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There’s something whimsically satisfying about stuffed pasta shells. Is it the shape that conjures up a sunny day at the beach with ocean surf turning over pebbles and shells as the waves retreat? Or is it the seasoned ricotta stuffing hiding inside the stuffed shells? I’m guessing pasta shells were invented by some mischievous pasta maker who created the shape as an act of rebellion against every parent who ever said to a child, “stop playing with your food....

Christmas Cookie Recipes One of our favorite family Christmas traditions is baking homemade Christmas cookies and then filling up plates to deliver them to neighbors and friends. Everyone has a different image that comes to mind when they hear “Christmas cookies”. For me, I think of colorful sugar cookies with sprinkles. Others might think of drop cookies with Christmas M&Ms. What the “perfect Christmas cookie” is for me could be something completely different for you....

Now that 17 years have passed since that first date and I’m a working mom with two active children, I decided to develop a more robust version of the soup I’d had so many years before. Easy Weeknight Tortellini Soup I wanted this soup to be hearty enough to count as the entire meal and easy enough to make on a weeknight, while also leaving enough left over for lunch the next day....

Twice Chocolate Torte Twice Chocolate Torte is a true family favorite! The recipe has been in the Blickenstaff family for years. When I was engaged, my future mother-in-law gave me the best gift ever – a recipe book with all of her tried and true recipes written in beautiful handwriting on 3 x 5 cards. She was a talented cook and I have loved those recipes! This Twice Chocolate Torte was the first recipe I tried because I knew my husband loved it so much....

One of the big projects we’re tackling here at Simply Recipes this new year has to do with healthy eating. I’m not talking about dieting or any kind of calorie counting or restrictive eating. I’m talking about straight-up healthy eating. The good foods we put in our mouths to make our bodies feel awesome and ready to climb all those mountains. Healthy Eating Reset Challenge (Free!) Want to kick off your own healthy eating adventure?...

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Even the most run-of-the-mill supermarkets have them, not to mention price clubs and specialty markets. You can also find pre-cooked birds at many butcher shops, and depending on the butcher, these might even be free-range or organic chickens. One Meal…or Five Meals! If you are planning to eat the chicken as is, you can bring one home, serve it up while it’s hot alongside a salad, and call it a day....

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But did you know brown butter has a place in savory dishes, too? Its sweet, nutty flavor adds richness and complexity to everything it touches, from roasted root vegetables to scrambled eggs. Here are a few tips to help you start using brown butter in savory cooking—it elevates even the most basic weeknight dinners. 3 Tips for Cooking With Brown Butter 3 Ways To Use Brown Butter Beyond Baking Ready to start using brown butter in savory recipes?...

How to Make the Best Brownie in a Mug We did experiment a bit. Turns out that you really should not use a strongly-flavored extra virgin olive oil for this recipe, but a more mild-flavored olive oil works well. Melted butter or a neutral oil is also good. A pinch of salt helps make the chocolate more chocolate-y. I’ve added some vanilla and a tiny bit of cinnamon; you could also add a speck of instant coffee to take it up a notch....

So when my friend Audrey came by this week to help me with some cooking and mentioned she had been making a homemade version of Ben and Jerry’s Coffee Heath Bar Crunch, my brain practically short-circuited, the synapses were so lit up with their version of a happy dance. Here’s her recipe, a classic custard base, infused with coffee, churned and then mixed in with broken up Heath bars before freezing....

Cranberry orange nut bread is a great loaf for late fall and early winter as cranberries, oranges, and walnuts are all in season. Buy an orange and squeeze it fresh to get the best juice for this recipe (grate the peel first for zest to add to the batter). How to Prep Fresh Cranberries You can easily prep the cranberries by pulsing them a few times in the food processor, or manually cut them in half first, then do a rough chop....

Lima Beans Vs. Butter Beans Are butter beans and lima beans the same thing? Some may say there is a difference in flavor, but butter beans and lima beans are considered the same type of legume. The only difference is their size! Butter beans are larger in size. I prefer dry legumes instead of purchasing canned or frozen products. If you choose a frozen option, they may take less time to cook because they are precooked....

But sometimes you want something super quick and a little lighter than a hot, gooey dip. Put this easy spinach dip out for a nibble while the turkey roasts on Thanksgiving, in between meals with cocktails, or on game day. Because it’s cold, you can make it ahead and it travels well, too. Frozen or Fresh Spinach? Thawed chopped spinach is easy to use, but you do need to give it a squeeze to eliminate excess liquid and avoid a runny dip....

Plus, it’s pretty enough to double as a serving platter. Buy it: Large 13" x 18" Walnut Cutting Board, $120 from Magnus Design Related Video

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While grape seeds have always been around, they are tiny and do not give up their oil easily. Thanks to technological advances, it’s now possible to extract oil from those seeds! Grapeseed oil has a neutral taste and aroma. It’s valued for cooking because it holds up to high heat and adds no flavor of its own to a dish. This lack of culinary character makes it a popular supporting player for recipes when you want other flavors to be a star....

Learning how to make this cauliflower rice recipe is a good starting point to explore the versatility of this veggie. You’ll be amazed how quickly you can transform florets into grain-like bits. From a time standpoint, cauliflower rice can be cooked and is ready faster than grains, which is a plus for those busy weeknights. Whether sautéed, stir-fried, or simply tossed raw into a salad, you’ll find yourself using cauliflower rice to bump up the flavor and nutrition of any meal....

For this recipe, I make small scones (2 to 3 bites each) studded with currants. It’s the perfect size for a quick snack, or to serve with an assortment of pastries and breakfast items for a casual brunch. Here’s how to make a warm batch of flaky, delicately sweet Irish scones at home! What Are Irish Scones? Irish scones are close relatives to English scones. They are made with a simple combination of flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter, and milk....

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