Recipe Mutiny: 08/06/19

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Upgrades to Classic College Dinners that are Actually Edible

When you graduate from college, it’s time for your dorm food staples to level up too. Here’s how to upgrade all the usual suspects from mac and cheese to pizza.

If you’re among the many that have recently walked across the stage and gotten your college diploma, then let me be the first to congratulate you! You did the damn thing, and you should be proud. But I’d also understand if you were just as terrified as you are stoked to be moving onto a new chapter in your life. Graduating college is terrifying, so what you’re feeling is justified. First things first, you’re in the real world now, and not only do you have to find work, you have to figure out how to keep yourself alive.

If you were anything like me in college, you either survived on cafeteria food that you just picked up out of a buffet line or microwaved lunches and dinners on repeat. Either way, not much preparation was required on your part. So, now that you’re back in a real kitchen and sick of microwavable food, what do you do? Well, you can start by following recipes for dinners similar to the ones we all grew accustomed to in college (like mac and cheese or even Lunchable pizzas), only these recipes are homemade, grown up, and actually taste like fresh food. The new college alum in you deserves to eat well.

Then: Kraft Easy Mac

Now: Classic Mac and Cheese

Chowhound

I ate Kraft Easy Mac more than anything when I was in college. In case you’re not familiar, it’s macaroni in a little cup that you add water to, microwave for three minutes, then mix in some bright orange cheese powder. I’m sure it was super nutritious. Since this is maybe 80 percent of what college students eat, I understand that most of you have acquired a taste for mac and cheese, but just want to maybe eat a dish with real cheese instead of powder. Our classic mac and cheese is breaded on top and includes a few different kinds of fresh cheese. And this recipe is very forgiving, so feel free to add some of your favorites in there, like bacon, buffalo chicken, or even lobster. Get our Classic Mac and Cheese recipe.

Then: Microwave Chili

Now: Easy Spicy Turkey Chili

Chowhound

Oddly enough, one of the easy dinners I reached for often in college was microwave chili. As gross as it sounds, it was actually one of the more filling ready-made dinners I had, and it was pretty hearty and flavorful for what it was. But when I graduated and the winter months rolled around I found myself wanting a real chili, maybe with healthier add-ins like fresh veggies. Luckily, this spicy turkey chili is jam-packed with vegetables, flavorful herbs, and spices. And turkey is a healthier option for a protein, so you don’t have to feel as guilty about eating this chili as I felt eating microwave chili. Get our Easy Spicy Turkey Chili recipe.

Then: PB&J

Now: Vanilla PB&J Cupcakes

Ashley Sears

It’s so funny how you find yourself maintaining the same diet in college that you did in elementary school. While I am personally allergic to peanut butter and could not partake in this simple yet delicious lunch, I saw my roommates make their fair share of PB&Js in my four years. And I don’t blame them; peanut butter and jelly is impossible to screw up, and it’s a classic combination. But now that you’re a real adult, you may not want to be caught eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while you’re running from Point A to Point B. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give up PB&Js forever! The next time your college friends get together, spark some food nostalgia with these vanilla cupcakes stuffed with peanut butter and jelly. Salty and sweet, these will go as quickly as free food goes at any college event, so make a bunch. Get the Vanilla PB&J Cupcakes recipe.

Then: Cereal with Milk

Now: Chocolate Rice Krispies Ice Cream Cake

Chowhound

I’m sure I’m not the only former college student who ate cereal and milk every single morning for four years. I mean, I graduated two years ago and I think I’ve maybe had one bowl of cereal since. But if you don’t eat yourself totally sick of cereal, there’s a way to spruce up the old cereal-and-milk combo: cereal and ice cream, of course! If you’re looking for a sweet, crunchy treat, our chocolate Rice Krispies Ice Cream cake is actually easy to make despite sounding so complex. And don’t worry; the recipe allows you to choose your favorite ice cream for the ultimate upgrade to a bowl of cereal. If it were me, I’d do Neapolitan. You can’t go wrong with that. Get our Chocolate Rice Krispies Ice Cream Cake recipe.

