Tag: #Allrecipes

Posted in Kitchen Tips

Stop Making This Dangerous Mistake With Your Slow Cooker

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Slow cookers are almost foolproof. If you don’t have the energy or the time to spend hours cooking dinner, this kitchen appliance can save the day. Whether you’re making a dump dinner, a stew, or a roast, slow cookers can nearly do it all. 

Slow cookers tend to be very durable, too. My family bought one decades ago and we’ve never replaced it. While all appliances experience some wear and tear over time, proper care can prevent damage and lengthen their lifespans. One mistake you might be making with your slow cooker involves the lid’s locking mechanism, which some models have. Here’s what you need to know.

Continue reading “Stop Making This Dangerous Mistake With Your Slow Cooker” →

Our #1 Tomato Recipe Is So Good, Reviewers Say It ‘Deserves 15 Stars’

Tomato season is always much-anticipated, but disappointingly fleeting. That’s why it’s important to strike while the iron’s hot: A haul of garden-fresh tomatoes is a terrible thing to waste. If you’re looking for a way to make the most of end-of-summer tomatoes, look no further than our Double Tomato Bruschetta. 

This top-rated recipe has more than 3,000 five-star ratings from Allrecipes community members—and at least 100 of those reviews called it, verbatim, “the best bruschetta ever.” 

Continue reading “Our #1 Tomato Recipe Is So Good, Reviewers Say It ‘Deserves 15 Stars’” →
Posted in Kitchen Tips

I Asked 3 Farmers How to Pick the Sweetest Pineapple, And They All Swear By This Method

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

True, canned can come in clutch for many of our favorite pineapple recipes, like Pineapple Pie, Pineapple Casserole, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, and Hawaiian Pizza. But in certain drinks, desserts, and dinner recipes, nothing can compare to the vibrant, tangy, sunshine-y flavor of fresh pineapple.

When it comes time to get your fresh fix, we have great news: “Pineapples are available in the U.S. year-round due to supply from overlapping geographies,” confirms Dana Peters, a Barney, Georgia-based produce and floral field inspector at Whole Foods Market (who grew up on a small family farm). 

That said, if you’re seeking the best of the best, Edgar Cordero, pineapple farmer and general manager of Maui Gold Pineapple in Hali’imaile, Maui, Hawai‘i adds that “peak season for pineapples is generally March through July, when growing conditions in Hawai‘i, Central America, and Mexico are ideal. During these warmer months, pineapples typically reach peak ripeness, resulting in sweeter, juicier fruit on store shelves.”

You’ll find the most flavorful pieces of this tropical fruit during spring and summer. However, if you use these farmer cues for how to select the best of the bunch, you’ll be highly likely to cut into a flavorful pineapple any time of year.

Allrecipes

Posted in #Recipes

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

You can’t go wrong with this gorgeous pineapple upside-down cake, which comes together quickly and easily in a cast iron skillet, and will earn a permanent spot in your recipe box.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Ingredients

It’s easy to make this pineapple upside-down cake with convenient ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Butter: This pineapple upside-down cake recipe starts by melting butter in a cast iron skillet.
  • Brown sugar: Brown sugar is sprinkled over the melted butter in the skillet, resulting in a perfectly caramelized topping.
  • Fruit: You’ll need a can of pineapple slices and jarred maraschino cherries.
  • Cake mix: A package of cake mix is combined with pineapple juice, oil, and egg whites. Some reviewers suggest using a yellow or lemon cake mix.

Allrecipes

Posted in Kitchen Tips

Toss Your Bacon Immediately If You Notice These Signs

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

I’ve always joked that adding bacon to a recipe is just plain cheating. Its mixture of saltiness, smokiness, and flavorful fat can take an ordinary dish from ho-hum to holy moly! (This Brussels sprouts recipe is a good example.) Of course, it’s also delicious on its own, whether for breakfast or as a crunchy snack. 

Bacon’s high fat content is what makes it so irresistible, but it’s also the reason it can quickly turn rancid. Spoiled bacon will ruin not only your meal, but possibly your day if you get a case of food poisoning. Here’s how you can tell if your bacon is safe to eat and also how long you should expect it to last.

