Tag: easy recipes

Posted in #allrecipes

Here’s How to Tell If Your Ground Beef Is Past Its Prime

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

If you’ve stared at that package of raw ground beef in your fridge and wondered if you left it too long, you’re not alone. Meat, whether chicken, beef, or pork, is one thing you don’t want to consume when it has gone off: Even when cooked, there is the potential that it could cause food poisoning. You also don’t want to misinterpret the signs and throw out meat that’s perfectly fresh, thus wasting money and upending your dinner plans. So how do you know if ground beef is spoiled or safe to eat? And what does that gray color really mean? Read on to have all your ground beef questions answered once and for all.  

Allrecipes

Posted in #allrecipes

This Is the Reason Your Baby Carrots Are Always Wet

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Baby carrots are, by all accounts, a curious produce item. They’re so polished, so smooth, so rounded, and just…so uniform. Of course, it’s not uniformity that’s earned the baby carrot a revered spot in crisper drawers across the country (mine included)—it’s convenience. 

Baby carrots require no washing or peeling, simply open the package and they’re ready to go. Use them for dipping, for roasting, for whatever you please! They’re here to offer a type of luxurious ease we all deserve a taste of. Still, there is one feature of these conveniently bite-sized hummus vehicles that has always given me pause: the amount of liquid present in every bag. I mean, why are they so wet? 

As it turns out, the liquid is there for a reason and no cause for concern. 

Allrecipes

Posted in #allrecipes

Chef John’s Bell Pepper Cutting Trick Will Save You Time (And Prevents a Seedy Mess)

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Cutting a bell pepper, with all of its seedy ribs and stems, might seem like an intimidating task to the beginner cook. But fear not! The bell pepper is actually one of the easiest vegetables to slice and dice. You just need to know what you’re doing. 

Luckily for us, Chef John is full of tricks and advice for home cooks of all skill levels. 

His new Ultimate Cowboy Caviar recipe features three (count ‘em, three) types of peppers—and he used it as an excuse to share a time-saving tip for cutting bell peppers without the mess.  

Allrecipes

Posted in #allrecipes

Stop Adding This Ingredient to Scrambled Eggs

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Scrambled eggs are often one of the first dishes we learn to cook, perhaps as kids standing beside a parent or grandparent as they whip up our favorite breakfast. It’s a simple, quick, and delicious way to start a busy day. But, as is often the case in the culinary world, the simplest recipes are often the trickiest. 

Scroll around the internet for scrambled egg recipes, and you’ll find that almost every chef has a versionthey claim is the creamiest, lightest, or fluffiest. Whether it’s Gordon Ramsey’s more elaborate method with a crème fraîche finish or Ina Garten’s inclusion of half-and-half, you don’t have to look far to find many different ways to make your morning eggs.

But if you ever made scrambled eggs that tasted a bit lackluster, watery, or even rubbery, chances are there’s an ingredient you’re adding that’s causing some problems. Perhaps you’ve been adding a splash of milk out because someone once said you should always add milk to your scramble—and while dairy can certainly enhance the flavor of eggs, you’re probably adding too much. 

Allrecipes

Posted in From My Kitchen

The 24 Best 30-Minute Chicken Dinners to Make When You’re Short on Time

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—and 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 cook alongside crispy chicken thighs by first boiling in water until tender, and then fry into golden nuggets in the remaining oil.

Food Network