Month: June 2021

Air Fried Crack Bread

Prepare this delicious crack bread with just an air fryer! You’ll surely achieve all the flavor packed in a Ciabatta bread. You can have it ready in just about 10 minutes! Ingredients: Ciabatta bread Chives Garlic salt 1 tbsp. Butter 2 tbsp. cream cheese Italian seasoning Garlic salt Mozzarella cheese Directions: Use a knife and cut across the bread in a criss cross fashion Mix butter, cream cheese, chives, garlic salt, Italian seasoning in a bowl Use a brush and pack mix into bread Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and mozzarella cheese Cook at 375 degrees F for 7 to 8 minutes.

Frozen Veggies and Fruits You Should Be Getting Year Round

Stocking up on frozen produce is one of the best ways to stick to a budget. There are myths that fresh is always better than frozen, but in fact sometimes the opposite is true! Frozen foods are picked and frozen when they’re ripe, sometimes between eight to 12 hours. This ensures all the valuable nutrients are locked in. Nutrients in fresh produce are lost during harvesting, packaging or while sitting on shelves in a store for weeks at a time. Frozen produce is usually less expensive and will save you money in the long-run. Here are a few must-buy frozen items. Dark Sweet Cherries. Fresh cherries come with a hefty premium price. Frozen cherries are rich in antioxidants, fiber and nutrients making them perfect for smoothies and healthy desserts. Edamame. Edamame is a great source of plant-based protein and fiber. They’re very affordable to buy in frozen form, and make for an easy snack. Let them thaw on the counter before preparing. Broccoli. Without a doubt much easier to prepare when frozen, broccoli is a super-healthy veggie. You’ll only want to opt for fresh broccoli when you’d like to grill it. Green Beans. Frozen green beans are consistently more flavorful and have a better texture. They’re also easier to find! Packed with fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants, they’re another great source of plant-based protein. Pre-Made Smoothie Packs. We all get busy and pre-made packs are the perfect solution to making smoothies. They have all the healthiest fruits and veggies in perfect portions. You’ll pay a little more upfront but nothing beats the convenience. Mixed Vegetable Blends. This is a no-brainer for essential frozen food purchases. These are a staple in meal prep. Steam them in soups, stews, curries and even casseroles. Change up the varieties you buy and purchase them in bulk to save even more. Source: the Kitchn

Cheddar Cheese Puffs Recipe

Treat yourself to light and savory cheese puffs with cheddar cheese and thyme. You’ll first need to make a pâte a choux dough. It’s surprisingly easy to make and with the cheddar cheese will elevate the flavor of the cheese puffs. You can always experiment and add your own ingredients such as crumbled bacon, sage or rosemary. Prep time: 5 minsCook time: 45 minsTotal time: 50 minsServings: 24 servings Ingredients: 1 stick butter (8 Tbsp or 4 ounces) 1 cup water 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup all purpose flour 4 large eggs 1 cup (4 ounces) grated sharp cheddar cheese 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme (or rosemary) Freshly ground pepper Directions: Boil the water, butter, salt: In a medium sized saucepan, add the water, butter, and salt, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the flour and stir: Reduce the heat to medium and add the flour all at once. Stir rapidly. The mixture will form a dough ball that will pull away from the sides of the pan.It helps to use a wooden spoon to stir as the dough will be rather thick. Continue to cook for a couple minutes. Let cool a couple minutes, then add eggs, one at a time: Remove the pan from the heat and let cool for a couple of minutes. Stir so that the dough cools more evenly. You want the dough to be warm, just not so hot that when you start adding eggs they cook as they hit the dough.Add the eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition until the eggs are incorporated into the dough. (Do this part in a mixer if you want, or by hand with a wooden spoon.) The dough should become rather creamy. Stir in the grated cheese, thyme, and a few grinds of pepper. Scoop spoonfuls onto lined baking sheet: Heat oven to 425°F. Spoon out small balls (about a heaping tablespoon) of the dough onto a silicone or parchment lined baking sheet, with at least an inch separating the spoonfuls. Bake: Place in oven and cook for 10 minutes at 425°F. Lower heat to 350°F and cook for another 15-20 minutes, until puffed up and lightly golden. Source: Simply Recipes

