Hold the Sauce: Deliciously Unexpected Ways to Enjoy Cranberries

The usual cranberry sauce can start to feel a bit overdone come Thanksgiving time, but that doesn’t mean that you should rule out cranberries entirely. This tart berry offers a wonderful fall flavor, and they can be used in ways that you might not have ever imagined. Check out these creative culinary uses for cranberries.

Cranberry-Apple Brined Pork Chops [cranberries.org]
Applesauce isn’t the only fruit sauce that pairs well with hearty pork chops. This recipe involves brining the pork with cranberry juice and some simple spices for up to eight hours in the refrigerator before baking, ensuring that the sweet and tart flavor is incorporated into every bite.

Cranberry-Orange Pancakes with Cranberry-Maple Syrup [myrecipes.com]
This recipe offers a double dose of cranberry first thing in the morning, which is a great way to start the day. Zesty cranberry and orange add a full flavor to the buttermilk pancakes, while the cranberry-infused maple syrup topping gives the short stack a sweet flavor that’s perfect for fall.

Cranberry-Maple Bread Pudding [marthastewart.com]
Make the most of that seemingly useless stale bread by turning it into a bread pudding with a complex cranberry-maple compote topping. Since the bread is already made, this recipe is especially great as a last-minute dessert.

Did You Know You Can Cook These Recipes in the Microwave?

If you think that the microwave is only good for re-heating leftovers and preparing microwave dinners, think again. This common kitchen appliance is actually a great tool for preparing scratch-made dinners, desserts, and even breakfast dishes! These three recipes will show you how it's done.

The Moistest Chocolate Mug Cake [tablefortwoblog.com]
By combining a few simple baking ingredients in your morning coffee mug, you can create a one-serving dessert that’s perfect when you’re craving a sweet treat. Best of all, this simple cake takes just two minutes to make in the microwave.

1-Minute Microwave Quiche [fullthymestudent.com]
Quiche certainly isn’t the easiest breakfast to make, but with this simplified recipe it becomes a whole lot easier. Simply blend eggs with fresh veggies, herbs, and bread and cook it all in a mug — in just one minute, no less.

Lemon Shrimp with Rice [marthastewart.com]
Ingredients like Sauvignon Blanc wine, chopped, fresh herbs, and fresh shrimp combine to make a meal with more gourmet flair than your usual microwave dinner. Prepare the other ingredients while the rice cooks, and then pop the whole thing in the microwave for an additional two minutes before serving.

Learn to Cook with Kale with These Recipes

Kale is certainly having its moment in the spotlight, made popular because of its “superfood” status and its large amount of vitamins and nutrients. If you want to get on board with the kale trend but don’t know where to start, these healthy and delicious recipes will help.

Rich Italian Sausage and Potato Soup
Though many kale recipes seem like they’ll leave you feeling hungry, this rich and creamy soup certainly won’t. Its Italian seasonings give it a zesty taste, while the cream base makes it a warm comfort food for chilly days. Pieces of spicy sausage add protein without adding much fat, and the strips of kale become tender and soft when cooked in the hot broth.

Garlic-Roasted Kale
Because kale is so thick and hearty, it makes a great side dish all on its own. This recipe roasts the kale until it’s soft on the inside and crunchy on the edges, with a delicious garlic taste that just about anyone will love.

Chicken and Kale Casserole
This chicken casserole may taste indulgent, but its low-fat ingredients and coarsely chopped kale make it a healthy take on the classic dinner dish. Because it serves up to 8 people, you can even turn your friends and family into kale enthusiasts when you serve it at your next dinner party.

Three Unique Ways to Enjoy Iced Tea

From Southern-style sweet teas to berry-infused varieties, there is a seemingly endless number of ways to enjoy iced tea. This cool, refreshing beverage is as versatile as it is delicious, and it’s usually very simple to make. Here are three creative ways to enjoy iced tea.

Smooth Sweet Tea [AllRecipes]
Timeless and traditional, this recipe for Smooth Sweet Tea shows you just how to properly prepare the Southern favorite. Steeping black tea bags in boiling water creates a rich, aromatic base, while white sugar gives it that wonderfully sweet flavor.

Pomegranate and Lime Iced Tea [Real Simple]
Hot summer days call for a drink that will really quench your thirst, and this tart, fruity recipe does just that. Pomegranate juice gives the tea a real fruit flavor, while thinly sliced limes add a zesty taste that really complements the sweetness.

