Posts

Recipes ‚Ä∫ Sides Cauliflower Steak By Samira Kazan published February 14, 2025 Make delicious cauliflower steaks , seasoned with olive oil, garlic, spices, and a squeeze of lemon. Roasted or grilled, they’re crispy, caramelized on the outside, and tender inside—perfect as a main or side dish. Boiling or steaming cauliflower can be bland, but roasting or grilling cauliflower steaks with the right seasoning turns them into something everyone will love. The high heat creates a tender interior and a caramelized, crispy exterior, with grilling adding a smoky touch....

Recipes › Mains Chinese Orange Chicken By Samira Kazan updated November 08, 2024 This restaurant-quality homemade Chinese orange chicken recipe is so much better than takeout – combining super tender yet crispy fried chicken pieces in a sticky sweet and sour orange sauce. Perfect for those times when you’re craving Chinese food! Let’s be honest – making homemade versions of your favorite takeout dishes, like chicken veggie stir fry , sesame chicken , cashew chicken , and this orange chicken, is a win-win-win....

Recipes ‚Ä∫ Desserts Creamy Caramel Fudge Just Like Mom Made By Samira Kazan published April 07, 2025 Homemade caramel fudge the way it should be — creamy, rich, and melt-in-your-mouth smooth. This old-fashioned caramel fudge is made with just 4 main ingredients: sugar, butter, milk, and sweetened condensed milk. No fancy gear, no candy thermometer. Just a bit of patience and some good stirring (okay, a lot of stirring) — and you get that golden, buttery, slightly chewy texture that’s impossible to stop eating....

Slow Cooker Crockpot Chicken and Rice Recipe By Samira Kazan updated January 24, 2024 This easy crockpot chicken and rice recipe combines tender chicken and rice in a creamy, cheesy sauce. A child-approved, cozy, pure comfort-food meal the entire family will love! Whether rain or shine, crockpot chicken pot pie , slow cooker beef stew , and this creamy crockpot chicken and rice casserole are always the coziest, comforting options! This recipe is a super creamy, satisfying, low-fuss one-pot meal, made using inexpensive pantry staples....

Recipes › Mains Easy Oven-Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs By Samira Kazan updated November 06, 2023 The entire family will love this foolproof method for tender, juicy baked boneless, skinless chicken thighs ! They’re inexpensive, easy to prepare, super versatile, and can be enjoyed whole, chopped, or shredded in hundreds of healthy meals! I’ve shared simple go-to chicken recipes like baked boneless chicken breasts , baked bone-in chicken thighs , air-fried chicken wings , and crispy fried chicken ....

Recipes › Appetizers Easy Roasted Artichokes By Samira Kazan updated November 28, 2023 These perfectly seasoned lemon, garlic, and herb roasted artichokes are wonderfully tender and the most flavorful way to cook artichokes, with just 5 ingredients and a simple method! Spinach and artichoke dip (using canned artichoke hearts) has been a staple at gatherings my whole life, but until recently, I’d never attempted to cook fresh artichoke at home. Luckily, I took it upon myself to learn how to properly prepare and cook artichokes in several ways, and I couldn’t believe what I was missing....

Recipes › Mains Filipino Garlic Fried Rice (Sinangag) By Samira Kazan updated November 15, 2023 This garlic fried rice is so versatile in how it can be enjoyed. Start your day with a delicious Filipino breakfast, or keep this as a traditional fried rice recipe to enjoy for lunch or dinner. Best of all, you just need four simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand! Once you figure out how to fry rice, you’re going to love how simple and easy it is....

Recipes › Breakfast Fluffy Japanese Style Pancake Cake By Samira Kazan updated November 28, 2023 Beautifully more-ish thick, fluffy Japanese style pancake Cake! These are completely refined sugar free and are perfect to serve with fruit, cream & maple syrup! I call these ‘Japanese style’ pancakes, as they are wonderfully thick and fluffy. However they are not quite ‘soufflé’ style pancakes. I struggled with the name of these for a while too because, a stack this tall surely has to be seen as a pancake ‘cake’?...

Recipes › Drinks Fresh Ginger Tea By Samira Kazan updated March 22, 2024 Make soothing and flavorful fresh ginger tea in under 10 minutes. Enjoy the benefits of a warming and relaxing cup of ginger tea. This light and spicy fresh ginger tea is probably best known as a winter drink during cold and flu season. However, it is lovely at any time of the year and works as a morning pick-me-up or a cozy evening drink....

