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For The Recipe Redux this month, I had to grab a cookbook and adapt a recipe from page 42 or page 142 of the cookbook. This is the perfect challenge to celebrate 42 months of The Recipe Redux! I selected The America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School Cookbook, one of my favorite kitchen reference books in my collection. From tips on how to make the juiciest chicken breasts to how to prepare the best lasagna, this tome of a cookbook has so many useful tips for budding cooks....

Although I’m not vegetarian, I tend to cook vegetarian meals most weeknights. It’s simply less fussy to prepare in general. I don’t have to worry about handling raw meat or checking to see if my piece of chicken is fully cooked. Plus, my vegetarian meals tend to be lighter and more fresh, which is my preferred style of cooking. Believe it or not, even my meat-loving husband embraces vegetarian meals!...

Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Muffins Picture this: you wake up to the smell of freshly baked muffins wafting through your home. You wander into your kitchen and what do you find? The most scrumptious, chocolaty, melt-in-your-mouth Chocolate Chip Muffins waiting for you to take a bite. These aren’t just any muffins, my friends, they’re little morsels of morning magic that will have you swooning with every nibble. Each of these magnificent muffins is a treasure trove of warm, gooey chocolate chips nestled within a tender crumb that’s just sweet enough without being overpowering....

I absolutely love constructing this festive Christmas Tree Snack Board when guests come over for the holidays. It’s basically a valid excuse to play with your food. There are a few must-have ingredients when I make this, but for the most part, it’s a very forgiving thing to put together and you can really use whatever you’ve got on hand. The first thing I always like to add are Blue Diamond Gourmet Almonds....

The rice was a big hit. The coconut and lime flavors come through very well without being too overpowering. I’ve made this dish about 5 times in the last few weeks and we love to eat it with pan-fried tofu. Feel free to add some diced bell peppers or your favorite seasonal vegetables to make a more substantial dish. COOKING NOTES FOR BUTTERNUT SQUASH FRIED RICE Use virgin coconut oil: The coconut flavor of this butternut squash fried rice depends on the type of coconut oil that’s used....

Easy Colcannon Recipe There’s nothing better than a big heaping bowl of mashed potatoes, unless you’re in Ireland, then there’s nothing better than a big heaping bowl of colcannon! This is my take on a traditional Irish comfort food classic. Simple yet so good! Crunchy green cabbage amidst creamy, dreamy mashed potatoes seasoned to perfection. With only a handful of common ingredients and spices you probably already have at home, this dish is incredibly easy to make!...

Love Cracker Barrel recipes?! Try their Copycat Hashbrown Casserole or my Chicken Fried Steak recipe next! Cracker Barrel Meatloaf I’ve got a secret: Not all meatloaf is created equal. Just because you’ve had meatloaf in the past that you may not have enjoyed, doesn’t mean you should it out forever. A few simple changes, and you’ve got a completely different texture and flavor! What makes this Cracker Barrel meatloaf recipe unique are the tender vegetables that are included in the mix, cheddar cheese, and using Ritz Crackers instead of breadcrumbs....

Cream Cheese Filled Banana Cake Banana bread is the most common “dessert” I make at my house. I consider it a dessert, but really we mostly have it for breakfast with our coffee or late at night when we need a snack or have a sweet tooth. Today I had a strong craving for that oh so comforting banana bread, but with a richer dessert twist in a cake form. Now I am a fiend for a good cream cheese icing, I almost consider carrot cake and red velvet a vehicle for the stuff....

Why You’ll Love It It’s super flavorful. I can’t believe how much flavor you can pack into a simple pasta dish. You can use a prepared Cajun seasoning if you want to (in that case, use less salt!) but all you need is 5 basic spices to create your own at home. Easy ingredients. All you need is a handful of simple ingredients to make this sauce: a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies and cashews make the cream sauce come together....

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. If you love easy pasta dinners in a creamy sauce like our Feta Pasta, creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta, or Chicken Alfredo Pasta, this Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a must-try. Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe This simple pasta dish is such a great recipe to make, not only for busy weeknights but even a fancy dinner. Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a flavor-packed spin on our Creamy Shrimp Pasta and our Cajun Chicken Pasta....

