in the kitchen, give farro a go! This ancient grain has a nutty flavor and slightly chewy texture. My favorite combination is farro mixed with sautéed onion, garlic, shiitake mushrooms and baby spinach. Read More

As far as copycat recipes go, this one is pretty darn close to what you get at Starbucks. Though the mix can't be made in advance (unlike the Gingerbread Latte or Pumpkin Latte) it only takes a few minutes to put together. Read More

Every winter there are two drinks I look forward to at Starbucks: the Gingerbread Latte and the Caramel Brûlée Latte. But lets face it, there's no way I'm bundling a toddler into the car in 3F weather just so I can drink my favorite coffee. The solution? Homemade! Read More

Similar to chai, this hot spiced tea is made with black tea,1/2 a cinnamon stick, whole cloves, peppercorns and a touch of vanilla. After sweetening with honey, I love cupping a warm mug in my hands and sipping on this fragrant drink. Serving it with fresh chocolate chip cookies Read More

We got our first snow flurries yesterday morning! I was in the kitchen stirring a pot of apple spice oatmeal when the munchkin ran up to me shouting: 'It's snowing! It's snowing mommy!' And indeed it was. Big white flakes were fluttering down past the trees and onto our back Read More

I love the traditional pumpkin 'quick' bread but I wanted to create a lighter alternative to those dense, heavily spiced loaves. This yeasted version is sweetened with light brown sugar and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Oh and did I mention that it has chocolate? Read More

I wouldn’t have thought that quinoa, sweet potatoes and dried cranberries would be so tasty together but this dish has become a fast favorite in our home. You can serve it on the side or as a main course with a big salad – either way you’re putting a complete protein source on Read More

For a few years I wrote a blog called Baking and Books and in 2009 I published this maple scones recipe as part of a post about Vermont. That entry was taken down with the intention of moving it here, but I never got around to it until now. Thanks to everyone who has emailed me Read More