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Posted in #Recipes

41 Cozy Winter Dessert Recipes to Warm You Up

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

‘Tis the season to embrace all things cozy—steaming soups, hearty casseroles and, of course, warm winter dessert recipes. From molten mocha cake to bread puddings and cobblers, these desserts feel like a warm hug on a cold day.

When the temperature drops and snow covers the sidewalk, there’s nothing quite like winter dessert recipes to warm your soul. You might grab a spoon for bread pudding. Or, you could slice into a fruity crumble. These popular dessert recipes will make you forget about the cold outside.

If you’re new to baking, don’t worry—many of these treats can be made with pantry staples and minimal effort. Other recipes let you take your time, filling the house with the dreamy aromas of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and vanilla.

Ready to bake? Pull out your mixing bowl, preheat your oven (or grab your slow cooker) and gather your friends or family. With so many different ways to keep cozy, you’re bound to find a dessert (or two) that fits your mood. Once you taste how comforting these desserts are, winter might just become your sweetest season yet.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

Hot Chocolate Mug Cake

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

The problem with most mug cakes is that they don’t actually taste like a classic cake. This one does. The crumb is tight and tender, almost like a fudgy brownie at the edges, while the center stays soft and plush. Chocolate chips sink into the batter just enough to form streaks of melted richness without pooling at the bottom. When you add a few miniature marshmallows on top, they slump gently into the warm cake, forming a gooey lid.

You won’t need a mixer, or even a mixing bowl larger than your cereal dish. Everything comes together with a fork and cooks in under three minutes, making this hot chocolate mug cake a rare dessert that’s both impulsive and deeply satisfying. It smells and tastes like a snow day.

Hot Chocolate Mug Cake Ingredients

  • 2% milk
  • Canola oil
  • Vanilla extract
  • All-purpose flour
  • Instant hot cocoa mix
  • Sugar
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Semisweet chocolate chips
  • Miniature marshmallows and chocolate sauce (for garnish)

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

14 Healthy Filling Foods That Help You Feel Full Longer

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Filling foods that contain protein, fiber, and healthy fats help you stay satisfied longer. They curb cravings and power your day with steady energy. From breakfast to snacks, including more filling foods can make healthy eating easier and more sustainable.

Feeling hungry again soon after eating is a common complaint. It can leave you feeling frustrated and distracted. You might also feel hangry and in search of endless snacks. Building cheap healthy meals around filling foods is my tried-and-true trick to feeling satisfied all day long. Filling foods provide long-lasting energy. You feel content hours after eating. This prevents a grumbly belly or constant cravings from breaking your focus.

Filling foods include high-protein foods, high-fiber foods and/or those that contain healthy fats. All three of these nutrients digest slowly. This promotes fullness. It helps prevent spikes and dips in blood sugar. It also curbs overeating. Foods containing one or more of these nutrients, such as eggs, beans, whole grains, and nuts, keep you full longer. They help prevent the energy crashes that lead to mindless snacking.

Filling foods offer benefits beyond just satiety and stable energy levels. Balanced meals and snacks can help reduce cravings and support your weight goals in a gentle, sustainable way. Prepare them using simple cooking methods. You can roast, grill, bake or sauté with a bit of oil. Alternatively, enjoy fruits and veggies raw to keep meals nourishing without sacrificing flavor.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

14 High-Fiber Foods You’ll Actually Want to Eat

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

These fiber-rich foods just became your new meal-prep best friends.

It’s no secret that fiber is important for a balanced diet. Although adding protein to your meals is certainly a movement enjoying its moment in the sun, fiber deserves similar recognition. It should hold a spot of honor in your daily meal prep.

There’s been a growing buzz around gut health over the last few years. We don’t see that slowing down anytime soon. In fact, we suspect eating more fiber will be one of 2026’s biggest food trends. High-fiber foods offer plenty of health benefits, from smoother digestion to heart health support and satiety after meals.

Adding more fiber-rich foods to your plate is an easy way to nourish your gut. It helps you feel your best every day. As always, anyone with specific dietary concerns should consult with a medical professional before making changes. If you’re simply aiming to boost your fiber intake, these 14 fiber-rich foods are a great place to start. Your gut will thank you!

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

24 Cozy Lentil Soup Recipes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Everyone’s looking to add more fiber to their diets nowadays. Luckily, lentils are packed with it, along with protein and other vitamins and minerals. There are many incredible lentil recipes. These recipes showcase the little legume. During the colder months, lentil soup recipes reign supreme. Warming, cozy and singing with all kinds of earthy, bold and wonderfully aromatic spices, you’ll never tire of lentil soups.

There’s a little something for everyone in this collection. You’ll find tried-and-true classics, like vegetable lentil soup, French lentil soup, and lentil stew. There are also more modern recipes, like Southwest barley and lentil or Italian-style lentil soup. There are brothy soups, cream-based soups, pureed soups and heartier, chunky stews. Many are Dutch oven soup recipes, though there are Instant Pot and slow cooker options for those who prefer them.

There are plenty of meaty lentil soup recipes here. They offer an even bigger protein boost. Vegetarian and vegan diners have options, too. Complete the meal with one or two sides for soup. Try a zingy salad or crisp crackers. You can also add slices of crusty bread or buttery garlic bread to soak up the richly flavored broth.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

12 Marry Me Recipes Worth Falling For

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

There’s some truth behind “the fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach.” Meghan Markle and Emily Blunt both made Ina Garten’s engagement chicken on the night of their proposals. Or mere days before them. The same goes for a group of Glamour editors in 1982. Coincidence? Who’s to say? But I like the chances. Lindsay Funston made Marry Me chicken for Delish in 2016. The recipe’s cream-based sauce and skeptical-sounding name instantly went viral. It spurred all kinds of Marry Me recipes in the process. Do they actually elicit a proposal, though, as the engagement chicken recipe did? I’m not sure, but anything with that much cream is undoubtedly swoon-worthy.

