Posted in #Recipes

Slow-Cooker Southwest Chicken

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

This recipe for slow-cooker southwestern chicken will rescue you when you don’t feel like working over a hot stove—especially when you keep these ingredients stocked in the pantry or freezer. Dump canned black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, chicken, spices and broth in a slow cooker, and let the appliance go for a few hours on the countertop. When it’s ready, you’ll have a filling one-pot meal to serve over hot rice or to stuff inside tortillas for quesadillas or burritos. Plus, it’s easy to customize crockpot southwestern chicken for a new dish every time; just use different beans, extra vegetables, mild or spicy salsa and your favorite toppings.

Ingredients for Slow-Cooker Southwest Chicken

black beans, tomato, salsa, chicken, corn, chicken broth, rice, spices and garnishes
Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home
  • Black beans: Canned black beans bulk up this dish and provide plenty of healthy protein.
  • Tomatoes with diced chilies: Look for brands like Ro-Tel on the shelf next to the canned tomatoes or southwestern and Mexican ingredients. They’re available in mild or spicy versions.
  • Chicken: One half-pound chicken breast is all you need for this recipe. To easily debone chicken breasts, all you need is a sharp knife and a cutting board.
  • Salsa: Choose your favorite variety and spice level of jarred salsa. You can also use a freezer salsa made from your garden’s fresh veggies.
  • Corn: Frozen or canned corn is the easiest option here. You can also slice the kernels from leftover corn on the cob and add them to the slow cooker.
  • Chicken broth: Crockpot southwestern chicken is even better when you use your own homemade chicken broth. You can also use any of the best store-bought chicken broth brands.
  • Hot cooked rice: Pick your preferred type of rice to serve with this dish, like quick-cooking jasmine or nutty, healthful brown rice. To save time, you can freeze cooked rice in advance and then just heat it up in the microwave.
  • Spices: Add dried parsley, cumin and pepper to complement the salsa flavors in this dish.
  • Garnishes: Lime wedges and chopped cilantro leaves are just some optional ideas for garnishes.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

30 Warm and Cozy Fall Dinner Recipes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Confession: I actually start cooking fall dinner recipes toward the end of August. I can’t help it; I desperately crave all those warming, comforting flavors that come from a bowl of slow-cooked meat, baked pasta or a casserole teeming with fall vegetables.

Whether it’s still warm or a proper chilly autumn evening, here are the best fall dinner recipes to celebrate the season. Stave off the cold with big cuts of pork or beef cooked for hours in the Crockpot (as long as you don’t mind smelling the torturously good scent all day) with our recipes for braised short ribs, pot roast, Brazilian feijoada and all-day beef bourguignon. The fall casserole recipes and pasta bakes (hello, butternut squash mac and cheese!) in this list are ultra-comforting and, thankfully, full of fall vegetables for much-needed nutrients.

Is any list of fall dinner recipes complete without a myriad of fall soups? We think not, so expect to find our favorites like Irish beef stew, pumpkin bisque, stuffed pepper soup and all kinds of chilis. Serve them with big hunks of sourdough, adorable pumpkin-shaped rolls or homemade cornbread to sop up every last drop. And if you’re feeding guests, whip up one or two fall desserts and fall drinks to round out the festivities.

Taste of Home

Posted in Book Reviews

Meal Prep on a Budget

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Tasty, flexible meal prep plans at just $40 per week

Preparing healthy meals in advance is one of the best ways to keep wellness goals on track while saving time and energy. But how do you keep costs down without sacrificing taste or health? Meal Prep on a Budget is a complete resource for creating balanced, delicious meals that are easy to make and easy on the wallet. Discover clear guidance that breaks down exactly what to buy and how to prepare it—for just $40 per week.

  • 4 weeks of plans—Find simple recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day that average $1 to $3 per serving.
  • Room to customize—Every plan offers suggestions for swapping out ingredients that aren’t on hand and includes the flexibility of completing the full week’s meal prep on one day or over two days.
  • Detailed instructions—Each week includes a complete shopping list and step-by-step guidance, so there’s no guesswork involved.
  • Frugal prep 101—Learn how to shop smart, use the same ingredients for multiple recipes, and even how to meal prep for the whole family.

Build healthy habits and stay on budget with the ultimate guided meal planner.

Continue reading “Meal Prep on a Budget” →
Posted in #Recipes

Apple Cider Doughnut Cake

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A fresh-from-the-orchard apple cider doughnut with a steaming cup of coffee on the side is my idea of the perfect fall treat. Each cinnamon sugar-coated bite takes me back to orchard visits with my family: crisp air, colorful leaves and bakery bags full of warm doughnuts.

