Month: December 2025

Posted in #Recipes

Turkey Sweet Potato Chili

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

The wonderful thing about chili is it’s infinitely customizable. Our turkey sweet potato recipe is the perfect example; it contains no beef or tomatoes and includes sweet potato puree or canned pumpkin for a hint of sweetness and extra nutrition. It’s a wonderful dish to start on a cool morning, as much of the cooking is done in a slow cooker. This just might become your new signature chili recipe!

Ingredients for Turkey Sweet Potato Chili 

  • Ground turkey: 1 pound of already ground turkey gives this recipe plenty of protein.
  • Onion: One small onion, chopped, is all you need for this dish. Feel free to add more if you enjoy loads of onions or omit them if you don’t care about them.
  • Chicken broth: Chicken broth adds umami to this dish; you’ll need 2 cups for this chili recipe.
  • Sweet potato puree or canned pumpkin: One 15-ounce can of either item adds color and flavor to the chili. It also saves time, as you won’t have to peel or cook sweet potatoes.
  • Chopped green chiles: One 4-ounce can adds heat and makes the chili a little spicy.
  • Spices: Chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, curry powder, oregano and salt team up to make this a wonderfully aromatic and delicious chili.
  • Great northern beans: Rinse and drain one 15-ounce can of these beans for the chili.
  • Sour cream, fresh cilantro, sliced red onions (optional): These add-ons can be served at the table so everyone can choose their favorite extras.

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25 Diabetic-Friendly Christmas Desserts

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Having diabetes can make the holiday season feel more frantic than festive, especially when searching for diabetic Christmas desserts that people actually want to eat. As a dietitian, let me let you in on a little secret: you can enjoy delicious, easy Christmas desserts and treats, even if you’re working hard to manage your blood sugars. While traditional desserts can lead to blood glucose spikes, these diabetic-friendly Christmas treats have all the flavor and fun you need, with a lot less sugar.

From apple desserts to peppermint cookies and eggnog mousse, these blood sugar-friendly sweets are the perfect sweet addition to your diabetic-friendly Christmas recipes. So you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for health, I’ve rounded up the best diabetic Christmas desserts that balance sweetness with nutrition, so you can feel good about your macros while joining in on the holiday fun.

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45 Vegetarian Mexican Recipes to Add to Your Dinner Rotation

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

You don’t need meat to enjoy a satisfying Mexican meal. Vegetarian Mexican recipes starring cheese, black beans, veggies and even lentils make comforting dishes inspired by traditional fare. You’ll find twists on classic recipes, like a Mexican street corn bake, plus Tex-Mex food like queso.

While many easy vegetarian recipes are adapted from non-vegetarian dishes, certain Mexican recipes are naturally meatless. To name a few: guacamole, homemade tortillas and bean tostadas! Round out your feast with tequila cocktails and any one of these sweet Mexican dessert recipes.

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Healthy Mediterranean Recipes by Dietitian Wendy Jo

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Registered dietitian Wendy Jo Peterson prescribes meals like these better-for-you Mediterranean recipes to her clients. To round out any Mediterranean meal, pair it with lean proteins, nuts, olive oil, beans and extra vegetables.

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Mexican Wedding Cookies

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Lavishly dusted in powdered sugar, buttery pecan-packed Mexican wedding cookies are synonymous with celebration. These melt-in-your-mouth cookies are equally beloved in regions around Mexico and the U.S., a staple at weddings, holiday parties and virtually any festive gathering. Texture-wise, the cookies are a lot like shortbread—crumbly rather than chewy, thanks to the fact these tasty treats are baked without eggs.

With their resemblance to snowballs, Mexican wedding cookies are just begging to be included in your Christmas cookie swap, but are delicious any time of year, boxed up as edible gifts or dunked into a cup of milky tea.

We’re counting down the top Christmas cookies—here’s one of them! To join the countdown and for more festive fun, sign up for our Holiday newsletter.

Why are they called Mexican wedding cookies?

Also called Mexican wedding cakes, these nutty, buttery delights are sometimes called Russian tea cakes and polvorones. Look across the world, and you’ll encounter similar cookie recipes: Pecan sandies, Italian wedding cookies, Greek kourabiedes and qurabiya, to name a few. Ingredients vary (more than anything, it’s the nuts used), and sometimes they’re round, while other versions, like this Mexican wedding cake cookie recipe, are crescent-shaped.

The precise origins of this sweet treat are lost to the mists of time. Many food historians believe these cookies have medieval Middle Eastern roots, with recipes spreading to new regions via trade routes across the centuries. They also think the recipe traveled to Mexico with the Spanish in the 16th century. There’s speculation that the name Mexican wedding cakes replaced Russian tea cakes around the 1950s, at the height of the Cold War. Whatever you call them, they’re delicious!

