Pumpkin Oatmeal Molasses Cookies

Pumpkin Oatmeal Molasses Cookies

When I was growing up, we had this step-by-step cookbook that I loved to look at. By the time I was 8 or 9 years old, I was teaching myself how to cook. I was an avid reader anyway, and cookbooks were as intriguing to me as The Baby-Sitters Club series. I devoured both as quickly as I could. One of our favorite recipes was for Oatmeal Molasses Cookies. That cookbook, sadly, is long gone, […]

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Pear Streusel Pie with Dried Fruit and Gluten-Free Crust (Pamela’s Products Giveaway!)

I’m just going to say this: I am so proud of this pear streusel pie.  I know it’s only the middle of October, but you guys, I’m already planning my Thanksgiving menu and this is on it! I love Halloween, but Thanksgiving is like the marathon I’ve been training for all year long. I’m lacing up my apron, I’m grabbing my rolling pin, and I’m ready. October is all about the pears. Have you noticed all […]

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Gluten-Free Vegan Portobello Fajitas

Gluten-Free Vegan Portobello Fajitas with Bell Peppers

Fajitas have long been a favorite dinner of mine. My mom used to make them several times a year when I was growing up and we always looked forward to Fajita Night. There’s just something wonderful about the sizzling hot filling rolled into a soft tortilla with an array of favorite toppings. It had been awhile since I made fajitas for my little family. McCormick has come out with new gluten-free seasoning mixes and I was […]

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Gluten-Free Peach Custard Bars with Sugar Cookie Crust

GF Peach Bars with Sugar Cookie Crust

Yep. It’s October, but I’m squeezing in one more peach recipe before they are gone for the year. As quickly as peach season arrives, it also ends. Sad, sad, sad. I was horribly disappointed to find the local farm I have been visiting sold out of my favorite variety of peaches within just a few hours. Hours. I think it was while I was in New York City a few weeks ago, so it couldn’t […]

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Slow Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup | CafeJohnsonia.com

Nothing is easier to make than this Slow Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Soup Recipe – it’s great for chilly nights, potlucks and parties, or anytime. Folks, you don’t need me to tell you that Pumpkin Season has arrived. Let’s kick it off with this super easy Slow Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Soup recipe, shall we? Do you want to take a guess at how many (big) cans of pumpkin puree I’ve already gone through in the past […]

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Gluten-Free Tamale Pie

Vegetarian Gluten-Free Tamale Pie

Thank you to Pamela’s Products for sponsoring this post.  In the last few weeks, I’ve read a bunch of articles and blog posts on the subject of home-cooked family dinners. The big question is: are they more pain than they’re worth? My opinion lies somewhere in the middle of that argument, as there are plenty of opinions to go around on both sides. I think it’s so, so important to sit down as a family as […]

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Peach + Rosemary Two Ways: Fruit Salad + Iced Tea Fizz

Peach + Rosemary Two Ways

Peaches and rosemary were made for each other. It’s as simple as that. I love peaches. I love rosemary. Put them together, and I’m head over heels for it, no matter what it is. As I’ve been dreaming up new ways to eat peaches (like it’s my full-time job), the idea came to me a few weeks ago to make an iced tea infused with rosemary and sweetened with fresh peach puree and a touch […]

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Quinoa Pizza with Stone Fruit, Chiles, and Queso Fresco

GF Quinoa Pizza with Stone Fruit, Chiles, and Queso Fresco

September is proving to be magical – the weather and fresh produce are astounding. October is my favorite month, but September is a close second. It’s also time for another round of #EatSeasonal. I’m joining in with some of my favorite bloggers to share recipes using fruits and veggies that are available in September. The links to their recipes are down below and you can follow along on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #EatSeasonal. […]

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Revamped Classic: Naturally Sweetened Healthy Fruit Crisp

naturally sweetened healthy fruit crisp

We often discuss in our family (usually during dinner) what constitutes a great dessert. Of course, as expected, my children think dessert means loads of sugar, chocolate, caramel, etc, etc. They don’t believe me when I tell them fruit is the original dessert. I can’t blame them much; I would have balked at the notion myself at their age. Maybe I’m just getting old, or maybe I’ve just realized that I don’t need a  ton […]

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Tempeh Black Bean Vegan Taco Salad

vegetarian taco salad with tempeh and black beans

A little while ago I confessed that I was in my twenties when I first tried tofu. Hmm. Funny thing. I’m in my thirties and I only just tried tempeh for the first time a few months ago. It’s always interesting to me that my picky eating was deeply rooted in fear. What if it didn’t taste good or the texture was wonky? I mean, it’s food. If I didn’t like it or the texture was […]

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