Posted in #Recipes

Air Fryer Fried Brown Rice

Got leftover cooked brown rice languishing in the fridge? Then we have great news for you: It’s absolutely perfect in this healthy take on fried rice. Brown rice has a nuttier taste than white rice, and due to its higher fiber content, it keeps you full for longer. That means that a bowl of Air Fryer Fried Brown Rice doesn’t work as a side dish, but can be easily upgraded into a meal. If that’s your jam, top it with avocado or even a few slices of leftover steak. Pair Air Fryer Fried Brown Rice with Beef and Broccoli Stir FryMapo Tofu, and Ginger Pork Pot Stickers.

The best thing about fried rice is that it works better with day-old grains. BUT we found this recipe works just as well with packaged cooked brown rice. Great news, cheaters! And, though you can cook brown rice in an air fryer, this recipe calls for already cooked brown rice. Have cooked white rice on hand instead? You can use that, too.

Cooking the fried rice in the air fryer is healthier than frying it in a pan, but it makes for a less crispy dish than the classic kind. If you’d prefer that, go with a wok or a skillet instead and use a traditional fried rice recipe, instead.

delish!

Posted in Kitchen Tips

My Dad’s No-Brainer Trick Is the Best Way To Eat Any Fruit

My dad is a fruit fanatic. I’ve seen him polish off a case of large mangoes—that’s six pounds—in a week. At my parents’ house, no meal is complete without a platter of whatever’s in season or looks tasty at the supermarket: strawberries, peaches, apples—you name it.

How does Dad eat so much fruit? A simple, no-fuss trick: He always keeps containers of prepped, ready-to-eat fruit in the refrigerator.

My Dad’s Secret

OK, I know—it doesn’t sound like a big deal. But hear me out: Having fruit that’s already washed, peeled, and sliced it way more tempting to eat. Whether it’s neatly cubed ripe mangos, quartered kiwi, or just de-stemmed grapes or cherries, a little prep goes a long way. When your stomach growls, all you have to do is open the fridge and enjoy. That makes the nutritious snack or dessert more appealing than, let’s say, a bag of potato chips or package of cookies. 

Allrecipes

Posted in #Recipes

Broccoli Parmesan Casserole

This broccoli Parmesan casserole recipe transforms broccoli into a cozy, cheesy baked delight. The combination of earthy broccoli and nutty Parmesan is comfort food perfection. And let’s be honest: When cheese is involved, even picky eaters get excited to eat their veggies. Add a rich, creamy sauce and a crispy bread crumb topping, and you’ve got a decadent side dish that’s right at home on a Sunday dinner table or holiday spread.

Start by steaming broccoli florets until they’re crisp-tender. Then, whip up the cheesy sauce on the stovetop with butter, onion, garlic, flour, milk and Parmesan. Cover the broccoli with the sauce, top it with toasted bread crumbs, and bake the dish until golden and bubbly. This recipe makes enough to fill a standard 13×9-inch baking dish, but you can easily halve it or bake it in two smaller 8×8-inch casserole dishes. Our Parmesan broccoli casserole is also easy to make ahead, which makes it a go-to for busy weeknights or entertaining.

Ingredients for Broccoli Parmesan Casserole

  • Broccoli: Use fresh broccoli florets for the best texture; frozen broccoli releases moisture when thawed, which can make the sauce watery.
  • Butter: Melted butter adds richness and creates the base of the creamy sauce. If you use salted butter, you may want to decrease the amount of salt you add later.
  • Onion and garlic: These aromatics add depth, a savory flavor and aroma to the sauce. Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic for a smoother sauce.
  • Flour: When combined with the melted butter, all-purpose flour forms a quick roux that thickens the sauce.
  • Milk: Milk is the creamy body of the sauce. This recipe calls for 2%, but you can swap in whole milk for richer flavor or use an unsweetened dairy-free alternative if needed.
  • Egg yolk: A single egg yolk helps the sauce set as it bakes so the casserole has a scoopable, custard-like texture. If you need an egg-free recipe, you can skip the yolk, but your final dish will have a looser, saucier texture.
  • Parmesan cheese: Freshly grate a block of Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and meltability.
  • Bread crumbs: Toasted seasoned bread crumbs deliver a crunch that contrasts with the creamy elements. Store-bought bread crumbs are a timesaver, but you can make homemade bread crumbs with stale or toasted bread and dried herbs.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

45 Vintage Desserts Worth Trying Today

From custards and puddings to jiggling mid-century confections, these classic desserts have one thing in common: they’re delicious, and we should be eating them today.

Taste of Home

Posted in Kitchen Tips

I Tasted Countless Butters—This One Reigned Supreme

Butter is trending. Once scorned in favor of margarine and shortening, this dairy product’s popularity has been skyrocketing for the past several years. Butter boards, butter candles, butter-colored stand mixers—you get the picture.

And the dairy aisle reflects it. What used to be a simple section is now brimming with a plethora of different types and brands, each boasting its own unique selling points. Organic, grassfed, European, cultured… the list goes on. In the midst of all these options— some of them with exorbitant price tags—we have to ask: Which butters are actually worth buying?

I blindly tasted butter from 16 different brands. Every butter sample was unsalted and served at room temperature, so I could taste the full, true essence of each product. After tasting each sample, I rated it on a scale of 1-10, based on texture as well as flavor. At the end, I determined my favorite butter in each of five separate categories, as well as my favorite overall. Here are the results.

delish!

