Month: January 2025

Posted in #Recipes

35 Recipes That Make Meal Prep a Breeze

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Worth the Effort

Even though there are so many reasons to meal prep (save time, save money, eat better — the list goes on and on) we know that the thought of planning and cooking so much food all at once can be overwhelming. The good news? It’s so worth it. And, there are plenty of ways to make it easier! Learn a handful of pro meal prep tips, master a couple of shortcuts that make prep easier and gather up the right recipes and, before you know it, you’ll be settled into a routine that allows you to turn one simple ingredient into a myriad of delicious dishes. (Don’t believe us, just check out our ideas for prepping chicken!) Whether you take a structured approach and plan out concrete meals or lean towards an ingredient-prep strategy that allows you some flexibility throughout the week, we’re confident you’ll be glad you took the time to plan ahead. All of the recipes in this roundup will come in handy but start with this versatile sesame chicken. You can just as easily toss it into a salad for lunch as you can a stir-fry for dinner.

Food Network

Posted in #Recipes

35 Pretty Pink Desserts That Taste as Good as They Look

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Think pink! Whether you’re planning a vibrant Valentine’s Day spread, hosting a pink baby shower or needing a few festive bridal shower recipes, these rosy-hued treats are equal parts beautiful and delicious. From cakes and cupcakes to cookies, macarons, ice cream and doughnuts, these pink desserts are almost too beautiful to eat.

Instead of relying on food dyes, many of our recipes get their color naturally. Our colorful secret ingredients include strawberries, rhubarb, cranberries and cherries. These recipes are all a hit with our readers too. We made sure to include some of our best-loved grand prize winning recipes as well as some new spins on old classics.

There’s a pink dessert in this collection for everyone, from beginners to experienced bakers. Some of these sweets are easy dessert recipes with five ingredients and practically make themselves, while some of the more time-intensive treats require a whole day in the kitchen to pull them off.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

35 Roast Chicken Recipes That Come Out Perfect Every Time

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

These versatile roast chicken ideas are simple enough for beginner cooks and standbys for the pros. You’ll definitely want to add one—or a bunch!—of these recipes to your dinner rotation.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

It’s Aquarius Season—15 Recipes That Celebrate The “Delightful Weirdos” Of The Zodiac

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Aquarius, it’s finally your time to shine! Capricorns are back to being oh so very productive, Pisces are still daydreaming off to the side, which means that the delightfully weird and revolutionary Aquarians get to celebrate their season (January 20 to February 18, 2025) at long last. And what better way to celebrate these humanitarian rule-breakers than with some equally non-traditional (yet delicious) recipes? No matter if you don’t believe in the zodiac (or religiously check your horoscope every day), these Aquarius-inspired recipes will add plenty of excitement (maybe even a kitchen torch) to your usual cooking routine.

Did you know? Even though Aquarius literally means “the water bearer” (and is symbolized by a bearer pouring pitchers of water), the sign is technically an air sign (I know, I know). So it only makes sense to highlight another airy delight: air fryers. These handy little appliances more than merit some counter space, especially once you try our air fryer cacio e pepe arancini and air fryer fish tacos with avocado salsa. Want to channel the caring, change-maker vibe of an Aquarius? Go meatless! Plant-based swaps, as you’ll find, are easy to do when you’re enjoying our recipes for sticky sesame chickpeas with broccoli, sweet and sour tofu, and eggplant bacon.

Even though the pitcher is canonically full of water, I’ve got a few hopes and dreams regarding some alternate contents. Like miso soup, for one. Or even vegetarian matzo ball soup. Heck, just broth in general would be great. Feeling truly wild? Fill your (cookie) cup with tiramisu filling like we did for our tiramisu cookie cups.

delish

Posted in Kitchen Tips

How To Make The Best Mac & Cheese Of Your Life

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

We are a nation of mac & cheese lovers. Whether you’re using a plastic cup in the microwave, cheese dust from a packet, or cooking it from scratch, you’ve probably made this classic comfort food at least once. But have you ever made the ultimate version?

I started making mac & cheese when I was five with help from the blue box. I’ve come a long way since then, cooking other people’s recipes and experimenting with my own. For this article, I consulted with Clare Malfitano, chef at Murray’s Cheese, to get her unique perspective. Here are my top tips for how to make the best mac & cheese of your life—because sometimes the boxed stuff just isn’t good enough.

delish

Posted in #Recipes

18 Best Boneless Chicken Breast Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When the chips are down and we need dinner on the table fast, we turn, like the rest of America, to skinless, boneless chicken breasts to save the day. Keep a pack of super-versatile boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the freezer, and you’ll always have access to quick-and-easy, family-pleasing meals. And to make your chicken dinners even easier to pull together, may we recommend these top-rated recipes — from chicken Marsala to chicken bulgogi, saltimbocca to cordon bleu, they’re all crowd favorites and ready in 30 minutes or less.

