Posted in Book Reviews

101 More Things To Do With Bacon

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Because bacon continues to sizzle!

Bacon’s BACK! With 101 more reasons to make bacon your star performer, you’ll have everything covered from appetizers, soups, salads, desserts, and sweets. Friends and family will squeal with delight when you serve up a plate of Bacon Pecan Sticky Buns, Bacon Potato Bombs, Grilled Bacon Peanut Butter Sandwiches, and Bacon Caramel Cookie Brittle.

As part of the insanely popular 101 Things to Do with… series, home cooks can depend on 101 More Things to Do with Bacon to add a little extra sizzle to every meal.

Posted in #Recipes

Chocolate Lava Cookies

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Are you or someone you know an unapologetic chocolate lover? If so, then these chocolate lava cookies are sure to please. Just like our favorite chocolate lava cake, these cookies are a decadently rich and fudgy dessert that has a surprise inside: a river of luxurious, warm dark chocolate ganache. They’re just as satisfying as their cake counterpart, but because they’re handheld, they’re easier to eat—and, therefore, they’re that much harder to resist.

If you’ve never made a stuffed cookie before, this chocolate cookie recipe is a great place to start. You begin by making a simple homemade chocolate ganache that’s partially frozen and shaped into balls. Then, you wrap the tender chocolate cookie dough around the ganache balls. After baking, the final cookies are supremely moist and indulgent with a puddle of molten chocolate waiting to escape inside. These molten chocolate lava cookies will quickly top your list of favorite chocolate desserts.

Ingredients for Chocolate Lava Cookies

  • Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder flavors the cookie dough with an intense chocolate flavor. Adding a small amount to the ganache thickens the mixture and gives it some body.
  • Heavy cream: Heavy cream helps ensure the chocolate ganache does not set completely solid at room temperature but remains soft and fudgy.
  • Dark chocolate: Since the chocolate cookie dough is rather sweet, using dark chocolate for the molten lava center offers a nice balance. For a sweeter taste, consider using semisweet chocolate.
  • Unsalted butter: Butter adds flavor, richness and moisture to the cookie dough. A small amount is also added to the fudge filling to give the “lava” a silkier, richer consistency.
  • Granulated sugar: Granulated sugar adds moisture and contributes to the cookies’ moist and chewy texture.
  • Eggs: Eggs provide structure and stability to a cookie as it bakes. Adding an extra egg yolk to the recipe incorporates additional fat, which helps keep these cookies extra soft and tender.
  • Vanilla extract: Even though chocolate is the dominant flavor in these cookies, using a high-quality brand of vanilla helps give the cookies excellent added depth and complexity.
  • All-purpose flour: When making cookies, make sure you’re measuring your flour accurately. Using too much or not enough flour can drastically change the taste, texture and consistency of the baked cookies.
  • Espresso powder: Espresso powder is the secret to better chocolate desserts. Adding a small amount of espresso powder amplifies the flavor of the chocolate.
  • Baking soda: Baking soda acts as a leavener, keeping the cookies light and airy.
  • Salt: A few pinches of salt help balance the sweetness and enhance the flavors of the cookies.
  • Confectioners’ sugar: A light dusting of confectioners’ sugar is the perfect sweet finish to these molten chocolate lava cookies.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

Your February Meal Plan

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

February is a short month filled with cozy nights and even cozier dinners. As winter is in full swing, comforting meals remain at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

With this lineup, we’re offering a spread of quick dinners that are pleasing to both kids and adults. Some of these recipes, like our asparagus-stuffed chicken, are made for special occasion nights, while others are made for a simple night-in, like our honey chicken stir-fry. No matter the type of night you’re having or who you’re spending it with, we hope it’s with quality recipes that highlight the fresh produce and flavors of February.

Taste of Home

Posted in Book Reviews

Muffin Tin Chef

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Learn to make quick, easy, and utterly delicious mini meals (without the clean up!) in this collection of muffin tin recipes.
Acclaimed chef Matt Kadey proves that the muffin tin is not just for desserts anymore! In the same way it transforms a single cake into a dozen cute cupcakes, your muffin tin is the secret to making tasty and fun mini versions of all your favorite foods.
Filled with full-color photos and easy-to-follow recipes, this handy cookbook shows how to whip up pop-in-your-mouth, perfectly portioned dishes. From crowd-pleasing appetizers and enticing side dishes to mouth-watering entrees and delectable desserts, Muffin Tin Chef features 101 creative recipes, including:
• Baked Eggs in Prosciutto Cups
• Peach-Stuffed French Toast Bowls
• Spinach Dip Bowls
• Jalapeño Cheese Rolls
• Butternut Squash Soufflés
• Chicken Italiano Pizza Bites
• Lasagna Rolls
• Crab Cakes with Corn-Tomato Relish
• No-Bake Cheesecakes with Raspberry Sauce

Posted in #Recipes

Slow-Cooker Pizza Pasta

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

If you’ve got a household of pizza and pasta lovers, this slow-cooker pizza pasta recipe is the perfect mashup of everyone’s favorite foods. This easy, kid-friendly dinner is loaded with tender egg noodles, hearty meat sauce, zippy pepperoni and, of course, plenty of ooey-gooey cheese. Simply boil a package of noodles and brown the ground meat and veggies on the stovetop. Then, layer everything in the slow cooker and let it work its magic for the few hours leading up to dinnertime.