Mexican Wedding Cookie Ingredients

Butter, sugar, confectioners sugar, flour, vanilla extract and pecans in small bowls
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  • Butter: I like using salted butter to balance out the sweetness in these cookies. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the recipe if you opt for unsalted.
  • Confectioners’ sugar: Creaming the confectioners’ sugar with butter helps give Mexican wedding cookies their wonderfully delicate texture. You also roll the still-warm cookies in confectioners’ sugar when they come out of the oven.
  • Vanilla extract: Along with pecans, vanilla is the main flavor that floods your taste buds when biting into a Mexican wedding cookie. Since it’s so prominent, use the best vanilla extract you can. Almond extract is a lovely substitution, or combine half of each.
  • Flour: Regular all-purpose flour yields the perfect crumbly Mexican wedding cake cookies.
  • Pecans: Both regular and toasted pecans are phenomenal in this recipe. Lightly toasting the pecans for a few minutes in the oven will give them a deeper, richer flavor.

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52 Christmas Candy Recipes for a Sweet Holiday

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Christmastime gives you loads to look forward to: decorating the tree, making snow angels, listening to your favorite holiday songs on repeat and breaking out those once-a-year Christmas candy recipes. While we love gooey cinnamon rolls before opening gifts and Christmas cookies with a mug of hot cocoa, there’s nothing like biting into a rich fudge square or snapping off a piece of crunchy, nutty brittle.

This roundup has festive candy treats for all skill levels, whether you have experience cooking sugar for chewy caramels or want a simpler melt-and-mix style candy. You’ll find the holiday flavors you crave around Christmas, like peppermint, cinnamon, eggnog and chocolate. You can also use this holiday season to iron out common chocolate truffle mistakes or teach yourself to make your favorite copycat candy bars for gifts.

Making these homemade Christmas sweets can be a fun activity to do with your friends and family. Spend time creating and decorating the treats together, and then set out supplies for these creative food gift wrapping ideas to package them into delicious and memorable presents!

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Slow-Cooked Chicken Enchilada Soup

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Have you ever been digging into a chicken enchilada and thought, this would be even better if I were eating it with a spoon? No, is it just us?

Well, we took apart the beloved Mexican dish and reimagined it as a soup. We led with southwestern flavors from poblano peppers, cumin and enchilada sauce, and added lean protein from shredded chicken. This healthier, homemade take on enchiladas doesn’t require much more than popping the ingredients into a slow cooker and going about your day. But if you don’t have a slow cooker, we’ve got your back in our recipe variations below.

While comforting, this dish is fiber-and-protein-filled for a nourishing weeknight dinner (and you can easily freeze it for future meals.) We love it alongside some cornbread or margaritas for the adults.

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup Ingredients

  • Anaheim or poblano peppers: These large, green peppers are more savory than spicy, adding smokiness and complexity to the flavors in the soup. Poblano peppers are slightly more spicy than Anaheims (although not by much)—both are relatively mild.
  • Onion: Aromatic and savory, onion (yellow onion is usually best in a soup) also adds a little touch of sweetness
  • Garlic: Bold and aromatic, garlic provides a key, savory flavor to this meal. Fresh garlic will have the strongest flavor, so opt for that over pre-minced garlic or powder.
  • Chicken: The primary protein in your dish, this chicken will be shredded for tender bites.
  • Chicken broth: This is the liquid base for your soup. Using chicken broth amplifies the savory flavors for a more dynamic dish.
  • Mexican diced tomatoes: This refers to diced tomatoes mixed with other ingredients, often green chilis. If you can’t find this, make your own mix of diced tomatoes and canned green chilis for a similar southwestern-inspired taste.
  • Enchilada sauce: Enchilada sauce typically includes flavors like chiles, tomatoes, cumin and oregano. It’s not usually that spicy.
  • Tomato paste: This paste helps increase the enchilada flavor with a very concentrated taste of tomatoes.
  • Chili powder: This is where you’ll get the heat and a little bit of smokiness.
  • Cumin: Earthy and warm cumin compliments the other flavors and spices in the enchilada sauce, helping the dish taste more vibrant.
  • Chipotle hot pepper sauce: While optional, a chipotle hot pepper sauce will, unsurprisingly, increase the heat, while also lending a savory, smokey flavor.
  • Cilantro: Bright and herbal, cilantro lifts the heavier flavors. If you don’t like the taste of cilantro, you can omit it.
  • Cheddar cheese: An optional topping, cheddar cheese has a sharp flavor that adds dimension to your soup. For best results, shred the cheese yourself!
  • Avocado: An optional topping, avocado can help tame the hotter flavors and add a rich, healthier creaminess.
  • Sour cream: An optional topping, sour cream can balance the heat from the chili powder and hot sauce while providing a well-balanced tang.
  • Tortilla strips: An optional topping, tortilla strips add a little extra crunch.

