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Vegans Will Love These Inspirational Pinterest Recipe Boards

August 19, 2016 by

Whether you're a vegan or you simply try to cut out meat a few days a week, vegan dining is a great way to improve your health and do some good for the environment. Here are a few inspiring Pinterest boards that are filled with vegan recipes that are sure to get your mouth watering.

Best Vegan Recipes
This Pinterest board is bright, colorful and filled with nutritious meals for every time of day. From hemp seed snack smoothies to grilled veggie fajitas, there's something to inspire every meal.

Vegan Food Lovers
This community Pinterest board features contributions from some of the best vegan food bloggers online. Here, you'll find sweet, frozen snacks, globally inspired lunches and even a variety of different ways to prepare tofu.

Earth Balance's Vegan Recipes
If you're looking for some inspiration for lunch or dinner, this is the board to check out. It features main courses like vegan pot pie, savory Indian curries and lots of veggie-packed soups.

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Chef-Approved Tips for Cleaning a Cast Iron Skillet

August 5, 2016 by

The trusty cast iron skillet is a mainstay in any home chef’s kitchen, but it’s also one of the most confusing items when it comes to its care. Should you wash it with water? Try a salt scrub? These chef-approved tips will show you exactly how to clean your cast iron skillet properly — and tell you which techniques you should never use!

  • Never use soap. No matter what you do, never soak your skillet in soapy water. This removes the natural, nonstick coating that comes from frequent use and oil absorption.
  • Clean it while still warm. This makes it much easier to remove food particles.
  • Use a stiff brush. Using a stiff brush made of natural materials that won’t melt, run the skillet under hot water and give it a good scrubbing. This will remove food without stripping it of its natural oils and seasonings.
  • Sprinkle on salt. To remove particularly built-up food particles, sprinkle coarse Kosher salt on the surface of the pan. Scrub it dry, and then run water over the surface to remove the salt.
  • Dry. Dry your pan using a clean towel or by letting it sit on the stove on low heat.
  • Season. Finally, apply a light coating of oil or shortening to lock in that lovely seasoning.

How To Clean and Season an Old, Rusty Cast Iron Skillet [Apartment Therapy]
Cleaning and Seasoning a Cast-Iron Skillet [Real Simple]
How To Clean a Cast Iron Skillet [The Kitchn]

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Beware of These Three Surprising Sources of High Fructose Corn Syrup

January 29, 2016 by

Avoiding high fructose corn syrup seems like it would be fairly easy if you read your labels and eat a plant-based diet. However, there are still ways in which this artificial sweetener can find its way into the food you eat. Here are three surprising sources of high fructose corn syrup that you might want to avoid:

  1. Salad dressing. Low-fat or not, many salad dressings contain high fructose corn syrup as a main ingredient. Make your own with oil and vinegar dressing or buy organic to avoid this.
  2. Honey-roasted peanuts. There are only seven ingredients in this sweet snack, and corn syrup is one of them. Choose raw or oven-roasted nuts instead.
  3. Ketchup. It might be no surprise that ketchup includes sugar, but some brands contain exceedingly high amounts. Look for all-natural brands or use ketchup sparingly.

Corn Syrup in Unexpected Foods [Huffington Post]
Surprising Products That Contain High Fructose Corn Syrup [Divine Caroline]
(Not So) Sweet: Surprising Foods Containing High Fructose Corn Syrup [Babble]
6 Popular Foods with High-Fructose Corn Syrup [FitDay]

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Thanksgiving Dessert Alternatives to Your Basic Pumpkin Pie

November 3, 2015 by

Sure, everyone loves pumpkin pie, but the old standby dessert may start to feel a bit tired over the years. If it sounds like blasphemy to write off your annual Thanksgiving pie, you’ll quickly forget your guilt once you read about these equally sweet, mouthwatering dessert alternatives.

Cranberry Orange Parfait [foodnetwork.com]
Add a tangy, zesty flavor to your holiday dinner table with mini parfaits that are just as pretty as they are delicious. A combination of heavy cream, rich vanilla, and orange marmalade creates a thick, pudding-like base, while chopped pecans add a bit of flavorful crunch that makes this dessert truly decadent.