Ingredients for Slow-Cooker Pizza Pasta

  • Noodles: Tender egg noodles hold up beautifully in the slow cooker without getting mushy. You can use another pasta shape, like rotini or penne, but be sure to slightly undercook them so they finish cooking in the slow cooker.
  • Ground meat: Use ground beef for rich, meaty flavor, or opt for ground turkey if you prefer a leaner option. You could also use bulk Italian sausage for added savoriness.
  • Veggies: Saute chopped green bell pepper and onion with the meat for added texture and aromatics. This recipe also calls for jarred mushrooms, but you can use fresh sliced mushrooms for a meatier texture and fresher flavor.
  • Spaghetti sauce: Classic red sauce adds tanginess and keeps the meat and pasta tender. Use homemade spaghetti sauce to control the seasoning or your favorite store-bought sauce for convenience.
  • Italian seasoning: This blend of dried herbs adds depth and a fragrant aroma.
  • Pepperoni: Zesty pepperoni brings a salty, slightly spicy kick and fun pizza-inspired flavor to the dish. Cut each slice in half for even layering and easier mouthfuls.
  • Shredded cheese: A mix of shredded cheddar and mozzarella creates plenty of ooey-gooey meltiness throughout the dish with both sharp and mild flavors. Feel free to use other melting cheeses, like provolone or Monterey Jack.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

30 Bright Winter Salad Recipes You’ll Crave All Season

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

There’s nothing I love more than enjoying a fresh salad that celebrates fruits and vegetables at their peak. In summer salads, that might mean bowls filled with sweet corn and peppery arugula or a sun-ripened peach Caprese salad with juicy tomatoes. As the weather cools, it’s all about roasted squash, blue cheese and crunchy pepitas. The best salad ingredients should shift with the seasons, and these winter salad recipes prove there’s zero excuse for sad meals, even in the coldest months.

Winter salads have their own magic. This is the moment for hearty greens like kale, radicchio and escarole that hold up beautifully to thick and creamy or light and zippy homemade salad dressings, as well as craveable add-ins, such as roasted root vegetables, caramelized squash, toasted nuts, warm grains and crumbly cheeses. It’s also peak season for citrus, pomegranates, pears and apples, bringing juicy sweetness, bright acidity and pops of color.

To add more heft and satiety to these leafy creations, top with your favorite protein, such as grilled chicken tenders, sliced flank steak or sauteed shrimp. With that in mind, get ready to bookmark these recipes that hit the sweet spot of seasonal produce, vibrant flavors and weeknight ease. They’re hearty enough for cold days and colorful enough to brighten your table.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

Copycat Sweet Kale Salad

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A few years ago, a mysteriously delicious, healthy, sweet salad started appearing at every single party I attended. This sweet kale salad was loaded with a sturdy blend of winter vegetables, including kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and broccoli slaw, and was adorned with jewels of dried cranberries and pepitas for crunch. It was a salad I couldn’t escape from. After it made four or five consecutive appearances at social gatherings, I realized this wasn’t a trendy viral recipe I missed on social media; it was, in fact, a sweet kale salad kit from the grocery store.

Actually, it was several very similar salad kits—all made with kale, cranberries, and a tangy and sweet creamy poppy seed dressing. From Costco to Trader Joe’s and pretty much every grocery store in between, each has their own version.

While delicious, the salad itself isn’t overly complex, which is why I implore you to skip the kit the next time you’re craving this sweet kale vegetable salad and to try this copycat recipe instead. It’s jam-packed with the same ingredients, but at a fraction of the cost. (Does anyone else feel as if those salad kits are getting smaller and smaller?)

