Bake Bread at Home With these Recipe Sites

March 4, 2014 by francis

There’s something so satisfying about bread, whether it’s a crispy piece of toast with jam, a light, fluffy roll dipped in your favorite soup, or a crunchy crostini with goat cheese spread. If you want to make gourmet-quality breads from the comfort of your own kitchen, these step-by-step recipe websites will help you do just that.

Cooking Light
The Cooking Light website aims to make eating bread a bit more healthier, but just as delicious. Its Healthy Baking Guide features a list of the 30 Best Quick Bread Recipes, perfect for the busy home cook or the amateur chef. These breads are leavened with baking powder or baking soda instead of yeast, which makes their cooking times shorter and more manageable. From flaky buttermilk biscuits to zucchini-pineapple quick bread, you’ll find an abundance of fast and easy bread recipes on this unique list.

Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens magazine has published a lot of bread recipes over the years, but this is a list of their very favorite loaves. From Semolina and Rosemary Boule to Two-Tone Banana Bread to Whole Grain Sunflower Bread, these not-so-average breads are all delicious in their own unique ways.

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Want to Cook More at Home? This USDA Guide Will Help You Get Started

February 4, 2014 by francis

Some people love to cook at home and treat it as a hobby, while others feel lost or intimidated in the kitchen. Whether you don’t cook much because you simply don’t have the time or you frequently eat out because your cooking skills aren’t up to par, these motivational tips from the USDA will help you become more acquainted with your kitchen.

Start gradually
If you don’t often cook at home, it can seem intimidating to prepare meals every day of the week. To avoid staring blankly into your refrigerator, start by planning one special meal every week. If you know the ingredients you need in advance, you won’t feel as overwhelmed when it’s time to make dinner.

Consider your portions
When planning a meal, remember that you need larger portions of fruits and vegetables and smaller portions of grains and proteins. Begin by preparing a salad or a vegetable, then make the meat or rice afterward.

Serve yourself thoughtfully
To avoid overeating, serve yourself a small portion to start with, and then continue to eat small portions until you feel yourself getting full. If you begin with a full plate of food, you’re more likely to overeat.

For more tips on cooking at home, visit the USDA website.