Tag: #Recipes

Posted in #Recipes

Sweet Potato Salad

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Calling all potato salad lovers! Have you ever tried swapping your Yukon golds for orange-fleshed sweet potatoes? This sweet potato salad recipe is a nice change from the old-fashioned potato salad you’d expect at a cookout or potluck. Loaded with sweet potatoes, tart cherries, crunchy walnuts and fresh parsley, it’s full of nutritious whole foods that bring some color to the picnic table.

Sweet Potato Salad Ingredients

overhead shot of all ingredients for Sweet Potato Salad; white wooden background;
Taste of Home
  • Sweet potatoes: This roasted sweet potato salad calls for 4 cups of cubed sweet potatoes. Depending on the size, that’s about four to six whole sweet potatoes.
  • Olive oil: Coat the sweet potatoes in 1 tablespoon of olive oil to promote roasting and caramelization. The best part of roasted sweet potatoes is always the dark, caramelized bits!
  • Walnuts: Not usually a fan of walnuts? I find that toasting the nuts brings out their rich, nutty flavor better.
  • Dried cherries: Sweet with a tart aftertaste, dried cherries are an unexpected ingredient that adds a chewy bite and dynamic flavor.
  • Parsley: Since the sweet potatoes, cherries and walnuts are heavier, richer ingredients, we’ve added fresh parsley to break up the monotony and create a bright flavor.
  • Mayonnaise: Full-fat or reduced-fat mayonnaise would work in this sweet potato salad.
  • White vinegar: Tangy and bright, white vinegar imparts freshness. Apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar or lemon juice would work in a pinch.
  • Honey: We sweeten this recipe just a touch with a bit of honey. Make sure you’re buying real honey, and leave the fake honey on the shelf. The quality makes a difference!
  • Lime zest: I absolutely love using grated citrus zest in my cooking. The simple ingredient imparts a bright acidity that tunes up the flavors to a 10 and makes the dish taste like it came straight out of a professional kitchen.

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Posted in #Recipes

14 Homemade Soups with Rotisserie Chicken

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

As far as homemade dinners go, soup is the quickest and easiest way to put food on the table. But, honestly, cooking meat can often be time-consuming, so we turned to our favorite grocery store hero: the rotisserie chicken. These soups with rotisserie chicken come together quickly and are easy to make for busy weeknight dinners. They’re also incredibly tasty because the humble, precooked bird is oh-so-delicious.

We’ve gathered a variety of flavorful, highly-reviewed chicken soup recipes, including spicy, cream-based, vegetable-forward and protein-packed soups. We even have gluten-free and dairy-free soups, so there’s truly an option here for everyone.

You can certainly start these recipes by making rotisserie chicken at home, but the best rotisserie chicken from the grocery store also does the job just fine. Either way, making these soups is as simple as shredding the chicken and popping it into a stockpot. (Don’t forget to save the golden chicken skin for a sneaky pre-dinner snack!)

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Posted in #Recipes

Slow-Cooker Ranch Chicken

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

If you’ve got a slow cooker, we’ve got a recipe you have to try! This slow-cooker ranch chicken is a comforting meal that cooks in a single pot, minimizing the number of dishes for cleanup. Creamy, flavorful and warming, it’s one of those easy chicken dinners that’s perfect for busy weeknights.

In this recipe, chicken breasts are cooked slowly until they become tender and shreddable. Cream cheese and a can of condensed cream of chicken soup are added to give the chicken a rich, creamy consistency, and the dish is served over rice or noodles. It’s a wonderful set-it-and-forget-it meal, and it’ll make you want to keep more slow-cooker chicken breast recipes within reach!

Slow-Cooker Ranch Chicken Ingredients

  • Chicken broth: Use store-bought chicken broth for the quickest preparation. If you prefer to make chicken broth from scratch, it will elevate all the flavors.
  • Ranch salad dressing mix: You can find packets of this popular seasoning mix at the grocery store, or make your own ranch dressing and dip mix.
  • Chicken breasts: We call for boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can substitute boneless chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat.
  • Cream of chicken soup: Condensed soup is a miracle worker for casseroles and sauces. It acts as a roux (a thickening agent) to give the sauce a thick, creamy consistency. Use store-bought condensed soup or a homemade substitute for cream of chicken soup.
  • Cream cheese: Cream cheese melts into the sauce, giving the chicken a slightly sweet flavor and an incredible texture.
  • Noodles or rice: You can serve this creamy chicken over noodles or rice; they’re both delicious. If you choose noodles, consider thick egg noodles, which will give the sauce something to stick to.
  • Optional toppings: Add a cheesy finish with shredded cheddar cheese, or boost the savory vibes with crumbled cooked bacon and chopped green onions.

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Posted in #Recipes

40 Pear Dessert Recipes Full of Warm Spices and Sweet Flavor

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Pears are one of fall’s quiet baking heroes. With their mild sweetness, firm texture and floral aroma, they soak up warm spices and syrups in a way only a few fruits can. These pear dessert recipes transform the humble fruit into something that tastes and smells like the season.

You’ll find pear recipes for baking that layer with cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger, each one showing how well this fruit pairs with spice and adds texture. There are gingersnap pear pies, fall cakes that stay moist for days and poached pears that feel like velvet on a spoon. For something deeper, simmer them in red wine and cranberry reduction or bake them into a golden pear tarte Tatin, where the fruit melts into the caramel beneath crisp pastry.