Recipes › Drinks Fresh Pineapple Orange Juice (With or Without Juicer) By Samira Kazan updated December 19, 2023 How to make fresh pineapple orange juice with just two ingredients and a juicer or blender. This fresh pineapple orange juice is a refreshing combination of sweet and tangy for a delicious and nutritious summer drink, perfect for enjoying in the morning or setting out at potlucks, BBQs, and other gatherings! Just a few days ago, I shared a recipe for simple zesty pineapple ginger juice and pineapple cucumber salad ....

Recipes › Desserts Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (and a Mug Topper) By Samira Kazan updated November 22, 2024 This post includes a delicious Christmas gingerbread cookie recipe , including various shapes, as well as a mini gingerbread house, which works amazingly as a gingerbread mug topper (or cupcake topper!). The moment I have this Christmas gingerbread cookies recipe baking in the oven and the smell of gingerbread in the air then I know it’s officially Christmas!...

Recipes › DIYs How To Blanch Almonds In Five Minutes By Samira Kazan updated February 18, 2021 How to blanch almonds in just five minutes , with a super simple process – ready to save for later, eat as is or even turn into almond flour. While it’s true that blanched almonds can be bought in stores, blanching almonds at home is a simple process that anyone can learn. There’s no need to turn to store-bought options ever again....

Recipes › Sides How to Boil Potatoes (Whole or Cubed) By Samira Kazan published May 28, 2024 Learn how to boil potatoes with my foolproof method and top tips. The boiled potatoes are delicious and perfect for potato salad, mashed potatoes, and more! If you’re looking for the best way to boil potatoes, I have all the tips and tricks of the trade to ensure they come out perfect every time....

Pantry How To Can Green Beans By Samira Kazan published March 14, 2024 Follow my easy step-by-step guide to pressure canning green beans and make your delicious produce last all year long . Since I learned how to can green beans at home, I’ve never been without a few jars to add extra greens to my dishes. It’s the perfect way to lock in their peak freshness and taste, as well as making them last infinitely longer than fresh or frozen....

Ingredient Guides How to Cook Pasta Perfectly By Samira Kazan published July 15, 2025 If you’ve ever wondered how to cook pasta perfectly so it’s not sticky, soggy, or bland — you’re not alone. I’ve tested every “rule” over the years, and this is the method I rely on for pasta that’s perfectly cooked, whether it’s going into sauce, salad, or storage. Whether you’re making spaghetti for dinner, mixing up a pasta salad, or prepping ahead for the week, this guide will walk you through exactly what works....

Ingredient Guides How to Juice a Lime (6 Methods With + Without Juicer | + Freeze it) By Samira Kazan updated August 12, 2024 Fresh lime juice is zingy, refreshing, and perfect for making pineapple limeade , adding to cocktails, mixing into desserts (like cheesecake and tarts), drizzling over pancakes, and more! It’s also a great addition to salad dressings (like this strawberry vinnaigrette ) and marinades. So really, there’s no shortage of ideas to use this zingy ingredient....

Recipes › Drinks How to Make Grape Juice By Samira Kazan updated June 27, 2024 How to make grape juice with a juicer, blender, potato masher, or by hand (with a bonus stovetop method). This homemade grape juice is fruity, refreshing, and tastes even better than store-bought , with no added sugars or preservatives! Making grape juice at home is just the latest of MANY homemade juice recipes I am sharing....

Recipes › Sides How to Make Greek Pita (Gyro Bread) By Samira Kazan updated October 10, 2024 How to make Greek pita (aka gyro bread) at home with just 4 ingredients and a super simple process. This Greek flatbread recipe is perfect for serving as a wrap, with gyro, and alongside appetizers – plus, it’s dairy-free and naturally vegan! I’ve included a recipe for eggplant gyro, too – a delicious meat-free use for this gyro pita!...

Recipes › Appetizers Korean Vegetable Pancake (Buchimgae/Pajeon) By Samira Kazan updated November 28, 2023 This Korean vegetable pancake (buchimgae) combines a mixed vegetable filling and simple pancake batter for crispy, flavorful veggie pancakes – easy to adapt and perfect for serving alongside a simple dipping sauce ! This Korean vegetable pancake (Buchimgae ‘pancake’ or Pajeon for ‘scallion pancake’) is packed with veggies then combined with a simple 3-ingredient pancake batter for veggie pancakes crispy on the outside with a soft, moist middle – perfect for serving as an appetizer, snack, or side dish....

Condiments Lime Crema (Creamy, Tangy & Easy!) By Samira Kazan published June 19, 2025 Zingy, creamy, and wildly versatile, this lime crema is about to become your new favorite sauce. It’s bright with fresh lime, rich from sour cream and mayo, and blends in just the right amount of garlic and cilantro for flavor that pops. This is the kind of condiment that makes everything better — tacos, enchiladas, soups, bowls, and more....