Frying up a big pan of bacon is one of life’s greatest pleasures — second only to eating said bacon. And once you’ve devoured all the delicious strips, you’re left with a pan filled of just-as-delicious bacon grease.
If you’re not aware of the magic that is savory bacon grease, we’re about to change your cooking life forever with this Southern hack.
Pork is so versatile, playing well with all kinds of preparations. It’s such a great choice for quick-and-easy dinners. These top-rated pork recipes are fast and fantastic, and include classics like pork lo mein, honey garlic pork chops, pork skillets, simple pastas with pork sausage, pork stir-fries, and much more. Pick your favorites! Dinner’s on the table in 30 minutes or less.
Does everybody have those foods or dishes that, as a child, you were convinced you hated—but in your adulthood, you’ve come to find that you actually enjoy? For me, a grilled pork chop is at the top of that list. I can vividly remember the childhood heartbreak of realizing that my dad had the grill fired up for a pork chop dinner. Noooo. To me, they were dry, flavorless, and tough to chew. Sorry, Pops…but no, thank you.
Listen, I am not here to throw my dad’s cooking under the bus (after all, he has taught me so many things), but it wasn’t until culinary school that I truly understood the beauty of a simply-grilled pork chop. When I learned that we were making pork chops at school that day, I was immediately filled with dread, because I knew it was a cut of meat that I wasn’t excited about. However, the results were nothing like what I remembered—instead, the chops were juicy, super flavorful, and tender as could be. What had I been missing all this time?!
Living in a small apartment often involves choosing appliances that pack in a lot of options and value instead of always trying the latest trendy gadgets. It’s a matter of utilizing what is sometimes nonexistent counter space in the most productive matter.
But every so often, trends and space-saving gadgets merge in a perfect combination, and that’s what happened when I got my first air fryer.
I am said person — one of many out there, though — who lives in a small studio apartment with a tiny kitchen. However, in my case, I am attempting to do so while writing about food and cooking as my job.
That means I spend a lot of time prepping and cooking — sometimes batches, sometimes small portions — in a kitchen kind of designed for someone who hardly needed to use it at all. It’s a kitchen where, if one wants to use their slow cooker, they’d have to put their toaster on the floor because there’s no room for both to exist simultaneously. Enter, then, the air fryer.
The reason I fell in love with the air fryer at first glance was its incredible functionality. It can be used to make classic air fryer recipes, like those fries or wings that it is best known for, sure. But as someone who doesn’t currently own a microwave or toaster – it’s also great for reheating that pizza or last night’s dinner leftovers. In fact, it can be used to do essentially anything the oven can do but in a compact, easy to clean, and often faster and simpler way.
In short, I’m hooked. In fact, I’m so hooked that I cook live on my Instagram nearly daily with new discoveries of the endless possibilities of cooking with an air fryer. From lobster tails to stuffed peppers, it’s happened.
But now a few years into using the air fryer as my primary kitchen appliance, I’ve absolutely developed some best practices and tips that can save new air fryer cookers a lot of time. So with the help of some air fryer experts I know and my own experience, here are some ways to get the most out of your own air fryers. It’s not just for wings!
Anyone who’s lived in a cowboy town knows that the Wild West is still very much alive—rodeos, cattle drives, coal-powered railroad rides and mining tours in a picturesque mountain town continue on. In addition to Wild West vibes, the cowboy appetite is also quite real. After a long day of working outdoors, there’s nothing more comforting than a big bowl of cowboy soup.
The best part about this hearty, filling recipe is that it’s super easy to make and almost completely customizable. You can make it with a variety of ingredients you have on hand in the pantry.
Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree 