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Sometimes we need a little help. A little ace in the hole to make dinner easy and fast. Sure, I do mostly homemade and I plan ahead my family’s meals, but I like a shortcut as much as the next person. It’s almost reassuring, isn’t it, to have something in your fridge or freezer that makes dinner a breeze? This is one of my favorite healthy go-to shortcuts. The ingredient list is simple - a bag of those frozen mix from Trader Joe’s and whatever other fresh or frozen veggies you want to toss in....

To elevate this simple ingredient, we’re pairing it with a zesty green chutney and a creamy yogurt or ricotta base. This salad is not only refreshing and guilt-free but also gluten-free, making it a wholesome choice for anyone looking for a nutritious Singhara snack idea. So, let’s dive into this unique and tasty recipe! Why To Make It? Perfect for Fasting: Singhara is naturally gluten-free and fasting-friendly, so it’s a great addition to your Navratri menu....

I had a rare but much appreciated mother-daughter date with M (my 4 ½-year-old) just recently. It’s tough to juggle enough quality time between both kids when I’m the only one around in the afternoons. So now and then my husband and I like to divide and conquer on the weekends. We each take a kid for an hour or two and get some one-on-one time. M and I headed to a nearby pond with some leftover bread ends to feed the ducks, fish and turtles that are always hungry and like to battle it out over each crumb....

Um, how is it April? I’m still adjusting to the fact that we’re in a new year and it’s already month four? What?! At least I have a fun month to look forward to. The kids have spring break in a couple weeks and we’ll head to Florida to spend it with my in-laws. We’ve also got a few birthday parties and our spring camping trip to look forward to this month....

4.13 29 Published Feb 25, 2019, Updated Oct 21, 2022 To kick things off with slow cooker week, I thought I’d answer a few questions for ya! Are crock pots and slow cookers the same thing? Pretty much! Up until writing this blog, I actually thought CrockPot was just a brand of a slow cooker, but looks like I was wrong! Both have three main components: pot, lid and heating component....

So a couple of weeks ago, someone gave me a giant bag of fingerling potatoes. You know, those creepy and delicious little potatoes that look like various body parts? They were starting to sprout and some of them were going bad (um, can we talk about how rotten potatoes are pretty much the worst thing in the universe? Because wow.), so I needed to get on it. So I started experimenting with different flavors and methods for cooking these delicious little treasures and this kind of came out as our family favorite....

These are the kind of cookie that you need in your cookie jar. And if you don’t have a cookie jar, it’s the type of cookie you should buy one for. I didn’t even know I was a ginger-spice-molasses type person until I ate these. I looked at the recipe and it looked pretty basic so I was trying to think of something to snazz them up. I thought about sandwiching them with cream cheese frosting, adding orange zest, dipping them in white chocolate etc....

Tamilnadu style traditional sambar madam is my absolute favorite. With fresh flavour of ground masala this aromatic sambar madam is aromatic and delicious. But when In hurry I make a quick version of sambhar rice with sambar masala. This delicious and protein packed meal is quite healthy wholesome and quick to make. Incredibly easy and delicious sambar rice recipe that is vegan, gluten-free weeknight dinner on the table in 30 Minutes....

Somehow I forgot to take photos of the sauce preparation, but it’s super easy. you’ll just combine a little cornstarch and cold water and stir those together and then add some other yummy stuff like soy sauce, pineapple juice, ketchup, brown sugar, etc. So pretend you’re looking at that right now. Are you visualizing? Take your time…okay good. Now, start by sauteing some boneless, skinless chicken breast with some fresh garlic and ginger in a large skillet or wok....

I giggled like a school girl the day a big box containing this arrived on my doorstep: Proof that I’m officially a grown up. Kitchen appliances make me giggle like a school girl. I have wanted a wheat grinder forever and I finally got one. It’s a Wonder Mill and I love it. There was a time in my life when I wondered when anyone would want to grind their own wheat, or grind their own anything for that matter, and more proof that I’m a grown-up: I see value in it now!...

