Being on Weight Watchers and losing weight really isn’t hard. It’s about balance and still being able to eat the things you like, just in moderation or in a more healthy way. Here are 50 recipes to help you along the way!
Click on each link to be taken to each amazing recipes!
50 Amazing Weight Watchers Recipes
Weight Loss Foods
Weight Loss Recipes
All about Weight Watchers Food Points
Finding The Best Weight Watchers Recipes
- Bobby Deen’s Lighter Tastes Like Lasagna Soup - 6 PointsPlus OK
- Mexican Chicken Casserole - 9 PointsPlus OK
- Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken – 9 PointsPlus OK
- Baked Ziti with Spinach - 9 PointsPlus OK
- BBQ Pulled Chicken – 9 PointsPlus OK
- Crockpot Chicken Tacos – 9 PointsPlus OK
- Bangin Grilled Shrimp Skewers – 3 PointsPlus OK
- Apricot Balsamic Chicken - 8 PointsPlus OK
- Easy Peasy Lasagna Skillet – 7 PointsPlus OK
- Easy Greek Dip – 1 PointsPlus OK
- Chicken Parmesan Burgers - 6 PointsPlus OK
- Grape Jelly Meatballs - 8 PointsPlus OK
- Baked Turkey & Jack Cheese Chimichangas – 6 PointsPlus OK
- Grilled Chicken with Spinach & Melted Mozzarella – 4 PointsPlus OK
- Chicken & White Bean Stuffed Peppers – 8 PointsPlus OK
- Skinny Tuna Noodle Casserole - 8 PointsPlus OK
- Alabama Pulled Pork Sandwiches with White BBQ Sauce - 6 PointsPlus
- Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts - 6 PointsPlus OK
- Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins - 5 PointsPlus OK
- California Chili - 6 PointsPlus OK
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole - 7 PointsPlus OK
- Garden Style Lasagna - 7 PointsPlus OK
- Low Fat Double Chocolate Chews - 1.5 PointsPlus OK
- Quick Chicken Corn Chowder - 7 PointsPlus Ok
- Crockpot Tex Mex Chicken & Beans - 7 PointsPlus
- Steak Sandwiches with Pickled Onion and Herb Aioli - 10 PointsPlus
- Lemon Squares - 3 PointsPlus
- Pork Chops with Creamy Gravy – 7 PointsPlus Ok
- Pepper, Onion & Sausage Calzones – 8 PointsPlus Ok
- Crescent Strawberry Napoleons – 4 PointsPlus Ok
- Flank Steak Tacos - 7 PointsPlus (2 Tacos) OK
- Grilled Pesto Shrimp Skewers – 5 PointsPlus
- Zucchini Tots - 3 PointsPlus
- Skinny Pina Colada Skinny Pops - 3 PointsPlus
- Pina Colada Cupcakes – 3 PointsPlus
- Skinny & Delicious Southwestern Slow Cooker Chicken - 9 PointsPlus
- Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake – 4 PointsPlus
- Diet Soda Cake – 5 PointsPlus
- Healthy Breakfast Hash - 5 PointsPlus
- Bubble Up Enchilada Casserole - 8 PointsPlus
- Crockpot Baked Beans – 4 PointsPlus
- Crockpot Chicken Bake - 8 PointsPlus
- Banana “Ice Cream” - 1 PointsPlus
- Carrot Cake Cupcakes - 3 PointsPlus
- Nachos - 8 PointsPlus
- Zucchini Stix - 2 PointsPlus
- No Bake Brownie Balls – 3 PointsPlus
- Mini Cheesecakes - 2 PointsPlus
- Crockpot Santa Fe Chicken - 4 PointsPlus
- Berry Cobbler - 4 PointsPlus
The Top 50 Amazing Weight Watchers Recipes For Dieters
No matter what kind of weight loss regimen you are on, you still need to find the best low-cal recipes to assist you in your efforts. One of the very first organizations founded to help Americans lose weight is Weight Watchers. Since the 1970s they have helped inspire millions of people around the world to lose weight in a healthy and balanced way.
What are the top 50 amazing Weight Watchers recipes? That's
a very subjective thing, but we will do our best. In an article this small it's
not possible to outline fifty recipes, so we will just give you the name and a
brief highlight. They are divided into five categories of ten recipes each:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Desert and Snacks. Except by category, these recipes
are in no particular order.
The Top 50 Amazing Weight Watchers Recipes For Dieters :
BREAKFAST
1. Apple Cheese Stuffed French Toast (5 points)
This is a recipe for a delicious French Toast sandwich. It
takes ten minutes to prepare and five minutes to cook.
