Family Friendly

January 13, 2022 American

Buffalo Chicken Thighs

Perfectly juicy and tender chicken thighs finished in a spicy, yet slightly sweet buffalo sauce! Enjoy this simple meal on a busy weeknight, or when you’re craving something delicious. These buffalo chicken things are exploding with flavor and taste great on their own, or over a salad!

What Makes This Recipe So Good

It’s virtually foolproof! Simply roast your chicken thighs in the oven until the skin is golden brown and crispy. Then, toss them in a quick homemade three-ingredient buffalo sauce – it’s that easy!
They’re a family favorite! My entire family goes crazy for these buffalo chicken thighs. No matter how I serve them, everyone always gobbles them up.
They’re loaded with delicious flavor! It’s hard to believe that a recipe this simple could also be this flavorful.

Key Ingredients

Chicken Thighs – This recipe calls for bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs for maximum flavor. The skin on the chicken will also bake up incredibly crispy and delicious! If you can’t find bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs, boneless and skinless will work, but won’t taste as good.

Hot Sauce – I recommend Frank’s RedHot Original sauce for this buffalo chicken thighs recipe. Frank’s has the perfect consistency and spice level for a homemade buffalo sauce. However, you can use any hot sauce you’d like – Cholula and Truff are both delicious options.

Honey – Just a touch of honey to balance out the spice in this dish goes a very long way! If you don’t have honey, then maple syrup will work in its place.

Chef’s Tips

Pat the chicken thighs dry before cooking! This will ensure the skin cooks up as golden brown and crispy as possible. Don’t skip this very important step!
Feel free to adjust the spice in your homemade buffalo sauce, based on your tolerance level. For a less spicy sauce, then use less hot sauce and a little more honey. Though for an even spicier sauce, feel free to use more hot sauce and omit the honey altogether!
Serve these buffalo chicken thighs any way you’d like! I enjoyed mine over a salad with some creamy ranch dressing. They even taste great on their own with celery and carrots sticks on the side.

buffalo chicken thighs being dipped into sour cream

More Chicken Recipes You Must Try

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Print Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Thighs

Perfectly juicy and tender chicken thighs finished in a spicy, yet slightly sweet buffalo sauce! Enjoy this simple meal on a busy weeknight, or when you're craving something delicious. These buffalo chicken things are exploding with flavor and taste great on their own, or over a salad!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Total Time40 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy dinner, entertaining, game day

Servings: servings

Calories: 392kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Baking sheet
Large bowl

Ingredients

4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ cup hot sauce
1 tablespoon butter melted
1 tablespoon honey

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit.
Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel then place on baking sheet. Drizzle thighs evenly with olive oil and sprinkle evenly with salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165° Fahrenheit. While chicken bakes, mix together hot sauce, melted butter, and honey in a small bowl.
Remove chicken from oven then drizzle with sauce.

Nutrition

January 11, 2022 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Potato Skins

Extraordinarily crispy and delicious potato skins made in the air fryer! This simple appetizer recipe is perfect for game day, or really any day. Loaded with melty cheddar cheese, crunchy bacon, sour cream, and fresh sliced green onions!

What Makes This Recipe So Good

It comes together in just 15 minutes! Start by crisping your potato skins, then filling them with cheese and bacon, before giving them another quick blast in the air fryer. Last but not least, finish the potato skins off with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of fresh green onions.
They’re loaded with delicious flavors and textures! Savory bacon, buttery potatoes with an extra crispy skin, and gooey melted cheese.
They’re a total crowd favorite! I love bringing these air fryer potato skins to family parties or potlucks. Everyone goes crazy for these tasty little bites.

Key Ingredients

Russet Potatoes – You’ll need cooked russet potatoes for this recipe. I cooked mine in a pot of boiling water until fork tender, but not too soft. Though you could also wrap them in foil and bake them in the oven until tender. Once cooked, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise before scooping out a bit of the inside flesh. While russet potatoes are what is recommended for this recipe because of their size and shape, really any white or yellow potato will work!