Bourbon Pumpkin Cheesecake [smittenkitchen.com]
If you simply can’t bear to part with your pumpkin dessert, breathe new life into it with a cheesecake base and a bit of bourbon. This cheesecake features a graham cracker crust, pumpkin cheesecake filling, and bourbon-infused sour cream topping that's equally creamy and sweet.

Apple Blueberry Crumble [dinnerwithjulie.com]
For your guests who are die-hard pie fans, this traditional fruit pie topped with a thick, flavorful crumble is the perfect ending to the Thanksgiving meal.

Fig Tart [chezpim.com]
Figs may traditionally be a Christmas treat, but this fig tart is so good that your guests won’t even notice. It only takes five ingredients for the filling and three ingredients for the crust, so it’s also incredibly simple to make.

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Dip Into Something Sweet With These 4 Dessert Fondue Recipes

September 9, 2015 by

Fondue restaurants are trendy and tons of fun, but they’re often quite expensive for such simple ingredients. Here are a few recipes for restaurant-quality fondue that you can make right in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Chocolate Fondue [Rachael Ray]
All you need is a fondue pot, bittersweet chocolate, heavy cream, and some fruit and other dipping items to make this traditional fondue recipe.

Chocolate Bar Fondue [Real Simple]
This recipe is perfect for anyone who wants to make fondue using basic ingredients that you already have at home. Use angel food cake or strawberries for dipping, and you’re good to go.

Milk Chocolate Fondue [Betty Crocker]
While some chocolate fondues can be a bit bitter, this one uses milk chocolate for a sweeter, creamier taste.

Chocolate Fondue [Williams Sonoma]
Adding some vanilla extract gives this chocolate fondue recipe a hint of extra flavor that your guests will love.

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Healthy Rice and Potato Dishes That Won’t Weigh You Down

August 4, 2015 by

Starches and whole grains are important for feeling energized, but if eaten in excess, they can make you feel heavy or weighed-down. These delicious and nutritious recipes from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute incorporate rice and potatoes into your diet in a way that benefits your body and provides proper portion sizes.

Delicious Oven French Fries
Though fast food French fries are anything but healthy, this oven-baked alternative provides the same classic taste without the added fat and salt.

Wonderful Stuffed Potatoes
By stuffing a baked potato with low fat milk and cottage cheese instead of the usual sour cream, you can save calories and still get the same savory taste.

Candied Yams
The holiday favorite gets a healthy makeover in this fast and easy recipe, with sweet brown sugar and tangy orange juice for a boost of added flavor.

Scallion Rice
The addition of green onions and bullion gives this simple, low-calorie rice dish a little something extra, and makes it perfect for eating with a variety of meats, vegetables or stir-fries.

Sunshine Rice
Perfect for pairing with grilled chicken or for eating on its own, this rice recipe contains unique ingredients like hot sauce, almonds, and lemon juice for a distinctly flavorful taste.

For more healthy rice and potato dishes, visit the NIH website by clicking here.

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How to Identify the Freshest Fruit at the Supermarket

April 17, 2015 by

Fresh, ripe fruit plays an important part in any healthy diet, but it can be frustrating when your juicy apples get brown and bruised just days after purchasing them. If you'd like to select the ripest, freshest produce at the grocery store, check out these four tips!

  1. Feel the weight. Fruits like melons, oranges, and lemons feel heavier when they’re ripe with juice, so pick them up before choosing which ones to buy. The fruit should feel heavy for its size if it’s truly ripe.
  2. Test the texture. The above fruit should also feel firm to the touch, but not so firm that they feel dry and hard inside. Give them a gentle squeeze to check for bruising, as well.
  3. Use your sense of smell. Fruits like berries, grapes, and nectarines begin to smell sour or rotten when they’re past their prime, so be sure to give them a good whiff before purchasing. Most fruits will give off a light, sweet scent when they’re ready to consume.
  4. Inspect the whole surface. If all else fails, use your best judgment by simply inspecting the fruit. Turn over a melon or apple to check for bruising or discoloration, take a quick peek through a bag of grapes or oranges to see if any are mushy or rotten, and consider the color of the fruit’s skin, as this can often tell if it is too ripe.