Allrecipes

Posted in #Recipes

Ground Beef and Cabbage

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

This ground beef and cabbage recipe was my mother’s. She was a country cook, plain and simple. But as I have traveled and worked and experienced foods from around the world, I look back and realize that many of the dishes she prepared, while simple, were perfect for that moment. Sometimes we have to put emotion and love in a dish to make it extra-special. Serve with corn on the cob and cornbread.

Allrecipes

Posted in #Recipes

French Dip Stuffed Biscuits

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Aside from the buttery biscuits, melty provolone cheese, and salty roast beef combo, I’m obsessed with these French dip stuffed biscuits because of how easy (emphasis on easy) they are to make. Who knew simple, store-bought ingredients like a can of biscuits, deli sliced roast beef, and a packet of au jus gravy mix could be transformed into something so delicious? Well, we did, which is why we’re strongly suggesting you fit this into your easy-weeknight meal rotation when you need something hearty and comforting with a fun twist. Better yet, serve them as an appetizer at your next tailgate party—your guests will thank you.

In honor of the classic French dip, we spread a homemade horseradish mayo on our biscuits. This can be stored tightly covered in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week (how’s that for making a weeknight meal even easier?). But if horseradish isn’t your thing, not to worry! You can sub plain mayo instead or leave it off entirely—because in the end, flaky biscuits, gooey cheese, and salty beef speak for themselves.

You can also swap the chopped chives for thyme, parsley, or even dried herbs if that’s what you have on hand. And while we love the ease of using canned biscuits in this recipe, we’re certainly not going to stop you if you go the homemade biscuit route instead.

delish

Posted in #Recipes

80 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes So Good Your Meat-Loving Friends Won’t Be Able To Resist

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

If you think vegetarian pasta night means just a boring bowl of spaghetti and jarred marinara, have we got a shock for you. If you think that pasta can only be as good as the meat that accompanies it, think again: we have 80 (!!) recipes here that prove otherwise. We’ve got everything from standbys like our best-ever penne alla vodka and mac & cheese (classic ≠ boring) to wilder flavor bombs like our one-pan spinach-artichoke gnocchi or our creamy Tuscan orzo. Trust us, they’re all so satisfying, even your meat-loving friends won’t be able to resist grabbing seconds.

Whether you’re doing a meatless Monday or a lifelong vegetarian, these vegetarian pasta dishes have more than a little something for everyone. And a lot of the time, that something is lots and lots of CHEESE. While we’re diehard fans of baked feta pasta, we don’t think you should stop there. Our one-pan cheesy broccoli-cheddar orzo, our brie spaghetti, our queso mac & cheese, and our stuffed shells are chock full of the good stuff.

Speaking of, it’s not just about cheese. We’re adding extra protein, umami, texture, spice, color, and more to these recipes using ingredients like mushrooms, cottage cheese, olives, breadcrumbs, chipotles in adobo… the list goes on! Check out our dirty martini pasta, our mushroom piccata pasta, our green spaghetti (or espagueti verde), or our cheesy kale orzo with herbed breadcrumbs to see what we mean. They’re all the proof you need that vegetarian recipes aren’t about what’s not in them, and more about all the opportunities for creative add-ins.When you change your perspective like that, the sky’s really the limit!

Can’t get enough of vegetarian food? Check out all of our top vegetarian dinner recipes, our best vegetarian appetizers, and all our favorite tofu recipes too.

delish

Posted in #Recipes

Earthquake Cake

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Maybe earthquake cake is named for its rugged appearance, which looks like a patch of ground rattled by a seismic quake. Or maybe the dessert got its name because it’s so indulgent that it rocks your world with just one bite. I say both!

This rich 13×9-inch cake recipe is made with German chocolate cake mix and a host of flavorful add-ins like chocolate chips, sweet coconut, crunchy pecans and pockets of cream cheese filling that caramelize beautifully as the cake bakes. The texture and sweetness of these combined ingredients are much like those of a classic magic cookie bar! This cake would be at home at the center of a birthday party or served as a potluck dessert at a family get-together. When I made it, my family and I could not get enough of it.

Taste of Home