Continue reading “Toss Your Bacon Immediately If You Notice These Signs” →
Posted in Kitchen Tips

I Asked 3 Farmers How to Pick the Sweetest Corn, and They All Swear By This Method

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

During summer road trips with the family, and sometimes just while driving to a more rural part of town to golf together, my Dad would drive us past row upon row upon row of corn. As a native Iowan, “knee-high by the Fourth of July”—a Midwestern saying about how tall farmers hope their corn to be by Independence Day—was a phrase about as common as declaring that something is “a piece of cake.”

As you might guess, fresh corn was a true sign of summer since I was born and raised in the heart of the Midwest. In my opinion, Dad’s charcoal-grilled corn needed nothing but a few shakes of salt to be the perfect side dish. This was something my family would enjoy about once per week during fresh sweet corn season, which spans from Memorial Day to Labor Day in most parts of the country, according to Dana Peters, a Barney, Georgia-based produce and floral field inspector at Whole Foods Market (who grew up on a small family farm).

Continue reading “I Asked 3 Farmers How to Pick the Sweetest Corn, and They All Swear By This Method” →
Posted in Kitchen Tips

I Asked 3 Farmers for the Best Way to Store Tomatoes—This Is the Step You Should Never Skip

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

If only our favorite produce were like our clothing and came with tags that list detailed care instructions. Instead of “machine wash cold; lay flat to dry,” the directive might be “store in the crisper drawer; wash just prior to use.”

Alas, fresh fruits and vegetables don’t come with such helpful advice, nor can tell us how they like to be treated, so it’s up to us—as the lucky ones who get to enjoy them—to study up on how best to store them. Instructions vary widely. Some items benefit from cool storage, while others wilt in the fridge (ahem, fresh basil). A few are fine to wash in advance and store, but most last the longest when you skip the washing until you’re ready to savor the fruits (or vegetables) of your labor.

Since we’re in the heart of fresh tomato season, which spans May to October in most parts of the U.S., we thought it was high time to brush up on how to store tomatoes. This time, we decided to go directly to the source: the people who grow them. Here’s what three farmers had to say.

Continue reading “I Asked 3 Farmers for the Best Way to Store Tomatoes—This Is the Step You Should Never Skip” →

I Tried 5 Cheap Frozen Pizzas, and This Is the One I’ll Grab Again

For most, frozen pizza is a nostalgic food that harkens back to childhood when things were simpler and food tasted best when it came shrink-wrapped in plastic. But sometimes as adults, that need for a slice hits, whether you’re simply craving the trusty combination of crust, sauce, and cheese or you’re in a pinch for a quick meal. Frozen pizza can be a delicious lunch or dinner option—either straight out of the oven or with an upgrade or two to make it extra delicious.

Continue reading “I Tried 5 Cheap Frozen Pizzas, and This Is the One I’ll Grab Again” →

Taco Pie

This taco pie is a quick, easy meal that is very filling. Some people will also top it with regular taco toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, etc. It also is great as leftovers for lunches. Serve with taco sauce.

Allrecipes

Posted in #Recipes

Grilled Chicken Marinade

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

This top-rated grilled chicken marinade recipe ensures perfectly tender, juicy, and flavorful chicken every time.

Grilled Chicken Marinade Ingredients

You likely have everything you need for this top-rated grilled chicken marinade in your pantry. If not, here’s what you’ll need to add to your grocery list:

  • Red wine vinegar: This top-rated grilled chicken marinade starts with sweet, tangy, and flavorful red wine vinegar.
  • Oil: Aromatic olive oil infuses the meat with flavor and moisture, ensuring deliciously juicy chicken every time.
  • Soy sauce: This grilled chicken marinade calls for low sodium soy sauce, which we think delivers the perfect amount of saltiness. Of course, if you like your marinade extra salty, you can use regular soy sauce.
  • Spices and seasonings: This savory grilled chicken marinade calls for these earthy, herbaceous spices and seasonings: dried parsley flakes, dried basil, dried oregano, garlic powder, and ground black pepper.

Allrecipes