Made with warm spices, rich apple cider and applesauce, this apple cider doughnut cake captures all that cozy flavor in a beautiful, sliceable dessert. Best of all, there’s no messy frying required. This recipe makes a Bundt pan cake that’s finished with a crunchy cinnamon sugar coating, so it looks just like a giant doughnut. It’s an easy fall baking project, sized for sharing and perfect for fall gatherings or anytime you’re craving a taste of the orchard in your kitchen.

Apple Cider Doughnut Cake Ingredients

  • Brown sugar: We use brown sugar in the cake batter to add rich, caramel-like sweetness and extra moisture for a soft, tender crumb. Both light and dark brown sugar work, but dark will give your cake a deeper molasses flavor.
  • Spices: Ground cinnamon and nutmeg give the cake the same warm, cozy spiced flavor as classic apple cider doughnuts.
  • Butter: Melted butter adds rich flavor and keeps the cake moist. Let the butter cool slightly after melting it so it doesn’t scramble the eggs in the batter.
  • Eggs: Room temperature eggs will mix more smoothly into the batter. Let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or place them in a bowl of warm water for five minutes.
  • Apple cider: This recipe calls for apple cider (unfiltered apple juice), which brings bright, tangy apple flavor to the cake and adds moisture to the batter.
  • Chunky applesauce: The applesauce adds moisture and enhances the apple flavor. Chunky applesauce gives the cake a little texture, but smooth applesauce can be used in a pinch. Just make sure you use unsweetened so the cake doesn’t end up overly sweet.
  • Vanilla: A splash of vanilla extract rounds out the flavor and enhances the cider, applesauce and warming spices.
  • All-purpose flour: Overpacking your measuring cup can result in a dense cake, so be sure to spoon and level flour rather than scooping it out of the bag or a canister for the most accurate measurement.
  • Baking powder: Double-check the expiration date on your baking powder to ensure the cake lifts during baking.
  • Cinnamon sugar coating: Granulated sugar and ground cinnamon are pressed onto the cake after baking for a sweet, slightly crunchy exterior.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

48 Old-School Recipes That Deserve a Comeback

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

It’s fun to try new recipes, but sometimes you can’t beat a time-tested classic. These old-fashioned food recipes might seem like a blast from the past, but they still hold up today.

Taste of Home

Posted in Book Reviews

Essential Spices and Herbs

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

From allspice to za’atar . . . Fifty optimal herbs and spices, as well as ten spice blends, that will transform the way you cook.

 The key to becoming a skilled home cook isn’t about tracking down the perfect recipes or mastering the techniques of professional chefs. It lies in understanding the vast world of flavor, one that can be difficult to navigate.

Essential Spices and Herbs introduces you to the fifty must-know herbs and spices that will take your cooking to the next level. Detailed profiles of these game-changing flavors for the modern kitchen include pairing suggestions, complimentary foods, and noted health benefits, plus recipes to put them to use.

 Acquaint yourself with the aromas and flavors of these fundamental herbs and spices, with:

  • An overview of the healing powers of key herbs and spices
  • Over 100 delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes
  • Ten essential spice mixes to quickly add flavor to any dish
  • A guide to spice and herb combinations by cuisine to celebrate global flavors
  • Informative tips for buying and storing spices and herbs

Part reference, part cookbook, Essential Spices and Herbs will guide you along your journey through the magical world of flavor.

 Recipes include: Cold Bulgarian Cucumber Soup, Roasted Garlic and Brie, Rosemary Grits, Brown Butter-Sage Sauce with Tagliatelle and Pumpkin, Thyme-Stuffed Baked Tomatoes

Go Bronson
5.0 out of 5 stars 
A delight! And a surprise!
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2015
Verified Purchase
I cook a lot, at home and like to make meals that are flavorfull and aromatic, and I have been cooking home meals for YEARS for 4 kids, and us adults, and we all love different tastes and smells when it comes to food!

I was able to buy this book at a reduced price in return for my honest, unbiased opinion and I am finding it extremely useful. I especially like having it in paperback so that it can sit on the counter in my kitchen for easy use when I need some inspiration.

I already grow basil and mint and some vegetables etc in the summer, but have an entire cabinet full of hers and spices that I really aught to utilize more! This book gives a lot of basic information on the herbs and spices and then intermitently gives recipes, too!

I like the recipe for Shrimp Cocktail, which i'd never have expected to find in this book! Russian Borscht is another good one, too! Saffron pistachio ice cream is one I am dying to try out and even though the weather is about to get cold, I don't think I could wait to give it a whirl!

Some really surprising finds in this book, and actually I think it is up there in my top 5 cooking related books that I currently own, and I can see it getting a LOT of use in my home.

