Recipe Mutiny: 01/07/20

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Sous Vide Teriyaki Salmon

Sous Vide Teriyaki Salmon! This is an easy freezer meal, plus it makes the most tender, tastiest fish EVER. (And NO fishy aromas!) Simple teriyaki marinade with soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger.

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The 100 Best Places to Eat in America, According to Yelp

Yelp has released its 2020 list of 100 Best Places to Eat in America and with eateries in nearly all 50 states, we can’t think of a better reason to start planning that road trip.

To be clear, this isn’t a pure list of the 100 restaurants with the best overall Yelp ratings, but rather a curated list showcasing some of the best Yelp-reviewed joints across the country. To determine Yelp’s Best Places to Eat in 2020, a data science team first pulled the top restaurants by ratings and number of reviews in 2019 across the U.S. and then curated a list with representation based on the regions overall share of top-rated restaurants.

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In our seventh annual list, we’re excited to honor eateries that rank so highly in the Yelp community’s opinion that they earned the status of “must try this year.” From suburban staples to your new favorite hole-in-the-wall, this year’s list runs the gamut of dining experiences across the United States. Click the link in our bio to start eating through #YelpTop100!

A post shared by Yelp (@yelp) on Jan 7, 2020 at 7:02am PST

The results are a dynamic and sometimes quirky snapshot of American dining with a little bit of everything, from white-tablecloth Italian in Chattanooga to a gumbo food truck in Portland, Oregon. Despite good overall diversity, a whopping 20 restaurants on the list are located in California—by far the most of any state.

Shawarma Guys – San Diego, CA
Pisces Poke & Ramen – Los Angeles, CA
Farmbird – Washington DC
Burgerama – Valley Village, CA
Cocina Madrigal – Phoenix, AZ
Fratellino – Coral Gables, FL
Yardie Spice – Homestead, FL
Sweet Rice – Gardena, CA
Soichi Sushi – San Diego, CA
Pikul Thai Bistro – Fairfield, CA
Kahuku Farms – Kahuku, HI
Shish Ke Baba – San Francisco, CA
The Fuel Shack – San Clemente, CA
PorkChop & Bubba’s BBQ – Bakersfield, CA
Roundhouse Deli – Roseville, CA
Tommy Tamale Market & Cafe – Grapevine, TX
SP Brazilian Steakhouse – Lakeway, TX
Kra Z Kai’s Laotian Barbeque – Corona, CA
Karved – Las Vegas, NV
Southern Charm Cafe – Cape Canaveral, FL
Gino’s Deli Stop N Buy – San Antonio, TX
Craft Pita – Houston, TX
Taneda Sushi in Kaiseki – Seattle, WA
Mumbo Gumbo PDX – Portland, OR
Garlic Yuzu – Las Vegas, NV
Mr bibi – Oceanside, CA
Bulegreen Cafe Yard – Oakland Park, FL
Sky Rocket Burger – Dallas, TX
Scotty’s Cafe – Columbus, OH
The Aussie Grind – Frisco, TX
Greek Unique – Ashburn, VA
Yahya’s Mediterranean Grill & Pastries – Denver, CO
Nini’s Deli – Chicago, IL
Lewis Barbecue – Charleston, SC
Daybreak Pleasant Street – Gainesville, FL
Otis – Brooklyn, NY
ACHILLES – Santa Clara, CA
Gotta B Crepes – Evanston, IL
Taqueria La Familia – Denver, CO
Hometown Cafe & Poké Bar – Providence, RI
Zaap Thai – Portland, OR
Asiana Thai & Sushi – Cincinnati, OH
Selam Ethiopian & Eritrean Cuisine – Orlando, FL
Chellas Arepa Kitchen – Lancaster, PA
New Mexico Tamale Co – Ferndale, WA
German Knoodle – St. Petersburg, FL
Kuji Asian Grill – Woodland, CA
Bombay River – Red Bank, NJ
Carmelina’s – Boston, MA
Arario Midtown – Reno, NV
Indo – St. Louis, MO
The Curry Pizza Company 2 – Fresno, CA
Barista Del Barrio – Tucson, AZ
Korai Kitchen – Jersey City, NJ
310 Eatery – Albany, CA
Dia De Los Takos – Albuquerque, NM
Healthy Substance – Chicago, IL
Forma Pasta Factory – Brooklyn, NY
Flight Restaurant & Wine Bar – Memphis, TN
Croby’s Urban Viddles – Charlottesville, VA
Mr. Pollo – Pensacola, FL
Yassin’s Falafel House – Knoxville, TN
The Local Wood Fired Grill – Alpharetta, GA
Hold Fast Kitchen and Spirits – New York, NY
Tibbitts @ Fern Hill – Tacoma, WA
Acevedo’s Hawaicano Cafe – Kahului, HI
Tuna Kahuna – Burlingame, CA
Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que – Kansas City, KS
Hawaii Poke Bowl – Eagan, MN
Trattoria 360 – Campbell, CA
Porque No? Tacos – Oakland, CA
Stella’s – Richmond, VA
Indian Gardens Cafe & Market – Sedona, AZ
Noodle Man – Virginia Beach, VA
Peck Peck Korean Style Chicken – Teaneck, NJ
Pruller Restaurant – Marlborough, MA
Jackie M’s & Son – Augusta, GA
JJ’s Caffe – Brockton, MA
Odd Duck – Milwaukee WI
Chez Genèse – Greensboro, NC
Otaru Sushi Bar – New Haven, CT
Fox & Fig – Savannah, GA
The Box & Burgers Eatery – Kirkland, WA
Yummy Pollo – Louisville, KY
El Bocado – Philadelphia, PA
Inizio – Buffalo, NY
MOZZ – Provo, UT
Bae Bae’s Kitchen – Pittsburgh, PA
Alleia – Chattanooga, TN
Yannis Golden Gyros – Indianapolis, IN
Sunny Point Café – Asheville, NC
Wright’s Barbecue – Johnson, AR
Banh Mi Brothers – Charlotte, NC
Ten/6 – Coeur d’Alene, ID
Los Primos Tex Mex & Grill – Rockville, MD
Plank Seafood Provisions – Omaha, NE
Cafe Kacao – Oklahoma City, OK
MAKS Asian Kitchen & Sushi – Fort Myers, FL
Vizo’s African Bar & Restaurant – Lubbock, TX
Falafel cafe – Birmingham, AL