Ingredients for Copycat Sweet Kale Salad

  • Kale: There are many varieties of kale. For the best taste and texture, choose Tuscan or Lacinato for this kale recipe.
  • Broccoli slaw: While you are welcome to shave or shred broccoli stems yourself, a package of broccoli slaw is a fantastic shortcut. Use any extra to make a delicious Asian ramen coleslaw.
  • Brussels sprouts: Brussels sprouts are another sturdy vegetable that stays crisp for a long time, even after being coated in dressing.
  • Green cabbage: Green cabbage adds another layer of crunch and texture to this healthy salad recipe.
  • Radicchio: Radicchio doesn’t taste that much different from kale or cabbage, but its vibrant purple-red hue offers a beautiful contrast from the other green vegetables in the recipe.
  • Dried cranberries: A few handfuls of dried cranberries add little bursts of sweetness to every bite.
  • Toasted pepitas: Often packaged and labeled as pumpkin seeds, pepitas add a nice, subtle nuttiness to this sweet kale salad along with a wonderful crunch.
  • Creamy poppy seed dressing: This sweet and tangy homemade dressing beats the ones that come sealed in pouches with the kits. It’s made with mayonnaise and sour cream for a creamy tang, sweetened with sugar, and mixed with milk, apple cider vinegar and plenty of poppy seeds.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

Ultimate Super Bowl Snack Ideas for Game Day

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Be the MVP of game-day eats with these party-perfect snacks. You can choose wings, dips, nachos, or guac. These recipes are guaranteed to make this your best Super Bowl spread yet.

Our Best Super Bowl Snack Ideas

It’s the biggest game of the season and you’re no doubt expecting a houseful of hungry fans. Even if you’ve enlisted the help of your guest and are planning a potluck-style spread of all the classics. These include chili, chicken wings, and fun desserts. You’re going to need to make a few snacks and small bites for your party, too. You’ll find all the recipes you need in this roundup. We’ve got dips, jalapeno poppers, pigs in a blanket and more. A guaranteed winner? This flaky, golden ring of crescent dough, packed with all the flavors of a cheesy, chicken enchilada. It’s portable (so your guests can eat by the television!) and sure to please — making it perfect for parties.

Football Cheese Ball and Charcuterie Board

This fun board will feed the whole team and then some. You can prep the fruit and vegetables earlier in the day. Make the cheeseball in advance, too. Then, all you have to do is put everything together on the board before the big game. If you have one, a large wooden carving board is ideal. Ensure it has a well around the edge that catches carving juices. You can tuck the folded charcuterie in the well. This helps it stand up and create the edge of your “stadium.”

Food Network

Posted in #Recipes

Popcorn Chicken

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Popcorn chicken is one of those dishes that I simply cannot resist. The bite-sized morsels of chicken are crispy on the outside. They are juicy on the inside. Since they’re boneless, they’re super easy to pop into your mouth. Like picnic-style buttermilk fried chicken, these tiny fried chicken bites are soaked in buttermilk. Then, they are dredged in flour and fried. They’re a perfect game day snack or potluck recipe. They also happen to make a great family meal when served with some sauces and your favorite sides. Your kids will love how savory and bite-sized they are, and you’ll love how easy they are to make.

Popcorn Chicken vs. Chicken Nuggets

While these fried chicken bites are similar, there are some key differences between popcorn chicken and chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets are made of ground chicken bound into uniform pieces. On the flip side, popcorn chicken uses boneless chicken breasts cut into large chunks and marinated in buttermilk before being fried. The fry coating on each piece of popcorn chicken is a little different, which is part of what makes them so tasty, and they tend to have a thicker coating than chicken nuggets. The most famous nuggets are probably the McDonald’s chicken nuggets, and popcorn chicken originally comes from KFC.

Ingredients for Popcorn Chicken

  • Chicken breast: Use boneless skinless chicken breasts cut up into 1-inch cubes.
  • Buttermilk: Buttermilk tenderizes the chicken, imparts a tangy, delicious flavor, and keeps it moist, so you don’t have to worry about dried-out chicken. If you don’t have it on hand, you can always make buttermilk from scratch.
  • All-purpose flour: Seasoned all-purpose flour gives the chicken a delicious crispy coating. You can use gluten-free flour for gluten-free popcorn chicken.
  • Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and cayenne pepper make the dredge super flavorful.
  • Oil: The best oils for frying are neutral in flavor and can stand up to high heat, like canola or grapeseed oils.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

60 Best Valentine’s Day Desserts

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

I can’t help it: I love Valentine’s Day. (No, not because my name is in the holiday!) It’s the perfect time to tell someone—platonically or romantically—how much they mean to you. Showing love looks a little different to everyone, but for me, it means baking Valentine’s Day desserts. The fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, right? That’s what all those Marry Me recipes are for!

If you’re also the “cooking is my love language” type, here are the perfect Valentine’s Day desserts for the holiday. Of course, there’s no shortage of chocolate desserts, like truffles and confections, mousses, cookies and chocolate lava cake. But there are also other romantic desserts, such as white chocolate raspberry cake, red velvet cookies, cheesecake-stuffed strawberries, decadently layered trifles and heart-shaped desserts galore. Many of these can feed a crowd (perfect for a Galentine’s Day party!), but more are desserts for two.

Whether you’ve booked a table or you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day at home, end your romantic dinner with one of these sweet desserts. (By the way, anyone manifesting for something special to happen should try Ina Garten’s engagement chicken—it worked for Meghan Markle and Emily Blunt!)

Taste of Home