Tag: #TasteofHome

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39 Easy Three-Ingredient Desserts for Sharing

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

I’ve always had a sweet tooth and love to end meals with a little treat. A square of dark chocolate or a scoop of ice cream usually does the trick, but making something from scratch is extra-satisfying. On those nights when even quick and easy baking recipes are out of reach, I turn to easy three-ingredient desserts. You’d be surprised what you can do with just a few simple pantry-friendly ingredients. From frozen treats to chocolaty fudge, there is a recipe here for every craving.

Each recipe in this collection has three ingredients or fewer, excluding water, salt, small amounts of oil and optional garnishes. These simple three-ingredient treats rely on clever shortcuts, like boxed cake or brownie mixes, and ingredients with bold flavors, like peanut butter and chocolate, to create something delicious. Some are as easy as melting and mixing a few ingredients together, but if you are in the mood to bake, there are a few classic cookie recipes, including one of my favorites: buttery shortbread.

Many of these quick three-ingredient sweets recipes adapt easily to dietary needs, so you can use dairy-free chocolate chips or gluten-free flour blends without missing a beat. These easy dessert ideas are perfect for taking to potlucks and parties, or when you make last-minute plans and don’t have time to run to the bakery. Whether you choose a frozen fruit-based dessert or a decadent chocolate truffle, you are only three ingredients away from your next sweet treat.

Posted in #Recipes

Pizza Dough Focaccia

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

There’s nothing quite like a fresh loaf of homemade bread. The smell, the taste, the texture … it’s truly divine. However, it can be hard to find the time to make bread from scratch. While some yeasted bread recipes can be made more quickly than others, others require more of a time investment. That’s why this shortcut pizza dough focaccia is our new favorite.

This recipe requires no measuring or mixing; simply snag a ball or two of your favorite store-bought pizza dough, let it proof, and then bake it in the oven with plenty of olive oil, herbs and flaky sea salt. The result is a soft, spongy flatbread with an open crumb and irresistibly crisp, chewy exterior that will fool everyone into thinking that it’s a traditional focaccia bread recipe. Add this one to your list of creative ideas for using pizza dough.

Ingredients for Shortcut Pizza Dough Focaccia

  • Pizza dough: For this recipe, you’ll need two balls of fresh or frozen pizza dough. Store-bought pizza crusts that have been parbaked will not work for this recipe.
  • Olive oil: Focaccia derives much of its flavor from the olive oil in which it’s baked. Therefore, this is a great occasion to splurge on a high-quality olive oil for best results.
  • Rosemary: Rosemary is a classic topping for focaccia. It has an intoxicating aroma and a warm, woodsy flavor.
  • Flaky sea salt: Flaky sea salt is a must-have for topping focaccia. It doesn’t dissolve as quickly as table salt, so it imparts a great texture and bursts of salty flavor on the top of the bread. If you don’t have flaked salt, you can substitute coarsely ground Kosher salt.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

12 Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Your fur baby deserves the best, especially when it comes to food. Keep ’em happy and healthy with these delish dog treat recipes!

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Chicken tortilla soup is warm and comforting—and now it’s easier than ever to make. This slow-cooker chicken tortilla soup recipe is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it meal. It simmers away in the background until the chicken is tender enough to shred with a fork.

Like other Mexican-inspired soups, slow-cooker chicken tortilla soup is packed with spices and savory ingredients like fire-roasted tomatoes, black beans and corn. Topped off with crispy tortilla chips, a dollop of sour cream and a squeeze of lime, this homemade version might just make your weekly menu rotation.

Ingredients for Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

  • Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Chicken breasts are our go-to choice for slow-cooker chicken tortilla soup. The meat stays juicy in the slow cooker’s gentle heat and is easy to shred once cooked.
  • Chicken broth: Use homemade chicken broth, or pick up one of our Test Kitchen’s favorite chicken broth brands.
  • Black beans: These beans have a rich, earthy flavor, and they hold their shape well when cooked. We drain and rinse the black beans to remove excess sodium.
  • Fire-roasted diced tomatoes: Any diced tomato will work in this soup, but fire-roasted tomatoes add an extra dimension. They’ve been charred over an open flame, and they deepen the soup’s flavor with a subtle smokiness.
  • Frozen corn: We use frozen corn for ease, but you can easily substitute fresh or canned corn.
  • Spices: Chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, salt and pepper create a slightly spicy, smoky blend for this soup. We stir in minced cilantro just before serving to give the dish a fresh, herbaceous finish. (Don’t worry; you can substitute parsley if cilantro tastes like soap to you.)
  • Soup toppings: Crushed tortilla chips are an essential component of tortilla soup! Top each bowl with chips and other fresh garnishes, like chopped avocado, sliced jalapenos and lime wedges.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

38 Sneaky Ways to Eat More Vegetables

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Trick your kids (and yourself!) into eating more veggies by incorporating them into your favorite meals. These recipes are sneaky good at disguising good-for-you ingredients.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

Tuna Broccoli Casserole

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

This tuna broccoli casserole captures all the goodness of the classic recipe without using condensed soup. It gets straight to the good stuff: tender noodles, a creamy homemade sauce with real depth, and a generous handful of melty cheese. Onion and dried herbs simmer into the sauce, giving it a savory backbone and making it feel more like a pantry-friendly bechamel than a shortcut sauce. The broccoli stays bright and slightly crisp, the tuna adds heft without overwhelming the dish, and the panko topping turns golden and toasty thanks to a slick of melted butter.