Bacon – Similar to the potatoes, you’ll want your bacon to be fully cooked before using it in this air fryer recipe. You can either pan-fry, bake, or even microwave your bacon – whichever method you prefer. Then, once cooked, either crumble it with your hands or finely chop it with a knife. The goal is to achieve small bacon pieces that you can sprinkle over your potato skins.

Chef’s Tips

Avoid overly scooping your potatoes in the first step! Scoop until just about 1/2 an inch of flesh remains in each potato half. Removing too much potato gets rid of that soft interior, which makes the perfect base for toppings!
Feel free to add any extra fillings to these air fryer potato skins! Some shredded buffalo chicken would taste incredible inside the crispy little potato boats. Or, add in some roasted broccoli for a healthy twist.
You can freeze these potato skins ahead of time! Simply store them in a zip-top bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 months. Then, reheat in the air fryer on game day!

air fryer potato skins on a place with beer on the side

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Print Recipe

Air Fryer Potato Skins

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time15 mins

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: family friendly, game day, potluck

Servings: servings

Calories: 167kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

3 russet potatoes cooked and cut in half
spray cooking oil
salt and black pepper to taste
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
¼ cup sour cream
2 green onions thinly sliced

Instructions

Scoop out some of the inside flesh from each potato half, leaving about 1/2-inch flesh in each potato.
Lightly coat inside of air fryer basket or tray with spray cooking oil, place potato halves in an even layer in basket or tray. Cook at 400° Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
Once crispy, evenly sprinkle potato skins with shredded cheese, then top with crumbled bacon. Cook at 400° Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes or until cheese has melted.
Top potato skins with sour cream and sliced green onions, serve warm.

Nutrition

December 30, 2021 Desserts

Keto Whipped Cream

This whipped cream is just as indulgent and decadent as the traditional version, but with no added sugar! With just 3 easy ingredients, this keto whipped cream tastes so much like the real thing and is perfect for desserts or even keto French toast.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

It requires just three ingredients! Heavy cream, vanilla extract, and powdered erythritol is all you’ll need to make this easy keto dessert recipe.
It’s the perfect low-carb treat to curb your cravings! This keto whipped cream tastes just as delicious as the real thing, with a fraction of the carbs and sugar.
It tastes amazing with fresh berries for a keto dessert or snack! It’s also good enough to eat by the spoonful – yum.

Key Ingredients

Heavy Cream – Either heavy cream or heavy whipping cream will work in this keto whipped cream recipe. The fat in the heavy cream will allow this recipe to whip up beautifully. Therefore, do not use anything other than heavy cream – regular milk or low-fat milk simply won’t work.

Powdered Erythritol – This sugar-free powdered sweetener blends in beautifully with the cream! Avoid granular sweeteners, as they’ll create a grainy and unpleasant texture. Also, feel free to omit the sweetener altogether and enjoy a simple, yet delicious vanilla cream.

Chef’s Tips

Use a metal bowl if you have one. It also helps if the bowl is chilled, so pop it in the fridge prior to making the whipped cream.
You can add only 1 tablespoon of sweetener if you want it less sweet. You could also add cocoa powder to make chocolate whipped cream.
Whip the keto whipped cream until you achieve stiff peaks! Though be careful not to over-whip the cream, as that can cause it to curdle.

keto whipped cream in a glass with a spoon on the side

More Keto Recipes

Print Recipe

Keto Whipped Cream

Prep Time10 mins

Total Time10 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: low carb, no added sugar, topping

Servings: servings

Calories: 208kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Cost: $1

Equipment

Hand mixer or whisk

Ingredients

1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons powdered erythritol

Instructions

Using a hand mixer or whisk, mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
Continue mixing until small peaks form, about 5-8 minutes.

Notes

Mixing: Use metal bowl if available. Chill bowl in fridge prior to making.
Ingredient Variations: Use 1 tablespoon powdered erythritol for less sweet whipped cream. Add cocoa powder for chocolate whipped cream.