Once you’ve baked with pears, it’s hard to imagine a fall menu without them. These easy pear desserts pair naturally with cozy fall dinners, cheese boards, potluck casseroles and fall harvest salads. To get the best texture, start with Bosc or Anjou pears that are shy of ripe; they hold their shape while drawing in every last bit of flavor. And if a few over-ripen on the counter, turn them into a fragrant batch of pear jam that brings a touch of fall to toast, thumbprint cookies and pastries all year long.

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Posted in #Recipes

41 Cozy Winter Dessert Recipes to Warm You Up

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When the temperature drops and snow covers the sidewalk, there’s nothing quite like winter dessert recipes to warm your soul. Whether you’re grabbing a spoon for bread pudding or slicing 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.

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Posted in #Recipes

Smothered Pork Chops in Oven

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When it comes to comfort food only a few dishes hit the mark quite like these oven-baked smothered pork chops. This recipe turns out subtly seasoned chops nestled in a rich, creamy sauce that’s just begging to be mopped up with a slice of bread or a forkful of mashed potatoes. And the best part? It all comes together in one pan. That means less cleanup and more time to savor every delicious bite.

Smothered Pork Chops in Oven Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour: The flour provides a light coating for the pork chops, helping them brown evenly and develop a crispy exterior.
  • Salt: Salt enhances the overall flavor of the dish and helps to season the pork chops as they cook.
  • Pepper: A bit of pepper adds a subtle heat and depth of flavor to the seasoned flour mixture.
  • Pork loin chops: The pork chops are the star of the dish, offering a tender and flavorful base for the rich sauce.
  • Canola oil: The oil is used to brown the pork chops, creating a flavorful crust and sealing in the juices.
  • Condensed cream of mushroom soup: This soup serves as the base of the sauce and adds creaminess and a savory mushroom flavor to the dish.
  • Sour cream: Sour cream brings a tangy richness to the sauce, balancing the flavors and adding creaminess.
  • Chicken broth: The broth thins the sauce slightly while adding a savory depth that complements the pork.
  • Ground ginger: A small amount of ginger adds a spark of warmth and a hint of spice, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
  • Dried rosemary: Rosemary infuses the sauce with a fragrant and earthy flavor that pairs well with pork.
  • French-fried onions: The onions provide a crunchy topping and add a burst of savory flavor that contrasts with the creamy sauce.

Taste of Home

Posted in Book Reviews

Easy Frugal Cookbook

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

100 Satisfying Recipes That Won’t Break the Bank

Eat well for less—100 delicious, affordable recipes the whole family will love

It’s easier than you think to make hearty meals that are tasty, budget-friendly, and nutritious. Discover an easy cookbook that shows you how, with 100 inexpensive family recipes that use basic ingredients, and can be made in just a few steps.

This easy cookbook will help you whip up satisfying dishes like Crispy Coconut Drumsticks or Open-Face Turkey Sandwiches for everyone in the house for just $5. All it takes is the right recipe, a few tricks, and a little planning to make the most of your food budget.

Discover how versatile and flavorful cheap eating can be with an easy cookbook that offers:

  • Budget tricks—Recipes are sorted by estimated cost of ingredients, from $5 to $15 dollars per batch, and include tips to lower the cost of ingredients even further.
  • Shop smart—This easy cookbook includes tips about shopping efficiently and optimizing ingredients and leftovers.
  • Menu plan—A sample meal plan and shopping list will help simplify meal prep and save you money and time.

Bring the whole family to the table with an easy cookbook that makes weeknight dinners easy and affordable.

Posted in #Recipes

71 Winter Comfort Food Recipes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

These cozy winter comfort food recipes can warm up even the coldest nights.

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Posted in #Recipes

Texas-Style Lasagna

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

With its spicy flavor, this dish is a real crowd-pleaser. It’s wonderful with side servings of picante sauce, guacamole and tortilla chips.— Effie Gish, Fort Worth, Texas

Can you freeze Texas-Style Lasagna?

Before baking, cover and freeze lasagna up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake as directed, increasing time as necessary for a thermometer to read 160°.

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Posted in Book Reviews

One-Pot Mediterranean Diet

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

101 Simple Meals for Your Skillet, Baking Sheet, Dutch Oven, and More 

The famed Mediterranean diet—simplified into one pot simmering with flavor

Consistently ranked as one of the best and most doctor-recommended diets in the world, the Mediterranean diet is known for its amazing benefits like weight loss and reducing the risk of Parkinson’s disease. One-Pot Mediterranean Diet delivers tons of recipes exploding with fresh flavors with the ease and convenience of the one-pot method.

Explore a diversity of foods from a Mediterranean Breakfast Board to Spicy Grilled Veggie Pita using seasonally fresh ingredients and spices. Avoid obstacles including cleanup and hard-to-find ingredients and stay on track as you discover this all-inclusive way of cooking designed to fit into our everyday lives.

Inside this one-Pot Mediterranean cookbook you’ll discover:

  • More than a cookbook—Learn about the Mediterranean diet, lifestyle, and nutrition before diving into the recipes.
  • Family dinners—While containing things like soups, salads, and sides, the book features predominantly main dishes.
  • Substitute teacher—Clearly written, easy-to-follow recipes allow readers to easily substitute ingredients as needed.

One pot keeps the smart, healthy spirit of the Mediterranean diet alive while cutting the time you’ll spend in the kitchen.