A few weeks ago, after passing his defense and going from Mr. Cake Pants to Dr. Cake Pants, the fiancé moved to California to start a new job. One of the biggest changes for both of us (in terms of practical matters, anyway) has been making the transition to meal planning and cooking for one. Since I’m finding myself busier than ever, I’m not terribly keen on the idea of making partial recipes and ...
rice
Easy One-Pot Jambalaya
I often watched my parents prepare dinner when I was growing up, and one of the main lessons I learned from them was the importance of being resourceful. Pretty much anyone can pick a recipe and go out to the store to buy the necessary ingredients, but making do with what you have at home requires a pinch of creativity and flexibility. ...
Wild Rice and Sweet Potato Salad
After several weeks of plying you (and myself) with holiday treats, I figured we could all use some extra greens. I know, I know…most people don’t want to hear about salads until January, when the cold reality of New Year’s resolutions sinks in, but hear me out, because this wild rice and sweet potato salad is about as cheerful and celebratory as they come! ...
Curried Broccoli Cheese Chicken Casserole
Later this month, many college freshmen will make their first trips back home for Thanksgiving, and I’m sure that they’ll be eager for some of their favorite home-cooked meals. While I never traveled home for Thanksgiving in college, I was lucky enough to swing by for a single night in the middle of my first term, since I was in the marching band and we were traveling to an away game near where my ...
Cherry Cashew Rice Pilaf
In college, I had already been living in an apartment and cooking for myself for almost a year before I took a real interest in cooking, and shortly thereafter, I received America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook as a Christmas gift. Having grown a bit bored with living off basic chicken and rice dishes, green bean casserole, and tuna melts, I was super excited to try some new recipes, and this ...
Sweet Potato Enchilada Bowls
You know those days when you’re lethargic and exhausted and sorely tempted to order take-out or pick up something for dinner on your way home? These sweet potato enchilada bowls are a perfect solution for days like those! They’ve not only become my go-to meal when I don’t really feel like cooking, but also one of my favorite comfort food meals: quick, flavorful, and satisfying! ...
Cheesy Texas Hash
Texas hash made a fairly regular appearance at my family’s dinner table while I was growing up, but for some reason, it was never really my favorite. I liked each of the individual ingredients well enough (rice, tomatoes, onions, ground beef/turkey, and even green pepper, which I realized only recently a lot of people loathe), but it always ranked below other casseroles like macaroni and cheese or ...
Aji Burrito Bowls
Have you ever been to a Peruvian restaurant? If you have, then you’ve likely encountered an enchantingly spicy green sauce made from cilantro and jalapeños, often called aji sauce, and let me tell you – it’s downright addictive. ...
Butter Chicken with Peas and Cauliflower
If a recipe for butter chicken has no butter in it, can it still be called butter chicken? I hope so, because “spiced cream chicken” sounds a little iffy, although that’s closer to the truth in this version of the popular Indian dish. Butter chicken (also known as murgh makhani) is what I imagine Indian comfort food must be like (along with rajma, of course) – it’s creamy, it’s filling, and it’s ...
Vegetarian Fried Rice
Fried rice was pretty much a given whenever my family would eat out at Chinese restaurants when I was growing up, not necessarily because it was part of the cuisine’s standard fare, but because it was practically the only dish my parents could be guaranteed that I would eat. ...