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What Is the Difference Between the Keto Diet and the Atkins Diet?

If you were even tangentially aware of fad diets in the 1990s and have been paying attention to the rise of keto today, you may have had occasion to wonder: What is the difference between the keto diet and the Atkins diet? Both plans emphasize a low-carbohydrate diet that is meant to help you lose weight, but are they the same thing? Sometimes, yes, but also not exactly.

What They Have In Common: High Protein, Higher Fat

Each is a high-protein diet, so people often focus on the fact that they include a lot of meat, but focusing on that is actually shortsighted, and even a major misconception.

Both the keto diet and the Atkins diet are actually centered on consuming fat. (Yes, really, fat, not simply tons of meat. More on that later.)

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The two diets actually do have a lot in common and overlap in some stages, says dietitian Kristen Mancinelli, M.S., R.D.N., who specializes in low-carb diets.

The Atkins Diet

“The Atkins diet is not different from the ketogenic diet,” Mancinelli says. “The only difference is that Atkins starts you in a ketogenic diet and over time adds carbs back in. So when you are in the ‘induction’ phase of the Atkins diet, which is the beginning, you are absolutely on a ketogenic diet. No difference at all. Atkins says you should stay there for a couple of weeks but recommends you stay longer if you want more aggressive weight loss. It’s really left up to the dieter to decide how long they want to be in be induction [or ketogenic] phase before they move on.”