2. Eggnog Pancakes (5 points)
Substituting cow's milk with Soy Milk and using nutmeg, you
are sure to love this breakfast treat.
3. Nigella's Breakfast Bars (4 points)
This is a recipe for a delicious chewy granola breakfast
bar.
4. Skinny Huevos Rancheros (7 points)
Here is an excellent take on the famous Mexican dish
consisting of eggs, beans, cheese and salsa.
5. Banana Stuffed French Toast (7 points)
Taking only fifteen minutes to prepare and cook, you will be
amazed at how delicious this is.
6. French Toast Casserole (5 points)
French toast continues to be a breakfast favorite around the
world. This recipe takes about an hour to prepare and cook, but it is well
worth the effort.
7. Baked German Pancakes (4 points)
This takes about twenty minutes to prepare, and turns out
looking like a tiny pie, but it is oh so delicious!
8. Breakfast Veggie Casserole (5 points)
An excellent way to start the day. Healthy, filling, and low
in fat.
9. Healthy Breakfast Hash (5 points)
Very colorful, very healthy, and very delicious.
10. Pumpkin Streusel Coffeecake (5 points)
Sometimes you just need to have coffeecake for breakfast!
The low fat icing makes it even better.
LUNCH
11. California Chili (6 points)
At 90-minutes of prep and cooking time, a bowl of this
traditional American dish doesn't even taste like it's low fat. It uses grilled
turkey meat instead of beef.
12. Easy Egg Salad (2 points)
Loaded with celery, peppers, and pickles this will be the
healthiest egg salad sandwich you've ever had.
13. The Skinny Tuna Melt (6 points)
You will love this open-faced version of the tuna melt. It
uses light mayo and low fat cheese with plenty of veggies.
14. Tex-Mex Chicken Salad (6 points)
With a dash of cumin and a generous amount of chili powder,
this alternative take on chicken salad is sure to please.
15. Autumn Vegetable Soup (4 points)
Winter or summer, everybody loves a good soup for lunch. In
this recipe the veggies are pureed to create a creamy soup.
16. A Darn Good Tuna Sandwich (9 points)
Here is a great way to make a tuna sandwich much healthier
than you'd find at any take out restaurant.
17. Chicken Parmesan Burgers (6 points)
A great and delicious alternative to traditional beef
hamburgers.
18. Chicken Apple Crunch Salad (8 points)
Those who love a good salad know that extra crunch is always
a bonus. This salad includes celery, cranberry, apples, and onions.
19. Cabbage Soup (0 points)
This is a zero point soup, but don't think that means it is
flavorless; it's delicious, healthy, and filling.
20. Broccoli Cheese Soup (2 points)
Total prep time is 45 minutes, but it's well worth it.
DINNER
21. Bubble Up Enchilada Casserole (8 points)
Serve this to your guests, and they will be coming back for
more.
22. BBQ Pulled Chicken (9 points)
Healthier than pulled pork, it makes a great sandwich.
23. Steak Sandwiches with Pickled Onion and Herb Aioli (10
points)
You serve this on a fresh French baguette. Total prep and
cooking time is only 30 minutes.
24. Crustless Corn and Bacon Pie (3 points)
It looks a lot like a pizza, but is much healthier.
25. Chicken Apple Crunch Salad (8 points)
This is a different take on the lunch version. Here you add
walnuts and use chicken breast and a light barbeque sauce.
26. Skinny Grilled Reuben Sandwich (9 points)
A classic New York delicatessen sandwich, this Weight
Watchers version has half the fat, but still retains all the flavor.
27. Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts (6
points)
Served on an English muffin and accompanied by fresh greens,
this is a wonderful, delicious and healthy meal.
28. Crockpot Tex Mex Chicken & Beans (7 points)
This has the longest prep time of all our recipes - a total
of 8 hours - but is hearty and extremely flavorful.
29. 7 Layer Mexican Wrap (8 points)
Great for a portable meal-on-the-go. Using only light
cheeses, it is much healthier.
30. Pepper, Onion & Sausage Calzones (8 points)
You've never had anything so delicious!
