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).

Whole Wheat Dutch Baby

Simple recipe, with impressive results, and nearly irresistible for the little ones . . .
Easy Baked White Fish with Tomatoes, Olives, and Capers

This fish with tomatoes, olives, and capers comes together quickly and is full of bright Mediterranean flavors.
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.

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 . . .
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.…
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…
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!

Orange-Scented Cranberry and Carrot Muffins

These cranberry and carrot muffins smell like sweet oranges and are filled with pops of tart fresh cranberry . . .
Spanakopita-Style Greens Pie with Fresh Summer Herbs

Rainbow Chard, Ricotta, Feta, Cheddar, Lemon Zest, and Summer Herbs . . . This greens pie is my current favorite recipe. It is very similar to spanakopita, which I’ve always loved. In college, I would buy 5 or 6 packs of the little spanakopita triangles at a time. There were weeks where I would eat…
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…
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.

Orange-Scented Cranberry and Carrot Muffins

These cranberry and carrot muffins smell like sweet oranges and are filled with pops of tart fresh cranberry . . .
Simple Sweet Potato Pancakes

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

These oatmeal griddle cakes are made with whole wheat flour, oats, and tangy buttermilk – and they are currently our kids’ favorite pancake.