Meal planning used to feel daunting. Over the years I have come up with a few strategies to make the task easier. First, I keep a list of all the meals that are sure hits. These meals change depending on the season, but, honestly, I can eat grilled cheese sandwiches anytime of the year! To save even more time, each day of the week has a theme (Monday = Pasta, etc)....
This bistro-style crispy chicken is braised with carrots, potatoes, and, for good measure, greens in a mustard and lemon seasoned chicken broth. It all comes together easily in a skillet and adds up to a satisfying, flavorful meal. The Bonus To Braising Chicken Braising is one way to cook meat with moist heat. It cooks food gently, keeps it from drying out, and requires only a small amount of liquid in the pan....
I chose rosemary to go with the lemon and garlic in the rub for the chicken, but you could easily use oregano or thyme or a mix of all three if you want. My father for one is not too fond of rosemary, so if I were making this for him, I would use thyme. The dish couldn’t be simpler. You first make a rub with rosemary, lemon zest, garlic, and olive oil, and marinate the chicken pieces in this rub with a little lemon juice for an hour or two....
If you made a New Year’s resolution to eat a little better this year, this soup will keep you on track. It’s not health food – just good, healthy food! I give instructions for poaching chicken breasts in this recipe, but you also could just use leftover cooked chicken if you have it on hand. About two cups of shredded chicken – or any other meat – is perfect. Slice the bok choy in pieces, or halve them lengthwise for a more dramatic presentation....
Such a lovely light and delicate fish. I couldn’t resist picking up a few fillets today at the market. What Is Piccata? A classic piccata is a great way to prepare sole, or any small flat fish, such as flounder or fluke. Just lightly dust the fillets in seasoned flour, fry them on both sides until nicely browned, and serve them with a sauce made with white wine, capers, butter, and parsley....
The Key to Making a Frittata The trick to making a frittata is to cook it low and slow on the stovetop, and then finish it under the broiler. Eggs love low, gentle heat; more of their moisture is retained that way. Here is an easy spinach frittata we love, with a bunch of chopped up baby spinach (you can use regular spinach too, though I find the prewashed packages of baby spinach irresistibly convenient), Parmesan, and goat cheese....
But if you are looking for something spooky and delicious for Halloween, squid ink pasta is perfect. Pair it with a bright orange pumpkin, and you are set! What Is Squid Ink Pasta? Have you ever had squid ink pasta? It’s pasta that has been flavored (and naturally colored) with jet black squid ink. Which now that I think about it, doesn’t sound particularly appetizing, unless of course you’ve tried it....
My favorite way to make any fruit salad, including this nectarine strawberry version, is to toss the fruit with honey, a little lemon juice, and some thinly sliced fresh mint from the garden. The honey helps the fruit macerate and extract some of their juices, the lemon juice contributes a little tang, and the mint? The mint plays well with them all. I made this salad a few days ago to cap a lunch I prepared for my friends Lisa and Jenny, who insisted that I put it on the blog....
Ripe strawberries have a jammy flavor, that’s sweet with a hint of acidity. When paired with the slightly tart flavor of yellow peaches they are the perfect pairing. I like to add some Greek yogurt and banana slices, for a creamier texture and extra protein in each serving. The natural sweetness and acidity in the orange juice brightens and balances the taste of the smoothie. If you’re new to smoothie making and want to some ideas on how to mix and match check out our tips that cover everything from blenders to prepping ideas so you can enjoy them all summer long!...
For most folks, strawberry rhubarb pie is the immediate go-to dessert. Although I adore that classic pie, making a crisp is not only significantly easier, but it allows you to serve it to a larger group of people—everyone can scoop out as much as they want! What Is a Crisp? People tend to confuse crisps, crumbles, and cobblers—they’re all easy rustic desserts with fruit filling on the bottom, after all....