Green Jasmine-Mint Iced Tea with Lemon [Eating Well]
A wide assortment of flavors go into this simple tea recipe, but they all work together seamlessly. The jasmine green tea is light and mild, while the mint adds a cool flavor that will help you to unwind after a long day. Lemon juice and honey also provide a bit of added sweetness and tart flavor that’s more typical of green tea.

Cooking 101: Fail-Proof Recipes for Pasta Sauce

Making your own pasta sauce may seem like something reserved for only the most skilled chefs, but you’d be surprised to know how simple it really is. Forgoing the store-bought sauces in favor of making your own is also beneficial to your health, as it eliminates the added sugars and preservatives that are often found in jarred pasta sauces. If you want to try your hand at preparing a zesty, flavorful sauce at home, here are three fail-proof recipes.

World’s Best Pasta Sauce!
This traditional pasta sauce is a versatile option that you can use for years to come. It includes the staple ingredients like tomato paste and a variety of Italian meats, plus flavorful spices ranging from dried basil to fennel seed. Once the ingredients are blended together, everything gets cooked slowly in a large Dutch oven.

Great Grandma’s Pasta Sauce
If your own grandmother wasn’t much of a sauce maker, feel free to adopt this tasty recipe as your own. It uses simple ground beef, tomatoes, and Italian spices to give it a hearty texture that tastes straight out of the old country.

Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce
If you want to create a sauce that tastes like gourmet without the gourmet cooking skills, this recipe is the one to use. Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse shares his unique recipe that includes unexpected ingredients like hot sauce, balsamic vinegar, and an impressive amount of garlic.

4 Banana Muffin Recipes for Tomorrow’s Breakfast

Banana muffins are warm, sweet, and always a breakfast favorite. From the healthy to the indulgent, there’s a banana muffin recipe for just about everyone. Here are a few of the best.

Banana-Cinnamon Muffins [Betty Crocker]
A healthy dose of spicy cinnamon gives these muffins a bit of a kick that’s perfect around the holidays.

Banana Crumb Muffins [All Recipes]
Crumb toppings on muffins makes them taste more like a strudel, which is exactly what makes this recipe so special.

Banana Muffins [Martha Stewart]
You can’t go wrong with Martha’s banana muffin recipe, which combines vanilla extract and sour cream for added flavor and moistness.

Skinny Peanut Butter Muffins [Sally’s Baking Addiction]
Enjoy the comforting taste of banana muffins even when you’re on a diet with this healthy, gooey recipe.

Learn to Bake Great Scones from These Three Sites

Whether you pair them with tea or eat them for breakfast, scones are sweet, hearty treats that come in a variety of different flavors. Even amateur bakers will enjoy making delicious scones, and these recipe sites will give you some inspiration for your next foray into the wonderful world of pastries.

Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart’s beautiful websites provides endless inspiration for baking (and tasting!) scones. The site's list of Scone Recipes is unique and sophisticated, with both sweet and savory scones for just about any occasion. The Cream Scones with Currants are the perfect blend of creamy and tangy, while the Cheddar-Chive Scones offer a more filling, salty taste that makes a delicious lunch pairing.

Food Network
No one knows more about baking than your favorite Food Network hosts, and now you can bake scones straight from their own favorite recipes. Tyler Florence’s Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze are a traditional recipe with a lemony zest, perfect for breakfast or brunch. For a petite treat, The Pioneer Woman’s Mini Vanilla Scones will be a hit with the kids and the adults in your household.

Cooking Light
Who said scones have to be unhealthy? Though they taste warm and sweet, scones made from Cooking Light recipes are also nutritious and low in calories. This list of Healthy Scone Recipes will show you smarter ways to bake these breakfast breads.

Plan a Beautiful Brunch with These 2 Websites

If the in-between brunch is your favorite meal of the day, you’ll simply adore the sweet and savory recipes on these great websites.

Food Network
Your favorite Food Network show hosts offer their own favorite brunch recipes on the network’s website. They offer tips and tricks for how to plan a beautiful brunch, ideas for food themes, and, of course, detailed recipes for how to create dishes as good as the pros’. The Sausage Bread Brunch Sandwich from the Sandwich King Jeff Mauro is great for a causal weekend breakfast, while the Ted Allen’s Brunch Tart with Spinach, Olives and Leeks is a great main course for a more sophisticated meal. Whatever your brunch style, you’ll find something for everyone on the Food Network's website.

All Recipes
Browse by type of food, plan a breakfast buffet or search brunch foods by ingredient on the All Recipes Breakfast and Brunch section. Each of these simple recipes are rated and feature the complete nutritional information, so you can plan your brunch right down to the smallest detail.

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