Then: Delivery Pizza

Now: Roasted Pepper and Spicy Sausage Grilled Pizza

Chowhound

Trust me, I know we were all waiting for pizza to make an appearance. College students flock to pizza like seagulls flock to…well, pizza (and any other edible scraps). Pizza is always delicious, and you don’t even need to leave your room to get it, which makes it a great dinner for when you’re stuck studying for exams. During midterms, my roommate and I needed to eat our stress, so we would always order what we called a “garbage pizza.” It was a pie with extra cheese, peppers, onions, and pepperoni, and as delicious as it was we always felt guilty about two bites in. Oddly enough, Chowhound has a great recipe for a pizza that reminds me of a healthier version of my garbage pizza. With fresh roasted peppers and sausage, this pizza is not so much a guilty pleasure as it is a perfect summer dinner fresh off the grill. Get our Roasted Pepper and Spicy Sausage Grilled Pizza recipe.

Then: Fast Food Burgers

Now: Guacamole Turkey Burger

Chowhound

With fast food restaurants conveniently located both on and off most campuses, it’s easy for most college students to just scarf down a burger without even thinking twice about it. I would even go to the local deli for a burger if I knew I’d be up late and was in need of a much heartier meal. Now that you’re out of school, you may never want to look at another fast food burger again, so why not whip up this guacamole turkey burger? Like I said earlier, turkey is always a healthy protein choice and, with the summer months in full swing, nothing sounds better than a fresh-made guacamole garnish. Get our Guacamole Turkey Burger recipe.

Then: Canned Chicken Soup

Now: Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chowhound

Soup was another thing I always used to see college students stock up on; it’s easy to make since everything is already in a can, and it’s always smart to keep around because you can’t really afford to get sick when that nasty cold is going around during midterms. Now that you’ve graduated from college to the real world, you’re also ready to graduate from canned to homemade soups. I love making soup from scratch because you can add the flavors you like and omit the ones you don’t, not to mention control the salt and cut out preservatives. This chicken tortilla soup is a great start if you’re looking to make your own bowl. It has plenty of spices and flavors for you to play with, and it’s really easy to make. Get our Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.

Then: Takeout Sushi

Now: Spicy Tuna Maki

Chowhound

I don’t know if it’s just where I went to school, but I didn’t really get into sushi until college because I noticed it was available and popular everywhere I went. I’ve personally always wanted to try making my own sushi, and if you’re wondering what you can do with all this time you suddenly have since graduating, why don’t you put the chef’s hat on for the day and take a stab at making some sushi rolls? This spicy tuna maki is a definite upgrade from the cafeteria California rolls I was used to. Get our Spicy Tuna Maki recipe.

Then: Any & Every Store-Bought Snack

Now: Gourmet Trail Mix

Chowhound

Snacks can be upgraded, too! In college I ate plenty of granola bars or smoothies when I didn’t have time to sit down for breakfast and, while they were tasty, sometimes you just need a more sophisticated (and healthy) snack. This gourmet trail mix has salty nuts, candied ginger, and fresh fruits, so it’s like your daily granola bar and smoothie all in one. Plus, this is one snack your future coworkers will totally envy. Get our Gourmet Trail Mix recipe.

Then: Prego Sauce Spaghetti

Now: Spaghetti with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Feta, and Herbs

Chowhound

When we actually had some kitchen equipment in our dorms, some of our late nights consisted of us making a ton of pasta and splitting it into bowls so that we could just have a quick dinner with easy cleanup before getting back to work. We used to throw vegetables into our pasta when we had them to make ourselves feel like we were super healthy eaters, but one piece of zucchini once a month does hardly a healthy eater make. Now that you’re graduated, you can make an intricate pasta dinner that actually is healthy with this spaghetti recipe. This dish has cherry tomatoes, feta, and herbs, so you’ll feel as fancy as we felt healthy! Get our Herbed Roasted Cherry Tomato and Feta Spaghetti recipe.