Nutrition

December 14, 2021 Appetizers

Easy 10-Minute Vegan Garlic Bread

This savory and crispy vegan garlic bread is ready in just 10 minutes! Whip together this simple side dish for friends, family, or to serve alongside a weeknight meal.

overhead image of vegan garlic bread with marinara sauce

What Makes This Recipe So Good

It requires just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes to make! You’ll have a tasty side ready and on the table in no time. It’s also foolproof and bakes up the perfect vegan garlic bread every time.
It’s good enough to fool non-vegans into thinking it’s the real deal! I’ve served this crispy bread to plenty of non-vegan friends and family members, and not a single one ever guess it was entirely plant-based.
It’s the perfect pairing to any soup, roast, holiday, or game day meal! Be sure to include this cheesy vegan garlic bread in your appetizer lineup. Perhaps consider cooking up a double batch, since it’ll go quickly!

Key Ingredients

Vegan Butter – Any vegan butter will work in this recipe! Whichever kind you use, be sure to bring it to room temperature before mixing it in with the other ingredients. Softened butter will whip up beautifully and spread like a dream over your sliced bread. And if you’re not vegan, then feel free to use regular butter in its place!

Baguette – I used a french baguette in this side dish, though any crusty bread will work! My one recommendation here is to use a nice, high quality loaf of bread. Since the bread is the star of this show, its quality will surely shine through in the finished dish.

Chef’s Tips

If you’d like a softer vegan garlic bread, you can instead slice your baguette in 1-inch intervals, not completely through to the bottom. Then, place the garlic butter in between each bread slice and wrap the baguette in foil before baking. The end result will be a softer, pull-apart loaf of garlic bread!
Get creative with this recipe and don’t be scared to make it your own! Add more or less of each ingredients based on your preferences. Are you garlic-obsessed? Then throw in a couple extra minced cloves for even more delicious garlic flavor!
If you’re not vegan, then you can use the non-vegan counterparts to all listed ingredients! Therefore, use regular butter in place of vegan butter and standard parmesan cheese in place of the vegan parm.

Other Easy Vegan Recipes You Must Try

Print Recipe

Easy 10-Minute Vegan Garlic Bread

This savory and crispy vegan garlic bread is ready in just 10 minutes! Whip together this simple side dish for friends, family, or to serve alongside a weeknight meal.

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time10 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy vegan, family friendly, simple side dish

Servings: servings

Calories: 226kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Small bowl
Baking sheet

Ingredients

4 garlic cloves minced
½ cup vegan butter softened
2 tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
1 baguette sliced into 1-inch thick pieces
3 tablespoons vegan parmesan cheese optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
Mix together the softened vegan butter, minced garlic, and chopped parsley in a small bowl.
Spread butter mixture over each slice of bread, then place on baking sheet and sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese. Bake bread for about 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

Notes

Recipe yields approximately 6 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including vegan parmesan cheese. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by 6. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

December 9, 2021 Breakfast

Southern Fried Potatoes

Whether you call them Southern fried potatoes, breakfast potatoes, home fries, hash brown potatoes, or something else, this delicious breakfast side is one of our favorite ways to enjoy potatoes! Pan-fried in butter with onions and a little salt & pepper to taste, this simple recipe gives you tasty fried potatoes that are delightfully crisp outside and soft & tender inside.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

Southern fried potatoes are one of the very best ways to enjoy potatoes if you ask me. I might be a little biased, living in the South and all, but there’s just nothing quite like them! Everyone has their own version, but the general result is reliably the same. The crisp outsides, the fluffy and tender insides, the rich & buttery flavor, the sauteed onions. They’re JUST. SO. GOOD.
This is such a simple recipe, but you can easily make it a little different every time. I’ve included some flavor variations in the Chef’s Tips section below. You can also change up how you serve them! They go great with eggs, bacon, and ham, of course. You could cover them in gravy, hollandaise, or shredded cheese. Mix in browned sausage crumbles or bits of crispy bacon. Southern fried potatoes can be a simple side or the base of a tasty breakfast bowl. The sky’s the limit!