Posted in Book Reviews

Lunchbox Salads: More than 100 Fast, Fresh, Filling Salads for Every Weekday

Easy recipes for satisfying make-ahead salads, dressings, and veggie-packed meals, each 30 minutes or less to prepare, with 10 ingredients or fewer

Eating lunch “al desko” doesn’t have to mean frozen burritos or pricey takeout. Lunchbox Salads shares easy, affordable, substantial, and vibrant salad inspiration for every workday (and for dinner and weekends, too!). These creative recipes use 10 or fewer easy-to-buy ingredients and take no more than 30 minutes to make; those that contain meat can be made vegetarian and always keep the focus on healthy veggie-strong eating. Each recipe yields 2 substantial portions to support energy throughout the afternoon, and everything will keep for up to 2 days in the fridge (with specific packing instructions to avoid soggy leaves at lunchtime). Each chapter focuses on a different hero vegetable (like squash, carrot, red pepper, beet, cabbage, and zucchini); the recipes are easy to customize for different dietary preferences and are suitable for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike.

Amazon

Posted in #Recipes

44 Southern Side Dish Recipes

Buttery corn, smothered green beans and fluffy buttermilk biscuits shine high in this collection of southern side-dish recipes.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

100+ Recipes You Can Make In Your Air Fryer

With our kitchen counters covered with appliances (slow cookerswaffle ironsstand mixers…), anything new has to be great. Turns out, the air fryer is TOTALLY worth it. Our top reasons why: We love deep-fried foods (who doesn’t?!), but we are not about all the oil, mess, and cleanup involved. The air fryer solves all of that, in less than half the time. It turns out the crispiest, crunchiest foods with juiciness still locked in, thanks to hot air convection cooking. Check out this list of all 100+ of our favorite air fryer recipes to see how versatile it truly can be—and if you don’t have one yet, consider this your sign to take the plunge!

What’s really wild is how often we use ours. It’s become our go-to for everything from breakfast to dessert, and has even edged out our toaster as our on-counter appliance of choice. Speaking of toast, you can make almost every one of your regular breakfasts in your air fryer. We’re talking omeletsmuffinsavocado toastsausagebaconpancakes… We know, WILD, right?

It’s just as good at helping you make delicious lunches and dinners too. If you’ve got a main dish you want to spend more hands-on time with, pop your sides in the air fryer and let it do all the work. Veggies like broccoliBrussels sproutspotatoeszucchinimushrooms & onions, and cauliflower all turn out incredible in the air fryer. You can also make your main dish IN the air fryer. It works magic with proteins like tofu, chicken drumsticksmeatballspork chopsfried chicken… even steak.

Need a last-minute appetizer? Stick with your favorites, but make them in your air fryer. Check out our air fryer stuffed Tuscan mushrooms, our air fryer deviled eggs, our loaded zucchini skins, or our air fryer everything bagel avocado fries for ideas—your air fryer can make them in half their usual time.

And we can’t forget dessert. The air fryer can turn out some really killer options, like a berry crispvegan zucchini chocolate cake (so moist!), apple pie “baked” apples, or GF peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. Also should be noted, the air fryer is great for reheating things, especially desserts. Have some leftover pie, and don’t want to turn on your oven to warm it up? Want to serve a warm brownie with your ice cream? Have a baked good that needs livening up? Pop them in your air fryer briefly and you’ll never guess they’re not fresh out of the oven.

delish!

Posted in Book Reviews

The Absolute Best Dump Dinners Cookbook: 75 Amazingly Easy Recipes for Your Favorite Comfort Foods

Prepare feasts for the family in a flash with dump dinners

Getting a home-cooked meal on the table after a hectic day is easier than you think. Just turn to The Absolute Best Dump Dinners Cookbook, and discover easy comfort food recipes featuring ingredients that can be “dumped” into a pan, pot, or skillet.

What sets this cookbook apart:

  • 75 simple and satisfying recipes—From the tangy bite of Sweet Orange-Ginger Chicken to the gooey comfort of No-Boil Mac and Cheese, discover an array of hearty, wholesome recipes that take less than 10 minutes to prep and are guaranteed to delight the whole family.
  • Pantry picks—This cookbook offers curated lists of ingredients, pantry staples, and supplies to keep stocked, ensuring you’re always ready to whip up a delectable dish.
  • Time-saving tips and shopping hacks—Make the most of your time in the kitchen with surefire tips for meal prep and planning, buying in bulk, ingredient substitutions, and more.

Stop stressing over mealtime, and discover new family favorites with The Absolute Best Dump Dinners Cookbook.

Amazon

Posted in Kitchen Tips

My Apologies to Everyone

I want to apologize to everyone. Some people wanted to comment on a post on my blog, but couldn’t find the comment section. I wondered why some posts received many comments, but others received none. It wasn’t until an author of a recent book reached out to me that I became aware of the problem.

I searched first for the post about his book, then others. Time and time again, there was no way to add a comment! Even on posts where I had received notifications that someone had commented, there was no sign.

Finally, I found the problem. The comments I had received were from people who read the post on the WordPress Reader. I hadn’t thought about that before. Anyone who read the post on Facebook or Instagram had no way to comment. That’s just not right!

After a search of the settings and customization sections, I found the solution. A quick change of the footer design, and now everyone can comment!

Again, my sincere apologies. I hope you will revisit your favorite posts and leave me a comment. I promise to reply to each one!