When I saw the Cooking Light recipe for macaroni and cheese with butternut squash, I was intrigued. I’m always looking for ways to make favorite comfort foods a little less heavy and more nutritious, but without sacrificing that special something that makes them comforting to begin with. I showed the photo to the Tiny Kitchen…
Category Archives: Kid-Friendly
Indoor Pulled Pork
So here it is, the dead of winter. Your grill is buried under eleventy-seven feet of snow. And more than anything in life, you’re fantasizing about grilled foods. Burgers. Beer can chicken. Pulled pork. Guess what: I can help you with that last one. It turns out that you can make pulled pork in your…
Lazy Chicken Tacos (or Burritos)
You know the day where you wake up in the morning, think you have it all under control, and then suddenly remember that you need to be someplace after work and won’t have time to make dinner? This is the meal for that night. All you need are two ingredients and a slow cooker. If…
Pinto Beans
Pintos are the quintessential Mexican staple. If I’m having burrito night (or taco night), there are always pintos or black beans involved. They’re good for you, are simple to make in the slow cooker, can be frozen and reheat well. As with all beans, soak them overnight. In the morning, rinse and add to the…
Orzo-a-Roni
I’m going to make a confession here that will make at least one of my readers have a stroke: I secretly love Rice-a-Roni. I’ll also explain that I haven’t made it in years because it’s so insanely salty. But I’ve figured out a way to get that Roni flavor without the extreme saltiness. Ingredients 1…
Mexican(ish) Lasagna
I was at a loss for what to do with the leftover rotisserie chicken that I’d bought at Costco. Sure, we could have burritos, but was there any way to do it differently with what I had on hand? Evidently so. The answer was Mexican(ish) lasagna. Ingredients Leftover rotisserie chicken, shredded 1 bottle mild taco…
Braised Short Ribs
Anyone who knows me knows of my ambivalence towards meat, particularly meat that comes with an accompanying bone. Why, then, did I see this recipe from Food & Wine and simply have to make it? I have no explanation, other than to say that it was fantastic. Things you need to know upfront: This is…
Babe Ruth Bars
There I was, the morning before my first-ever cookie extravaganza blowout. I had promised a dozen varieties but had made only 11. I was tired, sick of baking, and low on ingredients. That’s when I found this no-bake bar. I figured that it would just be a quick way to hit my goal of 12….
Snickerdoodles
I love snickerdoodles, but I struggle with the fact that every recipe I’ve ever liked uses shortening. I’ve decided that I need to get over my aversion to Crisco, accept that I only do this once a year, and just plow ahead. Ingredients 1 cup shortening 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 2 eggs 2 3/4…
Oatmeal Bar Cookies
This is my variation on the classic Quaker oatmeal cookie. I make it as a bar because it’s easier to bake one batch than shuffle trays in and out of the oven. This year, the Tiny Kitchen Assistant and I, unable to decide whether to go with Cranberry White Chocolate or Dark Chocolate Macadamia, opted…