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Please Picky Eaters With These Healthy Fast Food-Inspired Recipes

September 19, 2014 by

You love the burger and fries at your favorite fast food restaurant, but you also know that too much grab-and-go food can take a toll on your health—and your waistline! If you’re dealing with a brood of picky eaters, these recipes will satisfy those fast food cravings, without all of the saturated fat.

Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders with Five Spice Barbecue Sauce [Good Housekeeping]
While regular fast food chicken tenders are deep fried and served with sugary sauces, this oven-baked alternative is just as tasty, but a whole lot healthier. Use Panko bread crumbs, sesame seeds, and a Chinese five-spice powder to create a crispy, Asian-inspired breading for the chicken, and then serve them with your own homemade barbecue sauce that’s free of unnecessary fat and calories.

Healthy Chocolate Banana Shake [abeautifulmess.com]
A thick, creamy milkshake from the local drive-through is a truly delicious indulgence, but it certainly isn’t the best thing for your waistline. This fruit-filled alternative is made with a whole banana, but it still packs that chocolatey punch that you love about traditional shakes.

Spicy Barbecue Chickpea Burgers [ohsheglows.com]
Instead of grabbing an artery-clogging burger, try this flavorful veggie burger. Hearty, protein-rich chickpeas hold the whole thing together, but the spicy barbecue sauce gives it a boost of flavor that's so good, you won’t even miss the meat.

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Memorize This Must-Know Kitchen Terminlogy

August 8, 2014 by

If you’ve ever encountered a cooking term that you didn’t understand in a new recipe, you know how confusing it can be. From julienne to mince, there’s a whole slew of complicated terminology that seems foreign to the amateur chef. Here are a few simple definitions that will help you with your next adventure in the kitchen.

  1. Braise. Braising involves browning meat or vegetables in a bit of hot fat before cooking them slowly in a shallow pool of liquid. This is a great technique to soften less tender cuts of meat or veggies.
  2. Devil. To devil something, such as an egg, you simply coat it with a hot seasoning like hot sauce or mustard.
  3. Dredge. Dredging means to coat something like meat or vegetables with flour, breadcrumbs, or cornmeal.
  4. Flambe. This term is usually found in more gourmet recipes. It involves sprinkling a food with a liqueur and lighting it on fire before serving.

Glossary of Basic Cooking Terms [Les Petites Gourmettes]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [UMN]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes & Gardens]
Culinary Terms [About.com]

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3 Kid-Friendly Dinner Recipes That’ll Satisfy Even the Finickiest of Eaters

June 27, 2014 by

A picky eater in the family can make cooking dinner difficult, but it’s important for everyone in your family to get the proper nutrition. If you’re looking for healthy, filling recipes that even small children will love, these three dishes are both simple and tasty.

Ham and Cheese Quesadillas [Real Simple]
Using deli ham and cheese instead of the usual complicated taco meats and seasonings, these ham and cheese quesadillas are ideal for nights when you don’t have much time to cook or when you’re short on groceries. Serve them with a slice of cantaloupe for a boost of healthy nutrients.

Taco Pizza [Martha Stewart]
This is a fun one that will get the kids excited to eat dinner. Taco pizza combines two of children’s favorite foods—pizza and tacos—and it takes just 25 minutes from start to finish. Use lean ground beef and fresh veggies to make it a bit healthier than the usual pizza.

Chicken Tenders With Creamy Honey Mustard [Kraft]
Even the pickiest eaters love chicken tenders, but this recipe is a less fattening alternative to the usual fast food fare. To make this dish even more convenient, the honey mustard sauce doubles as a dip for a side of vegetables.

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Check Out These 6 Tips for Baking the Perfect Cookies

June 20, 2014 by

Leave the grocery store frozen cookie dough behind in favor of something fresh, homemade, and much more flavorful. Making cookies from scratch is much easier than you may think, and if you follow a few simple guidelines, it doesn’t take much extra time, either. Here are some quick tips for making wonderful-tasting cookies at home.

  1. Don’t skimp on ingredients. If a recipe calls for something unusual or specific, it’s likely because it’s important.
  2. Always use pure forms of base ingredients. That means unsalted butter, large eggs, and pure vanilla extract.
  3. Use parchment paper instead of cooking spray. Parchment paper creates much less mess to clean up, and it prevents your cookies from burning.
  4. Adjust baking times to your unique preferences. If you prefer soft, chewy cookies, shave off a minute or two. If you like a crunchy cookie, add an extra minute.
  5. Place cookies approximately two inches apart. If you place them too close together on the baking pan, your cookies will melt together and lose their nice, round shape.
  6. For bar cookies, make sure you use the pan size indicated. It can be difficult to adjust the cooking time depending on the pan size, so it’s always smart to go with the size that the recipe specifies.

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How Much Oil Should You Consume?

June 19, 2014 by

Oil has a reputation for being bad for the waistline, but select oils are very beneficial when consumed in moderation. This helpful guide from the USDA provides simple, accessible descriptions of the main types of oils, then helps you to make informed decisions about which to use. Here are the highlights:

What are oils?
Oils are fats that become liquid at room temperature. Things like canola oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil are common, as well as the oils found in foods like nuts, olives, avocados, and some fish.

How are oils different from solid fats?
Solid fats contain more saturated fats and/or trans fats, while oils contain more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Saturated fats and trans fats raise the “bad” cholesterol in your body, which increases the risk of heart disease.

Why are oils important?
It is important to consume oils because they provide essential nutrients. Oils are the major source of essential fatty acids, which are necessary for your health, and they are also provide the majority of your body’s Vitamin E.

How much oil should I consume?
The average American adult needs anywhere from five to seven teaspoons of oil per day, depending on factors like your gender, age, and level of physical activity.

What Are “Oils”? [USDA]

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Rely On These Cooking Substitutes When You’re in a Pinch

June 13, 2014 by

There’s nothing worse than realizing that you don’t have all the required ingredients to make your favorite dish, especially if you realize after you’ve already started baking. These handy kitchen substitutions will show you how to use one ingredient in place of another the next time you’re in a pinch.

  1. Butter. If a recipe calls for one cup of butter, you can substitute one cup of regular margarine or one cup of vegetable shortening in baking. If the recipe calls for melted butter, you can use one cup of oil instead.
  2. Whipping Cream. Instead of whipping your own cream, which can often be difficult and time consuming, you can substitute a commercial pre-whipped cream if you know how to do it. Keep in mind that one cup of unwhipped whipping cream expands to two cups after it’s whipped. This means that if a recipe calls for one cup of whipping cream, you could substitute two cups of already-whipped cream.
  3. Egg. There are a number of different substitutes for a basic egg, which come in handy when your carton runs out or if you’re attempting to do some vegan baking. Try 1/4 cup of an egg substitute product or two tablespoons of mayonnaise for a perfectly moist cake or other baked goods. If you don’t have those products, you can also use a blend of 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, one tablespoon of vinegar and one tablespoon of water.

Common Ingredients Substitutions [All Recipes]
Cooking: Ingredient Substitutions [UNL Food]
Baking Ingredient Substitution Table [Joy of Baking]

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Cooking Without Eggs? Bookmark These 2 Webpages

June 6, 2014 by

Eggs are a staple in just about every recipe, but many people can’t consume eggs due to food allergies or a vegan diet. If you want to cook the delicious foods that you love without eggs, these websites offer simple tips and clever substitutions that can help.

Chef In You
The Chef In You Egg Substitutions page features just about everything you need to maintain an egg-free kitchen. A detailed chart describes things that you can substitute for eggs in a variety of dishes, including products like tofu, bananas, and commercial egg substitutes. There are even recipes that show you how to make desserts, breakfasts, and entrees without using eggs.