It’s excellent for barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings, next to sandwiches, tacos, and much more. The secret to the best coleslaw is all in the dressing, which we make with a combination of mayonnaise and Greek-style yogurt to boost creaminess and protein and reduce calories. Best of all, it’s tasty and indulgent while being light and refreshing. As mentioned, we make the dressing with half mayo and half Greek yogurt....

The recipe is easy to make with simple ingredients and in one pot. The velvety consistency of arborio rice, combined with mushrooms and savory parmesan, makes for a deeply satisfying meal. These rice grains release starch as they cook, producing an ultra-creamy dish. Mushroom risotto is excellent for late summer, autumn, and winter when mushrooms are fresh and widely available. Plus, the dish is cozy, warming, comforting, and deeply satisfying, perfect for an evening meal as the weather gets colder....

Featuring pumpkin puree and fresh sage, this seasonal dish offers an unexpected twist on traditional pasta sauce. Since I usually associate pumpkin with sweet and spicy baked goods, I was a bit hesitant to use it in a savory meal, but when it’s blended with sauteed onions, almond milk, and spices, it’s transformed into a surprisingly rich and creamy sauce that pairs perfectly with your favorite pasta or cooked vegetables....

How to Prepare the Potatoes for Air Frying To prepare the potatoes, you simply have to cut them into bite-sized chunks, about 1 to 2 inches thick. The smaller you cut the potatoes, the faster they will cook, so it’s most important that you try to cut the potatoes into similar sizes, so that they will cook evenly. Toss the potato chunks in a little bit of olive oil and your favorite seasonings (see mine in the recipe below), then arrange them in a single layer in your air fryer basket....

Crispy Chicken Salad Is anyone else out there a bit obsessed with the Crispy Chicken Salad from Friendly’s? I can’t be alone in that, can I? Well our local Friendly’s just went out of business, so I felt the need to call upon my own culinary skills ASAP. This is a perfect replica for how the restaurant makes their salad, but there is plenty of room for variation! We all know that the best part of this salad is the crispy chicken, so I’ll walk you through that part step-by-step....

Crock Pot Chicken and Stuffing I think I’ve made it more than any other recipe on my blog. This meal is perfect for anyone who’s busy and needs a quick dump and go dinner. (And I do believe that is all of us.) I love mixing this up and serving it casserole-style, or pairing it with homemade mashed potatoes and easy chicken gravy. BONUS: I’ve updated this post to be Instant Pot friendly!...

Easy Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe What’s not to love about beef stew. Tender, fall-apart chunks of beef loaded with potatoes, carrots and the most flavorful gravy there is. Totally delicious and a true comfort dish. Beef stew is perfect for slow cooking, giving the beef enough time to get super tender and melt in your mouth delicious. I learned this recipe from my mother and the beauty of it is that it really is versatile....

Dragon Fruit Benenfits Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, comes in two varieties– one with white flesh, and one with a bright magenta-colored flesh. The magenta flesh is sweeter than the white version, and it also has a little more nutrition, so that’s what I’m using in this smoothie recipe. Here’s what else I love about dragon fruit: It’s rich in fiber, which may help to prevent against heart disease (source) Fruit, in general, has been shown to aid in weight loss efforts despite its natural sugar content (source) It’s loaded with antioxidants, like vitamin C and carotenoids, which have been linked to reduced risk of cancer and heart disease (source) Dragon fruit contains prebiotics, which may promote a healthy gut (source) It may help boost your iron levels....

Be sure to try my White Chicken Chili and Chili Mac recipes next! Easy Chili Recipe This chili recipe has the absolute best flavor combination. It’s so easy to put together, and from there it’s left to simmer, reduce, and concentrate. It incorporates simple flavor enhancers that make all the difference. Worcestershire sauce is one such ingredient. It adds umami and enhances the other flavors in the dish. Mustard powder is another secret weapon, along with hot sauce....

Believe it or not, I haven’t always been a fan of cilantro. I feel like you either love it or hate it, and when I was in college, I remember hating it. I didn’t want it near my meals! Isn’t it strange how things can change? One day, as an adult, I tried it again and loved it. Now I’ll pour this cilantro sauce on everything. So, if you feel like you were born hating cilantro, be sure to give it another shot in case things have changed!...