Tag: #homecooking

Posted in #allrecipes

Discover Comfort Foods from the Past

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When searching for dinner inspiration, it’s easy to always look for what’s new and now. However, sometimes it’s worth looking to the past. Trending recipes have a time and place. However, nothing scratches the comfort food itch like the dishes you grew up with. Whether that was in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, or beyond.

It’s not uncommon for retro recipes to have some pretty out-there names. From Frog Eye Salad to Broken Glass Cake, these titles often sound strange. They even seem inedible. But don’t fear—their names typically nod to the recipe’s unconventional appearance. That’s certainly the case for Porcupine Meatballs, a beloved retro recipe we’d argue is long overdue for a comeback.

What Are Porcupine Meatballs?

Porcupine Meatballs contain no actual porcupine or any other exotic game — their name hails from their spiky appearance. Unlike other meatballs, this recipe adds rice instead of breadcrumbs or another binding agent. When the ground beef-rice mixture cooks, the grains of rice absorb liquid. They become plump and pronounced. The grains stick out of the meatballs like a porcupine’s quills.

Otherwise, they are a standard beef—yes, just beef—meatball recipe that gets cooked in a seasoned tomato sauce. Some porcupine meatball recipes call for simmering them in tomato soup. This is certainly a shortcut option available to you, too. For many, the version cooked in tomato soup tastes like home. However, our top-rated recipe for Porcupine Meatballs ditches the soup can for a homemade tomato sauce. It tastes even better, and many reviewers agree.

meatballs cooked in a tomato broth until rice is tender.
Qi Ai/Allrecipes

“Like others, my mom also used tomato soup. However, using tomato sauce instead really makes a difference,” writes home cook Amber G. “I can honestly say these are better than the ones mom used to make (sorry, mom)!”

Porcupine Meatballs were a staple during the Great Depression. They only required a few ingredients. This recipe was a great way to stretch a small amount of ground beef. These days, they’re still a budget-friendly recipe. They are also darn delicious and appealing to adults and kids alike. Their out-of-the-box look and familiar flavor make them a hit for everyone.

Allrecipes

Find more recipes like this on my companion blog, “Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let’s Eat!”

Delicious Orange Olive Oil Cake Recipe

Our orange olive oil cake recipe makes a simple yet flavorful snacking cake that everyone will love. In my house, I always have to bake a double batch.

A few years ago, two friends from my culinary school days came to visit me for the weekend. In preparation for my house guests, I deep cleaned, bought fresh flowers and baked an orange olive oil cake.

My friends were still a few hours away. I decided that no one would mind if I tried a slice of the cake. Quality control, right? Well, that was a huge mistake, because I fell in love.

The cake was tender and soft. The presence of orange was playful and bright with the fruity olive oil. There was just enough sugar to impart a hint of sweetness. It avoided a full-blown sugar rush—the marker of a true snacking cake. One slice turned into two, three, four. Before I knew it, half the cake was gone. And then my friends showed up.

I told them what happened. They laughed, then grabbed two forks and tried the cake for themselves. Laughter turned into shock, and I was jokingly berated all weekend for barely saving them “the best cake in existence.”

Every reunion weekend after that, my friends have requested the cake—with no slices taken out beforehand. And, yes, I learned my lesson: Always bake a double batch of this orange olive oil cake recipe. One for them, one for me.

Taste of Home

Find more recipes like this on my companion blog, “Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let’s Eat!”

Posted in From My Kitchen

Ultimate Guide to Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

How to Make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are one of our go-to bakes. Our Test Kitchen regularly whips up these big and buttery cookies (and they are an office favorite!). But there are lots of ways for you to create your version of a great cookie at home. If you want to play around with the recipe, then learn how to make a giant chocolate chip pizookie.

Also before moving ahead, take a quick look at this cookie salad recipe perfect as a sweet side.

Taste of Home

Find more recipes like this on my companion blog, “Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let’s Eat!”

Posted in From My Kitchen

75 Budget-Friendly Weeknight Dinner Recipes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

You don’t have to spend a lot to make something delicious. It can be on your table in an hour or less. Save money by choosing cheaper proteins like chicken, ground beef, turkey, or vegetarian options. Save time by making these dishes all in one pan or using some of our top kitchen shortcuts. Whatever your style, these 83 cheap and easy meals will please your entire family without breaking the bank.

One of the easiest ways to cut down on dinner costs is to go for cheaper cuts of meat. You can also utilize more expensive ones in creative ways. Try adding ground beef, turkey, or chicken to help bulk out old standbys. Try roasting a whole chicken. You can also buy a rotisserie chicken. Utilize it for everything from pizza to tacos all week long. Try adding more expensive seafood or steak to pasta or rice to help make smaller, more affordable portions go further, like in our salmon & potato skillet or our creamy steak fettuccine. It’s all about the way you use the protein that matters, not avoiding them altogether.

If you’ve been on the fence about certain kitchen appliances, like slow cookers, air fryers, and Instant Pots, consider this your sign to take the plunge and get one. They help dinners come together SO fast. Check out our more in-depth lists for your air fryer (over 100 recipes!), Instant Pot, and Crockpot.

Even if you’re not ready for another appliance, we bet you have some things in your kitchen already that’ll help you get dinner on the table fast, like sheet pans, a Dutch oven, and casserole dishes. We’ve included a number of our favorite recipes here, like our sheet-pan garlicky shrimp & veggies, our hamburger casserole (no more flipping individual burgers!), or our Mexican beef ‘n rice skillet, but once you’ve got the basics down, feel free to get creative.

One of the best ways to save some money is to go meatless (and not just on Mondays). And we don’t mean by replacing proteins with all those high-priced meat substitutes (though we’re all about those sometimes)—instead we’re talking about making vegetarian meals out of cheap beans, tofu, and plants. Try our Indian butter chickpeas, our BBQ pulled mushrooms, our sesame tofu & broccoli stir-fry, or our vegan crunchwraps to see how versatile and filling these meals can be.

Want more cheap and easy meals? Check out our favorite 5-ingredient meals, our top 30-minute meals, and former food editor June’s entire Budget Eats series. You won’t believe what she came up with for under $25!

delish

Posted in From My Kitchen

Easy Chicken Dinners in 30 Minutes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

We all know that weeknights get busy—whether you’re working late, shuffling kids to soccer practice or trying to squeeze in an evening yoga class—and there’s not always time to whip up an elaborate meal. That’s why we love having a few tried-and-true 30-minute recipes to rely on. They make meal prep easier and allow you to spend less time in front of the oven and more time enjoying whatever it is you like to do in the evenings.

With the help of shortcuts like rotisserie chicken and naturally speedy dishes like stir-fries, weeknight dinners don’t have to take all night. We’ve found plenty that feature family-favorite chicken and can be on the table in 30 minutes or less. Read on for our favorite easy ideas.

Curiously, water and oil work together to make a magical one-skillet weeknight chicken dinner in this easy recipe. A true hands-off meal, potatoes boil in water alongside crispy chicken thighs until they are tender. Then they fry into golden nuggets in the remaining oil.

Food Network