Easy Holidays/Entertaining

So many Six O'Clock Scramble members and cookbook owners and friends are crazy about this easy zucchini recipe.  Zucchini Pie is mild and simple enough to appeal to the palates of many different tastes. Kids love this easy zucchini recipe because it tastes a little like pizza! Watch the zucchini pie video to see how easy it is to make! For more easy zucchini recipes, try our Ravioli Soup with Grated Zucchini and Spinach, Raw Zucchini Pasta with Pesto, and our Stuffed Zucchini Gondolas. Easy Zucchini Recipe: Amazing Zucchini PiePrep (15 minutes) + Cook (30 minutes) 8 servings 1 Tbsp. butter or extra virgin olive oil 2 zucchini, or use yellow squash, thinly sliced (4-5 cups) 1/2 large yellow onion, diced 1 tsp. minced garlic (about 2 cloves) 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper 1/2 tsp. dried basil 1/2 tsp. dried oregano 1 prepared 9-inch pie crust 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard (use wheat/gluten-free if needed) 2 eggs,...

You can make this Israeli couscous salad recipe ahead of time for dinner and pack it for a picnic or pack leftovers for lunch. Pulling flavors from across the Mediterranean and Middle East, but the salad remains kid-friendly.  It’s also good served with grilled shrimp or chicken. Watch the Video (and subscribe to the YouTube Channel) Israel Couscous Salad Recipe with Tomatoes, Cucumbers and FetaPrep + Cook = 25 minutes, plus time to cool or chill 6 servings, about 1 3/4 cups 8 oz. Israeli couscous also called pearl couscous, whole wheat if available, or use orzo or farro (1 1/2 cups) 8 oz. cherry tomatoes, quartered 1 English or Persian cucumber, quartered lengthwise and chopped (2 cups) 1/2 cup shelled unsalted pistachio nuts 1/2 sweet yellow onion such as Vidalia or Walla Walla, finely diced (1 cup) 1 cup crumbled feta cheese 1 ½ cups cooked chicken breast, diced (optional) 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 lemon,...

What Dads Want for Father’s Day: Dads Tell All (plus some recipe ideas) Curious about what dads want for father's day?  This year, you can skip the ties, wallets and Old Spice. We asked, and it turns out that dad’s desires are pretty basic – some time with his children, and some activities to make him feel appreciated and loved. If you struggle with what material items the dads in your life would like, you’re in luck.  With a few exceptions, dads requested things that money can’t buy. Check out some of the sweet and amusing responses below:Missy N. Pete said to be left alone to do whatever he wants to do ....no tie, no card nothing.Ken J. My girls over for a Cajun boil with their musical instruments and beautiful voices!Beth D. My husband wants the garage fridge filled with beer and a quiet house.Bryan C. Quality time with the kids... probably playing a new board game or something like that. There...

What Moms REALLY Want for For Mother's DayAs Mother’s Day has approached over the past few years, I have posed a question on The Scramble Facebook page to determine what moms REALLY want for Mother’s Day.  I always love reading through the comments—some are funny, some are sad, and some remind me of just how exhausted we moms often are. Some moms just want “quiet”, “sleep” or “don’t want to be touched by little hands for the entire day.” Depending upon the ages of their kids, moms’ answers vary widely, from those with little kids just wanting a day without changing diapers and cleaning baby bottles, to those that have older children just wanting some time together, and those with grown children being excited for their son or daughter to come home for dinner or video chat with them from wherever they are.  (Celia, my 18-year-old “baby,” is heading to college next year, so I will likely fall...

Over winter break, my family took an incredible trip to Nicaragua. Some people wondered why we chose Nicaragua for our family vacation, because few people we know had thought of vacationing there. We were drawn to the natural beauty, abundant wildlife, the well maintained Colonial cities of Granada and Leon, the gorgeous beaches near San Juan del Sur, and the dramatic volcanoes like Momotumbo and Cerro Negro. We also appreciated how easy it was to get to—just a two-hour flight from Miami—and the reasonable prices and good weather in Nicaragua, which is in Central America. Nicaragua boasts so many activities for a curious family like ours, from sand boarding down an active volcano, to kayaking through the mangroves and holding newly hatched sea turtles, to speeding down cobblestone streets in a horse-drawn carriage in a gorgeous Colonial city, to making your own chocolate bars from scratch in a chocolate educational center. There were so many other things to do that we...

