The best part of waking up are these super-charged breakfast cookies loaded with oats, bananas, berries, and chocolate chips.
Joan Hunter Mayer, Recipe Tester
A list of all the recipes Joan Hunter Mayer has tested.
Joan has been baking since she was a young kid. Being self-taught, (Mom didn’t bake–except for her traditional holiday pecan tassies), she always enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen. What started as baking and cooking new creations and giving them away, eventually led to entering local baking contests. Over the years, taking home a few blue ribbons continued to fuel the fire and passion to create. These days, Joan is a certified professional canine behavior consultant, inventor, and entrepreneur. Her unique educational background also includes fashion (a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, she spent years in costuming for film and TV), nursing, and business. This combination of art and science, infused with caring and creativity is what Joan brings to her work and her joy of cooking, baking, and going on creative adventures in the kitchen!
Make-Ahead Cinnamon Coffee Cake
No need to get up hours ahead to produce a cinnamon-y sweet coffee cake, still warm from the oven. Mix it all ahead and pop it in the oven when you wake up. It’s that easy, ya’ll!
Cheesy Pumpkin Potato Gratin
If you’ve been looking for a gorgeously cheesy, autumn side filled with potatoes, pumpkin, and lots of cheese, we’ve got good news for you. You’re going to love it.
One-Bowl Blueberry Buckle
Blueberry buckle is so easy to make but so hard to forget. Seriously–crispy edges, jammy blueberries, and tender cake in between. It’s perfection.
Blueberry Lemon Bars
Like a pie in bar form, with a crisp crust and a soft, lemony, blueberry-filled center. These bars are a big hit at summer barbecues when you’re in the mood to share.
Pork Chops with Strawberry Balsamic Sauce
Juicy, seared pork and sweet fruit were made for each other—this jammy, balsamic vinegar-infused sauce proves it once and for all.
Sautéed Summer Squash Ribbons
America’s Test Kitchen came up with a painless way to avoid soggy squash (squashy squashes?) that makes a lovely, zingy side dish. It’s a splendid way to get your veggies.
Raw Asparagus Salad
Take advantage of the freshest, most tender spring stalks au naturel. Uncooked, lightly dressed with lemony yogurt, and very little else. Spring has sprung, indeed.
Asian-Inspired Coleslaw
Crisp cabbage and cool summer herbs are drizzled with a more delicate alternative to the traditional mayo-based dressing. Tastes good and IS good for you.
Mashed Potato Gratin
Our recipe testers called these potatoes “pure heaven,” “yumminess,” and “genius.” That’s just a few of the rave reviews we heard for these delicately flavored spuds.