The Keto Diet

So what exactly does a ketogenic diet consist of? The keto diet is a very high-fat diet, with moderate protein intake designed to put the body into a state of ketosis, says Amy Goodson, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., L.D., registered dietitian and consultant in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “This means the body uses ketones as a source of energy instead of glucose or carbohydrate,” Goodson says. (Ketones are a result of the body breaking down fat for energy, which happens when carb intake is very limited; ketones can cross the blood-brain barrier in order to be used as fuel by your central nervous system cells, which otherwise would use glucose—or sugar—from carbs.) The keto diet was actually developed in the 1920s as a natural treatment for epilepsy, and it may also help treat type 2 diabetes by improving your blood sugar levels and reducing a reliance on insulin to regulate blood glucose.

TanyaJoy/Shutterstock

To successfully put the body into a state of ketosis, you would have to consume 70-80 percent fat, 20-25 percent protein, and 5-10 percent carbohydrates, Goodson says. The Atkins diet relies less on ratios, but the concept is similar: You can eat unlimited protein and fat, and in phase one, you only eat 20 grams of net carbs, ideally from low-carb vegetables, according to Goodson. It may seem counter-intuitive for dieters to intentionally eat more fat, but “The idea is that protein and fat make you feel more full and you will, by default, feel satiated and eat less,” she says.

Another OptionWhat You Should Know About Intuitive EatingAnd sorry to burst your bubble, carnivores, but neither diet is all-you-can-eat meat. “Many people mistakenly believed that the Atkins diet is a high protein diet, but that is just a misconception,” Mancinelli says. “If they read the instructions for following an Atkins diet they would see that it’s not so. You do eat meat, but most of your calories come from fat.”

In addition to protein sources like eggs, fish, poultry and meat, you’ll end up filling up on many healthy fats like olive oil, avocados, tree nuts, and seeds, and low-carb veggies like spinach and kale, if you’re trying to follow either eating plan closely.

Bottom Line?

The Atkins diet is a branded ketogenic diet, with a slight twist. “Again, there is no difference and no choosing one over the other,” Mancinelli says. “The Atkins diet provides a plan for increasing carb intake over time, whereas a ketogenic diet is technically ‘all in,’ and once you start reintroducing carbs then you would say you’re no longer on a ketogenic diet…the main difference between the two is that one provides a stepwise process for going off the diet and the other does not.”

There is some concern that both can contribute to heart disease, as they are both high in saturated fat.

Whether you’re looking to meet long-term weight loss goals, alleviate symptoms of illness, or just eat a little healthier, speak with your doctor or go see a registered dietitian to discuss the health benefits of each plan before deciding to try it out.

And if you’re wondering about paleo, it’s also similar in some respects—it’s not a low-fat diet, anyway—but there’s no counting levels of ketones or daily calories or tracking carbs; instead, the focus is on whole foods that our earliest ancestors would have eaten (lean meat, vegetables, fruits, etc.).

Keto Concerns

Is the Keto Diet Bad for Your Heart?

Note: This article was originally published in 2018 and has been updated with new text and links.

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The Case Against Carbs: Valid or Not? An Expert Weighs In

Between festive holiday cookies and the seemingly endless list of craveable comfort foods, winter is really carbohydrates’ time to shine. But you’re likely feeling conflicted or confused about what role carbs play in your daily diet; and popular plans like keto and Whole30 certainly aren’t helping clear things up. So, here’s the bottom line on whether carbs are actually bad for you, which ones are “good,” and why cutting carbs could be a mistake.

First Things First, What Are Carbohydrates?

A carbohydrate is a general term used to describe one of the macronutrients our body needs for optimal function (others include fat and protein). Getting a little more specific, carbohydrates are further classified into two categories—simple and complex.

The Carb-Sugar Connection

Where carbs get a bad rap is the connection to sugar—most carbohydrates break down into glucose, providing the body with energy, which is a good thing. The main difference, however, is that complex carbs (vegetables, beans, and whole grains, for example) usually come with necessary extras, like vitamins and nutrients.

Which Carbs Are ‘Good’?

