Sparkle Kitchen
Explore a world of culinary delight with our Sparkle Kitchen category. Discover mouthwatering recipes, cooking tips, and kitchen adventures to satisfy your appetite and spark your creativity in the kitchen.
Sparkle Kitchen: Vegan Basil Pesto
I needed a quick meal for a picnic tonight. Families with kids, about 8 people. I had 45 minutes. Well?
The fridge didn’t provide many good options. But the garden is popping with basil. So, pesto it was.
Sparkle Kitchen: Crispy Nut Butter Bars
It’s too hot — I can’t bear to turn on the oven and bake. So, I made something that I didn’t have to bake at all. Check out this recipe for Crispy Nut Butter Bars!
Sparkle Kitchen: Summer Salad
Martin and Sylvia enjoy this Summer Salad in the story "Night Magic." It’s based on a Niçoise salad — a lovely plate of greens topped with a variety of good things: traditionally tuna, marinated green beans, potatoes, and anchovies.
Sparkle Kitchen: Mini-Quiches
The version inside is a “goat’s cheese and spinach” style quiche. But here’s the deal: using the basic “custard” mix — that egg and milk base — you can add any variety of ingredients.
Sparkle Kitchen: Chickpea Fritters & Yogurt Sauce
Yes, the dish is called “Pakoras”! It’s typically an Indian appetizer or snack: fried fritters made of any variety of vegetable. The ones from Martin and Sylvia’s house are made with a base of chickpea flour and include grated vegetables. It’s a quick and easy recipe.
Sparkle Kitchen: Martin's Favorite Granola
In the At Home with Martin & Sylvia story “Playdate," Momma dishes out some homemade granola and yogurt. Did you know that it is Martin’s favorite granola?
It is. And it’s delicious.
Sparkle Kitchen: Toppings!
Toppings is the perfect thing to make when you need to come up with a creative snack because everyone’s tired of the same old apple & peanut butter, but your kitchen cupboards seem bare.
Sparkle Kitchen: Sandwich on a Stick
“Sandwich sticks,” said Momma proudly as she entered the forest. Martin and Sylvia came out of their stick house to investigate. “What is a sandwich stick?” asked Martin with a smile. He peeked in the tray.
Find out just how to make them in this kitchen post!
Sparkle Kitchen: Breakfast Buckwheat Kasha
The main ingredient is buckwheat groats, which you can buy roasted or raw. If we’re feeling particularly ambitious, we’ll purchase the raw groats, and then soak, sprout, and roast them ourselves. The pre-roasted groats are delicious too, and a lot easier.
Sparkle Kitchen: Alabama Toast
Alabama Toast is a regular breakfast in Martin and Sylvia’s house. It’s a version of French Toast, with a delightful “Alabama” spread, made with good ingredients from the southeastern United States: peanut butter and molasses.
Sparkle Kitchen: Popovers!
Popovers are totally new to the Sparkle Kitchen. We’ve marveled when other friends made them for us, but never actually tried making them ourselves. So a few weeks ago, we gave it a go. And, as is the norm for our kitchen, we whipped up the gluten-free variety. And they were really good.
Sparkle Kitchen: Backyard Porridge
In the At Home with Martin & Sylvia story "Spring Sillies Day," Momma serves the children “Backyard Porridge” on their much loved Spring Sillies Day. You don’t have to wait until next April 1 to have some morning silliness. Create your own Spring Sillies Day and serve up a little of the “bugs & grubs” — Martin-and-Sylvia style. Here's how!
Sparkle Kitchen: Wagonwheel Omelette
The Wagonwheel is a playful take on the familiar Western Omelette. We use traditional Western Omelette ingredients, but you could fill it with just about anything.
Sparkle Kitchen: Banana Rafts
In the story, the children disappear into the kitchen and make their daddy something extra special while he rests his broken toe. They call the treat “Banana Rafts.“
