Why Make This This one-pan skillet dinner is ready in just 15 minutes for a quick, light meal. Couscous cooks in only five minutes, making it a time-saving ingredient for busy nights. You can customize this dish with any vegetables you have on hand, from zucchini to carrots. I garden. In my haphazard and inattentive…
Month: September 2026
Never Store Flour in the Paper Bag—Do This So It Lasts Longer
When I was 21, I moved to Italy to study food. I stocked my tiny apartment’s cupboards with what I considered the essentials—flour, sugar, salt, and pasta—then took off for much of August, when Italians famously decamp for Ferragosto. When I came back, I opened my pantry and shrieked. Tiny bugs were crawling through the…
My Trick for the Best Pot of Chili (It’s Genius)
As the weather cools, my family’s chili routine returns. It’s hearty and restorative on a cold, gray afternoon. I make big pots that we eat for days, with cornbread or flour tortillas on the side. But a while ago, I made a batch of chili that tasted flat, and I couldn’t quite figure out how…
I Stopped Buying Hidden Valley Ranch Mix—This Is 100 Times Better
I buy ranch dressing mix frequently to make almost-homemade ranch dip and dressing for my favorite desk lunch: chicken tender ranch salad. For decades, I bought Hidden Valley Ranch mix, just like my mom did. It’s zesty, creamy, and versatile enough for dips, dressing, snacks, and marinades. But recently, I spotted a new ranch mix…
15 Make-Ahead Vegetarian Recipes
This collection of recipes leans into hearty, meat-free meals that hold up beautifully and taste even better the next day. They’re the kind of dishes you can plan ahead for—think Lentil Shepherd’s Pie, Chana Masala, and Vegetarian Tortilla Soup. Comforting, full of flavor, and built to reheat well, they’re perfect for giving you one less…
3 Foods You Should Never Cook in a Slow Cooker
My slow cooker is my best-loved kitchen tool. What other small appliance can transform basic ingredients into long-simmered deliciousness and turn tough budget cuts of meat into melt-in-your-mouth meals while I’m at work? From pot roast to jambalaya and even desserts, my slow cooker can do just about anything. But as I’ve learned, not everything…
The $1.50 Dollar Tree Find So Good I’m Buying 4 (They Are Perfect for Packing Lunches)
Packing two lunches every day for years has taught me that the container can matter almost as much as what’s inside. The right one can get my kids excited about leftover pasta salad or even a few thrown-together odds and ends. And if it’s cute, even better. The wrong one—bulky, awkward, hard to open, or…
The Foolproof Way To Remove Odors From Your Stainless Steel Water Bottle
In this house, we are a water bottle family. No one leaves the house without their trusty water bottle, and we have a cache of them that cycle in and out of the cupboard and dishwasher. Say what you will about us, but we are hydrated. Even with regular washings, water bottles can end up…
The One Apple Variety Farmers Say to Always Skip
While the rainbow of apples available at the supermarket doesn’t hold a candle to the thousands of varieties grown at orchards, there can still be a good dozen or more to pick from this time of year. It’s hard to know what’s worth reaching for, and what you should pass on by. That is, unless…
12 High-Protein, High-Fiber Soups for Weight Loss
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen. Warm up with these cozy soup recipes! These delicious meals each are packed with 15 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber per serving while being low in calories to help support healthy weight-loss goals….