If you’re interested in testing the theory, we have plenty of Marry Me recipes to try. You might also want an incredibly indulgent recipe to make this weekend. Expect the traditional Marry Me chicken recipe (plus a slow-cooker option!), as well as pasta and pot roast. We also have other delicious recipes with heavy cream. They make great date night recipes. Try shrimp ravioli, puff pastry chicken potpie, or Alfredo meatballs. You could also try Boursin chicken pasta and so much more. Want a decadent dessert instead? Our hot fudge cake and Reese’s peanut butter cup cheesecake are worthy enough for a steakhouse dessert menu.

No matter which recipe(s) you choose, make the night extra-special. Use a stellar playlist, lit candles, and a nice bottle of wine. You can also use an easy mixed drink. Even a bottle of cheap champagne can make the night feel celebratory.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

Million-Dollar Chicken Casserole

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

This million-dollar chicken casserole doesn’t cost a fortune, but it does taste like a million bucks. A rich filling of chicken, cream cheese, cottage cheese and cream of chicken soup comes together in mere minutes. A sprinkling of buttered crackers tops the filling to create a crunchy, golden crust.

Million-dollar chicken casserole is comfort food at its finest. It’s easy to make and fantastic for using up leftover chicken. Pair it with steamed broccoli and cooked noodles for an easy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients for Million-Dollar Chicken Casserole

  • Shredded cooked chicken: This recipe is great for leftover or rotisserie chicken. You can use white meat or dark meat.
  • Cream cheese: Soft cream cheese is easier to mix than cold cream cheese. Let the cream cheese stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes to soften it. If you’re in a rush, place the cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it in the microwave on high for 5 to 10 seconds.
  • Sour cream: This tangy ingredient is thick and creamy. Its light acidity balances the other rich ingredients.
  • Cottage cheese: Cottage cheese adds a lovely texture and boosts the savory quality of our million-dollar chicken bake.
  • Condensed cream of chicken soup: If you’re concerned about sodium, skip the store-bought can, and make a homemade condensed cream of chicken soup.
  • Ritz crackers: These buttery crackers add a crunchy element to this savory casserole.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

Pork Loin with Gravy

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

With just a few simple ingredients and the magic of a slow cooker you can transform a basic cut of pork into something truly special. This pork loin and gravy is tender, juicy and enveloped in a luscious and savory gravy. This is a recipe that’s perfect for when you want something comforting yet impressive without spending all day in the kitchen. The process takes some time but most of it is completely hands-off thanks to the slow cooker. It can do the work while you go about your day. The result is a deeply flavorful dinner.

Pork Loin and Gravy Ingredients

Pork Loin & Gravy By Taste Of Home Ingredients
Melissa Patterson for Taste of Home
  • Pork loin roast: The pork loin serves as the main protein in this dish, offering a tender and juicy base for the meal.
  • All-purpose flour: This flour creates a light coating on the pork and helps brown the meat and adds a subtle thickness to the gravy.
  • Onion powder: A touch of onion powder adds a savory depth to the pork and complements the natural flavors of the meat.
  • Ground mustard: The ground mustard provides a mild tang, enhancing the overall flavor profile and balancing the richness of the pork.
  • Canola oil: This oil is used for browning the pork. It contributes to a golden, crisp exterior while sealing in the juices.
  • Reduced-sodium chicken broth: The broth serves as the liquid base for the gravy and infuses the pork with moisture and a savory, rich taste during cooking.
  • Cornstarch: Cornstarch is used to thicken the gravy, ensuring it has a smooth and velvety consistency.
  • Cold water: Cold water is mixed with cornstarch to create a slurry that helps the cornstarch dissolve evenly and prevents lumps in the gravy.
  • Hot mashed potatoes (optional): Creamy mashed potatoes are a comforting side dish that pairs perfectly with savory pork and rich gravy.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

32 Tasty Uses for Buttermilk to Use Up Your Carton

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

If that half-carton of buttermilk stares back every time you open the refrigerator, it’s time to finish it up. Beyond pancakes and biscuits, there are plenty of other great uses for buttermilk. This tangy, tenderizing ingredient adds richness to savory dishes. It adds softness to baked goods. It keeps proteins juicy when added to marinades. Although buttermilk can refer to the liquid left behind after making homemade butter, this collection of recipes uses only cultured buttermilk. This collection of recipes uses only cultured buttermilk. You can find it in the dairy section of the supermarket.

We chose these buttermilk recipes. They show how easily you can use (and use up) the ingredient in breakfast, dessert, and dinner dishes. You’ll find fluffy buckwheat pancakes and crisp waffles in addition to tender scones and decadent chocolate cake. On the savory side, buttermilk gives ranch dressing its signature tang without making it too thick. It also keeps fried chicken juicy.

You might need a recipe for the last little bit of leftover buttermilk. Or, you might want to tackle a new idea to use buttermilk in baking. This combination of easy, fun recipes will help you. These classic recipes will use up the buttermilk you have. They will also encourage you to pick up a new container.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

21 Biscuit Recipes That Go with Everything

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Warm and flaky, these homemade biscuits will really hit the spot on cold fall or winter days. Whether you serve them alongside your favorite stew or slather them with butter, these biscuit recipes are the perfect addition to any meal.

Taste of Home