DESERT
31. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (5 points)
32. Lemon Icebox Bars (4 points)
33. Key Lime Yogurt Pie (4 points)
34. Low Fat Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread (4 points)
35. Skinny Coconut Cupcakes (5 points)
36. Pumpkin Pie Dip (3 points)
37. Lemon Squares (3 points)
38. Berry Cobbler (4 points)
39. Baked Pumpkin Donuts (6 points)
40. Chocolate Ricotta Mousse (5 points)
SNACKS
41. Nachos (8 points)
42. Jalapeno Poppers (2 points)
43. Buffalo Chicken Bites (1 point)
44. Deviled Eggs (2 points)
45. Salsa Roll Ups (2 points)
46. Easy Greek Dip (1 point)
47. Red Pepper & Tomato Dip (1 point)
48. Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (3 points)
49. Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks (2 points)
50. Oven Fried Pickles with Skinny Herb Buttermilk Ranch Dip
(3 points)
Even just a brief scanning of this list of the top 50
amazing Weight Watchers recipes could
prove daunting. We recommend printing out the list, and then performing
a Google search for the full recipe. Full preparation details, ingredients, cooking
times and serving suggestions are available at various websites. Dieting
doesn't have to be boring, and you don't need to feel like "diet
food" lacks flavor or flare. These recipes prove that with a little
imagination and dedication you can eat as well or better, even when on a diet!
Advice On Cooking Breakfast For Large Groups
Interested in saving money? In today's economy, who among us isn't? What about losing weight and improving your overall health? If your answer is a resounding YES, then making one change in your life can help you accomplish all three of those goals! The solution is as close as your kitchen.
Consider recipes to be guidelines rather than rules. Feel free to branch out and switch up the spices or add an extra ingredient. Before long you will be compiling your own personal collection of altered recipes that are better than the original thing. Not only will you will also be able to impress your friends with unique dishes, but you will become a better cook as you experiment with changing recipes.
Your spices should be stored in a cool place that is free of light. Shelf life can be significantly decreased for those spices which have been exposed to too much light, dampness and heat. Store spices in a dark, cool location to keep them flavorful and fresher for longer. Fresh spices can greatly enhance your meals, making this effort well worth your time.
Leave the bone in a roast to speed up cooking. By leaving the bone in, heat moves to the inside of the meat faster, speeding up the cooking process. Because the bone transmits heat, the entire roast cooks more evenly throughout the cut of meat by leaving it in rather than removing it.
As your cooking prowess grows, you will learn to appreciate the versatility of stocks and broths. Rather than buying these useful ingredients at the store or wasting your time cooking them in small batches, prepare stocks in large quantities. You can store surplus stock in plastic bags in your freezer, ready for quick use in future recipes.
Shelling pecans can be really challenging. Make it easier by soaking them in a cup of water and put the cup into the microwave for 5-6 minutes. It is always possible to soak the pecans into boiling water to get the same effect. Hot water makes the shell softer and easier to crack.
Tofu is a great source of protein that vegetarians should use to get the nutrients their body needs. Many vegetarians are lacking in protein because they are not eating meat. Tofu can be prepared in a variety of ways and really soaks up flavors so it can be served as a meal or as a quick snack.
When making homemade salad dressings it is a good idea to use extra-virgin olive oil. It has a fruity flavor that really adds to a salad. Extra-virgin olive oil can be somewhat expensive so it is important to buy it when it is on sale or with a coupon to make it more affordable.
If a particular wine's flavor is unknown to you, then you shouldn't use it as an ingredient in your food. Using a wine that you are not familiar with in your food can cause you not to like the flavor that's produced. There is wine available that was made specifically for cooking.
Oil added to a pan while sauteing needs to be fully heated before it is absorbed by your ingredients. Slowly pouring the oil along the edge just inside the pan will ensure it is the correct temperature by the time it reaches your ingredients.
In order to save time when you are cooking, you can create beforehand your own blend of spices for different dishes. There are different spice combos for Asian, Italian, Mexican, or Indian cuisines. An easy "American" blend would be combining cinnamon and sugar for a quick cinnamon toast as a nice morning or evening treat.
Invest in a good roll of parchment paper. When you are baking, line your pans with it and you will save yourself much time and mess. The baked goods slide right off of the paper and all your pan needs is a simple rinse in some hot soapy water!
Learn to enjoy brussels sprouts. Not many people enjoy brussels sprouts if they are cooked in the traditional manner of boiling them. Sprouts can be delicious if you try different methods of cooking, such as roasting them with carrots and parsnips for a delicious side dish. They are delicious if pan-fried with bacon. These cooking methods give them a nutty flavor. Always choose small brussels sprouts, as the larger ones tend to be very bitter.
Add a cast iron skillet to your kitchen if you do not already have one. These multipurpose pans can sear, fry, roast, bake a cake, broil a steak and more, making them essential cooking gear staples. Cast iron heats evenly and holds heat well, allowing you to use a lower burner temperature. When seasoned well, cast iron cures into a nonstick surface, too.