Then: Instant Ramen

Now: Easy Chicken Ramen

Chowhound

Because those crunchy noodles and their incredibly salty seasoning packet are basically the emblem of dorm food. This grown-up rendition of ramen may not be instant noodles, but you just have to do a little sauteing of vegetables and boiling of water—surely, you can manage that. A store-bought rotisserie chicken makes it meaty, and even easier too. Get our Easy Chicken Ramen recipe.

from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2MIKbO7
via IFTTT

10 Best Beers to Use in Beer Batter Recipes

Easy Cucumber Salad

Use up the bounty of summer with this refreshing and crispy salad with cucumbers, rice vinegar, salt, pepper, and chopped fresh dill or basil.

Continue reading "Easy Cucumber Salad" »

from Simply Recipes https://ift.tt/2JSjmqI
via IFTTT

Back to School Brain Food for Your Kids’ Lunch Boxes

From avocado to dark chocolate, these delicious and nutritious brain foods are great for your kids’ minds (and lunches) as you gear up for the coming school year.

You can almost hear that blessed school bus screeching around the corner. We’re just about back to school and for parents, that means helping with math homework, throwing together crafty projects the day before they’re due, and getting creative with those daily brown bag lunches. But you can totally get creative with strategic “brain foods” that will help your child perform better in school, too. In fact, the food kids eat has been proven to have a direct relation to concentration, cognitive function, and even stress management, in some cases.

Here are 11 back-to-school brain foods to consider packing in your child’s lunch box this year. Healthy aaand delicious, your secret plot to make them smarter is completely safe with us.

1. Blueberries

whole wheat blueberry muffins with almond streusel

Chowhound

It’s a well-known fact that berries—blueberries especially—are as nutritious as they are tasty. A recent study shows that antioxidant-packed blueberries may actually help improve brain function, short-term memory, hand-eye coordination, and reverse nerve damage. So not only will studying be easier for your kids, but they’ll be better athletes, too! Pack a handful of blueberries in your kids’ lunches, or follow this recipe for quick and easy blueberry muffins that your kids—and their teachers—will love. Get our Very Blueberry Muffins recipe.

2. Pumpkin Seeds

Chowhound

Nuts and seeds in general are great for your brain function—and your heart—and although walnuts are at the top of the list, they’re a common severe allergen prohibited from many schools. (If your kid’s not affected but won’t go for plain walnuts, try mixing them with some sweeter ingredients, as in banana bread granola, or a dried apricot and Kamut granola blend, for a strictly after-school snack.) Omega-3 rich seeds are a safe alternative allowed in schools, so send some seasoned pumpkin seeds along with your next sandwich instead of chips. Get our Nacho Cheese Pumpkin Seeds recipe.

3. Eggs

Chowhound

Hard-boiled eggs are a classic self-contained snack most kids can be coaxed into eating, although they can also be turned into deviled eggs, or egg salad (mayo-free if need be). In any form, eggs are full of choline, folate, and vitamins that are beneficial to brain health. Get our Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs recipe.

4. Dark Chocolate

Chowhound

It’s okay to give your kids a little treat with their lunch, as long as it’s in moderation. A Harvard study (it’s Harvard, so you know it’s legit) showed that eating dark chocolate actually boosts brain power by increasing blood flow to the brain, therefore making students more alert and able to retain information. Participants in the study who were given dark chocolate also showed better memory and thinking abilities. Throw a couple of these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies in the brown paper bag—just make sure to use dark chocolate chips. Get our Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

5. Peanut Butter

grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich (grilled pbj)

Chowhound

According to WebMD, peanut butter is chock full of antioxidants that protect the nervous membranes and help the brain use sugar for energy. An energetic brain is an attentive and focused brain. Try our take on the classic PB&J, and watch your child’s study skills flourish. Or just watch them enjoy the best sandwich of all time. If you’re packing it in their lunch, you may need to replace the PB with sunflower or other seed butter. Get our Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich recipe.

6. Avocados

Chowhound

In addition to being trendy and delicious, the vitamins and minerals in avocados are actually useful in preventing stress and anxiety. This quick and easy-to-make guacamole would be a great after-school snack if your child is especially stressed out or suffering from test anxiety. If only someone had told me to eat more avocados when I was in school, I may have been valedictorian. Get our Guacamole recipe.

