Before Hayley and her now-husband got married, they found a “well-kept fixer upper” in their ideal neighborhood. The realtor assured them that all they needed was a kitchen remodel, which sounded not so hard at the time. Of course, we know that kitchen remodels are no small undertaking — and they now know that, too! Fortunately, it all worked out and they have a dreamy kitchen to show for it. See what their kitchen looks like now, and how they did it:
When you crave a sweet snack but want to avoid the seduction of a whole cake or a dozen chocolate chip cookies, the one-off mug cake is your best friend. Have you ever made a mug cake? It’s just what it sounds like: a few tablespoons of ingredients whisked up in a mug and baked in the microwave for less time than it takes to make popcorn. Presto: sweet, moist cake. And just one.
Here’s my new favorite mug cake: a quick batter with golden oats and chopped pecans that bakes up light and fluffy around a dollop of gooey Nutella in the middle. It’s like getting cake and frosting in one happy mug.
Day 18: Wednesday, March 26
Today’s Assignment: Make a “Stuff I Like to Eat” List
The Cooking Cure: See all assignments so far here
Midweek stretch! How’s it going? Thumbs up or down? Thumbs sideways? If you’ve found yourself struggling a little, today’s assignment might just be help you need. We’re making a “Stuff I Like to Eat” list — a list of favorite, never-fail foods you can tape to your fridge and have handy for those nights when the motivation to make dinner fails you.
This week I’m showing you how a casual Friday evening playing board games with friends can turn into something a little more special thanks to good food, drinks, and minimal yet fun decorations. So far I’ve talked about the party plan and make-ahead menu, and Faith shared her totally delicious recipe for whipped feta dip (not to be missed!).
Now it’s time to share how the low-stress party went down! Are you ready to play some board games?
My three-year-old rescue dog, Goblin, will do anything for a morsel of food, which is why I always keep a stash of dog treats on hand. But the cost of high-quality treats without corn and other fillers can start to add up, which is why I’ve bookmarked EatingWell’s budget-friendly (and healthy) list of fruits and vegetables dogs can safely snack on — and there are quite a few for cats, too!
Day 17: Tuesday, March 25
Today’s Assignment: Take 5 minutes to take stock of your week and your meal plans
The Cooking Cure: See all assignments so far here
Our meals on Monday and Tuesday can usually ride the momentum of weekend planning and go off without a hitch. But by Wednesday, things start to go off the rails all too easily. You find out about a late meeting on Thursday that throws dinner into question, or you realize you forgot a key ingredient for one of your recipes, or you’re tired of eating the big meal you prepped on Sunday.
Today — Tuesday, the day before your plans go awry — take 5 minutes to take stock of your week. Let’s nip any meal-deterring monsters in the bud.
Cookie dough is somewhat of a siren song in my life. It calls and beckons to me, singing its sweet melody of ooey-gooey comfort. It lures me in. I grab a spoon. Powerless. The next thing you know, the bowl is empty and there are no cookies to bake. Can you relate?
Thankfully, I’ve devised a way to get my cookie dough fix that doesn’t involve sitting in a dark corner with a spoon. These (intentionally) raw cookie dough bites are packed with protein and fiber, sweetened with maple syrup, and will knock out your Cookie Monster cravings quicker than you can say “om nom nom.”
Do you love the convenience of microwave popcorn, but hate the overload of salt, oil and other additives in most store-bought brands? Try making your own microwave popcorn from scratch! All you need is some popcorn kernels and a paper bag.
Now that it’s spring it’s time to change up your snack game. The promise of warm weather requires that you ditch your hearty snacks and try something fresh, something you could never get in a vending machine: dip! These lighter dip options like grilled guacamole and spicy hummus with lime and jalapeño will pair perfectly with cold, crunchy spring vegetables or your favorite tortilla chip.
To kick off our Gatherings from The Kitchn series for 2014, I decided to throw a fun, low-key dinner party. On any typical weekend you can find me and my boyfriend playing board games at home, so it made sense to invite a few more people and call it a party. We served a make-ahead dinner you can just put in the oven after work, along with fun snacks and a killer drink — all easy and comfortable for a relaxed Friday night at home. The best part? When we got down-right competitive playing my favorite game.
