All-Time Favorite Family Recipes (Add Yours!)

Shila:  Preparing these good old fashioned pancakes with the kids has become a fun family tradition for us. These days, we're trying to take our mornings a little slower and enjoy baking pancakes from scratch. We often decorate them at-will by adding fresh blueberries, chocolate chips or even cupcake sprinkles to the mix. I hope eventually that this recipe (and experience) will land in our kids' cookbooks for generations to come! Today, though, it's definitely the number one favorite breakfast meal in our home. From AllRecipes

Kristy Pepping:  This recipe is based on Mrs. Fields' original chocolate chip recipe from the 80s. I have made these cookies several times and have even won an office baking competition! These are for sure soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies so if you prefer your cookies this way, you will love this recipe. A couple of tips: use semi-sweet chocolate chips and leave the cookies on the baking sheet once they come out of the oven as they do continue to cook for a bit. These are a crowd-pleaser for kids and adults alike and hey maybe even earn you a baking title! From Top Secret Recipes

Kelly R:  This has been my family's go-to sugar cookie recipe for years, and we wouldn't think of trying another one. The key ingredient for us is the almond extract. Soft and chewy with a smear of buttercream frosting is how we love them best! We make them all year round for a sweet treat, but they work especially well as cutout Christmas cookies for decorating. From Our Best Bites

Kristy Pepping:  As much as we get our kids to try new foods, we do always come back to this classic. Even our super picky eater loves this spaghetti and meatballs. This recipe is super easy to make, feeds even a larger family and pairs really well with some garlic bread and side salad. Plus, I have also made these meatballs separately and served on toothpicks as a party appetizer. From The Food Network Courtesy of Rachel Ray

Wendy Windham McBride:  Jo Mama's World Famous Spaghetti is our all time favorite! It has great flavor and my son that has a family of his own always requests it when he visits! From Food.com

Michael Farina:  This simple and versatile meal is a breakfast staple in our house, but it could serve as any meal. While we call it a pancake, it's really closer to a crepe, and very easy to make.

1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup flour, 3 eggs, 2 tbsp butter, salt

Melt butter in glass pie plate in an oven as it pre-heats to 415, until butter is melted and bubbling. Mix milk, flour, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, stirring each until smooth. Let batter sit 1-2 minutes. Pour batter over melted butter into hot pie plate. Bake at 415 for 10-12 minutes. Watch it rise!

Shila:  Ina Garten's Roasted Shrimp Cocktail is my husband's favorite appetizer and easy sheet pan dinner idea. It wasn't long before my kids started enjoying the rich flavor of this oven-roasted shrimp, too. Today, it is undoubtedly one of our most favorite family recipes for any occasion. The best part of this meal is that it's one of those recipes that kids can easily prepare themselves, too. Simply add shrimp to a sheet pan with a drizzle of olive oil and spices, and roast it in the oven for about 10 minutes. From Barefoot Contessa

Shila:  Chef Giada De Laurentiis has shared so many of her secret family recipes with the world. One of my favorites in particular is her recipe for Classic Italian Lasagna, and it has become one that I've included in my ultimate family cookbook as well. Our entire family loves the warm comfort coming from the kitchen, and from every bold and creamy bite. The homemade red sauce can be stored and saved for any other make-ahead freezer recipe, too. From Giadazy

Alexandra F.:  This is our most special family meal, which we make to celebrate birthdays, Mother's Day (and Father's Day), when guests are visiting, or any time we feel like treating ourselves. It takes us over two hours to make (it's possible we are unusually slow choppers!), and leaves a ton of dishes, but IT. IS. WORTH. IT!!! We have most of Ina Garten's cookbooks and love pretty much everything we try, but this might be her absolute best family recipe ever. Warm, heartening and flavorful - the perfect comfort meal for cool weather months, but so good you'll want it year round. From Barefoot Contessa

Kristy Pepping:  I have been making this appetizer every holiday season since our oldest was just a year old. My mother-in-law always requests I make it. You can either make your own spinach dip or buy a store-bought version. This is topped over some crescent rolls cut in circles to form a wreath. Once you top this with veggies, it resembles a holiday wreath. Besides being festive, it's a healthy appetizer option for really any occasion. From Pillsbury

Jaclyn Keifer:  This was my step son’s favorite meal so I spent a lot of time finding the perfect recipe. He loves this (and our other kids do also) because it’s not overly fancy yet perfectly delish. I usually make 6 at a time so I can freeze the others. From Good Cheap Eats