Author: Reluctant Retiree

Living in FL and enjoying life.
Posted in Miscellaneous (Unsorted)

Pork Chops and Scalloped Potatoes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When you’re in the mood for comfort food, pork chops and scalloped potatoes are a dinner combination that everyone will love. But when they’re baked together, with layers of tender sliced potatoes and onions bubbling in an simple gravy, they turn into a pork chop and potato casserole that really is one of the easiest pork dinner recipes ever.

You briefly sear the pork chops for extra flavor, then add them to the covered casserole, where they stay moist and tender as they cook. It’s one of those crowd-pleasing meals that you can make for all kinds of occasions—dinner with the kids, a special weekend supper when your family comes over, or even to share with friends at a dinner party.

Ingredients for Pork Chops with Scalloped Potatoes

  • Pork rib chops: The casserole gets a long bake in the oven, so the type of pork chop you choose is essential. Pork rib chops have more fat than loin chops, which helps them stay juicy once cooked. Buy chops that are sliced about 3/4-inch thick.
  • Potatoes: Thinly sliced potatoes make a savory bed for the pork chops. Yukon Golds or russets are the best type of potatoes here; you’ll need about four to six medium potatoes to get 6 cups of sliced potatoes. A mandoline (an essential kitchen tool) makes thin, perfectly even slices.
  • Onion: Use yellow, white or even sweet onions for this recipe. Slice the onion into thin rings to cook with the scalloped potatoes.
  • Oil: You need just a little vegetable oil in the skillet to sear the pork chops. Browning meat in fat adds color and extra flavor.
  • Chicken broth: Use a good quality store-bought or homemade chicken broth. It’s the base of a simple gravy that simmers the potatoes and onions.
  • Butter: Use melted salted or unsalted butter to make the roux that thickens the gravy.
  • Flour: Whisk all-purpose flour into the melted butter to make the roux.
  • Seasonings: Season the pork chops simply with salt and pepper. Paprika and fresh parsley are optional seasonings you can use as a garnish for color and flavor.

Taste of Home

Posted in Curated Recipe Lists

23 Easy Leftover Corned Beef Recipes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A platter of corned beef is a must on St. Patrick’s Day—but these ideas for pizzas, casseroles and more will have you looking forward to all the leftover corned beef recipes you can make.

There’s perhaps no dish more iconic for Irish Americans on St. Patrick’s Day than corned beef. But most homemade corned beef recipes tend to make a lot of it. Luckily, there are plenty of leftover corned beef recipes so you don’t have to let the tender meat go to waste.

Versatile and flavor-packed, it’s even better the next day. You can bake it into golden pinwheels and calzones; whip it into creamy dips; chop it up for tacos and hash; or create reuben recipes with a twist. Serve the leftovers with your favorite Irish beers and leftover mashed potato recipes.

Taste of Home

Posted in Curated Recipes

Shamrock Shake Pie

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

You best believe that when March swings around, I am pulling my car into the McDonald’s drive-thru to order a Shamrock Shake. This once-a-year St. Patrick’s Day-themed green treat is creamy, minty and so tasty. But what if you could transform this treat into a tasty no-bake pie that you could make and enjoy without leaving the house? Our Shamrock Shake pie recipe has it all—a just-right minty flavor (no toothpaste mint here!), a creamy texture and a perfect green hue.

Using a store-bought graham cracker crust, instant vanilla pudding and whipped topping makes prep a breeze. As to how it tastes? Let’s just say my five-year-old gave this Shamrock Shake pie recipe “one million thumbs up.” I think that’s a pretty fantastic review, don’t you?

Ingredients for Shamrock Shake Pie

  • Vanilla instant pudding mix: You will need one 3.4-ounce package of instant vanilla pudding mix for this recipe. Double-check that it’s instant pudding, not the cook-and-serve variety.
  • Milk: Use milk that is at least 1% milk fat for this recipe.
  • Peppermint extract: This flavorful extract adds the perfect minty flavor to the pie.
  • Cool Whip: Whipped topping adds a fluffy texture to the pie. While you might find it in the frozen section at the grocery store, don’t forget to thaw it in the refrigerator before assembling the pie.
  • Green food coloring: A few drops of green food coloring give this pie its signature Shamrock Shake color.
  • Graham cracker crust: You will need a 9-inch graham cracker pie crust for this no-bake pie. Using a store-bought pie crust makes this recipe a breeze. You can also easily make a graham cracker crust from scratch—you need only some graham crackers, butter and a little sugar.
  • Garnish: To give the pie even more milkshake vibes, garnish the pie with a dollop (or a squirt) of whipped cream and maraschino cherries. You can put each garnish on every slice of pie or add a single garnish to the center of the pie.

