If you stop by our house on any given Sunday evening, there is a very good chance you will find a batch of these chewy oatmeal cookies baking in the oven. We have trouble keeping chocolate chips stocked at our house (one of my kids loves to eat them in bed while she reads, and another has grown tall enough to reach them off the freezer shelf), so oatmeal cookies are our go-to dessert. These are so delicious--not too sweet, crispy on the outside and chewy, caramelized sugar on the inside. Enjoy! Favorite Oatmeal Cookie crispy on the outside, chewy

This flavor-bursting salad is the perfect side dish to any pasta, chicken or beef dish you are cooking up tonight. Enjoy! Mediterranean Vegetable Salad Side dish for pasta or Italian foods 4 cups Spinach (loose packed)2 cups Arugula (loose packed)1 cup Navy Beans1 cup Cherry Tomatoes (halved)1 cup Cucumbers (chopped)1 avocado (chopped)1/4 cup Feta Cheese Crumbles (Mediterranean Herb Style)Balsamic Vinaigrette1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar1/3 cup Olive Oil1 clove garlic (minced)1/2 teaspoon mustard1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon pepper Balsamic VinaigretteCombine all ingredients in jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake until mixed well.SaladCombine spinach and arugula in a large mixing bowl. Pour half the

The Andersen family is loving all things Spring right now--our hyacinths, and primrose are in full bloom, the peach blossoms are just starting to pop, and the tulips should be opening up any day now. It is Spring Break this week and we have been finishing up the final touches of our never-ending house repairs. It feels so good to have our whole house put back together and the yard and garden cleaned out. Tonight's dinner is a really easy fix after a full day of working in the yard. It has all my favorite Springtime vegetables including sugar snap

A year ago, my soon to be-10-year-old was making the best of an unfortunate situation when COVID canceled his birthday party. Kade had big plans to celebrate with friends, but the world was grappling with a new pandemic, and we were in week 3 of quarantine. I was proud of how well he handled the bummer deal, but I still wanted to do all I could to make his day special. Instead of the traditional Ice Cream Cake I usually make on my kids' birthdays, I tried my hand at replicating his favorite food in Rice Krispie Treat form. It

What is not to love about this combination of flavors? I don't know if my 6-year-old is just trying to win his way as my favorite child, but after 24 hours, he is still talking about how good dinner was last night. I agree, but what I love most is how fast this dish comes together in so few pans. Serve this with a garden vegetable chopped salad, sliced bread and butter, and you have yourself a hearty dinner the whole family will love. Enjoy! Broccoli Chicken Potato Parmesan Cheesy one-dish meal 3 tablespoons olive oil2 pounds potatoes (sliced 1/4

Sweet, savory, creamy, crunchy--this salad has it all. Homemade poppy seed dressing ties it all together for a perfect side dish to any meal. Enjoy! Crunchy Cashew and Avocado Chopped Salad sweet, savory, crunchy and creamy salad 6 cups Romaine Lettuce (chopped)1 large avocado (chopped)1 cup celery (chopped)1 cup red grapes (sliced)1/2 cup salted cashew halvesPoppy Seed Dressing1/3 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar1 Cup Vegetable Oil1/2 Cup Honey1/2 Cup Yellow Onion chopped1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard1 teaspoon salt1 1/2 tablespoon poppyseeds In a large mixing bowl, pour 2 tablespoons dressing over the chopped romaine. Sprinkle with remaining toppings. Dizzle an additional 2

It turns out this old, classic recipe for sweet rice custard still pleases my modern-day kiddos. I cooked this up with leftover brown rice on Saturday afternoon so we could spoon it into bowls and re-heat it in the morning before Church. It was wonderful to have something warm before we headed out the door for a 9 a.m. service. Because it has so little sugar and a good kick of fiber (brown rice) and protein (milk + eggs) this is a great breakfast or a delicious dessert. Enjoy! Baked Rice Pudding Sweet Rice Custard 6 large eggs3 cups milk1/2

Who says pumpkin spice is only for October?! We will be eating pumpkin pancakes year-round with all the pumpkin puree I have sitting in my freezer from this Summer's garden. These are perfectly moist and delicious. My husband says these are guest-worthy pancakes to feed our company. I can't argue with that. Topped with pecans and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, these are so satisfying! Enjoy! Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes Delicious and satisfying pumpkin spice pancakes 2 cups whole wheat flour1/2 teaspoon nutmeg1 teaspoon ground ginger2 teaspoons cinnamon1 teaspoon baking soda2 teaspoons baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt2 cups buttermilk

Now that COVID is in the rearview mirror for me, I want to share some of the foods that were so nourishing when my smell/taste was gone. Eating was a chore that had no joy in it. However, I still craved nourishing meals and drinks. These are some of the recipes I enjoyed: Chicken Tikka Masala I first found a recipe for Tikka Masala when I was suffering from a head cold and craving an anti-inflammatory meal that contained garlic, turmeric and ginger–both of which are great for opening up sinus congestion. I really didn’t expect the raving review from every

What do you make with leftover Holiday ham? Casserole, of course! After all the heavy Holiday foods, this broccoli, ham and cheese quinoa bake is a welcome change of pace. It is a great way to use up leftover ham, but you could also use turkey, beef, or chicken as well. Enjoy! Broccoli, Ham and Cheese Quinoa Bake leftover ham, turkey or chicken baked in a healthy casserole 3 cups Quinoa (cooked)1 cup Ham. cooked3 cups Broccoli (frozen)1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese (shredded)Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup1/4 cup onion minced2 tablespoons butter1/3 cup flour11/4 cup milk (2% milkfat)11/2 teaspoon “Better