Key Ingredients

Russet Potatoes – Southern fried potatoes need that crisp crust, and russet potatoes do it best. For a creamier, softer version, you could use red potatoes or Yukon gold, but know that they won’t get crispy like russets.

Onion – If you really don’t like onions, you could skip them, but I really recommend you don’t! They add a really nice flavor to the breakfast potatoes and in my opinion, the dish really lacks something without them.

Chef’s Tips

Diced bell peppers are a GREAT add-in for Southern fried potatoes. They just go with all the other ingredients and flavors so well! Just dice them to a similar size as the onions and toss them in the skillet when you add the onions and potatoes. Diced jalapeños would work, too!
You want the potatoes to develop a light crust, so it’s key that you don’t move them too much. If you do, they won’t have enough time to crisp up!
For a different flavor, mix up the spices. Smoked paprika, sweet paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and garlic would all be wonderful here. You can also add in fresh or ground herbs like thyme, rosemary, parsley, or chives. Another easy way to add in some extra Southern flavor is to fry the potatoes in a little bacon or sausage grease.

Closeup view of southern fried potatoes in a large bowl

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5 from 1 vote

Southern Fried Potatoes

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American, Southern

Keyword: easy to make, fewer than 5 ingredients, pan fried

Servings: servings

Calories: 195kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Large skillet with lid

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons oil olive oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil, etc.
4 medium russet potatoes chopped into bite-sized cubes, skin optional
1 medium onion diced
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat butter and oil in large skillet over medium heat. Once butter is melted, add cubed potatoes and diced onions to skillet, in one even layer, then season vegetables with salt and pepper to taste.
Cover skillet with lid. Cook 5 to 6 minutes or until potatoes develop light crust on pan-side.
Flip potatoes over and cook, uncovered, another 5 minutes or until potatoes are tender with light crust on pan-side. Serve warm.

Notes

Make it Dairy Free/Vegan: Use a vegan butter.
Make it Paleo: Use ghee instead of butter.

Nutrition

December 7, 2021 Air Fryer

Frozen Biscuits in the Air Fryer

Cooking frozen biscuits in the air fryer is quick and easy! Biscuits will go from frozen to fully baked in under 10 minutes. Resort to this super simple method this holiday season, or whenever biscuit cravings strike!

air fryer frozen biscuits stacked on top of each other

What Makes This Recipe So Good

It’s the perfect method for a small batch of biscuits! Say you only want one biscuit and can’t be bothered to wait on the entire bag of frozen biscuits to defrost. Quickly and easily place that single frozen biscuit in your air fryer, then return 8 minutes later to a fully baked biscuit.
It’s the quickest way to bake up frozen biscuits! No need to defrost the biscuits for this simple air fryer method. Place the frozen biscuits directly onto the tray or basket, then let the air fryer work its magic.
It yields perfectly soft and flaky biscuits every time! This foolproof recipe requires barely an effort and bakes up flawless biscuits every time.

Key Ingredients

Frozen Biscuits – Any frozen biscuit brand will work in this recipe! The amazing thing about this method is that you can use any kind of biscuit you’d like. Additionally, even flavored biscuits will work in this recipe!

Spray Cooking Oil – Many air fryer trays and baskets are non-stick, though to double up on protection I recommend giving it a quick sprits of oil before cooking. If you don’t have spray cooking oil, you can lay down a sheet of parchment paper instead.