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24 Christmas Cheesecake Recipes for the Nice List

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Christmas cheesecake recipes bring together everything that makes holiday dessert baking feel magical: decadently creamy textures, nostalgic flavors and festive twists that will shine on any table. This collection has all that and more, spanning from timeless classics like traditional cheesecake and chocolate swirl to more seasonal specialties like peppermint and bourbon pecan. These festive cheesecake recipes are top-tier in taste and visual appeal, so you can wow your guests all season long.

To make preparation simpler during the busy holiday season, many of these holiday cheesecake recipes provide guidance for make-ahead steps, freezing and long-lasting storage, ensuring each dessert stays creamy and fresh. Adaptations are easy to incorporate: Swap in gluten-free graham crackers or cookies for a gluten-free dessert, use a sugar alternative or change up the toppings to what you have on hand. These ingredient swaps work seamlessly with these recipes, so you can rest assured that you’ll be serving up a sweet slice that works for your family and friends. For a thoughtful finishing touch, try serving your seasonal cheesecake desserts with an espresso, a cup of tea or a festive holiday cocktail.

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Delicious Low-Carb Soup Recipes for Chilly Days

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When you want comfort without the carbs, opt for warming, low-carb soup recipes packed with nutrient-dense ingredients and flavors for all taste buds.

When it’s chilly outside, of course you’ll crave soup! And if you’re looking for a soup that’s low in carbohydrates but still satisfying and delicious, you might wonder where to start. Luckily, we’ve got a whole range of flavorful low-carb soups that each provide 15 grams of carbohydrates or fewer per serving. Pair them with fresh side salads, and you’ll have a complete meal.

Whether you’re following a low-carb diet for medical or personal reasons, or you’re looking to balance your meals with healthy recipes, these soups fit the bill for lunch or dinner. You’ll find everything from broth-based soups like matzo ball to creamy bowls of chowder and everything in between.

So stock your crisper drawer with the makings for mirepoix or the holy trinity and choose your favorite cooking aromatics. It’s time to dish up some goodness!

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Cheeseburger Quiche

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

This cheeseburger quiche is so much more than just a quiche with ground beef. The cheeseburger-inspired recipe is packed with all your favorite burger add-ons—juicy tomatoes, onions, tangy pickle relish, smoky bacon and a hint of mustard—to really amp up the cheeseburger flavor in every bite. All the burger fixings are mixed into a creamy egg custard, topped with melty cheddar and Parmesan, and baked in a flaky, golden pie crust.

Cheeseburger quiche is delicious straight from the oven, but you can take it up a notch by adding extra burger toppings, such as chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes or a drizzle of burger sauce, for a fun finishing touch. Whether you’re serving it for brunch, a fun weeknight dinner or a potluck, this quiche recipe delivers an easy, satisfying meal.

Cheeseburger Quiche Ingredients

  • Pie crust: A refrigerated pie crust is a great timesaver, but you can use a homemade or frozen crust if you prefer—just be sure to thaw it according to package directions first.
  • Ground beef: An 85/15 lean-to-fat ratio gives the best balance of flavor and juiciness, but 90/10 ground beef works if you’d like a lighter quiche. Be sure to drain any excess grease so the crust stays crisp and the filling doesn’t get greasy.
  • Tomatoes: Chopped plum tomatoes add a touch of bright acidity that balances the rich, savory flavors of the beef and cheese.
  • Onion: Yellow or white onions work best to add sweetness and aromatic depth, or try red onions for a sharper onion flavor.
  • Dill pickle relish: Stirring pickle relish into the ground beef adds a tangy, zesty flavor—just like a burger with special sauce. Boost the pickle punch with a few spoonfuls of chopped dill pickles, or use sweet pickle relish for a milder taste.
  • Cooked bacon: Crumbled bacon adds a smoky, salty depth and a slightly chewy texture for bacon cheeseburger vibes. You can swap in pancetta or turkey bacon for a leaner option that still delivers plenty of flavor. Not a bacon fan? Simply leave it out.
  • Eggs: The backbone of any quiche, whole eggs provide structure and richness and help bind the filling together. Let the eggs come to room temperature before mixing—they’ll whisk more smoothly and blend evenly with the dairy.
  • Cream and milk: A 1:2 ratio of milk and cream creates a rich custard base that keeps the quiche filling creamy and tender. You can use all milk for a lighter quiche, although the taste and texture will be slightly less decadent.
  • Seasonings: The meat mixture gets extra flavor from a couple of teaspoons of prepared mustard and a dash of hot pepper sauce, adding just the right balance of tanginess and a subtle kick.
  • Cheeses: Cheddar is the classic choice for that signature cheeseburger flavor and perfect meltiness—use mild or sharp depending on your taste. A sprinkle of Parmesan adds a nutty, savory note for extra depth. Feel free to experiment with other melting cheeses, such as mozzarella, Swiss or Monterey Jack.
  • Optional toppings: Finish each slice with your favorite burger fixings—a dollop of mayo, crumbled bacon, pickle slices, relish, chopped onion and fresh tomatoes all add flavor, texture and an extra-fun touch.

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