“While all forms of carbohydrates can fit into your diet, certain types of carbs do have more nutrients than others,” explains Alissa Rumsey, a registered dietitian and intuitive eating counselor in New York City. “Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains all contain fiber, which not only helps to keep us full and satisfied, but can help improve our gastrointestinal function and is linked to lower risk of certain chronic diseases including heart disease and some types of cancer.”

Getty Images / Carsten Schanter / EyeEm

Simple carbs (like cookies and cakes…and kolaches), often provide little to no extras and quickly convert to sugar providing a quick energy hit but not prolonged satiety.

And then there are carbs that naturally contain sugar but are also a great source of vitamins and minerals—think fruit and dairy.

Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar by David Perlmutter MD, $14.44 on Amazon

An updated version of the book that arguably started the gluten-free craze.

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Long Story Short

Lumping all carbs into one group that you categorically avoid isn’t really fair.

It’s time to drop the stigma against carbs, says Rumsey. “There is nothing wrong with carbohydrates and in fact they are extremely important to our body. Further, we need to eat carbohydrates, as they are the only fuel source that our brain and nervous system can use,” she explains (hence why “brain fog” is often a side effect of low-carb diets). “Carbs are also the preferred form of energy for all of our other bodily functions.”

Related Reading: 5 Plant-Based Swaps for Simple Carbs You Crave

The Dangers of Cutting Carbs Completely

should you cut carbs? which carbs are good for you?

Image Studios / Getty Images

Rumsey also warns against limiting food groups, carbs or otherwise (bar a legitimate allergy).

“I still find that most people have been taught that carbs are ‘bad’ and that they shouldn’t eat them,” says Rumsey. “But your brain interprets any type of restriction as a sign that starvation is coming, so it increases the cravings. When you make carbs ‘off limits’ or have been on-and-off diets that cut down on carbs, eventually this leads to you wanting even more carbohydrates.”

Related Reading: What Exactly Is Intuitive Eating?

Carbohydrate Common Sense

The carb consensus boils down to common sense. Fuel your body by loading up on carbs rich in vitamins, nutrients, and fiber (whole grains, vegetables, fruit, beans, legumes); enjoy pasta and bread (Rumsey’s favorite carbs) in moderation; and limit calorie-packed sweets.

Turns out carbs aren’t so complicated after all.

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The Best Instant Pot Accessories for Healthy Eating

The Instant Pot is one of our must-have kitchen devices and especially with the right Instant Pot accessories the miracle machine can be a great tool for health and wellness, too.

It’s on sale at several retailers for Cyber Monday 2019, but one of the best deals we’ve seen is the Instant Pot DUO60 for $49 at Walmart—plus, they have an Instant Pot bundle offer which lets you add on the accessory of your choice, including several of the ones shown below, for just $2-$5 depending on which one you select.

Instant Pot DUO60 6-Quart Multicooker, $49 at Walmart (normally $99)

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As it’s a combination pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, rice cooker, warmer, and more, you can make thousands of satiating meals in your programmable Instant Pot (with the added benefit of fewer dirty dishes). From flavorful meat stews and fall-off-the-bone short ribs to summer shrimp boils and nutrient-packed soups, most healthy Instant Pot recipes are done in minutes and require minimal prep.

One reason an Instant Pot is perfect for preparing dishes for healthy eating is how fast it cooks tender meats, perfect beans, creamy Greek yogurt, eggs, and other proteins integral to a balanced diet. With the help of a few smart, healthy Instant Pot accessories like cups for cooking eggs, steamed vegetable baskets, and a few Instant Pot cookbooks with healthy Instant Pot recipes in mind, you can stay committed to your Whole30 or keto plan or maintain a more balanced diet with loads of protein and nutrient-packed vegetables.

Below are some of the best Instant Pot accessories to have around for eating healthy all week (and year) long—and most will work with other pressure cookers too.