Chef’s Tips

Ensure the biscuits are not touching when placed inside the air fryer. If too close, they can stick together while cooking. This wouldn’t be a terrible thing, but could compromise the shape of your pretty little biscuits.
Not all air fryers are created equal. Therefore, evaluate how quickly your biscuits are cooking at the halfway mark and adjust the cook time accordingly.
This method only works in an air fryer, not in a standard oven. The reason being, air fryers circulate air which surround each biscuit, guaranteeing an even bake. A standard oven will only heat certain sides of the biscuits, resulting in an overcooked outside and undercooked inside.

air fryer frozen biscuits in a basket with butter on the side

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air fryer frozen biscuits in a basket with butter

Print Recipe

Frozen Biscuits in Air Fryer

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time8 mins

Total Time13 mins

Course: Breakfast, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy holiday, entertaining, less than 10 minutes

Servings: biscuits

Calories: 99kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

6 frozen biscuits any brand, any type
spray cooking oil

Instructions

Lightly spray air fryer basket with spray cooking oil then place frozen biscuits in basket.
Cook at 340° Fahrenheit for 8 minutes, pausing to flip biscuits halfway through.

Notes

Recipe yields 6 biscuits, or 6 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 biscuit. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

November 18, 2021 Air Fryer

Roasted Air Fryer Carrots

These air fryer carrots are perfectly roasted in just 20 minutes! With five very simple ingredients, these will quickly become your favorite healthy side dish.

air fryer carrots in air fryer basket with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese on top

What Makes This Recipe So Good

It requires just five ingredients you probably already have on-hand! Carrots, olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper are all you’ll need to make this delicious side.
They’re perfectly seasoned and cooked until tender! This recipe works to bring out the flavor of fresh carrots. The simple seasoning allows their naturally delicious taste to shine!
It comes together in two very quick and easy steps! Start by tossing all ingredients in a bowl before transferring to your air fryer. Then, give the carrots a quick shake halfway through cooking before serving and enjoying.

Key Ingredients

Carrots – To prepare the carrots for this recipe, start by giving them a quick rinse under cold water. Once dry, peel and remove the skin from each carrot along with 1/2-inch from the top. Last, slice the carrots any way you’d like before roasting and eating!

Fresh Thyme – A sprinkling of fresh thyme does an incredible job at bringing out the natural earthy flavor of the carrots. I prefer fresh thyme for how light and complimentary it is in this air fryer carrots recipe. However, you can use any fresh herb you’d like in place of the thyme in this recipe.

Chef’s Tips

Depending on the size of your carrots, they may cook in less or more time than instructed. I cut my carrots into about 2-inch pieces, then after 20 minutes they were perfectly roasted. However, evaluate how quickly your carrots are cooking at the halfway mark and adjust the time from there!
Finish these carrots off with an extra sprinkling of fresh herbs and maybe some savory parmesan cheese. Again, keep the seasonings light as to not overpower that delicious, fresh carrot flavor.
Serve these air fryer carrots however you’d like! I love enjoying mine as a healthy side dish with lunch or dinner. I’ve even tossed them into salads for an exciting and healthy addition!

Other Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

Print Recipe

Air Fryer Carrots

These air fryer carrots are perfectly roasted in just 20 minutes! With five very simple ingredients, these will quickly become your favorite healthy side dish.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fewer than 5 ingredients, healthy side dish, less than 20 minutes

Servings: servings

Calories: 56kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Air Fryer
Large bowl

Ingredients

1 pound carrots peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon olive oil see Notes
1 sprig fresh thyme
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and toss to coat carrots in seasoning.
Transfer carrots to air fryer tray or basket and cook at 380° Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, pausing to shake halfway through.

Notes

Olive Oil: Feel free to use any vegetable oil in place of the olive oil in this recipe. Avocado oil also works perfectly and has a delightfully mild taste!

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including toppings. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

November 16, 2021 Fall

Turkey and Dumplings

Homemade turkey and dumplings is the ultimate comfort meal! This easy recipe puts leftover turkey to deliciously good use.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

It’s a warm and wholesome meal, perfect for a cozy meal in! Take dinner up a notch with this restaurant-quality dish. Kids, friends, family – everyone will love this meal!
It’s the perfect recipe to use up leftover turkey! Every year around the holidays I’m searching to creative ways to use up my leftover turkey. This recipe is hands-down one of my favorites!
It’s quick and easy! The instructions walk you through how to simply make your own dumplings, then cook them in the soup. From beginning to end, this meal takes no more than 30 minutes to make.

