make-ahead Archives • Family Around the Table

Mashed potatoes in an oval baking dish with melted butter on top.

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Get a head start on your holiday meal with make-ahead mashed potatoes. Make holidays and even weeknight dinners easy on yourself with this side dish. …

Oreo Cookies and Cream Cups

Oreo Cookies and Cream Cups keep in the freezer for up to a week. Make up a batch and have dessert for a few nights. …

Chocolate Coffee Pecan Swirl Coffee Cake

Chocolate, coffee and nuts in a coffee cake? Yes! I’m always looking for coffee cakes to make for my family. It’s perfect way to start …

I'm Ellen, a freelance writer, recipe developer and former correspondent for the Tampa Bay Times where I wrote a regular TASTE section feature as well as reviewed cookbooks for more than 15 years. My Mom and my kids are the inspiration for Family Around the Table. My Grandmother too. I remember my Grandmother making fresh pasta for dinner. She was from Italy and a very good cook so I come by my love of cooking naturally. My Mom inherited her cooking skills too.