Garlic Chive Cream Cheese Wontons

Prepare a delicious appetizer for dinner with just an air fryer! These garlic chive cream cheese wontons are quick and easy with readily accessible ingredients. You can have it ready in just about 10 minutes. Ingredients: Cream cheese Chives Garlic salt Wonton wraps Water Non-stick cooking spray Directions: Mix cream cheese, chives and garlic salt in a bowl Put one and a half teaspoon of the mix at the center of wonton wraps Wet the edges with water, fold and press to seal Spray cooking spray on the pan and sealed wontons Cook at 375 degrees F for 7 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes

Breaking Down Dishwasher Detergent Compartments

You may be looking at your dishwasher, more specifically the detergent compartments and asking yourself what all those mean. Let your dishwasher take the load of the work by utilizing these compartments to their maximum potential. Your owner’s manual will be the most useful for model-specific practices. You can also find many manuals online in their PDF formats. If you’re still looking for a guide to fill the gaps, look no further! Here’s what dishwasher compartments mean, and how you should use them. (From left to right as pictured above) Main Wash Compartment. This is the main compartment where you’ll always be using when running the dishwasher. Many kinds of detergents can go here such as powder, gel and pods. Even if you use a pod, it should go into this compartment and not be tossed into the dishwasher as this will make it dissolve too quickly. Be sure to follow the recommended detergent amount, often times people use too much! Pre-Rinse Compartment. The smaller compartment usually located with the main wash compartment is there for a reason, even if most people don’t use it. The pre-rinse cup is meant to hold extra detergent if you feel the load will require some extra power on greasy pots and pans. It’ll add a bonus cleaning action to the pre-wash cycle of your dishwasher. Rinse Aid Compartment. Not often used, but should be! The Rinse aid helps break the surface tension of the water that rests on your dishes after they’re washed. The water will in turn slide off easily. It’ll help dishes dry faster and prevent water spots on your dishes. This compartment will hold more product than you actually need for a single cycle. Fill it up and refill once it runs out. There is usually an indicator to let you know it’s getting low. Source: the Kitchn

Cherry Clafoutis Recipe

Among one of the easier desserts to make is classic French clafoutis. It’s a custard with enough structure to support a lot of fruit. Try this recipe if you’re looking for a dessert with little work and plenty of payoff. You can create this delicious treat with just basic ingredients like eggs, sugar, flour and fruit! Prep time: 15 minsCook time: 40 minsTotal time: 55 minsServings: 6 servings Ingredients: 2 cups of fresh sweet cherries, pitted 2 tablespoons of blanched slivered almonds 3 eggs 1/2 cup of sugar (can reduce to 1/4 cup) 1 tablespoon of brown sugar 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour 1/8 teaspoon of salt 1 cup of milk (2% or whole milk) 3/4 teaspoon of almond extract (can sub 2 teaspoons of Amaretto) 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract Powdered sugar for dusting Directions: Butter and flour baking dish, scatter with cherries and slivered almonds: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and lightly flour a 9X9 or 10X7 baking dish. Scatter the cherries and slivered almonds over the bottom of the dish. Make batter with eggs, sugar, salt, and flour: Whisk the eggs and sugars together until smooth. Whisk in the salt and flour until smooth. Add the milk, almond extract, and vanilla extract: Whisk until smooth. Pour batter into the baking dish over the cherries and slivered almonds. Bake: Bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes or until lightly browned and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Check about halfway through the baking and if the top is getting well browned tent it loosely with aluminum foil. Remove from oven to cool: When you pull it put of the oven it will wiggle a bit which is normal. Place on a wire rack to cool. The clafoutis will have puffed up quite a bit and will deflate while cooling. Dust with powdered sugar: When cool dust the clafoutis with powdered sugar. Serve. Source: Simply Recipes

Air Fried Calzone Recipe

Prepare the perfect calzone with just an air fryer! Enjoy the right combination of cheese, sauce and seasoning for a quick bite. You can have it ready in under 10 minutes with little to no mess. Ingredients: 2 pieces of Pillsbury crescent dough Pepperoni Mozzarella cheese Pizza sauce Italian seasoning Non-stick cooking spray Directions: Add pepperoni, cheese, sauce and Italian seasoning to the pieces of Pillsbury dough Fold and press the edges to wrap Spray air fryer pan with non-stick cooking spray and on calzone Sprinkle Italian seasoning over top Cook at 350 degrees F for 5 to 6 minutes. Flip and cook for another 3 minutes

