Pumpkin Overnight Oats with Flax Seeds and Ginger

Pumpkin Ginger Overnight Oats, with flax seeds and maple syrup, are just about the easiest nutritious and portable breakfast you can make. 

Mix the ingredients for these pumpkin overnight oats with flax seeds, crystalized ginger, and maple syrup in a jar, and place them in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning you will have a filling and nutritious grab-and-go breakfast.

Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo)

Brazilian cheese bread, or Pão de Queijo, are airy puffs of cheesy deliciousness.

Pão de queijo, little cheese puffs that resemble French gougères (pâte à choux cheese puffs), are eaten as a breakfast snack with coffee in Brazil. I think they would also make an excellent savory cocktail party snack.

Zucchini Tomato Gratin

This Zucchini Tomato Gratin is one of my favorite summer dishes. It is really easy to make, and is a great way to use up all of your summer squash bounty. 

My sister first introduced me to a version of this zucchini gratin. If I remember correctly (and I've been "known" to not remember correctly), we were both new moms just trying to come up with stuff to make for dinner. 

Instant Pot Creamy Steel Cut Oatmeal with Apple Raisin Compote

This Creamy Steel Cut Oatmeal with Apple Raisin Compote is so easy to prepare in the Instant Pot (or an electric pressure cooker). With this recipe, you will get the perfect texture every time.

The apple raisin compote adds just the right amount of sweetness to the oatmeal, and the steel cut oats will help you get lots of fiber and protein into your diet and will carry you through to lunchtime.

Thai-Style Catfish Burgers

Thai-Style Catfish Burgers with Shrimp and flavored with shallots, chiles, lime, ginger, and garlic served wrapped in tender lettuce and garnished with basil, mint, and cilantro.

I love the Thai flavors in these Catfish Burgers. They are so fresh and light. The burgers are held together by a mousse of shrimp, seasoning, and an egg white. No breading. The trick is to keep everything cold when preparing the patties so that they hold together while cooking.

Senbei - Japanese Rice Crackers with Furikake {Gluten Free}

Japanese rice crackers, or Senbei, are super crispy crackers that are both salty and sweet, and exceptionally crunchy.

These senbei, made with nori furikake, a seaweed rice seasoning, and glazed with soy and mirin (a sweet Japanese rice wine), are completely compelling. They have a flavor that kind of reminds you of sushi, because of the Nori Furikake incorporated into the dough.

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Chili

Making this Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Chili is such an easy way to feed a crowd a super tasty meal. I served these with a homemade tortilla strips garnish.

I'm usually not a big fan of "dump and run" slow cooker recipes, but this chicken taco chili is the exception. It probably helps that the ingredient list includes two cans of tomatoes with chiles (I used Ro-Tel) along with another can of diced jalapeño chiles.

Almond-Spice Christmas Wreath Cookies

These Almond-Spice Christmas Wreath Cookies are pretty easy to make, even if they do look fancy.

These almond-spice Christmas wreath cookies would be great to make with kids who are interested in baking. You'd just need to have double the amount of maraschino cherries on hand so they could sneak a few during the decorating phase.

Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons

These Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons are moist and chewy and so easy to make.

Coconut Macaroons, not to be confused with French macarons, are a mixture of shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and egg whites.

Smoked Trout Cakes

These Smoked Trout Cakes are so rich tasting, with so many interesting flavor elements.

The ingredients for these smoked trout cakes include sour cream, whole grain mustard, red bell pepper, chives, and capers. Instead of bread crumbs, they are coated with potato flakes....  "Gluten free....." Those words don't often fall out of my lips.

Macarons with a Chocolate Buttercream Filling

These Macarons with a Chocolate Buttercream Filling are so gorgeous, pretty much fail-proof, and delicious! 

I love the recipe for these macarons. Yes, there are a few extra steps to guarantee success, but it is totally worth it.

Individual Meatloaves with Chili Sauce

These individual meatloaves with chili sauce are so amazingly good.

It's just meatloaf, right? Not really. First, these are mini meatloaves, which makes them extra fun to serve, especially to kids.

Second, instead of bread or crackers, the binder in this dish is rolled oats. Gluten free! (Did I just say that?).

Fudgy No-Butter No-Flour Brownies

These fudgy no-butter no-flour brownies are actually made with almond flour. They are really easy to make. All you need is one bowl.

Granola Energy Bars

Granola Energy Bars filled with toasted oats, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut, and a mixture of dried fruit. 

Granola energy bars. From my kitchen. With brown rice syrup. Something is completely askew in the universe.