7. Yogurt

Chowhound

Similarly to avocados, yogurt is actually a great natural way to relieve stress and anxiety. According to a study performed on fish, the probiotics present in yogurt reduced the fish’s reaction to environmental stressors. Scientists think the same would ring true for students. Simply packing a Greek yogurt in your kids’ lunches would suffice, but remember everything that was said about blueberries’ ability to improve memory? Why not try this yogurt trifle? Simple, delicious, and beautiful, it’s a great study break snack! Get our Yogurt Pear & Pomegranate Trifle recipe.

8. Chickpeas

Chowhound

Chickpeas are super high in magnesium, which is not only great for stress, but it also helps to speed up messages the brain sends and receives. This makes for better information retention and recollection. The protein in chickpeas also boosts energy and thinking ability throughout the day. If a child eats chickpeas around lunchtime, the natural energy they get from their snack will keep them awake, attentive, and focused. Try these delicious and spicy roasted chickpeas. If your child is a picky eater, you can cut out the spice and season with salt instead. Get our Spicy Oven-Roasted Chickpeas recipe.

9. Whole Grains

easy peanut butter honey banana bread recipe

Chowhound

A Columbia University study shows that a diet consisting of whole grains actually reduces the risk of impairment that leads to Alzheimer’s. Although your children don’t have to worry about Alzheimer’s, this study is actually great news for students, like me, who have trouble with memorization (one time it took me two weeks to learn 14 lines of a play. If I had known I could solve that problem with a piece of bread, I probably would have saved a lot of time). Start replacing white bread with whole-grain, or try this whole grain and kefir yogurt banana bread. It’s delicious, and the yogurt is an added brain bonus! Get our Whole Wheat Kefir and Banana Bread recipe.

10. Oatmeal

Chowhound

If you keep finding out that your child is having trouble concentrating in class, try starting their day with a bowl of oatmeal. The natural glucose in oatmeal is great for the brain because it gives children the energy they need to concentrate and learn. Plus, it’s been proven time and time again that children who eat breakfast every day find much more success at school. When it comes to oatmeal, I always think sweeter is better, so sprinkle some brown sugar and cinnamon on top of this steel-cut oatmeal. And—I think you know where I’m going with this—throw some berries on there! Throw some berries on everything. Get our Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oatmeal recipe.

OmieBox Bento box and Thermos, $39.50 on Amazon

Leak proof and insulated to keep cold food cold and hot food hot.

Buy Now

11. Apples

Chowhound

From reducing anxiety to keeping the brain active and attentive, apples are a student’s superfood. Why students have been putting apples on their teachers’ desks when they could have been eating them themselves, I’ll never know. Studies have even shown that students who eat apples right before a test actually perform better. While apples and peanut butter is a simple brain booster, get a little more creative with these fun apple oatmeal bars! Get our Apple Oatmeal Bar recipe.

Related Video: Revolutionizing School Lunches

from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2Ksq83Q
via IFTTT

How to Make Perfect Fish Tacos

Grilled fish tacos are absolutely great, but fried fish tacos are truly special: extra crunch, a little more decadence, a perfect counterpoint to creamy sauce and slaw. Here’s how to make the perfect beer-battered fish tacos, courtesy of Uno Dos Tacos in San Francisco.

The classic fish taco—battered and fried, cabbage-stuffed—might have originated in San Felipe, the Baja California gulf town south of Mexicali, or in Ensenada, a three-hour drive northwest to the Pacific. Nobody knows, not really. But while the fish taco’s origins are obscure, its ubiquity is in no doubt.

A taco is a miniaturist’s dream, a thing with so few elements that you judge it against other tacos by the small things. At Uno Dos Tacos in San Francisco, Luis Flores beer-batters Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), and tops it with a chipotle mayo cut with yogurt. This recipe calls for multiple steps, but all of them are easy enough to pull off on a summer evening. Chill the Coronas, cue up Dick Dale on Pandora, and go for it.

