Month: August 2025

Posted in Book Reviews

A Taste of Greece

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Greek Cooking Made Easy with Authentic Greek Recipes (Best Recipes from Around the World)

From ancient times to the modern day, Greek cooking has evolved to be some of the healthiest around the globe. Greek culture has given a loving name for their own food; they call it “the food of the Gods.” With a focus on including whole and local foods, the Greek diet helps to maintain heart health and prevent the development of diabetes, and some areas of Greece are recognized as having some of the lowest cancer rates in the world.

And it’s not just good for us; it’s delicious! Greek food is hailed across the world for its amazingly textured cuisine that provides a perfect balance of different flavors. Greek foods are naturally healthy and full of flavors, reflecting the culture’s deep and sentimental attachment to their local food.

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Posted in #Recipes

Detroit Greek Salad

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

At the turn of the last century, many Greek immigrants settled in the Detroit area and established businesses and restaurants in a neighborhood that is now known as Greektown. Among these businesses were diners serving Greek food and Coney Island restaurants serving chili sauce-covered hot dogs (aka Coney Island hot dogs). But another unique item you’ll find on menus in diners and Coney Island spots across Detroit is the Detroit Greek salad.

This Americanized version of a traditional Greek salad combines the classic ingredients—cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes, olives and feta cheese—with a few unexpected toppings, including chickpeas and pickled beets.

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Posted in #Recipes

13 Fun and Delicious Poke Cake Recipes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

These poke cake recipes are extra moist and delicious thanks to additions like coffee, caramel and even a bit of rum. Try these easy cakes for yourself!

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Love the rich, sweet, comforting taste of banana pudding? This banana pudding poke cake recipe turns the retro dessert into a delicious mashup treat. You still get that creamy texture and deep banana pudding flavor, but with an extra cake layer. Even better: Shortcut ingredients like a boxed cake mix, instant pudding and whipped topping layer in a snap without skimping on taste.

Poke cakes are a fun twist on dessert. They start with cake—in this case, a dense yellow cake—that you poke holes into while warm. When you pour the cold, creamy pudding on top, it fills the holes, creating stripes throughout the cake (and the opportunity to get extra pudding in every bite). To make this a poke banana pudding cake, we layer whipped topping, sliced bananas and crunchy vanilla wafers on top. Serve it chilled at a summer potluck, backyard party or any time you want comfort food on a plate.

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Posted in #Recipes

45 Vacation Recipes We Brought Back from Our Trip

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Great vacation recipes are the ultimate souvenir. Check out the dishes that readers have picked up on road trips, cross-country travels and journeys around the globe.

Taste of Home

Posted in Kitchen Tips

Toss Your Bacon Immediately If You Notice These Signs

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

I’ve always joked that adding bacon to a recipe is just plain cheating. Its mixture of saltiness, smokiness, and flavorful fat can take an ordinary dish from ho-hum to holy moly! (This Brussels sprouts recipe is a good example.) Of course, it’s also delicious on its own, whether for breakfast or as a crunchy snack. 

Bacon’s high fat content is what makes it so irresistible, but it’s also the reason it can quickly turn rancid. Spoiled bacon will ruin not only your meal, but possibly your day if you get a case of food poisoning. Here’s how you can tell if your bacon is safe to eat and also how long you should expect it to last.

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Posted in #Recipes

Feta Shrimp Skillet

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Whether recalling memories of a Greek island getaway or planning a Mediterranean adventure, a feta shrimp skillet adds flavor to your daydreams. This vacation recipe starts with onion, garlic, oregano and juicy tomatoes, which provide a classic regional flavor base. If you like, let them simmer in white wine before adding briny shrimp, fresh parsley, and salty feta.

The slightly acidic sauce poaches jumbo shrimp evenly, so you can feel confident that you’ve fully cooked the raw shellfish without overdoing it. The feta and tomato contrast and support each other, yet neither smothers the taste of the shrimp. Serve this shrimp feta recipe as an appetizer or as a one-dish skillet meal on a busy night, with slices of crusty bread to mop up the sauce.

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Posted in #Recipes

64 Recipes Using Cake Mix That Are Easy and Creative

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Great desserts don’t always start from scratch—sometimes they start with cake mix. This pantry staple does more than save time, as it’s the base for cookies with crisp edges and fruit-filled trifles. These recipes using cake mix show how a simple boxed mix can help create something that feels bakery-made, especially with add-ins like pudding mix, soda or citrus zest. Whether baking for a party or looking for easy no-bake desserts, cake mix makes it easy to whip up treats that feel both clever and comforting.

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Posted in Kitchen Tips

I Asked 3 Farmers How to Pick the Sweetest Corn, and They All Swear By This Method

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

During summer road trips with the family, and sometimes just while driving to a more rural part of town to golf together, my Dad would drive us past row upon row upon row of corn. As a native Iowan, “knee-high by the Fourth of July”—a Midwestern saying about how tall farmers hope their corn to be by Independence Day—was a phrase about as common as declaring that something is “a piece of cake.”

As you might guess, fresh corn was a true sign of summer since I was born and raised in the heart of the Midwest. In my opinion, Dad’s charcoal-grilled corn needed nothing but a few shakes of salt to be the perfect side dish. This was something my family would enjoy about once per week during fresh sweet corn season, which spans from Memorial Day to Labor Day in most parts of the country, according to Dana Peters, a Barney, Georgia-based produce and floral field inspector at Whole Foods Market (who grew up on a small family farm).

Continue reading “I Asked 3 Farmers How to Pick the Sweetest Corn, and They All Swear By This Method” →
Posted in #Recipes

I Made 4-Ingredient “Magic Cake” and It’s the Perfect Light and Fluffy Dessert

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Magic cake, or gateau magique, is a delicate French dessert that is sure to impress. The cake is baked in a single pan, yet the batter produces three different layers while baking.

Made with just eggs, milk, sugar and flour, this four-ingredient cake is quick and easy to put together. And thanks to the surprising cake layers produced, it’s ideal for any occasion, whether you need a quick treat at home, or you’re bringing dessert to a summer potluck.

Continue reading “I Made 4-Ingredient “Magic Cake” and It’s the Perfect Light and Fluffy Dessert” →