Key Ingredients

Chicken or Turkey Broth – Homemade broth is always best, so I use this Instant Pot recipe to make my own broth and store it in the freezer for future use. Though store-bought broth works just as well in this turkey and dumplings recipe! We up the flavor in the broth with a variety of added herbs and veggies – making it that much more delicious.

Cooked Turkey – Here’s where leftover turkey comes in super handy! Either diced or shredded turkey will work here, just as long as it’s cooked through. Additionally, you could sub the turkey for pre-cooked chicken if you’d like.

Baking Powder – Baking powder causes the dumplings to puff up once cooked. This gives them their signature light and fluffy texture we all love!

Chef’s Tips

Don’t worry too much about the size and shape of your dumplings. I actually find the imperfect shapes give them that pleasant homemade, rustic look. The only special attention needed here is in ensuring the dumpling dough is rolled out into an even 1/4-inch thickness.
Drop the dumplings into the boiling soup one at a time. Avoid adding them to the pot all together which could cause them to stick and form large clumps. Therefore, simply add them in one-by-one until all have been transferred to the pot.
For a thicker base, add a cornstarch slurry to your turkey and dumplings in the last few minutes of cooking! Make the slurry by whisking one tablespoon of cornstarch in with 3 tablespoons of water. Once combined, pour the slurry into the hot broth and stir until thick.

turkey and dumplings in a bowl with a spoon

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Print Recipe

Turkey and Dumplings

Homemade turkey and dumplings is the ultimate comfort meal! This easy recipe puts leftover turkey to deliciously good use.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: holiday recipe, leftover turkey, thanksgiving

Servings: servings

Calories: 370kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Large pot
Large bowl

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
½ onion chopped
2 celery stalks chopped
1 carrot chopped
2 garlic cloves minced
2 quarts chicken or turkey broth
1 bay leaf
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
2 cups cooked turkey chopped

For the dumplings:

1 cup all purpose flour see Notes
¼ cup yellow cornmeal
½ tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup half and half see Notes

Instructions

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat, then add in the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic. Sauté for 3-5 minutes or until tender.
Pour in the chicken broth and add in the bayleaf and dried thyme. Stir then reduce heat to low and leave to simmer while you prepare the dumplings.
Sift the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Mix together before pouring in the half-and-half then mixing until a dough forms.
Roll the dough out onto a floured surface into a ¼-inch thick sheet. Slice the dough into small even-sized squared to create the dumplings.
Gently drop dumplings into the simmering broth, a few at a time, and cook until tender – about 8 minutes. Add in the cooked turkey, give everything a stir then remove from heat and serve immediately.

Notes

Make it Gluten-Free: Use all purpose gluten-free flour in place of the all purpose flour to make these dumplings gluten-free.
Make it Dairy-Free: Replace the half-and-half in this recipe with an equal amount of full-fat coconut for a non-dairy option.

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using chicken broth. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

November 9, 2021 Fall

Turkey Melt with Cheddar, Spinach, and Bacon

The perfect sandwich for cooler weather, this incredible turkey melt is toasty, melty, and mouth-wateringly delicious. With juicy fresh tomatoes, leafy green spinach, crisp bacon, and rich cheddar cheese, these buttery sourdough sandwiches are amazing all on their own or paired with a cup of hot, creamy soup.