4.59 38 Published Apr 01, 2020, Updated Jun 28, 2021 Making homemade sweetened condensed coconut milk is super simple and only requires two ingredients = canned coconut milk and sugar. Here’s What You Need: 1 13.5 oz can of coconut milk1/4 cup sweetener of choice = coconut sugar or cane sugar How to Make Your Own Sweetened Condensed Milk Other than having to stay nearby the saucepan for about 45 minutes while the milk condenses, it’s really easy....

Hello to a new week! OK, so I’m of course wishing it was still the weekend, but I’m trying to stay positive and keep focused on what’s ahead, instead of what’s behind. We had a great weekend of a horseback riding birthday party (for my son’s preschool friend), a neighborhood brunch at our house and an afternoon at the local Renaissance Festival. ⚔️ So much fun! But we’ve got lots more to look forward to in the weeks ahead as well....

As I spoke at her funeral last fall, I spotted my grandmother, her Mom, near the front of the chapel and I smiled at her while I recounted a vivid memory. I was probably 13 or so when my Grandma was in town for a visit. She had made her famous chocolate-chocolate-chocolate Bundt cake the night before (the inspiration for this holiday version) and when I came down to the kitchen the next morning I found my Mom in her pajamas, digging into a big slice of cake....

Scroll past recipe card for step by step how-to photos and instructions. If this recipe looks familiar, it’s because it’s pulled from another recipe on our site- this Chocolate Swirled Banana Bread. Same recipe, only in that one you marble a portion of the batter with melted chocolate. It’s a fun variation! We wanted our classic version to have it’s own spot here in the index, so here we are....

I didn’t actually eat spaghetti and meatballs, like, ever growing up; my family was more of the “mix a pound of ground beef with a jar of Ragu” kind of clan, which is totally fine. But there was a woman in my neighborhood who was married to an Italian and whenever there was a family that needed a meal, she would take them spaghetti with her homemade meatballs and sauce....

4.62 37 Published May 20, 2024 And not to toot my own horn, but these turkey burgers are definitely the best I’ve ever had. They’re loaded with flavor and ridiculously easy to make. All you have to do is mix up the ingredients, form the patties and toss them on the grill or cast-iron skillet. While the burgers are cooking whip up these baked sweet potato fries or sautéed vegetables to serve as a side for a full meal....

A comprehensive guide to making delicious vanilla cake as an 8 inch cake, 9 inch cake, sheet cake, and even vanilla cupcakes, with vanilla buttercream frosting OR chocolate buttercream frosting. Every cake baking adventure starts with a good Vanilla Cake! It’s the universally loved cake flavor that acts as a great canvas on which to build other flavors. I already have an extensive repertoire of cake recipes on the blog (including the classic chocolate cake, classic white cake, coconut cake, devil’s food cake, coffee cake, lemon cake, butter cake, ribbon cake, and even classic vanilla cupcakes)....

5 7 Published May 30, 2022, Updated Jun 20, 2024 If you’re new to smoothie bowls, they typically have a much thicker consistency, are eaten with a spoon and topped with a variety of toppings for added texture and flavors. The fact that you’re eating the smoothie bowl with a spoon (and chewing the toppings) helps slow down the eating process, promotes digestion and makes the smoothie more filling....

Apple fritters are my favorite donut in the whole world. The soft, fluffy, apple filled filled center and the crunchy outside is simply irresistible! They also happen to be one of the easiest donuts to make at home. Donuts of all kinds are actually incredibly easy to make without dairy or eggs. There are a few things you will need to safely make fried apple fritters at home: Ingredients you need All purpose flour – I haven’t tried them with another flour....

This is the most delicious kind of comfort food, and it’s completely vegan. Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese makes a great family friendly dinner, or a perfect holiday side dish! It’s seriously easy to make without any store-bought vegan cheeses. The panko breadcrumb topping really takes it to the next level of “WOW”. No one will guess it’s dairy free! I hope you love it as much as my family does!...