To make grating blocks of mozzarella, Colby, cheddar and other cheeses easier, place the block of cheese in the freezer for ten minutes prior to shredding. The freezer will stiffen the cheese a bit without freezing it solid, so you can grate it without as much sticking, crumbling or becoming rubbery.
Pomegranates are a superfood, but they can be super un-fun to peel. To make it easier, put the pomegranate portions into a bowl of water and gently separate the juicy seeds. The white pith will float to the top and the seeds will sink to the bottom. Collect the floating pith, discard it, and strain the water to be left with a bowlful of delicious seeds!
Cooking with fresh, raw cloves of garlic can easily create an overpowering smell that can linger on your kitchen, clothes, and nose, you need not worry about removing the smell from your hands. After your are finished with the garlic, you should rub your hands on your stainless steel sink for half a minute before you attempt to wash them with soap and water.
Preparing more of your own meals has numerous financial and health-related benefits, and regardless of your motivations for cooking, you'll see the benefits in various aspects of your life. You'll also take a great deal of pride and satisfaction in preparing a delicious, home-cooked meal. So what are you waiting for? Go get to it!
Get Better Results From Your Time In The Kitchen With These Simple Tips
Cooking is a vital skill that everyone should have. But it doesn't always come easily to everyone. So below are a few tips that've been accumulated to help you become a better cook. With these tips, you won't have to worry about producing a meal that nobody wants to eat again.
Add flavor to boring roast chicken. Rather than using a roasting rack, place thick slices of onion in the bottom of the pan, and place the chicken on top of them. The chicken juices will be absorbed by the onion, creating a caramelization on the bottom of the pan. After roasting, remove the chicken, add a little water to the pan and cook on high heat for a few minutes. This will create a tasty sauce for your chicken.
The best thing that you can do when you are making hamburgers is to engage in trial and error. Instead of guessing that the meat is cooked well, make a small patty and taste it yourself. This will allow you to adjust your level of seasoning and cook your burger more if it needs it.
Make sure to prepare your dishes the night before. Create marinades and allow your meat to sit in the refrigerator overnight. By doing most of the prep the night before, you make a delicious tasting meal. You also lower the amount of stress when making the meal before your guests arrive.
Before you start cooking or baking make sure you have all the ingredients gathered together. This will save you time and prevent cooking mishaps. You'll have a better product in the end.
Basic seasoning of the food you prepare goes a long way in proving your skills in the kitchen. Don't be afraid to taste your food as you work and adjust seasonings accordingly. Typically, some of the most expensive cuts of meat, as well as many many varieties of seafood, are rather dull without some help. Your guests will appreciate a well-seasoned dish that they don't need to shake salt on until their arms goes numb or twist the pepper mill over for an hour to make palatable.
Cooking can be a joy if you invest in a good, sizable cutting board able to handle all of your cutting and chopping needs. If a butcher block table is out of the budget, look for a durable bamboo or sturdy maple for the job. A cutting board with a recessed groove surrounding the cutting surface is handy to catch juices from carving meats and makes clean up easy. If you will be using a cutting board on a smooth surface, look for one with rubber feet to avoid slipping. Maintain your cutting board with food-grade mineral oil (vegetable and olive oils can turn rancid) and make sure that you properly clean, and more importantly, dry your cutting board after each use to prevent warping.
Always have a lot of napkins handy when you are cooking in the kitchen. You never know when a spill will occur, so always prepare for the worst. Purchase thick napkins that can hold a lot of liquid if you want to get the most absorption when cleaning up a mess.
When preparing chicken stock, it is best to make a large batch. Plan to make a big pot of stock so you can freeze and store it. There are a variety of recipes that call for chicken stock, so having it on hand is always a good idea. Once your stock is finished, cool it and put it in heavy freezer bags.
Cook your veggies in chicken broth! Not only will the chicken broth stop the vegetables from getting stuck to the pan, but it will also make the dish more tasty. Chicken broth can be found at any grocery store, and is very low priced.
You should use nonstick cooking spray when cooking a meal or snack. The nonstick cooking spray keeps food from sticking to a pan without adding unneeded fats and calories. There are some sprays that are flavored, so that you can get the same flavor as if you had used butter.
After you have drained pasta, add fresh Parmesan Cheese to it while it is still hot. By putting the cheese on this way, the sauce you will be using has something to stick it. Plus, the pasta will have more flavor this way than if you added the cheese after your pasta and sauce are mixed together.
When you are cooking clarified butter, first slowly melt butter that is unsalted over very low heat. Do not stir the butter, and do not let it comes to a boil. This process will separate the milk solids from the liquid butter into three layers when finished. The clarified butter will be in the middle layer.
Freeze your excess ginger root. When you buy a ginger root for cooking, the chances are you won't use the whole thing in one recipe. Whatever you have left can be frozen. Not only will it keep for a long time, it's really easy to shave off a piece with a sharp knife, or grate it when it's frozen.
When you are going to the butcher to get meats or fish, do not be scared to ask to smell the product before purchasing it. Sometimes the meat or fish is bad and the butcher does not even know it, which is why it is important for you to smell it.
For recipes that call for liquor or wine, you can substitute with fruit juices. Some people simply do not like the taste of liquor or wine while others do not want children eating meals that contain it. Therefore, fruit juices is suitable substitute that still provides your meal with the flavor it needs.
These are only a fraction of the tips that're out there to help you become a better cook. Hopefully you've learned some valuable information and are on your way to becoming a great cook. Even if you're only cooking for yourself, it's always nice to be able to make a good tasting meal!
How To Cook Great Tasting Food Like A Pro
Whether you're a brand new cook or an experienced one, there are plenty of sources of frustration in the kitchen. No matter what your cooking skills are like, little annoyances can make preparing a meal much more stressful. Here are some cooking tips that will help preparing your meals go a little more smoothly.
Ensure that you are getting the most out of your chef's knife by holding it properly during use. The thumb and the index finger should be on either side of the blade, at the point where it meets the handle. This will give the ultimate in control, when slicing through ingredients.
Put salt on your cutting board. It can be difficult to cut herbs on your cutting board. They tend to go all over the place. To keep this from happening, just sprinkle a little salt on your cutting board before you begin. This will work to keep them from slipping around.
To prepare for the meal that you are going to cook, make a comprehensive list of everything that you are going to need to cook your meal when you go to the supermarket. This will allow you to stay as organized as possible so there is no part of your meal that you leave out.
A good thing to remember regarding cooking is to store your ingredients and spices in a cool dark place and not on top of your stove. This is because humidity and light tend to cause spices and herbs lose their flavor. This is one of the things new cooks tend to forget.
After you have cooked a piece of food in the oven, you should give it several minutes to rest before serving. The last thing that you will want to do is serve any part of your meal that is too hot, which will ruin its overall quality for the person you are serving.
To take the metallic taste out of canned pumpkin pie filling, heat the filling with all of your spices first. Simply mixing your filling with the other ingredients and then baking traps the metallic taste in your finished pie. But by heating your pumpkin filling alone with the spices first, you release the metallic taste of the filling and simultaneously imbue it with the richer taste of spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger.
If you would like to bake a berry desert in the winter (when most berries are out of season), use frozen berries as a delicious and more eco-friendly alternative to fresh ones! Thaw your frozen berries for 45 minutes, drain the excess, then use as you normally would when making a berry pie or cobbler.
To have a meal ready when you get home from work use a slow cooker or crock pot. Some meals come prepackaged. All you have to do is pour it into the crock pot, maybe add some water and set the heat. If you like making your own meals you can prepare ingredients the night before. After you've prepared the ingredients put them in the fridge. Add everything to the crock pot in the morning before you go to work.
You should use your freezer bags more than one time. You need to store your meats or vegetables in regular storage bags and then place them into freezer bags so that you can use them repeatedly. Freezer bags are very expensive and this will cut back on your costs each month.
Tofu is a great source of protein that vegetarians should use to get the nutrients their body needs. Many vegetarians are lacking in protein because they are not eating meat. Tofu can be prepared in a variety of ways and really soaks up flavors so it can be served as a meal or as a quick snack.
When you are cooking pasta, follow this useful tip. Instead of strictly following the instructions given on the pasta box or package, try cooking the pasta one minute less than the time indicated. Then finish off the pasta by cooking it in a pan with sauce for the final minute. Doing so will give the pasta more flavor.
By doing this, you will find that you will have fresh fruit for a much longer time. In addition it will give you access to fruits that aren't always in season.
To make the perfect pasta, cook it one minute less than what you read on the box and cook it the rest of the way with the sauce you are serving with it. This ensures that you do not overcook the pasta if you were to toss it in with the sauce after you cooked the pasta until it was done in the pot of water.