Taste of Home

Posted in Curated Recipe Lists

Easy Comfort Food Recipes for Everyone

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

We all have our own ideas about what makes a dish comforting. For some of us, it’s the melty,cheesy goodness of chicken Parmesan or macaroni and cheese. For others, it’s the stick-to-your-ribs feeling you get when you tuck into a pile of potatoes or pasta. There’s one thing we can all agree on, though—and that’s the idea that comfort food shouldn’t be a hassle. That’s why we love these no-fuss recipes. They’re flavorful and satisfying.

They’re exactly what you want to eat when you’re in the mood for some good, old-fashioned comfort. At the same time, they’re also completely doable. From baked pasta and meatloaf to fried chicken and pizza, you’ll be cooking up all your favorites in no time. Looking for a place to start? We recommend chili mac. This version is inspired by the flavors of Texas chili—cubed beef, chiles, spice and no beans. Traditional Texas chili takes hours to achieve a super-tender beef texture. Its famous long-simmered flavor also requires time. So, we turned to the pressure cooker to help bring it together quickly. We also brought in that creamy queso-dip secret ingredient (processed cheese) for a perfect velvety finish to our dish.

Food Network

Posted in Curated Recipe Lists

The Best Keto Diet Menu Ideas for Beginners

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

The keto diet is popular for its weight loss benefits. Researchers have found that following a keto diet could support treatments for cancer. It may also help with diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. To achieve these benefits, stick to a keto diet menu that consists of 70% fats, 25% protein and 5% carbs. This ratio causes you to enter ketosis, where your body starts using fat as its primary energy source.

For most, a keto lifestyle means eating 50 grams of carbs or less per day. It also involves consuming plenty of healthy fats. To stay on track, create a weekly keto meal plan with low-carb, high-fat and protein-rich meals. The keto recipes in our menu below all fit the bill.

Keto Breakfast

There’s no better way to start your day than with a nourishing breakfast. That’s super easy to do when you’re keto. The ideal keto breakfast still maintains nutrient balance like a normal breakfast, just slightly altered. You’ll want to aim for a source of protein. Add a large serving of fat. Include a small serving of carbohydrates in the form of produce, such as fruits or veggies. With keto, you might lose all your carbs for that meal if you consume a full serving of fruit. Therefore, choosing vegetables is typically better.

Many classic breakfast foods are still on the keto menu. These include eggs, such as spinach-mushroom scrambled eggs, and cheese. You can also enjoy bacon and sausage patties. Veggies and even certain Starbucks drinks are also options. No need to rack your brain. If you’re stuck, look through our keto breakfast recipes.

Taste of Home

Posted in Cookbooks

Keto Cookbook for Beginners with Pictures

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Low-Carb, Easy, and Flavorful Recipes for Simple, Satisfying Everyday Meals

Keto Cookbook for Beginners with Pictures was created for real life – busy schedules, everyday cooking, and people who want simple, low-carb meals that actually taste good. No advanced techniques. No hard-to-find ingredients. Just clear recipes you can confidently make at home.

This cookbook focuses on approachable keto-style dishes designed to fit into your daily routine. Each recipe is written in plain language, with straightforward steps and realistic prep times. You don’t need prior experience with keto or low-carb cooking to get started.

Inside the book, you’ll find:

  • Easy, low-carb recipes suitable for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
  • Full-color images so you know what each finished dish should look like
  • Clear instructions using common grocery store ingredients
  • Meals that work well for everyday cooking, meal prep, and family tables
  • Flavor-focused recipes that help make low-carb eating feel enjoyable, not restrictive

This book is about learning a simpler way to prepare satisfying meals while reducing carbs – one recipe at a time.

Whether you’re exploring keto for the first time or just want new low-carb ideas with clear visuals and easy instructions, this cookbook gives you a calm, practical starting point for everyday home cooking.