Two halves of a turkey melt, one leaning across the top of the other, on a wooden tray

What Makes This Recipe So Good

If you like a good grilled cheese then you will LOVE a turkey melt! It’s sort of a gourmet grilled cheese, stuffed full of tasty ingredients, then grilled until hot and toasty.
Not only is this sandwich super quick and easy to make, it’s also fully customizable. Use any crusty bread you like; try smoked or sweet turkey; throw on your favorite cheese (or cheeses!); work in a little onion or arugula or alfalfa sprouts; add mayo or pesto along with or instead of honey mustard… anything goes!
I use deli turkey in my turkey melt more often than not, BUT! If you have leftover holiday turkey, this is a great way to use it up! You may just need to toast the sandwiches a little longer on a slightly lower heat to warm them all the way through, depending on how thick the turkey is.

Key Ingredients

Turkey – For a year-round turkey melt, deli turkey is the way to go. Not only is it easy and readily accessible, it’s also thin enough to let the sandwich heat completely through in no time. Feel free to use a smoked turkey, honey-glazed turkey, oven-roasted turkey, or whatever other flavor you like best!

Crusty Bread – I. Love. A good crusty bread. Sourdough is my favorite for hot sandwiches like this. It’s chewy and crisp and toasts up beautifully. Texas toast would also work well!

Cheese – Feel free to mix up the cheese you use on your sandwich. I used white cheddar here, but classic cheddar, Swiss, smoked gouda, or pepper jack would all be amazing.

Chef’s Tips

Your mouth will water the whole time you’re prepping your turkey melt, so I know you’ll be tempted to rush the actual toasting process. Don’t! If the skillet and butter are too hot, the bread will toast (and potentially burn) before the cheese melts and the turkey warms. If it’s not hot enough, though, the bread will soak up all the butter and end up more soggy than toasted.
Avoid prepackaged, processed cheese! Seriously, do yourself a favor and pick up a block of fresh cheese that you can slice yourself, or stop by the deli counter and have them slice some fresh cheese for you. The flavors will be so much better, but so will the texture. Fresh cheese just melts so well. Your turkey melt will be good with prepackaged cheese, but it’ll be incredible with fresh cheese.

Three halves of a turkey melt stacked on top of each other

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Two halves of a turkey melt stacked on top of each other, on a wooden tray

Print Recipe

Turkey Melt with Cheddar, Spinach, and Bacon

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy meals, leftovers, lunch ideas

Servings: sandwiches

Calories: 605kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Plate or cutting board
Knife
Large skillet

Ingredients

4 slices sourdough or thick, crusty bread of choice
2 tablespoons honey mustard divided
2 slices white cheddar cheese divided
4 slices deli turkey divided
1 medium tomato thinly sliced
½ cup fresh baby spinach divided
4 slices bacon cooked
2 tablespoons butter divided

Instructions

Spread ¼ tablespoon honey mustard on both sides of each piece of bread (8 sides total).
Divide each slice of cheese in half, creating 4 slices of cheese total. Place one "slice" of cheese on each piece of bread.
Layer 2 slices deli turkey, tomato slices (as many as you like), and ¼ cup baby spinach on 2 pieces of bread.
Place 2 slices of bacon on remaining 2 pieces of bread.
Close sandwiches. Each sandwich should have one piece of bread with turkey, tomatoes, and spinach and one piece of bread with bacon.
Spread ½ tablespoon butter on outside of each piece of bread (4 sides total).
Heat large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, place sandwiches in skillet. Toast bread for 3 to 4 minutes on one side, then flip and toast bread another 3 to 4 minutes on other side, or until cheese is melted and sandwich is warmed through. Serve hot.

Notes

I highly recommend buying a block of cheddar cheese and slicing it yourself, or purchasing freshly sliced cheese from the deli counter of your grocery store, as opposed to prepackaged cheese slices. There’s a huge difference in taste and texture!
Make it Dairy Free: Use a dairy-free cheese and dairy-free butter.

Recipe yields 2 sandwiches. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 sandwich using the ingredients listed. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

November 2, 2021 Easy

How to Thicken Mashed Potatoes (5 Ways!)