If you are going to braise meat, cook it at a low temperature for a long period of time. By doing it this way, the meat will stay tender and it will retain its juiciness, which in turns, leaves the meat tasting good. Cooking it a high temperature can dry the meat out.
When you are cooking any dessert that has strawberries in it, add a small amount of aged balsamic vinegar. The vinegar gives the dessert a sweet taste and it helps to enhance the strawberry's taste. If the dessert is something bigger, such as a strawberry cake, add a touch more balsamic vinegar.
When cutting corn kernels on the cob, try this tip: Use the side of the knife that is not sharp to scrape the cob. This will extract the excess sweet juices from the cob, which can be applied to your corn dish and add a hidden burst of flavor to it, creating a new taste to the dish.
There are plenty of things you can do to take the stress out of cooking. Now that you've read this article, you have plenty of advice you can apply the next time you head to the kitchen. Now that you have these tips, you may find you're willing to try cooking something a little more challenging.
Cooking Tips :
Cooking Ideas For Creating Different Flavored Pancakes
Are you in love with a wide variety of cuisines? Do you have a ravenous sweet tooth? Foreign foods and ethnic cuisine don't have to be difficult to prepare at home. Have you wondered how to make these types of meals in the privacy of your home? Get out of dreamland and get into the kitchen! Follow these cooking tips, and discover how easy is it to create delectable dishes that are sure to delight your palate.
Olive oil is one of the most important investments that you can make during the course of your cooking career. Find a high quality brand of olive oil and add this ingredient to a variety of different foods. This oil will help bring out the taste in pasta, fish and meat.
Take the guesswork out of reducing liquids. When a recipe calls for you to cook until the liquid is reduced by a certain amount, dip the handle of a wooden spoon into the liquid to mark the depth. This will leave a line on the wooden spoon. Later, you can dip the spoon again to see how much the liquid has actually reduced.
One of the things that you can do if you are cooking cauliflower is to add milk, which will help to brighten your vegetable. This will add to the aesthetic appeal of your food and will also maintain the freshness until you decide to serve it to your friends or family.
When working with poultry, use this useful tip to let your poultry shine. Soak the poultry in a brine solution composed of salt and water overnight before cooking the poultry. Soaking the poultry in brine will help to unlock the flavors buried in the meat and make the poultry succulent and moist, creating an incredible poultry dish.
Some recipes call for peeled half or quarter peaches. In most cases peeling is not easy, as the skin sticks to the fruit and doesn't come off. The easiest way to remedy the problem is to place the peaches in boiling water for 30 seconds. After removing the fruits, place them into ice water to stop the boiling effect. Their skin will come off easily.
When cooking with a sauté pan, turn the handle of it in the opposite direction of you. Keeping the handle facing you increases the chance of bumping into and spilling your food. This is also a safety concern because you can burn yourself if the pan tips or falls over.
Rather than using a traditional store bought dressing when making a salad, try making your own vinaigrette. A vinaigrette that is homemade will contain less ingredients than store bought ones and have no preservatives. This makes the vinaigrette more natural and better tasting. Simply shake the ingredients in a sealed container and enjoy.
To avoid mistakes like burning your food while you are cooking, it is of the utmost importance to stay organized. You can ensure that you are efficient when you are organized. Stay organized, as it will help you keep up with what you have and you won't be wasting food or money.
Don't spend too much time buying books and searching the Internet for exotic fare from around the world and forget the recipes that your family has served for years. Often the most basic recipes are the most cherished ones. Make sure you write those recipes down. No matter how simple they are, there may be a day when a family member wants them.
Use a few tablespoons of sugar in the boiling water when cooking orange and yellow vegetables. Foods like squash and corn have a natural sweetness to them that is brought out when cooked in sugared water. This is a great way to get some healthy veggies into a kids diet as well as yours.
Pesto cooking tip! When you are using pesto sauce, make sure you never heat it up! If you want to have it in a pasta or soup dish, it is best if you cook the food first - then add the uncooked pesto. This is important because cooking pesto will make the basil have a bitter taste.
If you are preparing a whole chicken or turkey, take the time to season under the skin as part of your preparation. By gently sliding your fingers between the skin and meat in the breast area and thigh area, you can create room for seasoning. Blend your preferred herbs and spices and slowly rub them against the meat under the skin. The skin will lock in juices and allow your seasoning to absorb into the meat.
Use your hands to cook the perfect steak. Pressing the fleshy pad at the base of the thumb, when your hand is making an OK sign, will give the same resistance as steak will during cooking. Start with the index finger OK sign and the thumb base will resist at "rare" temperature. Moving towards the pinky you will register medium-rare with middle, medium with the ring finger and well-done with the pinky. Look for the resistance in your steak to match the resistance when pressing your hand.
