Growing up, the official start of spring in our family kitchen came with this cake being served for my older sister’s birthday. After all, what screams “spring,” louder than fresh strawberries?

Every member of my family has a personal favorite cake that has become his or her birthday cake. Good taste must run in the family because I look forward to the cakes almost as much as I look forward to celebrating my loved ones. There’s banana cake, carrot cake, Boston cream pie cake, German chocolate cake (me!), triple chocolate cake, chocolate peanut butter cakes and this luscious Strawberry Stuffed Angel Food Cake. Angel food cake is aptly named, as it’s light as the clouds and sweet as heaven. While you can use a boxed mix for this dessert, give a scratch angel food cake a try. It’s worth it. You may also want to invest in a pan that is specifically made for angel food cakes. While a specific pan isn’t absolutely necessary, using one can help you achieve the best results.

This dish is one I find really special and comforting. It brings me right back to my childhood and reminds me of all the great meals my mom cooked for my siblings and me while growing up. Without a doubt, this was one of our absolute favorites — even today when we go visit my parents, at least one of us requests Million-Dollar Meatballs for dinner!

These delightful bites are spinach meatballs served with a brown gravy, which we typically serve over egg noodles. It almost has a beef stroganoff-like vibe, but without the mushrooms. This recipe would be perfect over mashed potatoes or pureed cauliflower, too. However you want to serve it, I have no doubt it will be a lovely comfort food for you and your family, and to that end, you're notgoing to want to skimp on the gravy!

As a single, working parent, it is so important to create easy dinners for my family throughout the week. This dish is one that has been in our family for years, and it never gets old.

This is the one dish my children never tire of and ask for on a regular basis. You can create this dish with any type of chicken your heart desires! On busy weekdays, I will typically prepare this casserole with a rotisserie chicken, however, it is amazing with chicken right off the grill.

“If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with them. The people who give you their food, give you their heart.” - Cesar Chavez

For me, connections through food have always been an important part of my life. From standing on my grandmother’s dining room chair when I was just barely tall enough to see into the mixing bowl to gathering with friends sharing our time and stories with one another over dinner, connections have always made their way into my kitchen.