I don’t think people realize how good the Trader Joe’s freezer aisle actually is for party food. Most walk straight past it, and I get it because it doesn’t look like much. But for under $30, you can put together a spread that will have people genuinely asking what you ordered and from where. I’ve
Spicy chips have their own cult following, and I get it. There’s something about chasing that burn, licking the red dust off your fingers, and reaching back into the bag even when your lips are tingling that just hits different. The problem is there are way too many options on the shelf right now, and
The easiest way to meal prep for a busy week is to batch one carb, one protein, and one veggie for just 2-3 days at a time, then mix and match with easy helpers like canned beans or pre-washed salad instead of portioning full meals in advance. I used to dread the idea of meal
The best Caerphilly cheese substitutes are cheddar, Wensleydale, feta, Monterey Jack, Havarti, Gouda, Colby, Lancashire, Muenster, and Fontina. A friend of mine contacted me about a recipe she wanted to make that needed Caerphilly cheese, but she couldn’t get her hands on any. She was really frustrated, and since looking for substitutes is my forte,
The best Locatelli cheese substitutes are Parmesan, Grana Padano, Asiago, Spanish Manchego, Piave, nutritional yeast, Iberico, Ossau Iraty, and Pecorino Romano. When I wanted to try out a new pasta recipe that required Locatelli cheese, I faced a problem. I couldn’t find the cheese in my local grocery store, so I had to find a
The best mochiko flour substitute is another glutinous rice flour such as Bob’s Red Mill Sweet White Rice Flour or Erawan brand, used at a 1:1 ratio, since they are made from the same type of rice and behave identically in mochi and butter mochi recipes. The first time I ran out of mochiko in
Yes, you can microwave almond milk, and I’ve found it’s a convenient way to warm it up for a cozy cup of almond milk latte or to incorporate it into hot cereals. Just be sure to use a microwave-safe container and heat it in short intervals while stirring to avoid any unwanted surprises. In my
This gluten free chocolate cake gets its moisture from butter, oil, buttermilk, and a cup of boiling water stirred into the batter, and it bakes in about 35 minutes. Nothing says yum like a tasty, moist, gluten free chocolate cake recipe you can whip up at 9:00 pm on a Friday night. After a stressful
Yes, you can microwave chia pudding to speed up the thickening process from hours down to a few minutes. It won’t taste quite like the overnight version, but it works in a pinch. Chia pudding gets its texture from soaking chia seeds, a nutrient-rich superfood high in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein, until they
Yes, you can microwave cooked salmon. Use 30% to 50% power, heat in 30-second intervals, add moisture, and cover it to avoid dryness and smell. I do it regularly when I need lunch on the table in under five minutes. The key is low power and short bursts, not blasting it on high until it
Yes, you can microwave brie. Cut off the top rind, microwave on high in 15-30 second bursts, and it’ll come out soft, creamy, and ready to serve in under a minute. It’s a quick alternative to baking it in the oven, and if you’re careful not to overcook it, the taste holds up just as
Yes, and you should. Uncured hot dogs are fully cooked and ready to eat straight from the package, but the USDA still recommends reheating them until steaming hot to guard against Listeria, especially if you’re pregnant, older, or immunocompromised. I used to think “uncured” meant raw, like the hot dog still needed to be cooked
No, you shouldn’t microwave a Dunkin’ cup. Dunkin’s hot cups are paper with a thin plastic lining, and that lining starts to soften around 176°F, well within microwave range, which can weaken the cup and cause leaks or burns. Pour the coffee into a mug instead. If you’ve ever grabbed a Dunkin’ coffee, let it
No, Red Solo cups shouldn’t go in the microwave. They’re made of polystyrene, which wasn’t designed to handle microwave heat and will warp or melt well before your drink gets warm. Red Solo cups are great for parties, but that’s exactly where they should stay. This is what actually happens if you try to microwave
The white Chinet plates most people use for parties and potlucks aren’t actually plastic. They’re molded fiber made mostly from recycled paper, and Chinet markets that line as microwave-safe for short reheating. Chinet’s actual plastic plates, the Cut Crystal line, are a different product entirely, and those are not safe to microwave. I go through