Family reunions come around once a year, and each one presents your next big chance to impress your relatives both near and far with your skills in the kitchen. Break out your baking dish, gather a few key ingredients, and you'll be ready to go.
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Creamy Tomato-Chicken Pasta
Creamy tomato sauce with some chicken and spinach. You can also serve this on a bed of rice, or by itself.
Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Shrimp
These easy-to-make air fryer shrimp can be served with a salad or on top of rice or pasta. Also great as a cold appetizer.
German Tater Tot® Potato Salad
While this recipe may upset a few Germans, it's a risk I'm willing to take. Tossed with a warm bacon dressing and made easy with crispy, crunchy, frozen potato nuggets, this take on a German potato salad makes an already easy recipe even easier. If you're a fan of Tater Tots®, you'll find this salad to be spectacular in taste, texture, and appearance. Plus, there's no peeling, slicing, or boiling necessary!
Panko and Beer Battered Eggplant Parmesan Stacks
A way to use crunchy panko bread crumbs and delicious beer batter to make a filling main dish or a tasty appetizer. By using beer, this recipe doesn't require eggs, making it vegetarian. Use substitutions suggested in the notes to make it completely vegan. Use garden vegetables and herbs to make your own marinara sauce to add an extra special touch!
Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple Salsa
The fresh salsa makes this dish perfect for a hot summer night or picnic.
Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta
Roasting enhances the flavors of any vegetable, but seems to add a wonderful, rich sweetness when done with cherry tomatoes. This recipe takes that sweetness, complements it with fresh herbs and a touch of heat from red pepper flakes, with some low-fat ricotta to smooth it all out. I topped it with some salty, nutty Pecorino cheese.
Nana's Southern Pickled Peaches
Old Southern favorite. Great on picnics with cucumber sandwiches or at Sunday supper.
Margaret's Keftedes (Greek Meatballs)
This is my yia yia's recipe--a family favorite straight from the village of Kyparissia. Serve as an appetizer or with tzatziki, Greek salata, and pita or pasta for a full meal. They taste best served at room temp and make for wonderful leftovers. If you don't care for lamb, try using all beef instead.
Easy Zucchini
This is an easy zucchini recipe with Mediterranean roots - all you need is zucchini, parsley, olive oil, vinegar, and garlic for this simple vegan side.
Too Easy Peach Cobbler
This cobbler is made with slices of white bread instead of the traditional biscuit dough.
Best Steak Marinade in Existence
This is a family recipe that has been developed only over the last 5 years. In this short time it's made me famous in our close circle, but until now I've never shared it with anyone.
Shipwreck Dinner
It's not pretty but, it's a tasty, busy-night, kid-friendly meal. It's not 'gourmet,' but it's hot filling and easy. The prep time is generally limited to how fast your can opener works and how hard it is to unwrap your meat. The big bonus is that it's a complete one-pot meal with no chopping, unless you want to.
To Die For Blueberry Muffins
These muffins are extra large and yummy with the sugary-cinnamon crumb topping. I usually double the recipe and fill the muffin cups just to the top edge for a wonderful extra-generously-sized deli style muffin. Add extra blueberries too, if you want!
Waffles I
You can keep the batter covered in the fridge for up to a week. Just be sure to whisk well before using again. You may also use whole wheat flour for this recipe.
Easy Sugar Cookies
Quick and easy sugar cookies! They are really good, plain or with candies in them. My friend uses chocolate mints on top, and they're great!
Quick and Almost-Professional Buttercream Icing
After failing to find the perfect recipe for buttercream icing, I found one that worked for me and then added my own two cents.
Basic Mashed Potatoes
If you love good, old fashioned mashed potatoes this is the perfect recipe. Simple and delicious.
Classic Waffles
A lovely, crispy waffle perfect for the morning.
Microwave Corn on the Cob
This is a no-nonsense recipe for corn on the cob. Perfect for when you run out of stove or grill space. I freeze the corn on the cob in plastic bags, and remove a single ear of frozen corn in the cold winter months to have the sweet taste of summer corn throughout the year!
Best Brownies
These brownies always turn out!
Chinese Hand-Pulled Noodles
Chinese hand-pulled noodles, a tradition from Lanzhou in northwest China, require just 3 ingredients and a lot of patience to make. Called lamian, you can serve the noodles in your favorite Chinese broth for a delectable and warming meal. But be warned - they are not easy to make and take years of experience to perfect, but keep trying!
Easy Sausage Gravy and Biscuits
Hot jumbo buttermilk biscuits with creamy sausage gravy are ready in just 15 minutes for a hearty, family-favorite breakfast.
Sponsored By JimmyDean
Related
Marinated Cucumber, Onion, and Tomato Salad
This is an easy salad that is perfect for a warm summer day.
French Toast I
There are many, fancy variations on this basic recipe. This recipe works with many types of bread - white, whole wheat, cinnamon-raisin, Italian or French. Serve hot with butter or margarine and maple syrup.
Zucchini Cornbread Casserole
A delicious and easy to prepare side dish casserole loved by everyone in the family.
Homemade Mac and Cheese
This is a nice rich mac and cheese. Serve with a salad for a great meatless dinner. Hope you enjoy it.
