Tag: #TheKitchn

Posted in #Recipes

Cooking for One? Here Are 7 Weeks of Easy Meal Plans.

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

If you’re a household of one, you know the struggles of cooking for yourself. Most recipes serve four or more people, so unless you take the time to halve or quarter each and every one, you’re left with a mountain of leftovers. That might be fine on day two or three, but eating reheated leftovers all week long gets old.

That’s why we want to help. These seven meal plans celebrate you, the solo cook, and ensure you won’t get bored with dinner (or breakfast or lunch, for that matter) by mid-week.

1. How I Prep a Week of Mediterranean Diet Meals for One

This one-week meal plan celebrates both the Mediterranean diet and the solo cook. It will set you up for a week of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that are far from boring and totally feel-good, including a salmon skillet with chickpeas and greens, Mediterranean quinoa salad, toasted muesli, and more.

Get the plan: How I Prep a Week of Mediterranean Diet Meals for One

2. How I Prep a Week of Easy Meals for One in Just 2 Hours

This meal plan is out to prove that meal prepping for one doesn’t have to mean cooking a big pot of chili on Sunday and reheating portions all week. You’ll get lasagna roll-ups, baked salmon, rotisserie chicken tacos, and more out of this two-hour session.

Get the meal plan: How I Prep a Week of Easy Meals for One in Just 2 Hours

The Kitchn

Posted in #Recipes

Classic Beef Chili

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When a winter chill hits the air, there is nothing more cozy, comforting, and warming than a big pot of chili simmering on the stove (plus, it also makes your kitchen smell amazing at the same time!). While there are an endless variety of chili recipes to choose from, I always come back to the classic beef and bean chili. This tried-and-true recipe is flavored with onion, garlic, tomatoes, and warm spices — and even better, it cooks in just an hour.

What Beans Go in Chili?

Kidney beans are the classic bean of choice for chili. For ease and convenience, this recipe calls for drained and rinsed canned kidney beans. But if you happen to have a couple of cans of black beans or any variety of white beans in your pantry, they’ll work just fine. And if you’re strongly opposed to beans in chili, then Texas chili — made with cubed beef chuck roast and absolutely no beans — will be right up your alley.

How Do I Add More Flavor to Chili?

The secret to packing your pot of chili with tons of flavor has to do with both ingredient choice and the cooking process. 

Here are some tips for making the most flavorful chili.

  • Use ground beef with a higher fat content. Fat equals flavor, so 80% to 85% lean ground beef are good choices for chili.
  • Cook the tomato paste. This is the key to really getting flavor from tomato paste. Plan to cook the tomato paste until it takes on a deep red flavor and is fragrant; the process takes just a few minutes.
  • Bloom the spices. Same goes for the spices. After adding to the pot, stir to coat the meat with the spices and cook for at least a full minute, at which point the mixture will be very fragrant.
  • Include unsweetened cocoa powder. A tablespoon of this pantry ingredient adds a deep, rich flavor to chili.
  • Finish with a spoonful of apple cider vinegar. A teaspoon is all you need. If you find that your chili tastes flat, a little bit of acidity really brightens up and rounds out the flavor.

The Kitchn

Posted in #Recipes

Recipe: Blueberry Walnut Overnight Oats

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

If there was a prize for the breakfast that delivers the highest reward for the least amount of effort, overnight oats would be the clear winner. Stir a few ingredients together, let them mix and mingle in the fridge while you sleep, and come morning you have a satisfying breakfast all ready to go.

This one is sweet and simple. It’s dotted with juicy blueberries, crunchy walnuts, and protein-rich chia seeds, and can be made with either regular milk or dairy-free milk. It’s easy to make, easy to carry with you to work or school in the morning, and even easier to eat: Just grab a spoon, give it a stir, and dig right in.

A Quick & Simple Formula for a Feel-Good Breakfast

You’ll love how how adaptable this recipe is. The berry and nut formula can be mixed and matched depending on your mood or what’s in your kitchen. Swap in raspberries or chopped strawberries for blueberries, opt for pecans or almonds instead of walnuts, and even try flax seeds in place of chia seeds. Regardless of how you assemble it, the result is a satisfying breakfast that will give you the energy you need to get through the morning and take you to lunchtime without having your stomach grumble at 10 a.m.

The Kitchn