Hatrigo Steamer Basket, $16.99 on Amazon

Amazon

This Instant Pot steamer basket will make cooking veggies or boiling eggs even easier, and any dietician will tell you steaming adds the least amount of fat to foods while best maintaining their nutritional integrity. This steamer basket Instant Pot accessory is available in three different sizes (3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart) so there’s a size that will fit perfectly for any Instant Pot model, and they work with the Ninja Foodi and some other multicookers too. The stainless-steel steamer basket features a silicone-covered handle to keep it from getting too hot and burning your fingers when you lift it out.Buy Now

Instant Pot Official Silicone Steamer Basket, $11.88 at Walmart

Walmart

Serving a similar function as the basket above, this BPA-free silicone steamer has the added bonus of folding up flat for easy storage, so it’s a great choice for smaller spaces. It also cleans up more easily than metal since it’s naturally nonstick. It can be used with 6-quart and 8-quart Instant Pots.Buy Now

Instant Pot Official Silicone Roasting Rack, $10.39 at Walmart

Walmart

The Instant Pot does come with a metal rack, but this BPA-free silicone version is far easier to clean since it’s nonstick. It elevates your food from the liquid in the pot, while the vented bottom promotes better airflow for even cooking and also allows any rendered fat to drain. Use with 6-quart and 8-quart Instant Pots. When not in use, it works as a heat-safe trivet too.Buy Now

Mealthy CrispLid Air Fryer Attachment, $49.95 on Amazon

Mealthy

While frying food is obviously not a *healthy* choice, air frying at least cuts way down on the fat and calories. But if you’ve been unsure about getting yet another kitchen appliance, this nifty new attachment may be the perfect option for you. It’s basically a lid that you can lock onto any 6- or 8-quart electric pressure cooker, including the Instant Pot (and Mealthy’s own MultiPot models). It comes with a fryer basket, raised trivet, stainless steel tongs, and a heat-resistant silicone mat to rest the lid on when you’re done—but that’s still a lot less to store than a bulky air fryer itself. Check out our executive editor’s Mealthy CrispLid review for more info. It’s available on Amazon, but if you purchase through the Mealthy site, you can enter code Chowhound10 at checkout for $10 off your total of $59.95 and up.Buy Now

“The Keto Instant Pot Cookbook” by Maria Emmerich, $22.49 on Amazon

Amazon

This healthy Instant Pot cookbook contains over 130 easy recipes for dishes you’ll love, all of which were developed specifically for a low-carb, high-protein keto diet. An Instant Pot is one of the best tools for a high-protein, low-carb lifestyle, cooking savory dishes like fall-off-the-bone red meats, quick chicken and fish, and fresh vegetables in a fraction of the time it takes in an oven. This book covers all of them and then some, with recipes like Amazing Asian Pulled Pork, Chicken and Bacon Lasagna Roll-Ups, Buffalo Meatballs, Easy Baked Eggs, Chocolate Almond Fudge, and Pumpkin Coffee Cake (all still keto, of course). It also includes helpful info on using your Instant Pot if you’re just getting started, plus great meal prep tips.Buy Now

Egg Steamer Rack with Heat Resistant Handles, $7.99 on Amazon

Amazon

Make perfect soft- or hard-boiled eggs in your multicooker with this handy Instant Pot egg steamer rack. It has indents to hold nine eggs, making this steam tool ideal for healthy meal prep. Make a batch (or two) on Sunday, then chop up some hard-boiled eggs for your salad for more protein to fuel your afternoon, or add a soft-boiled egg on top of avocado toast for an easy, healthy weekday breakfast. This comes in sizes suitable for 5-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart Instant Pot models.Buy Now

Silicone Egg Bite Molds with Steamer Rack, $16.99 on Amazon

Amazon

If you love Starbucks‘ sous vide egg bites, you need these silicone Instant Pot egg molds that let you make your own at home. Packed with protein, they’re yet another meal prepper’s dream (and a nice change from plain old hard-boiled eggs). Customize them with any additions you want, make a double batch on Sunday, and grab them for healthy breakfasts and lunch all week long. This set of two silicone molds (each makes 7 egg bites at once) also comes with silicone spoons and a steamer rack, but if you don’t need all the extras, you can buy a single egg bite mold with lid by itself.Buy Now

“The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook: 75 Easy Recipes for Light Meals” by Megan Gilmore, $9.31 on Amazon