Best Lemonade Ever
This is a very refreshing drink!
Juicy Roasted Chicken
My grandmother's recipe for roasted chicken. We are German and she used to do it this way all the time. I never have had a chicken this juicy before; this little trick works and makes the people eating it go silent. It's funny. We nibble on the celery after.
The Best Steak Marinade
We use this marinade for rib steaks, but can be used for almost any cut of beef.
Delicious Egg Salad for Sandwiches
This is a wonderful-tasting egg salad sandwich that you will definitely devour. It's really good on rye.
Amish Tomato Pie
Fresh tomatoes and a rich, cheesy filling make a summertime savory pie. There is a lot of preparation for this pie, but it is well worth every minute. I love this pie on summer mountain evenings. Enjoy with cool ice tea.
Mom's Peach Crisp
My mom and I would often make this yummy and easy peach crisp using her home-canned peaches when I was little.
Easy Pancakes
This recipe doesn't require much thought early in the morning, and tastes great!
Simple Macaroni and Cheese
A very quick and easy fix to a tasty side-dish. Fancy, designer mac and cheese often costs forty or fifty dollars to prepare when you have so many exotic and expensive cheeses, but they aren't always the best tasting. This recipe is cheap and tasty.
Easy Fried Zucchini
These are delicious, easy, and can be made from ingredients you already have in the kitchen. They are always a big hit in our home.
Quick and Easy Pizza Crust
This is a great recipe when you don't want to wait for the dough to rise. You just mix it and allow it to rest for 5 minutes and then it's ready to go!! It yields a soft, chewy crust. For a real treat, I recommend you use bread flour and bake it on a pizza stone, but all-purpose flour works well too. Enjoy!
Pasta Salad
A dear friend gave me this recipe many years ago and I've been making it ever since. It's great for barbecues.
Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake
This is my own version of the chocolate microwave mug cake. This chocolaty fudgy treat is truly decadent and great for nights when I need a yummy dessert that is ready in less than 10 minutes! Chocolate chips make this recipe even better.
Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
Makes great cookies!
Mennonite Cabbage Potato Kielbasa Bake
Hearty and delicious but simple Mennonite main dish. Tender cabbage shreds, diced potatoes, and savory kielbasa bake together in a creamy casserole.
The Best Banana Pudding
The best no bake banana pudding you will ever find (or so I've been told by many).
Microwave Baked Potato
If you want the yummy taste of a slowly baked potato but aren't patient enough, or don't have the know-how to bake it in an oven, this is for you. Give it 12 minutes and get a mouth-watering, taste bud-tingling treat.
Yellow Squash Casserole
Tender squash, gooey cheese and crunchy crackers make this a memorable side dish or a hearty main course. This is a great dish that can be made with low-fat ingredients and is still just as good!
Chicken Parmesan
My version of chicken parmesan is a little different than what they do in the restaurants, with less sauce and a crispier crust.
Tatertot Casserole
Quick and easy casserole everyone will love.
Balsamic Bruschetta
Simple appetizer - the balsamic vinegar gives it a little kick. Best if the mixture has 1 or 2 hours to blend flavors before serving.
Better-Than-Olive Garden® Alfredo Sauce
Whether it's chicken Alfredo or fettuccine Alfredo, the Alfredo sauce has always had my heart. This is a simple and basic recipe for Italian starters. Enjoy!
Fajita Seasoning
This is a great recipe to make your own fajita seasoning. No bouillon cubes means this is perfect for vegetarians too! Make up a larger batch and store in an airtight container for future use.
Buttery Garlic Green Beans
Only fresh green beans and garlic will do for this easy, healthy, and flavorful side dish.
Simple White Cake
This cake was sent home from our children's school. It is the simplest, great tasting cake I've ever made. Great to make with the kids, especially for cupcakes.
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Better than the typical poppers.
Easy Korean Ground Beef Bowl
Korean beef bowls are quick and easy to make. The ingredients can easily be adjusted to suit your taste. Serve over warm rice or spiralized vegetables.
Blueberry Bottom Cake
This cake is light, airy, and super refreshing with a lovely presentation, not to mention super easy to make. Try using different fruits or berries or different flavored gelatin, such as raspberry.
Perfect Ten Baked Cod
Simple, fast, and delicious describes this baked cod recipe. Bake for two sets of 10 minutes each and you have the perfect ten dinner! This recipe was a favorite request from a local restaurant. They closed after years in business and we are happy to share a version of their most requested recipe. I serve this with rice pilaf and fresh spinach that has been lightly seared in olive oil and garlic. Yummy!
Sponsored By MyPlate
Peach Pie the Old Fashioned Two Crust Way
This is a simple, quick, old fashioned, baked, two crust peach pie made with fresh peaches and simple ingredients. It's great during summer peach season.
Best Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie
These cookies are the pinnacle of perfection! If you want a big, fat, chewy cookie like the kind you see at bakeries and specialty shops, then these are the cookies for you!
Loaded Overnight Breakfast Casserole
A versatile loaded overnight breakfast casserole dish that can be easy to prep, (pre-cooked meats, pre-shredded cheese) and be made more wholesome (fat-free dairy, turkey breakfast meats). Personally, I saute my ham and sausage in bacon grease!
Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls
These spring rolls are a refreshing change from the usual fried variety, and have become a family favorite. They are great as a cool summertime appetizer, and are delicious dipped in one or both of the sauces.
Country Sunday Breakfast Casserole
A one-dish casserole with all of your Sunday morning favorites.
Classic Macaroni Salad
This is a salad that everyone seems to love. I always get lots of compliments on this recipe and it is just a pleasing taste that seems to suit everyone.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
This tangy, creamy dip tastes just like Buffalo chicken wings. It's best served hot with crackers and celery sticks. Everyone loves the results!
Gourmet Mushroom Risotto
Authentic Italian-style risotto cooked the slow and painful way, but oh so worth it. Complements grilled meats and chicken dishes very well. Check the rice by biting into it. It should be slightly al dente (or resist slightly to the tooth but not be hard in the center).
Banana Muffins II
These delicious banana muffins are easy for kids to make.
Basic Chicken Salad
This basic chicken salad is a family favorite. I like to use baked thighs or breasts that have been sprinkled with basil or rosemary.
Spaghetti Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes
Made with fresh tomatoes! Wonderful taste. Serve over spaghetti noodles and add grated Parmesan cheese as desired.
Whipped Cream
How to make basic whipped cream. For best results make sure whisk and bowl are ice cold.
Soft Oatmeal Cookies
These oatmeal cookies are very moist with a good flavor. Add a cup of raisins or nuts if you desire.
Joy's Easy Banana Bread
This easy banana bread recipe is quick to prepare, and everyone always comes back for seconds!
Bang Bang Sauce
A sweet and spicy mayonnaise-based sauce that is good on fried fish, chicken, fried potatoes... almost everything!
Strawberry Bruschetta
This is a delicious variation of the popular tomato based appetizer. The strawberries are warm and sweet and the sugar is caramelized and crunchy! Your guests will love it!
Best Strawberry Daiquiri
A frosty blender full of strawberry-citrus slush. You will enjoy this with or without the rum!
Baked Kale Chips
These are a low calorie nutritious snack. Like potato chips, you cannot stop at just eating one. They are great for parties and a good conversation topic.
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Perfect Sushi Rice
Here is my recipe for the perfect sushi rice. You can eat this alone or roll into your favorite sushi roll with ingredients of choice. I use strips of carrots, cucumbers and slices of avocado. You can adjust the amount of vinegar in this recipe to suit your taste.
Moscow Mule Cocktail
This cocktail's origin has nothing to do with Moscow or mules, but after a few sips of this vodka, ginger beer, and lime concoction, no one will care.
Simple Artichoke Dip
Serve with sliced baguettes or pita chips.
No-Knead Cinnamon Rolls
These are gobbled up as soon as family sees them. I'll never try another cinnamon roll recipe, because I think these are the best. Note: These are wonderful fresh, but they don't freeze well.
Pickled Beets
This recipe was given to me many years ago by an elderly farmers wife and has been one of my 'must do' yearly canning recipes. If you have a large amount of beets, just keep repeating brine until your beets are all gone! Enjoy!
Mamaw's Chicken and Rice Casserole
I grew up on this recipe, my Grandmother got it from a lady from church at a pot luck a long time ago! She passed it down to my mom and it's always been a family favorite. Quick and easy for school nights, and the leftovers are just as good! You can use less butter on top of course, my Momma and Mamaw always put the full stick on top (gotta love Southern ladies and their butter!)
Tres Leches (Milk Cake)
This cake is made with three layers: Cake, filling, and topping. There are 4 types of milk in the filling and topping (whole milk, condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream). This is an excellent cake for milk lovers!
Sloppy Joes II
This is the recipe my mother used for sloppy joes and it always gets compliments!
The Best Fresh Tomato Salsa
Great with your favorite chips. Gets better as the flavors meld.
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
No two spaghetti aglio e olio recipes are alike, but this one is pretty true to the classic method. The key is slowly toasting the garlic slices to a perfect golden-brown in the olive oil. If it's too light, you don't get the full flavor and if it's too dark it gets bitter. My advice? Do it perfectly.
Crumbed Chicken Tenderloins (Air Fried)
These beat chicken nuggets any day and the recipe is so simple. I tend to use chicken tenderloins but you can use sliced chicken breasts if easier.
Buffalo Chicken Wing Sauce
If you know someone from Buffalo, they know someone who told them the secret ingredients to the Anchor Bar's famous Buffalo chicken wings. I know people from Buffalo. This is my version, as described to me many years ago, over almost as many beers.
Quick and Easy Brownies
Takes about 45 minutes to make.
Basic Cream Cheese Frosting
This recipe delivers a basic cream cheese frosting using just butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla.
Grilled Salmon I
A simple soy sauce and brown sugar marinade, with hints of lemon and garlic, are the perfect salty-sweet complement to rich salmon fillets. Even my 9 year old loves this recipe!
Quick Tartar Sauce
Uses ingredients you might have on hand to whip up for fish sticks or fish and chips.