How to Select Fresh, Ripe Produce [Lifehacker]
How to Pick Fruits & Veggies [Good Housekeeping]
Raw Produce: Selecting and Serving it Safely [FDA]
Choosing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables [Family Circle]

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How to Brew Coffee at Home, Just Like a Pro Barista

April 3, 2015 by

If your daily coffee shop habit is starting to make an impact on your wallet, it may be time to start getting caffeinated at home. You don’t have to settle for an inferior cup, however; simply follow these tips to brew coffee just like your favorite barista!

  1. Start with high-quality coffee. It may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to brew a great cup is by using great coffee! Try to purchase coffee as soon after it was roasted as possible, such as from a local roaster. Also, buy it in small quantities to ensure its freshness.
  2. Just add water. Fresh, filtered water, that is. Because water is the foundation of your coffee, it should taste fresh and free of chemicals such as chlorine.
  3. Grind beans on the spot. Instead of grinding all of the beans at once at the grocery store, invest in a home grinder so that you can grind them as you use them. Also, be sure to vary the size of the grounds based on what type of brewing system you use. For example, use a coarser grind for a French press and a fine grind for espresso.
  4. Use the proper ratio. To brew the perfect cup of coffee, keep in mind that you should use a ratio of 5 tablespoons of coffee to 16 ounces of water. This amount will brew two standard size cups, but you can double it to make more.

How to Brew Coffee [NCA]
9 Rules for How to Make a Perfect Cup of Coffee [Eating Well]
How to Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee [Real Simple]

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Find Local Fare at Food Co-Ops

February 27, 2015 by

A food co-op is a grocery store that is collectively owned and operated by its members, and it normally focuses on local products. Even though you might not realize it, you likely have a food co-op in your area. Here are a few ways that a food co-op can improve your relationship with food.

  1. They’re more convenient than most farmers markets. Although farmers markets are also great ways to shop locally, they’re usually only held once a week (and not at all in the winter months). Food co-ops, on the other hand, are just as convenient as a traditional grocery store.
  2. They help to support local farmers. These days, local farmers are much fewer and farther between than they were in the past, and food co-ops are some of the most important things to help them continue to make a living by farming.
  3. Expect to become a member. In exchange for providing fresh, local produce, meats and baked goods, most food co-ops expect their shoppers to become members. This usually means paying yearly dues and receiving a type of membership card before you’re able to shop in their store. If you’re dedicated to supporting local agriculture or improving your diet, these dues are more than worth it.

How to Find a Food Co-Op in Your Area and Score Some High-Quality, Super-Cheap Eats [Lifehacker]
What is a Food Co-Op? [WiseGeek]
What is a Food Co-op? [Kitsap Food]

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Two Great Websites for Muffin Recipes

January 30, 2015 by

If you’re growing tired of the usual blueberry muffin recipe, it might be time to switch things up in the kitchen. Put your baking skills to the test with these wonderful muffin recipes from two of the best recipe sites from around the web..

Cooking Light
Cooking Light’s list of Healthy Muffin Recipes is the perfect resource for the health-conscious baker. Muffins don’t need to be packed with calories in order to taste great, and there are a number of simple ingredient substitutions that can help to make your muffins a bit more nutritious. The Tuscan Lemon Muffins are made with olive oil and fresh lemon juice instead of sugary sweeteners or phony flavors, and even the seemingly indulgent Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Muffins are a bit healthier than the store-bought kind.

Martha Stewart
For truly creative muffin recipes, Martha Stewart’s website is one of the best resources. Beautiful photos provide endless inspiration, while the easy-to-follow recipes are simple enough for even the amateur home baker. Try the easy Applesauce Muffins with light, fluffy icing, or bake some Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins for a thicker consistency and sweet, spicy flavor. Whether you prefer something dessert-like or a muffin that’s a bit more savory, Martha Stewart has a muffin recipe for everyone.

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