What comes out of the oven is equal parts comfort and competence, with bubbling edges, a cheesy crust and a spoonable center that’s just firm enough to hold its shape. It’s a great use of shelf-stable staples and frozen veggies, but it eats like a casserole with a lot more effort behind it. You’ll get creamy, chewy, crunchy and savory in every bite—no processed shortcuts, no extra fuss.

Tuna Broccoli Casserole Ingredients

A top shot shows bowls with egg noodles; broccoli; shredded cheese; cooked chicken; milk; seasoning; onions; broth; flour and spices on a dark background; Tuna Broccoli Casserole
Taste of Home
  • Whole wheat egg noodles
  • Butter
  • Onion
  • Cornstarch
  • Milk
  • Basil
  • Thyme
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Chicken broth
  • Monterey Jack cheese
  • Broccoli florets
  • Albacore white tuna in water
  • Panko bread crumbs
  • Butter

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

14 Recipes for Food to Eat When Power Is Out

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Just like that, a storm has hit. But the family still needs to eat! Planning in advance will ensure that there’s plenty of food to eat when the power is out. First, stock up on nonperishable goods like dried fruit, nuts and canned food. If you know a storm is coming, prepare some (again, nonperishable) snacks in advance, like energy bars or even homemade beef jerky, and fill the pantry with staples like oatmeal.

During a power outage, stay away from the fridge and freezer—keeping the door closed will help maintain the cooler temperature and keep food from spoiling. Instead, plan to make meals that use only shelf-stable ingredients.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

44 Pasta Recipes for Nearly Every Pasta Shape

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

There’s nothing like noodles to please everyone at the dinner table. Whether you’re feasting on impressive baked pasta recipes like lasagna or stuffed shells, or enjoying a bowl of saucy tortellini, every shape of pasta satisfies. These go-to pasta recipes prove that you don’t need to have a lot of time on your hands to whip up a delicious and comforting Italian-inspired meal.

Round out your carb-heavy entree with spaghetti side dishes (they go with ziti, penne and ravioli too) and some crusty Italian bread. If you’re feeling ambitious and have the time to spare, homemade fresh pasta is well worth the effort.

Taste of Home

Posted in Kitchen Tips

The Ultimate Guide to Pasta Shapes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

The grocery store is packed with pasta shapes. Before you reach for a box, learn about what makes each shape different and which recipes work best with your go-to noodle.

Various kinds of uncooked pasta and noodles, some in white bowls, on stone background, top view
YelenaYemchuk/Getty Images

There’s a reason making pasta is so much fun—there are tons of pasta shapes to choose from! Whatever kind of sauce you’re in the mood for, like pesto, cream, marinara or meat sauce, there’s a noodle shape that suits it perfectly. You can take it one step further and choose between fresh or dry pasta too.

Long, smooth noodles prefer lighter sauces or a simple coating of olive oil and herbs. Thick, ribbon-like noodles or ridged pasta can hold more weight, and they keep the sauce on your noodles instead of at the bottom of the bowl. Tubular pasta is ideal for baked dishes like casseroles. Because the shapes, sizes and thickness varies so much, each type of pasta will have different cook times. Check the directions on your pasta box for perfectly al dente noodles.

If you’re using a pasta maker to shape your homemade pasta dough into noodles, tubes or shells, here’s a whole list of fun shapes to try. One ball of dough can make dozens of different dishes!

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Keep this easy chicken Alfredo casserole recipe on hand when you need a simple dish that doesn’t require a lot of hands-on time. This is a “dump and bake” casserole recipe that uses a single baking dish.

Stir together the pasta, pre-made Alfredo sauce, broth, leftover chicken, cheese and seasonings. Bake for about 30 minutes and serve with salad, or see our variations for an option to include veggies in the bake. You will have dinner on the table in record time, with minimal fuss.

Ingredients for Chicken Alfredo Casserole

  • Penne pasta: Combine uncooked pasta with the sauce and the broth and bake in the oven until tender.
  • Alfredo sauce: Use two jars (15 oz each) of your favorite prepared Alfredo sauce.
  • Chicken broth: Store-bought or homemade chicken broth, along with the Alfredo sauce, provides enough liquid for the pasta to cook right in the oven.
  • Cooked chicken: Cubed chicken breast adds a lean protein to this easy casserole.
  • Garlic: Minced garlic adds plenty of savory flavor.
  • Cheese: Combine parmesan and mozzarella cheese to get the best of both cheesy worlds. Parmesan has lots of flavor and mild mozzarella melts beautifully.
  • Parsley: Minced parsley is a simple way to add a dash of vibrant green and some brightness to this rich and creamy casserole.

Taste of Home