Some pretty photos and some added bonus health benefit facts throughout the book that just flipping through it while chilling out on the couch can make me hungry!

I definitely recommend it if you can get yourself a copy! I have revisited this one over and over since it arrived and I am itching to put some of these recipies into action.

A real delight.
Posted in #Recipes

Amish Chicken and Noodles

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When you hear “chicken and noodles,” you’re probably picturing a steaming pot of chicken noodle soup. However, Amish chicken and noodles are more akin to a stovetop noodle casserole than a soup dish. In fact, you’re likely to find it served atop a mound of mashed potatoes.

Wondering what exactly makes it Amish? The name is a nod to its simple, easy-to-find ingredients and cooking method that doesn’t call for any electronic kitchen contraptions.

Ingredients for Amish Chicken and Noodles

  • Broiler/fryer chicken
  • Chicken bouillon granules
  • Butter
  • Bay leaves
  • Frozen home-style egg noodles
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Fresh parsley, optional

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

You Know You’re from the Southwest If You’ve Had All These Foods

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Spice up your life with these southwestern recipes. From traditional Tex-Mex to fiery fusion, dinner just got a whole lot tastier.

Taste of Home

Posted in Book Reviews

Make-Ahead Meals Made Healthy

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Easily enjoy home-cooked meals with wholesome ingredients every day of the week with a little help from your freezer.

Delight in delicious, nutritious food and save time and money with this guide to preparing meals you can fix and freeze now and enjoy any night of your crazy-busy week!

Unlike the sodium-laced, preservative-filled meals you might find in your grocer’s freezer aisle, Make-Ahead Meals Made Healthy features all-natural recipes full of flavors that come to life the instant you reheat them—so your meals don’t just taste as good as the day you stored them away, but better. In addition, you’ll find great tips and advice on how to best prep, store, and reheat every single dish (in any portion), making mealtime prep a cinch for any member of your household.

From comforting casserole and lasagna recipes made new again with fresh veggies and whole grains, to hearty and wholesome breakfast baked goods and sweet treats, you’ll discover so many “must-make” recipes inside that you may need to consider a larger freezer!

Such show-stopping recipes include:

  • Saucy Saffron Chicken
  • Whole-Grain Pesto Pasta Casserole
  • Asian-Spiced Tuna Cakes
  • Apricot-Pistachio Rice Pilaf
  • Vegetarian Teriyaki Stir-Fry
  • Fast and Easy Fresh Herb Focaccia
  • Baked Gingerbread Cake Doughnuts with Maple Glaze
  • Blackberry Buttermilk Cake

With Make-Ahead Meals Made Healthy, serving healthy, home-cooked meals every night of the week has never been simpler—or more delicious.

Faith Dusky
5.0 out of 5 stars 
Awesome helpful book!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2012
Verified Purchase
I am not a great cook, and I don't really like to cook. And many things I make don't really turn out. But THIS book has changed all that!! For ONCE the recipes turn out, they taste good, they are healthy and wholesome. I have been trying new whole foods, and I have been pleasantly surprised. I never know what kind of foods will freeze ok so this book has been very helpful. My eyes usually gloss over when I see more than five ingredients, so I really don't care for fancy-pants cookbooks. The recipes I have tried require a little effort, but no food degree is required!! 🙂 Until recently pretty much everything I made was convenience foods/ pre-made foods, and I did very little actual cooking. With some time invested on Sunday afternoon, I have been making homemade WHOLESOME meals that I can serve easy to my family later in the week (or the next week).

If this book dropped in my life a year ago, it may not have been for me. But I have come to the place where I am trying to get AWAY from processed foods. I am willing to make the time investment to be healthier and eat healthier. I am willing to try new vegetables, new grains, new fresh herbs, new foods. The Make-Ahead Meals Made Healthy has been used more than any other cookbook I have bought, and I have only had it a couple weeks. Now I am off to see what other cookbooks this author has out! 🙂
Posted in #Recipes

Black Bean Chicken Chili

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

This comforting black bean chicken chili makes a hearty, wholesome dinner. It’s a fresh twist on classic chili recipes, which often pair dark beans with beef or pork, and poultry with white beans. This chicken and black bean chili throws those rules out the window. Instead of ground chicken, we use big chunks of chicken breast, giving the chili a stew-like texture and heft.

If you love the kick of southwestern recipes, you’ll appreciate the zingy mix of sweet bell peppers, spicy chiles, smoky chili spices and juicy tomatoes. The result is a bit lighter than ordinary chili, but every bit as comforting. Serve it with buttery cornbread and a big dollop of sour cream for a simple, satisfying meal.

Continue reading “Black Bean Chicken Chili” →