Kids With Food Allergies
Whether you have a child with a food allergy or not, this informative website will show you how to cook without eggs. The detailed articles describe alternatives for using eggs as a binder, a leavening agent, or a glaze, and there’s even a list that tells you some uncommon foods to avoid if you have an egg allergy. If you want to make an egg-free dish at home, Kids With Food Allergies also provides a few free recipes for baked goods without eggs.

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Replace Your Potato Salad With These 5 Unique Recipes

May 23, 2014 by

Potato salad is a staple dish at any picnic, barbecue, or summer party, but after a while it can start to lose its charm. If you love potato salad but want to update your outdated recipe, these five creative versions offer the same great taste with some subtle changes.

Yellow Mustard Potato Salad [Food Network]
The zesty taste of yellow mustard, relish, and pimento gives a unique flavor to this thick, hearty potato salad.

German Potato Salad [Food Network]
Prepared just like the Germans make it, this potato salad uses a broth rather than a creamy sauce. Adding bacon and apple cider vinegar ensures that it’s anything but bland.

Dairy-Free Potato Salad [AllRecipes]
This one is ideal for vegans or those with milk sensitivities. Simply toss cubed red potatoes with spices and roast until they’re slightly browned for a potato salad with a vinaigrette-style dressing.

Texas Ranch Potato Salad [AllRecipes]
By incorporating the zesty tastes of ranch dressing and bacon, this potato salad takes on a whole new dimension of flavors. Plus it’s so hearty, this one eats more like an entree than a side dish.

No-Mayo Potato Salad [AllRecipes]
Cutting the mayo also cuts a great deal of calories for those trying to manage their weight, but it doesn’t take away any of the savory taste.

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Expecting Company? Try These 4 Simple, Elegant Appetizer Recipes

May 14, 2014 by

Don’t get caught off guard the next time you have a last-minute gathering at home. With these convenient appetizer recipes, you can prepare beautiful and delicious hors d'oeuvres without taking time out of your busy schedule.

Bacon-Wrapped Apricots with Sage [Real Simple]
With such contrasting ingredients coming into play, this appetizer seems like it’s much more complicated than it is. All it takes is some apricots, crispy bacon, simple seasonings, and a few toothpicks to create a handheld appetizer.

Orange and Fennel Marinated Olives [Oprah]
No one hosts a party better than Oprah, and her sweet and savory marinated olives will have your guests asking for the recipe all night.

Endive with Ricotta, Almonds and Raisins [Real Simple]
Endives make an attractive vessel for eating the creamy ricotta in this simple appetizer, and the crunchy almonds and sweet raisins are just the icing on the cake.

Leek Tart [Martha Stewart]
A tart looks pretty and it’s easy for guests to eat, but most tarts are complicated and time-consuming to make. This one uses basic frozen dough and a few simple tricks to turn create a perfect tart crust.

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5 Classic Apple Pie Recipes

April 4, 2014 by

There are few things more American than sweet apple pie, and there are a number of different ways to prepare this classic dessert. Here are a few delicious apple pie recipes that are easy enough to make at home.

Scrumptious Apple Pie [Betty Crocker]
With a buttery, flaky crust and perfectly gooey filling, this is a classic recipe for everyone’s favorite dessert.

Old Fashioned Apple Pie [Simply Recipes]
If you don’t have an old family recipe, this apple pie recipe can be just that. It uses real, whole apples, a variety of spices, and even an egg wash to finish everything off.

Apple Pie [Williams Sonoma]
When you want an apple pie that looks just as good as it tastes, this pretty latticed version is the recipe to use.

Apple Pie Recipe and Video [The Joy of Baking]
Ideal for beginning bakers, this recipe features an informative video to follow along with as you bake.

Dreamy Apple Pie [The Pioneer Woman]
This recipe involves real butter and heavy cream to create a truly decadent apple pie.

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