Amazon

Whip up some light, healthy meals in your Instant Pot with this great healthy multicooker cookbook, which includes 75 simple recipes all suited for the miracle machine. Each healthy Instant Pot recipe includes a gluten-free option and they are all free of refined sugars. The healthy and delicious dishes range from savory (Instant Pot Eggplant Parmesan Bake, Spicy Lentil Burgers, and Asparagus & Leek Frittata) to sweet (Flourless Banana Oat Bread and One-Pot Chocolate Cake and Frosting—yum). Plus, there are tips on what to keep in your pantry so you’re always ready to whip up something good (and good for you too).Buy Now

Silva Stackable Instant Pot Inserts with Lids, 2 for $32.99 at Walmart

Walmart

Make your Instant Pot even more convenient with these stackable stainless-steel Instant Pot inserts for cooking multiple things at once, like a protein and sides (pressure cooking pros call this “PIP” or “pot in pot” cooking). They also serve as layer pans for cooking lasagna or cheesecake on cheat day, but we recommend them as one of the best Instant Pot accessories for anyone looking to increase efficiency and make more than one dish at a time. You can even cook multiple proteins to keep meal prep interesting, easy, and fast!Buy Now

Instant Pot Yogurt Cups and Rack, $9.95 at Walmart

Walmart

You can make your own yogurt easily at home with this nifty Instant Pot yogurt maker accessory. We love that it’s easy to use and easy to clean—and saves a lot of money compared to buying tubs of yogurt at the store (plus, it cuts down on food waste to boot). Try creating different flavors and varieties such as Greek yogurt—and don’t worry about hidden sugar since you’ll know exactly what goes into your batch. Incorporate unique add-ins to shake up your healthy breakfast routine too, but don’t forget yogurt recipes that embrace its savory side!Buy Now

Air Fryer Lid, $79.95 on Amazon

Transform your Instant Pot into an air fryer with this lid that attaches to the top of the pot. The lid instantly turns the Instant Pot into an air fryer that can fry, bake, roast, broil, reheat, and dehydrate. Plus, with the built-in Even Crisp technology, all your favorite foods are guaranteed to come out golden and perfectly crispy. Buy Now

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3 Easy Ways to Take the Humble Chocolate Chip Cookie to the Next Level

To some, baking is a complicated mess of precise measurements and failed experiments. But to Greg Rales, the owner and baker behind Red Gate Bakery in New York City’s East Village, there’s an undeniable spark of magic every time he pulls a cookie sheet out of the oven.

“I’ve always been obsessed with baking as magic and see[ing] the alchemy of it all—taking those disparate, not good tasting things on their own and putting them together. You get this magical thing, that if I’m doing my job right, is pretty delicious,” he says.

Greg has long been a baking fanatic—starting with summers spent on Red Gate Farm, his family’s farm in Nantucket. There, he developed his passion and love for the craft, learning from doing and watching a lot of Food Network.

These days, he’s taken his expertise and plopped them into his first full-service bakery, an homage to the stripped down, humble pastry. The bakery hawks the kind of warming and nostalgic pastries of your youth—unfussy cookies and simple wedges of cake, but built up with high-quality ingredients and careful practices.

Rachel Vanni

“I want to remind people of that warm and fuzzy feeling of being carefree, something simpler than what’s happening in all our lives today,” Greg explains. “So what I try to do is take this very classic thing—a chocolate chip cookie, an Oreo, a slice of cake—and turn the volume up all the way on one or two things in it.”

This means chocolate chip cookies shot through with nutty toffee. Caramelized sugar cookies marbled with house-made Oreos. Brown butter blondies studded with toasted pecans. Everything is wonderfully familiar, yet elevated in a new and creative way.

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Stand Mixer with pouring Shield, $293.55 on Amazon

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Since Greg is an expert when it comes to boosting even the most modest of baked goods, it seemed only appropriate to have him provide his best tips for transforming the humble chocolate chip cookie. Keep reading for his suggestions, then check out Red Gate Bakery’s recipe for the beloved choco-toffee cookie, exploding with hunks of chocolate toffee.