Cook confidently with a handful of tricks to easily and quickly thicken mashed potatoes! These methods take no more than a few minutes and just one ingredient.

overhead image of mashed potatoes in a pot with butter and a wooden spoon

What Makes These Methods So Good

They’re perfect for when you’re short on time! Simply and effectively use any of these five methods to thicken mashed potatoes and have them on the dinner table in no time.
Some require no additional ingredients. We include five options so that anyone with any ingredients or cooking equipment is able to salvage their potatoes.
They won’t affect the taste of your delicious mashed potatoes! The only thing these do is thicken the texture. Therefore, you can use any of these methods confidently, knowing they won’t at all ruin your potatoes.

The 5 Methods

Use a Thickening Agent – Thickening agents such as corn starch or flour are super effective in, you guessed it, thickening recipes. I recommend corn starch when thickening mashed potatoes as it does very little to affect the taste of your side dish. Flour, on the other hand, can sometimes give potatoes a chalky taste/texture. To use a thickening agent to thicken mashed potatoes, simply add just one tablespoon at a time until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Heat in a Pot – Place thin mashed potatoes in a pot over medium heat and stir every minute or so. Leave the pot uncovered to allow moisture to evaporate, until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Add Dehydrated Potatoes – My personal favorite quick and easy method involves stirring one tablespoon of dehydrated potatoes into your mashed potatoes at a time until you’ve reached your desired consistency. Dehydrated potatoes not only do an amazing job at thickening mashed potatoes in mere seconds, but they enhance that delicious, smooth flavor.

Bake in a Shallow Dish – This method works similarly to heating the runny potatoes in a pot. By baking them, uncovered, in a shallow baking dish, we encourage moisture to evaporate out of the potatoes. To do this, transfer your mashed potatoes to a baking dish and place them in a 350° Fahrenheit oven. Leave them to cook for about 10 minutes or until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Cook Additional Potatoes – Another one of my more preferred thickening methods is adding in extra cooked potatoes. For this trick, peel and boil/cook potatoes exactly how you would to make mashed potatoes. Once super soft, give them a quick mash before adding them straight into your thin mashed potatoes. Continue adding cooked potatoes until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Chef’s Tips

Avoid over-mixing and mashing your potatoes! Over-worked mashed potatoes will cause them to take on a gluey and unappetizing texture.
Learn from your mistakes and avoid runny mashed potatoes next time you make them. My trick for this is to mash the potatoes before introducing any liquid. Boiled potatoes will hold on to a surprising amount of water that will only become visible once mashed. Therefore, give them a “dry” mash to determine their consistency before adding any milk or butter.
Whatever you do, don’t give up and throw away your mashed potatoes! Unsalvageable thin mashed potatoes can be turned into a delicious soup and/or added to a casserole.

Dehydrated potatoes being poured into a pot of mashed potatoes

Other Helpful How Tos

Print Recipe

How to Thicken Mashed Potatoes (5 Ways)

Cook confidently with a handful of tricks to easily and quickly thicken mashed potatoes! These methods take no more than a few minutes and just one ingredient.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: side dish, thanksgiving, tips and tricks

Servings:

Calories: 106kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Medium pot
9×13 baking dish

Ingredients

4 cups runny mashed potatoes
cornstarch optional
dehydrated potatoes optional
additional potatoes peeled, boiled, and mashed; optional

Instructions

Method 1 – Use a Thickening Agent

Add one tablespoon of corn starch at a time until you've reached your desired consistency.

Method 2 – Heat in a Pot

Stir in a pot over medium heat, uncovered until moisture evaporates and you’ve reached your desired consistency. Stir every minute, but be careful not to over-stir as this can result in gummy mashed potatoes.

Method 3 – Add Dehydrated Potatoes

Add one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

Method 4 – Bake in a Shallow Dish

Bake in a shallow baking dish at 350° Fahrenheit, uncovered for about 10 minutes, allowing moisture to evaporate.

Method 5 – Cook Additional Potatoes

Cook additional potatoes, then mash them and stir into your runny mashed potatoes until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Notes

Recipe yields approximately 8 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition