Blinis are little pancakes that are usually topped with caviar. My blinis are thinly like crepes and I like to serve them rolled with blueberry sauce or fresh chives and sour cream.

Most kids love Chinese take-out and will gladly eat broccoli. I make this for the “big kid” in my life- my husband. He hates veggies, but he coo-coo for Asian flavors that perk up this crisp tender, nutritional packed veg!

Roasting is one of the best ways to prepare Brussels sprouts. Maintaining texture, crunch, and vitamins, this technique always wins out over boiling in tons of water. My neighbor Susan introduced me to this practical preparation when she hosted us for one of her delightful dinners. I added sage and hazelnuts as a variation. I love to save the leftovers to fold into my Sunday morning omelet sprinkled with a little grated, soft white cheese like Munster or Havarti.

A family favorite, chicken paprikash is a creamy Hungarian stew that my granny excelled at preparing. Her chicken was moist and delicate, so be gentle when cooking your bird and never let the pot come to a full boil!

Butternut squash has a naturally, creamy consistency that blends into a thick and hearty soup without adding excess fat or cream. Make it fun for kids by topping it with plain, unbuttered popcorn!

Powered sugar coat these cookies baked with walnuts. Instead of white flour, I use whole grain flour, for a healthier twist. If you happen to have peanuts in the kitchen, they work just as well in place of walnuts.

Frozen cherries are a great fruit to keep on hand for snacks and quick desserts! Ideal for smoothies, cherries are naturally sweet, the frozen whole black cherries are fairly inexpensive, and store for months in your freezer. If you use fresh cherries, chill before serving.

A favorite for Sunday brunch but don’t forget the fresh horseradish. It really makes this classic special!

In the spring, my husband and I both crave asparagus. Oddly enough, both of our hometowns were famous for asparagus growing at one point in history. This soup looks just like cream of asparagus and feels rich on the taste buds but is in fact really light on the hips!

I call this tasty drink “Charlie’s” Chai named after my former staff photographer. Charlie’s face lit up when I offer to prepare a batch during a long day of shooting. Chai is a hot tea beverage that comes from India, deliciously sweet and spicy. Its rich flavor is a great substitute for coffee addicts trying to kick the habit! If you want to have a cup each morning, brew triple the batch and store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to one week.