Cajun Chex Mix

Salty, not sweet.  My brother's favorite snack food.

Makes 9-10 cups.  Cook in a large roasting pan.

Brown Betty

The use of applesauce instead of chopped apples adds a shortcut and a moistness to this dessert that I highly enjoy.

Dump Cake

So called because you dump all the ingredients in a pan and bake.  I make this more often than any other dessert because it requires so little work.

Pasta Primavera

My husband got this recipe from EatingWell, has made it every week for months, and has executed a few small changes to reduce cost and time.  The original has a from-scratch pasta sauce and sprinkled feta cheese, but we just go with Rinaldi's "Sweet & Tasty Tomato" (unanimously picked after trying about 10 different jar sauces).  The key to this dish is roasting the vegetables.

This dish satisfies my entire family of Southerners, Northerners, food allergies, and downright picky eaters.  It can feel impossible sometimes to find something everyone will enjoy, but this always pleases.

Pea Salad

A light, cool, refreshing side for any savory main course. This recipe has been on all my family holiday menus for generations and the quantity can support a moderate group of people (5-8, depending). Great for anyone who enjoys dishes with mayonnaise.