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How to Take the Stress Out of Home-Cooked Meals

February 20, 2015 by

For as long as you can remember, there’s always been a certain pressure to provide your loved ones with a nightly “home-cooked meal.” Although it may sometimes feel like it’s impossible to prepare an elaborate dinner on busy weeknights, these smart tips will show you how to take the stress out of the classic home-cooked meal.

  1. Start meal planning. Sure, making a home-cooked meal is difficult if you don’t have all the ingredients or don’t know what to make. By planning a week’s worth of meals on Sunday evening, you can get your cooking schedule under control.
  2. Make preparations. Many at-home chefs use their weekends as a time to prepare the bases for the week’s meals. You can cook a dozen chicken breasts, bake a casserole, or even begin to marinate a steak to save yourself time the night of.
  3. Choose basic recipes. If you don’t have time to experiment with fancy recipes from cooking magazines, choose recipes that you already know and love. Just because your favorite spaghetti and meatballs is pretty basic doesn’t mean that it’s not home-cooked.
  4. Make it from scratch, but not entirely from scratch. Don’t feel like you have to crush your garlic by hand or chop each vegetable individually for your meal to count as home-cooked. Buying frozen veggies or garlic powder works just as well.

10 Secrets of Home Cooks (And How You Can Become One, Too!) [Real Simple]
6 Tips for Stress-Free Family Meals [Right @ Home]
How to Plan Your Weekly Meals, Stress Free [Lifehacker]

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How to Find Find Farmers’ Markets Near You

January 23, 2015 by

If you strive to include local, organic produce in your diet, this post is for you! The following two websites make it easy to track down farmers' markets near you, so you can continue to stock your kitchen with fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers.

USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory [USDA]
Listing more than 8,200 markets across the U.S., the USDA's farmers' market directory makes it easy to find exactly what you're looking for. You can search by zip code, available products, accepted payment, and location (e.g. farm or closed-off street). Making this tool even more convenient, results can be exported to a spreadsheet or viewed in map form.

Farmers' Markets [Local Harvest]
This website displays local farmers' markets in map form with a directory of market names listed underneath. Simply type your zip code at the top of the webpage, then click the results for more information and product highlights of each farmers' market.

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Deliciously Lovely Pinterest Boards for Vegans

December 5, 2014 by

If you’re a vegan, Pinterest is a wonderful way to discover thousands of meat and dairy-free recipes that you can save to try later. This online community operates just like a digital bulletin board, enabling users to share their own content or pin content that you love. Check out these vegan Pinterest boards and you just may discover some recipes to make at home.

Vegan Richa’s Dessert Board
This Pinterest board is dedicated entirely to vegan desserts that are made without dairy or meat products. At a glance, the pins looks so decadent that you can’t even tell that they’re not the original recipes, from creamy vegan chocolate milkshakes to dairy-free peanut butter cheesecakes. Best of all, this board is so large that you’ll discover a new dish every time you visit.

Vegan Recipes
If you’re simply searching for versatile vegan recipes for everyday breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, you’ll love this board of recipes. All of the photos are so high quality that you’ll get hungry just looking at them, and they link back to reliable websites that provide step-by-step recipes to prepare the dishes at home. From colorful salads to splurge-worthy vegan baked onion rings, you’ll find a vegan recipe for every craving on this expansive Pinterest board.

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Savory Meets Sweet in These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes

November 14, 2014 by

If you think that sweet stuffings are too sweet and savory stuffings are too savory, a blend of the two flavors may be just the thing to perfect this Thanksgiving side. Here are a few sweet and savory stuffing recipes that will appeal to even the pickiest dinner guests.

Awesome Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Stuffing [allrecipes.com]
The combination of savory sausage with sweet, seasonal fruits brings out maximum flavor in this tasty stuffing recipe. Best of all, the recipe yields enough stuffing to fill a 10-pound turkey, and it’s very easy to double if you’re expecting more guests.

Dried Fruit and Nut Cornbread Dressing [marthastewart.com]
Few foods feel more like fall than the mixture of dried fruits and nuts, and although these ingredients are normally found in desserts, they offer an unexpectedly sweet crunch in this dressing. By using a hearty cornbread instead of the usual breadcrumbs, this dish also takes on a uniquely rustic taste.

Ciabatta Stuffing with Chestnuts and Raisins [myrecipes.com]
If you prefer your stuffing to be positively filled with flavor, this recipe certainly won’t disappoint. Fresh herbs like parsley, rosemary and sage make it less bland than most, while autumnal chestnuts and sweet raisins add even more unique flavor.

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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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How to Keep Raw Meat Fresh Longer in the Fridge

September 12, 2014 by

Meat is an important part of most people’s diets, and it can take up quite a large chunk of your grocery budget. Unfortunately, meat is also difficult to store and has a shorter shelf life than other groceries. Here are a few tips that will help you to store meat properly and make it last longer!

  1. Keep your refrigerator at the proper temperature. In order to store meat in your refrigerator, it should be kept at or below 40 degrees. If you plan on freezing meat, the freezer should be kept at or below 0 degrees.
  2. Timing is everything. In order to safely store cooked meat, you must refrigerate it within two hours of eating. If you’re storing it raw, be sure to refrigerate or freeze it immediately.
  3. Store it in the proper containers. Be sure to refrigerate or freeze meat in a shallow container that is barely bigger than the meat itself. This will ensure that it becomes cold as quickly as possible and isn’t exposed to any air.
  4. Be cautious about freezing. Freezing meat is a great way to make your meat last longer, but you need to be cautious about freezer burn. Be sure to wrap meat thoroughly in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or wax paper before storing the meat in the freezer.

Storage Times for the Refrigerator and Freezer [Foodsafety.gov]
Meat in the Refrigerator: How Long Does It Last? [Foodsafety.gov]
How to Store Food Properly in the Freezer and Fridge [Lifehacker]
Food Storage 101: Where and How Long to Keep Your Favorite Foods [Lifehacker]

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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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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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