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…
Sourdough Flatbread Pizza

If you have some sourdough discard on hand, this whole wheat sourdough flatbread pizza is a perfect cross between focaccia and pizza, but also healthy and fast . . .

Preserved Lemon Chicken with Saffron & Thyme

This preserved lemon chicken is a twist on the classic lemon pepper chicken . . . Continuing on my theme of finding the perfect lemon pepper chicken, this preserved lemon chicken, made with fresh and preserved lemons, saffron, thyme, and garlic, is a top contender. The recipe is based on one from the Ottolenghi Simple…
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.
Lemony Wild Rice with Saffron and Fresh Tomatoes

This lemony wild rice with tomatoes is easy to make ahead of time and keeps well so that you can enjoy it again and again throughout the week . . .
Skillet Chicken & Gnocchi with Caramelized Fennel, Onion, and Apple

This skillet chicken and gnocchi with caramelized fennel, onion, and apple cooked in chicken drippings makes a perfect fall one-pot dinner . . . It’s also super simple. You basically throw everything together in a cast iron skillet and roast it for about an hour. You’re left with caramelized fennel and onion baked in chicken…

Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins

These delicious pumpkin gingerbread muffins are made with dates, honey, and loads of spices . . . A Healthier Pumpkin Muffin Option Sometimes, on a very cold morning in fall, nothing is more comforting than warm gingerbread. But typical gingerbread is essentially cake. So I wanted to see if I could make a gingerbread that…
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.
Simple Sweet Potato Pancakes

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

Buttermilk Cornbread Pancakes

This recipe makes a fluffy, delicately crispy, and comforting cornbread pancake. My ideal pre-Thanksgiving pancake (but we also eat them in summer with fresh peaches, whipped ricotta, and maple syrup!)
Simple Sweet Potato Pancakes

Basic and very easy recipe for sweet potato pancakes that is very popular with my kids . . .
Orange-Scented Cranberry and Carrot Muffins

These cranberry and carrot muffins smell like sweet oranges and are filled with pops of tart fresh cranberry . . .
All-Apple Butter (no sugar apple butter)

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