News Reporter: (Tried-and-true) time-saving cooking hacks

Thursday, 23 February 2023

(Tried-and-true) time-saving cooking hacks

https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahloewentheil/home-cooks-sharing-favorite-secret-ingredients

My favorite part about these lists is seeing a favorite cooking shortcut of mine on there, and realizing that my culinary hacks are not so special after all 😂. So, yes, you'll see several tried-and-true time-saving cooking tips here, like using a food processor for just about everything, but also some more novel suggestions, like using an Instant Pot for slow cooker recipes.

If you're a visual learner like me, then these graphs will help crystallize so many basic cooking lessons. Like, do you know which onion is best for salsas vs. soups? Or which apple is actually the sweetest? And if you've ever wondered how to put together an amazing salad without a recipe, then, yep, we've got a chart for that too.

Intrepid Food Editor Ross Yoder is not only an expert recipe developer, he's also a passionate home cook who's mastered the art of the budget meal. Thankfully for all of us, he's sharing his 13 best wallet-friendly meals that will not only whet your appetite, but also save you a lot of money. And unlike many affordable recipes out in the world, his picks are actually exceedingly easy to make and universally delicious too!

Imagine putting together all your favorite pasta ingredients into a single dish — that's kind of what "million dollar spaghetti" is and probably why everyone can't get enough of it. It's equal parts comfort food and crowd pleaser and hasn't disappointed anyone yet! 🍝

This cheesy pickle recipe feels like exactly the kind of thing they would serve at a state fair, right next to the fried beer and funnel cake. Maybe that's why it's been such an unexpected hit. According to Jen, the "cheese was crispy and savory, which was a perfect flavor contrast to the tartness of the pickle." That sounds like a flavor pairing I can get behind 😍

Do you ever watch a movie solely for its brilliance in depicting food? It's a different level of entertainment, especially when it's paired with some great movie snacks of your own. This list includes movie classics like Home Alone, but also some lesser-known picks like Big Night and Eat Drink Man Woman that'll make you hungry for second dinner.

With all the recipes and cooking tips going around, it's easy to forget the simple pleasures of cooking that make it such a pleasurable activity. That includes moments like tasting a crispy piece of whatever's cooking in your pan, the smell of fried garlic, or even listening to a podcast with nobody else in the kitchen. It's always the simple things.

Something about these heart-shaped thumbprint cookies make me nostalgic for the past. Maybe that's why so many people have been drawn to them — or it could just be the fact they're perfectly buttery, chewy, and slightly sweet.