You can fry the fish in a deep cast iron skillet or Dutch oven, but if you have a deep fryer in your kitchen arsenal, now’s the perfect time to use it.

Presto Fry Daddy Electric Deep Fryer, $24.19 on Amazon

Fear of frying (in a pot)? This should help you conquer that.

Buy Now

Uno Dos Tacos’ Pescado Tacos

Makes 8 tacos

For the beer batter:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 ounces beer

For the chipotle mayo:

1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon minced chipotles in adobo sauce

For the tacos:

1/2 medium green cabbage
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound skinless, boneless Pacific cod
6 cups vegetable oil

To assemble:

8 corn tortillas
1/2 cup Pico de Gallo salsa
3 limes

Step 1: In a medium mixing bowl, make the batter by combining the flour, garlic salt, and cayenne. Add the beer and whisk until well combined. Set aside to rest at room temperature for at least 10 minutes.

Step 2: Make the chipotle mayo by combining the ketchup, yogurt, mayonnaise, and chipotle chiles in a medium bowl and whisking till blended. Set this aside. (If you have a squeeze bottle, you can fill it with the sauce; otherwise, spoon it on when the time comes to assemble your tacos.)

Step 3: Cut the cabbage into strips, toss it with a pinch of salt and pepper, and set aside.

Step 4: Cut the cod into 2-inch strips. Use a paper towel to blot the pieces dry, then season with salt and pepper.

Step 5: Heat the vegetable oil over medium heat in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet to 350°F (the fish pictured here is being lowered into the Uno Dos Tacos deep-fryer). Line a platter with several layers of paper towels; set aside.

Step 6: With tongs, dip 1 piece of fish at a time into the beer batter. Let the excess batter drip off.

Step 7: Carefully lower the fish into the hot oil. Fry the fish in 3 to 4 batches, turning once, until the pieces are deep golden brown and crisp on the outside with a flaky interior, about 6 minutes total.

Step 8: Remove the fish to the prepared platter.

Step 9: To assemble the tacos, heat a griddle or cast-iron skillet on high until it’s hot, about 4 minutes. Place a tortilla in the dry pan and heat, flipping once, until warmed on both sides. Wrap the tortilla in a clean dishtowel to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.

Step 10: To build your tacos, take a warm tortilla and squeeze or spoon on some of the chipotle mayo.

Step 11: Add a piece of fish, the seasoned cabbage, some pico de gallo, and a squeeze of lime. Repeat with all of the tortillas and serve at once. ¡Buen provecho!

Note: This post was originally published on July 21, 2014.

from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2YHYuFa
via IFTTT

Upgrade Your Taco Tuesday with These Fresh Fruit Salsas

Meal Prep Containers That Will Get You Excited About Making Lunch

To realize your best meal prep self, you’re going to need the best meal prep containers. Lucky for you there’s a fleet of container companies designing their sleek and sturdy wares with daily meal prep in mind.

We know. Making your lunch and bringing it to work can seem…laborious. All that chopping and batching on Sunday takes time and effort, but it’s also the best way to keep that Whole30 promise you made to yourself. Well, unless you spring for a certain meal kit delivery plan but until that secret trust fund kicks in you might need a more practical solution for daily lunches.

Related Reading: Meal Prep Like a Pro with These Cookbooks

What you really need is motivation—and that can come in the form of the right meal prep container which actually makes the whole meal prep kind of fun or, at the very least, easy. That’s why we rounded up some of our favorite meal prep containers that are good-looking, uber-functional and will not only put you in the lunch-making spirit and ensure you never spend $16 on an overpriced chopped salad again.