The hearty ingredients make it perfect to pack for a barbecue, picnic, or as a quick side dish for lunch or dinner. The Sesame Soy Dressing I wanted the dressing to be a strong contrast to the bright vegetables. Equal parts soy sauce, rice vinegar, and vegetable oil create a lightly emulsified dressing that’s not too heavy or overpowering. Some honey helps to balance the savory and tangy notes. Freshly grated ginger and minced garlic adds pungency....
My grandmother would make a big pot of this soup, ladling it into our bowls as we hungrily looked on. She made her soup with beef shank, which simmered on the stove until it was tender and fell apart. As I grew up and adopted a vegetarian diet, I started to make her cabbage soup vegan. It’s an equally delicious soup that’s pure comfort in a bowl. The Best Cabbage for Cabbage Soup I prefer to use green cabbage in this sweet and sour cabbage soup....
Milk frothers also go way beyond the cup. They can emulsify small-batch sauces, such as salad dressing, aioli, or hollandaise. Trade-in your whisk and use a milk frother for your next batch of fluffy scrambled eggs or cloud eggs, or whizz up egg whites for classic cocktails like a whiskey sour. Steamed milk or cream can also be used to garnish soups, like this creamy sweet potato soup. Here are the best milk frothers to stock your kitchen and step up your at-home beverage game....
It’s worth keeping a jar stashed next to your baking soda and powder since it lasts forever, but accidents happen. If you misread your recipe or didn’t realize you were out of cream of tartar and can’t make a trip to the store, it’s time to fall back on a substitution. Which swap you make will depend on what purpose the cream of tartar is serving in your particular recipe....
“Rotisserie ovens are much more energy-efficient than conventional ovens because of their smaller size,” says Sara Sicotte, recipe developer and founder of Budget Savvy Diva. “Rotisseries are able to heat up faster thus letting you prepare your meat quickly for less money. And, if you don’t have a lot of counter space, vertical models are a great option because of their smaller footprint.” It doesn’t stop there though, a rotisserie oven can alleviate holiday cooking, dinner parties, and even weekly meal prep....
Each stand mixer should come with a wire whip, a flat beater, and a dough hook. These will manage most everyday tasks, but the great thing about stand mixers is that many have extra attachments available that handle other kitchen work—some of the options are meat grinders, pasta makers, shredders, and more. “When considering a stand mixer, map out where it is going to live in your kitchen — countertop or cabinet — since it has a substantial footprint,” says Jamie Hunt, a celebrity chef in New York City....
Plus, many models of turkey fryers, specifically electric, indoor ones, have added safety features that don’t sacrifice the quality of the cooked turkey, says Jessica Randhawa, head chef and writer for The Forked Spoon, a recipe website. In addition to its safety features, Randhawa values ease of use and cleaning (including dishwashable parts), adequate capacity (or extra-large capacity when needed), and a well-engineered oil drain. Taking all those factors into consideration, the Bayou Classic 32-Quart Turkey Fryer is our top choice for crisping up a bird to perfection....
Here’s a quick tip for choosing jalapeños that can help you decide which ones to pick. Look for Stretch Marks As they age, some peppers develop white lines and flecks, like stretch marks running in the direction of the length of the pepper. The stretch marks are also indicative of the amount of stress the pepper plant has endured. A pepper plant that is stressed, having the soil get dry between infrequent waterings, appears to have an impact on the the hotness of the pepper....
The warming combination of turmeric, ginger and coriander is an easy way to bring some Middle Eastern spices to a roasted chicken. Turmeric adds a beautiful color to this dish, and with its slightly bitter overtones, marries well with ginger and coriander. Top it off with a honey soy sauce glaze at the end of cooking, and you have a gorgeous bird that is bursting with flavor and a touch of sweetness....
Except, if you’re following a vegan lifestyle, it’s out of reach! Here’s why, and how to fix that. Wait… Kahlúa Isn’t Vegan? There are only three ingredients in a traditional White Russian: vodka, Kahlúa, and cream. But, two of them are not vegan-friendly. Kahlúa, a rum-based coffee liqueur, contains sugar that has been processed with bone char from animals, and it’s therefore not suitable for vegans. But vegan alternatives to Kahlúa exist!...
