Homepage: Practical Takeaways for Families

Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Dinner

Sheet pan butternut squash is a quick vegetarian main – made with squash, red onions, pine nuts, tahini yogurt sauce, za’atar, and cilantro!

Smartphones & Kids – A discussion of The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

A discussion of Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, addressing the risks of smart phone use to kids and adolescents. Also, what parents can do to mitigate those risks.
Sharing at Home: Takeaways from The Second Shift by Arlie Russell Hochschild

A discussion of Arlie Russel Hochschild’s The Second Shift, addressing how various working couples share the work at home (and a critique, because I can’t help myself).

“White Trash” Bibimbap with Crispy Ground Beef

I’ve been working on this bibimbap with crispy ground beef since my late teens. I’ve finally perfected it as the perfect easy, quick, and delicious weeknight dinner that also appeals to toddlers. It makes a complete dinner for the whole family.
Crispy Mushroom Salad

I love eating crispy mushroom tacos with our family. One night I accidentally made a delicious crispy mushroom salad, complete with turmeric yogurt, feta, corn and caramelized onions, and cilantro. Tacos are a popular family meal over here. Especially our crispy mushroom and steak tacos with turmeric yogurt. They’re ready in under 30 minutes, and…
Abruzzese Meatballs (tiny meatballs)

These tiny Abruzzese-style meatballs are cooked in a lemony white wine sauce – they’re super yummy tossed with pasta! They’re a great choice if your kids don’t like red sauce but do like tiny meatballs + pasta.

Grandma’s Homemade Egg Noodles

We call these bright yellow egg noodles straight from my Grandma’s Indiana farm “Grandma’s Noodles.” (Pictured above: Grandma’s Chicken Noodle Soup) My grandma’s homemade egg noodles were my favorite childhood comfort food. My grandma would make a huge batch of noodles whenever she’d come out to visit us growing up. It was a favorite tradition.…
Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes (or Celery Root) with Spinach

This Greek lemon chicken is roasted over potatoes – or, even better if you can find it, celery root. The chicken fat combines with lemon and oregano to roast the potatoes / celery root and doubles as a sauce for spinach, making this a true one-pot meal.
Whole Chicken Roasted in Maple Rosemary Butter

Just in time for fall, this roasted chicken with maple rosemary butter makes our whole house smell amazing . . . For spring, I use thyme!
Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Dinner

Sheet pan butternut squash is a quick vegetarian main – made with squash, red onions, pine nuts, tahini yogurt sauce, za’atar, and cilantro!

Orange-Scented Cranberry and Carrot Muffins

These cranberry and carrot muffins smell like sweet oranges and are filled with pops of tart fresh cranberry . . .
Pearl Couscous with Spinach, Lemon, Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, Basil, and Olives

This lemony pearl couscous with spinach, tomatoes, mozzarella, and olives (in our house, creatively dubbed, “The Couscous Dish”) is a delicious and quick vegetarian one-dish meal that works for the whole family.
Mediterranean Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs with Celery Root

Fresh oregano and thyme, plus garlic, lemon, and pepper chicken thighs. . . These lemon pepper chicken thighs with celery root are very easy to make and absolutely delicious. You can make this recipe either with a full chicken, or with just thighs. Either way, the celery root cooks in a combination of chicken fat,…
White Ragu (Pasta Abruzzese with pork sausage and fennel)

White ragu over pasta is a quick Friday night dinner that makes both the adults and the kids happy. Plus, multiple easy variations for those who like red sauce or don’t eat pasta.

Simple Sweet Potato Pancakes

Basic and very easy recipe for sweet potato pancakes that is very popular with my kids . . .
Ginger Apple Bran Muffins

If you could put an apple crisp into a muffin, these ginger apple bran muffins would be how . . .These are relatively healthy, super-fiber apple and bran muffins. Because they are made with apple, dates, and bran, they are packed with nutrients and natural sweetness (no refined sugars in the recipe!), making them both…
All-Apple Butter (no sugar apple butter)

Delicious, sweet, no-sugar apple butter. No sweeteners of any kind needed – just apples and spices.
Orange Fennel Chicken Breakfast Sausages

These orange fennel chicken breakfast sausages are sweetened with chopped dates and caramelized fennel and flavored with a hint of orange and nutmeg.