Brown Your Butter

The simplest way to really launch the humble chocolate chip cookie over the edge? Brown your butter. “We’re very big on brown butter in the bakery,” Greg explains. “Browning your butter is the simplest thing any home cook can do to make restaurant quality food at home.” The resulting cookie is much darker and nuttier.

Favor Brown Sugar Over White Sugar

Rachel Vanni

Eschewing white sugar for brown sugar is a trick Greg stands by in most of the cookies and baked goods at Red Gate. He guesses that most of what’s made at Red Gate starts with a predominant base of brown sugar, rather than white flour. “It adds a lot of chewiness and gives it that nuttier, molasses flavor,” he says.

Sprinkle Flaky Sea Salt on Top

It should come as no surprise that many cookies these days are topped with a smattering of flaky sea salt, and Greg is a big proponent of that move. “A little flaky salt on top of anything sweet, whether that’s a piece of cake or a cookie, is delicious,” he says. The more ways you can prick your tongue with a surprise of flavor, the better.

Choco-Toffee Cookies Recipe

Choco-Toffee Cookies

Makes: 12 large cookies

Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 ounces (1/2 cup) chocolate-covered toffee bar (Trader Joe’s makes a great candy), chopped
8 ounces (1 cup) chopped bittersweet chocolate
Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream together both sugars with the butter until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Your arms will thank you if you don’t have an electric mixer! You’re looking for a noticeably lighter, creamy result, where sugar has nearly dissolved.
Add eggs, one at a time, making sure to scrape down the sides between each addition.
Add all of the dry ingredients and mix just to combine. Fold in both chopped toffee and chocolate.
Using a 4-oz scoop, scoop mounds of dough onto a baking tray, at least two inches apart. Sprinkle with flaky salt.
Bake for 15 minutes, rotating pan top to bottom and front to back halfway through. If you, like me, are into crinkly edges, rap the pan against the rack in the oven during rotation to deflate the centers and create ripples toward the edge of each cookie.
Let cool.

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8 Stylish Water Bottles That’ll Make You Want To Hydrate

Half a gallon. That’s how much water you should be drinking every day. So what do you do? Fill up your water bottle with the best intentions at 9 am, only to let it sit there, hardly touched, until 3 p.m., when obviously, it’s coffee time. We can’t blame you. Room temperature tap isn’t exactly inspiring. What you need is a bottle that will demand your attention. Here, design-minded water bottles that make throwing back agua easier (and dress up your desk).

HYDAWAY Collapsible Water Bottle, $21.95 on Amazon

Amazon

This is the discreet-looking squishy one you throw in your bag so you NEVER have to pay $4 for a bottled water ever again.Buy Now

Brimma Leak Proof Fruit Infuser Water Bottle, $19.97 on Amazon

Amazon

Add cucumber, lemon, raspberries or mint to the infuser part of the bottle, and boom! You’ve got spa water.Buy Now

Elixir2Go Crystal Elixir Bottle on Amazon, $39.99 on Amazon

Amazon

Sure, the claims that this water bottle can infuse your plain old H20 with crystal healing powers is, uh, theoretical at best. But who cares when it looks this pretty? Also, know that the “gemstone-pod” is separated by glass from the rest of your water so if you do dig crystals (no judgement!) you can swap in your own favorites.Buy Now

HYDY Vacuum Insulated Thermal Water Bottle, $14-$35 on Amazon

Amazon

We think of this stunner as the designer athleisure of water bottles. It comes in 20 colors (though we love the pink gold selection) and keeps your water ice-cold for 24 hours, which is ideal for those of you who shun the room temperature stuff.Buy Now

Reduce WaterWeek Classic Reusable Water Bottles, $16.99 on Amazon

Amazon

This set, which includes a fridge tray, is designed to help you easily have a clean bottle of H20 on hand every day of the week. It’s also an economical way to stock up for the family, or have one water bottle in the car, at the office, and at home.Buy Now

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