Add salt when boiling pasta. Not only does it shorten the cooking time by increasing the temperature of the water, it also adds great flavor and keeps the pasta from tasting bland. A general rule is to add one and a half tablespoons of salt to each pound of pasta.
When you are boiling rice, pasta, or vegetables it is very important that you salt the boiling water before placing the food in the pot. This helps the salt absorb, and it will taste better than if you add salt to the food after it has already been cooked.
With the help of this article's advice, you'll soon be putting together delicious meals all on your own. Try different sauces and spices on your foods. You might find that you like some new kind of food when you are doing this. Use these tips to be the best cook you can be.
Advice On Cooking Breakfast For Large Groups
Interested in saving money? In today's economy, who among us isn't? What about losing weight and improving your overall health? If your answer is a resounding YES, then making one change in your life can help you accomplish all three of those goals! The solution is as close as your kitchen.
Consider recipes to be guidelines rather than rules. Feel free to branch out and switch up the spices or add an extra ingredient. Before long you will be compiling your own personal collection of altered recipes that are better than the original thing. Not only will you will also be able to impress your friends with unique dishes, but you will become a better cook as you experiment with changing recipes.
Your spices should be stored in a cool place that is free of light. Shelf life can be significantly decreased for those spices which have been exposed to too much light, dampness and heat. Store spices in a dark, cool location to keep them flavorful and fresher for longer. Fresh spices can greatly enhance your meals, making this effort well worth your time.
Leave the bone in a roast to speed up cooking. By leaving the bone in, heat moves to the inside of the meat faster, speeding up the cooking process. Because the bone transmits heat, the entire roast cooks more evenly throughout the cut of meat by leaving it in rather than removing it.
As your cooking prowess grows, you will learn to appreciate the versatility of stocks and broths. Rather than buying these useful ingredients at the store or wasting your time cooking them in small batches, prepare stocks in large quantities. You can store surplus stock in plastic bags in your freezer, ready for quick use in future recipes.
Shelling pecans can be really challenging. Make it easier by soaking them in a cup of water and put the cup into the microwave for 5-6 minutes. It is always possible to soak the pecans into boiling water to get the same effect. Hot water makes the shell softer and easier to crack.
Tofu is a great source of protein that vegetarians should use to get the nutrients their body needs. Many vegetarians are lacking in protein because they are not eating meat. Tofu can be prepared in a variety of ways and really soaks up flavors so it can be served as a meal or as a quick snack.
When making homemade salad dressings it is a good idea to use extra-virgin olive oil. It has a fruity flavor that really adds to a salad. Extra-virgin olive oil can be somewhat expensive so it is important to buy it when it is on sale or with a coupon to make it more affordable.
If a particular wine's flavor is unknown to you, then you shouldn't use it as an ingredient in your food. Using a wine that you are not familiar with in your food can cause you not to like the flavor that's produced. There is wine available that was made specifically for cooking.
Oil added to a pan while sauteing needs to be fully heated before it is absorbed by your ingredients. Slowly pouring the oil along the edge just inside the pan will ensure it is the correct temperature by the time it reaches your ingredients.
In order to save time when you are cooking, you can create beforehand your own blend of spices for different dishes. There are different spice combos for Asian, Italian, Mexican, or Indian cuisines. An easy "American" blend would be combining cinnamon and sugar for a quick cinnamon toast as a nice morning or evening treat.
Invest in a good roll of parchment paper. When you are baking, line your pans with it and you will save yourself much time and mess. The baked goods slide right off of the paper and all your pan needs is a simple rinse in some hot soapy water!
Learn to enjoy brussels sprouts. Not many people enjoy brussels sprouts if they are cooked in the traditional manner of boiling them. Sprouts can be delicious if you try different methods of cooking, such as roasting them with carrots and parsnips for a delicious side dish. They are delicious if pan-fried with bacon. These cooking methods give them a nutty flavor. Always choose small brussels sprouts, as the larger ones tend to be very bitter.
Add a cast iron skillet to your kitchen if you do not already have one. These multipurpose pans can sear, fry, roast, bake a cake, broil a steak and more, making them essential cooking gear staples. Cast iron heats evenly and holds heat well, allowing you to use a lower burner temperature. When seasoned well, cast iron cures into a nonstick surface, too.
To make grating blocks of mozzarella, Colby, cheddar and other cheeses easier, place the block of cheese in the freezer for ten minutes prior to shredding. The freezer will stiffen the cheese a bit without freezing it solid, so you can grate it without as much sticking, crumbling or becoming rubbery.