In my house, we can’t go through Hanukkah without eating latkes at least once, so I decided to pour my holiday spirit into creating a new Hanukkah recipe. I’ve been on an Indian cooking kick lately, and I realized that Indian flavors would meld well with traditional potato pancakes.  If you make the batter ahead of time, refrigerate it until you are ready to cook them, and drain the excess liquid from the bowl before frying them. In the video below I'll show you how to make potato pancakes, in this case, Indian Potato, Ginger and Carrot Latkes.  You can serve them with a side of chickpeas and mint. Try an Indian twist on a beloved Hanukkah potato pancakes (latkes) recipe. Serve these crispy potato pancakes with mango chutney for a delicious vegetarian or vegan meal or side dish.Watch the YouTube video (and subscribe to the channel for more recipes like this one from Aviva Goldfarb)How to Make Potato Pancakes: Indian Potato, Ginger and Carrot Latkes 1 lb....

Edible Holiday Gift Ideas and More for Food Lovers

When it comes to holiday gift giving, it may not surprise you that I enjoy sharing my favorite foods (or food related gifts) with friends and family. Generally, I think most of us have more than enough possessions filling up our homes, so the idea of giving consumable gifts is very appealing to me.  Giving an edible gift almost guarantees that it won’t sit on a shelf collecting dust.

There are a number of Scramble gems tucked away on the site that would be ideal for whipping up, putting in mason jars or decorative tins and giving as gifts to those you care about.

These are some of my favorite edible holiday gift ideas:

Peanut Butter Bites (Needs refrigeration)Molly’s Chocolate ChewiesQuick Dill Pickles (Needs refrigeration)Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Corn MuffinsFudgy Figgy Balls (Needs refrigeration)Quick and Spicy CashewsChocolate...

Top 10 Highest Rated Scramble Recipes EVER!

1. Spinach and Quinoa Salad with Toasted Cashews and Dried Cranberries
2. Mediterranean Couscous Toss
3. Indian Spiced Salmon (and check out the new video to see just how easy it is to make it!)
4. Fried Egg and Avocado Sandwiches
5. Quick Tilapia with Lemon, Garlic, and Capers
6. Hot Reuben Melts
7. Rigatoni with Mushrooms, Marsala and Mascarpone
8. Spiced Chicken with Maple Butter Glaze (this is one of my husband’s favorites!)
9. Cajun Fish Sandwiches with Crunchy Slaw
10. French Riviera Salad (Salad Licoise)

This Indian Spiced Salmon is truly an easy salmon recipe and one of The Scramble favorites!  Simple, unique, and delicious, it's elegant for company but quick for anytime.  To save time, make the spice mix in advance. Then slice the fish, coat with oil and spices, and in 12 minutes you have a delightfully easy yet sophisticated main course.

Watch the video and subscribe to the YouTube channel:Easy Salmon Recipe: Indian Spiced SalmonPrep + Cook = 20 minutes 4 servings 1 1/2 lbs. salmon fillet, preferably wild salmon 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil 2 tsp. brown sugar 1/2 - 1 tsp. curry powder, to taste 1/2 tsp. kosher salt Preheat the broiler. Line a baking pan with aluminum foil, and set the rack about 4 inches from the heating element. Cut the salmon into 4 serving size pieces.  Pour the olive oil in a small bowl or dish and brush it over the fish with a pastry brush. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, curry powder and salt and rub it evenly over the...

Your family will love this simple marinade for grilled chicken breasts.  The avocado salsa would also be great on top of a firm, white fish, such as halibut, and of course it's fabulous for dipping chips or veggie sticks.  If you don’t want to grill the breasts, you can cook them on the stovetop over medium-high heat with a little olive oil in a skillet instead.  Click here for  grilling tips to make grilled chicken and other delicious meals over the fire. Watch the cooking video on YouTube and get the recipe below: Lime Grilled Chicken with Avocado SalsaPrep + Cook Time: 30 minutes Makes six servings. 1 1/2 - 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, or use boneless thighs 1/2 - 1 lime, juice only, 2 Tbsp. 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp. kosher salt 2 avocados, diced or mashed, or use 3/4 cup guacamole 1 tomato, diced 1/4 red onion, finely diced (about 1/2 cup) 1/4 tsp. salt 1 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped (optional) Place the chicken...