Glass Storage Containers with Lids, $38 on Amazon

Amazon

This 18-piece set is a dream for portioning out soups, stews, and brown-rice bowls and then tossing them in your work bag—the snap lids are completely spill-proof. (Hot tip: Use the tiniest one to tote condiments and dressings.)See it

Stasher Reusable Storage Bags, $40 on Sur La Table

Sur la Table

May you never buy another plastic bag again. These reusable silicone wunderkinds come in a variety of sizes (there are three in this set). Use one for your sando and the baby ones for cut carrots and berries.See it

Ball Quart Jar, $12 for Two on Amazon

Amazon

We know you’ve maybe heard of this one before, but still, there’s nothing more satisfying than constructing a gorgeous Mason jar salad, which is pretty much the perfect way to beat the “sad desk salad” blues.See it

Ello Meal Prep Container Set, $59 on Macy’s

Macy’s

These glass containers are wrapped in silicone to prevent from chipping, and the fun colors mean you’ll always be able to identify your lunch in the shared fridge at work.See it

Oxo Good Grips Leakproof On-The-Go Salad Container, $16 on Amazon

Amazon

This genius three-layer salad container separates your proteins and toppings from your greens, and a mini container with a twist-off top keeps your dressing in check.See it

Sistema Snacks Containers, $15.80 on Amazon

Amazon

Stash hummus and carrots or veggies and almonds in these tiny transparent cubes that have two layers. Suddenly your 3pm snack slump doesn’t automatically mean traipsing over to the vending machine.See it

Prepd Pack, $69 on Prepd.com

Prepd

This genius pack has a sleek bamboo cover and a Tetris-like modular design with containers that are completely spill-proof. (You can buy different sizes to mix and match.) Plus, it comes with magnetic cutlery, which decreases your chances of accidentally tossing one in the trash.

Takenaka Expanded Double Bento Box, $32 on Amazon

Amazon

Prove that you’re a Millennial who can actually cook (or at least one who remembers to bring those leftovers your friend gave you to work) with this double-decker bento box that can be converted into a one-tier box, too, depending on your haul.See it

Unichart Stainless Steel Square Lunch Box, $29 on Amazon

Amazon

This adorable triple-decker box isn’t just a looker: the top layer will keep your food warm for two to three hours.

Related Video: The One Sunday Night Meal Prep Kit That Keeps You Eating Healthy All Week

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.

from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2ZDIPry
via IFTTT

These Are the Most Affordable U.S. Cities to Buy Groceries

Ever wonder if you’re spending too much for groceries? Or at least more than the folks in the next town over? Apartment Guide just released a ranking of the cheapest and most expensive U.S. cities for buying family groceries based on the average price of ten commonly purchased supermarket items: eggs, milk, cheese, orange juice, bananas, cereal, margarine, bread, potatoes, and steak. The ten prices were then added for a final ranking of the least and most expensive cities for buying groceries.

ApartmentGuide.com

Out of 256 U.S. cities ranked, the most affordable city for groceries turned out to be Temple, Texas with a whopping six other Texas cities making the top ten, including Waco, Houston, and Round Rock. The prices for groceries in Temple ranked extremely low across the board with the cheapest bananas and in the top 15 for cheapest steak, orange juice, cereal, milk, margarine, and potatoes.

Other U.S. cities to land in the top ten for cheapest groceries included Kalamazoo (MI), Salina (KS), Birmingham (AL), and Lynchburg (VA).

Earthwise Large Insulated Reusable Grocery Bag, $12.99 at Walmart

We love these reusable grocery bags because they're good for the environment, insulated, foldable, and come as a set of 2!

Buy Now

The study also revealed the top ten most expensive U.S. cities for family groceries with Honolulu, Hawaii clocking in as the priciest. Unsurprising perhaps, as anything that isn’t produced on the island chain must be shipped thousands of miles overseas.

New York City didn’t fare much better with three of the five boroughs topping the most expensive groceries list. Manhattan came in fifth for most expensive groceries, with Queens at number nine, and Brooklyn close behind at number ten.

Find the complete list of most and least expensive U.S. cities for buying groceries here.

Looking to trim your grocery budget. Trader Joe’s and ALDI are two of our favorite wallet-friendly grocery stores. What are yours? Let us know in the comments below.

from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2MGlhPe
via IFTTT

Grilled Tuna Steaks

Get Recipe!

from Serious Eats: Recipes https://ift.tt/2OROF7I
via IFTTT