Homemade Funnel Cake Recipe

If you’re craving a carnival treat, you don’t have to wait until the next festival season! Bring the flavor you love with fried dough that is crisp and golden brown. Enjoy these covered with shower of confectioners’ sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It’s perfect for a casual get-together or weekend night in. Total time: 45 mins Yield: 8 large funnel cakes Ingredients: Funnel Cake: Canola oil, for deep-frying 2 1/4 cups milk 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 3 large eggs 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt Topping: 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Sweetened whipped cream, for serving Directions: For the funnel cakes: Add enough oil to a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot to come 2 inches up the sides of the pot. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it registers 360 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer. Line a baking sheet with a metal cooling rack or a few layers of paper towels. Meanwhile, whisk together the milk, vanilla and eggs in a large measuring cup. Sift together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl using a mesh strainer (to break up any lumps in the brown sugar). Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture just until smooth and combined. When the oil is up to temperature, use your finger to cover the hole in the bottom of a 1- to 2-cup funnel (with at least a 1/2-inch hole) and fill it to the top with about 3/4 cup of the batter. Position the funnel over the pot of hot oil and remove your finger to release the batter. Let the batter flow into the oil in thick squiggles, moving the funnel within a contained circular shape about 8 inches in diameter. Fry on the first side until golden brown, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, then use a spider or tongs to carefully flip to the second side and fry for an additional 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove to the wire rack or paper towels and let drain and cool slightly. Repeat with the remaining batter. For topping: Dust the funnel cakes generously with the confectioners’ sugar, sprinkle with cinnamon and dollop with whipped cream before serving warm. Source: Food Network

Beverages You Should Moderate or Cut Out Entirely

The landscape of drinks in today’s age has drastically changed as more “healthy” drinks have entered the market. Beyond the vibrant packaging and high promises, you’ll find that many of these aren’t good for you at all. In many cases, sugar-sweetened beverages are the main source of added sugar in an American diet. While one of these drinks in moderation won’t be the end of the world, it can really add up if you are unaware. Here are some of the drinks and tips to avoiding added sugars in your diet. Fruit Juice. Fruit itself is packed with nutrients, antioxidants and filling fiber. They do contain natural sugars but are bundled with valuable nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. A fruit juice essentially strips away all that added fiber and leaves just the sugar and calories. A pasteurized fruit also decreases the nutrients in the juice itself. An excess of fruit juice, specifically without the corresponding fiber can lead to metabolic syndrome, liver injury and obesity. Sugary Coffee Drinks. Coffee boasts many health benefits, but sugary specialty drinks like Frappuccinos outweigh any benefits they pose. These drinks are packed with added sugar. Avoid sugary syrups and whipped toppings. These will lead to a heavier crash once the sugar high wears off. Sweetened Nut Milks. A plant-based milk is favorable among modern drinks, but unless it’s unsweetened it may be doing more harm than good. A sweetened nut milk is packed with sugar for extra flavor. This applies to any plant-based milk such as almond, hazelnut and oat. Since these milks are already lower in protein than animal or soy milk, you’re not adding much benefit to your diet. Sports Drinks. Electrolyte replacement drinks aren’t necessary unless you’re a high-performance athlete. These are best for high intensity workouts over prolonged periods of time (over 90 minutes). For moderate exercise like an elliptical workout, water will do just fine. These sports drinks will add significant calories if they aren’t balanced with the right exercise, and readily available carbs and minerals. Sparkling Waters. Check your sparkling water for any sneaky artificial sweeteners. Look for aspartame, acesulfame-K, sucralose or saccharin. Reading the label can help you spot sparkling waters that aren’t great for you. Instead of an artificially flavored sparkling water, look for plain sparkling water with a bit of fruit juice for flavor. Source: Good Housekeeping

Homemade Fresh Croutons

Prepared the perfect salad and find yourself without croutons? No need to run to the store or leave your salad without that extra crunch. All you’ll need to create some homemade croutons is bread and a few seasonings! You’ll have these ready to go in no time with the help of an air fryer. Ingredients: Bread Non-stick cooking spray Italian seasoning Garlic salt Directions: Cut bread into squares In a bowl spray bread with cooking oil and season with Italian seasoning and garlic salt Mix and repeat until thoroughly seasoned Spray air fryer pan with non-stick cooking spray Cook at 350 degrees F for 3 minutes. Shake basket and bake for another 3 minutes