Pomegranates are a superfood, but they can be super un-fun to peel. To make it easier, put the pomegranate portions into a bowl of water and gently separate the juicy seeds. The white pith will float to the top and the seeds will sink to the bottom. Collect the floating pith, discard it, and strain the water to be left with a bowlful of delicious seeds!
Cooking with fresh, raw cloves of garlic can easily create an overpowering smell that can linger on your kitchen, clothes, and nose, you need not worry about removing the smell from your hands. After your are finished with the garlic, you should rub your hands on your stainless steel sink for half a minute before you attempt to wash them with soap and water.
Preparing more of your own meals has numerous financial and health-related benefits, and regardless of your motivations for cooking, you'll see the benefits in various aspects of your life. You'll also take a great deal of pride and satisfaction in preparing a delicious, home-cooked meal. So what are you waiting for? Go get to it!
Get Better Results From Your Time In The Kitchen With These Simple Tips
Cooking is a vital skill that everyone should have. But it doesn't always come easily to everyone. So below are a few tips that've been accumulated to help you become a better cook. With these tips, you won't have to worry about producing a meal that nobody wants to eat again.
Add flavor to boring roast chicken. Rather than using a roasting rack, place thick slices of onion in the bottom of the pan, and place the chicken on top of them. The chicken juices will be absorbed by the onion, creating a caramelization on the bottom of the pan. After roasting, remove the chicken, add a little water to the pan and cook on high heat for a few minutes. This will create a tasty sauce for your chicken.
The best thing that you can do when you are making hamburgers is to engage in trial and error. Instead of guessing that the meat is cooked well, make a small patty and taste it yourself. This will allow you to adjust your level of seasoning and cook your burger more if it needs it.
Make sure to prepare your dishes the night before. Create marinades and allow your meat to sit in the refrigerator overnight. By doing most of the prep the night before, you make a delicious tasting meal. You also lower the amount of stress when making the meal before your guests arrive.
Before you start cooking or baking make sure you have all the ingredients gathered together. This will save you time and prevent cooking mishaps. You'll have a better product in the end.
Basic seasoning of the food you prepare goes a long way in proving your skills in the kitchen. Don't be afraid to taste your food as you work and adjust seasonings accordingly. Typically, some of the most expensive cuts of meat, as well as many many varieties of seafood, are rather dull without some help. Your guests will appreciate a well-seasoned dish that they don't need to shake salt on until their arms goes numb or twist the pepper mill over for an hour to make palatable.
Cooking can be a joy if you invest in a good, sizable cutting board able to handle all of your cutting and chopping needs. If a butcher block table is out of the budget, look for a durable bamboo or sturdy maple for the job. A cutting board with a recessed groove surrounding the cutting surface is handy to catch juices from carving meats and makes clean up easy. If you will be using a cutting board on a smooth surface, look for one with rubber feet to avoid slipping. Maintain your cutting board with food-grade mineral oil (vegetable and olive oils can turn rancid) and make sure that you properly clean, and more importantly, dry your cutting board after each use to prevent warping.
Always have a lot of napkins handy when you are cooking in the kitchen. You never know when a spill will occur, so always prepare for the worst. Purchase thick napkins that can hold a lot of liquid if you want to get the most absorption when cleaning up a mess.
When preparing chicken stock, it is best to make a large batch. Plan to make a big pot of stock so you can freeze and store it. There are a variety of recipes that call for chicken stock, so having it on hand is always a good idea. Once your stock is finished, cool it and put it in heavy freezer bags.
Cook your veggies in chicken broth! Not only will the chicken broth stop the vegetables from getting stuck to the pan, but it will also make the dish more tasty. Chicken broth can be found at any grocery store, and is very low priced.
You should use nonstick cooking spray when cooking a meal or snack. The nonstick cooking spray keeps food from sticking to a pan without adding unneeded fats and calories. There are some sprays that are flavored, so that you can get the same flavor as if you had used butter.
After you have drained pasta, add fresh Parmesan Cheese to it while it is still hot. By putting the cheese on this way, the sauce you will be using has something to stick it. Plus, the pasta will have more flavor this way than if you added the cheese after your pasta and sauce are mixed together.
When you are cooking clarified butter, first slowly melt butter that is unsalted over very low heat. Do not stir the butter, and do not let it comes to a boil. This process will separate the milk solids from the liquid butter into three layers when finished. The clarified butter will be in the middle layer.
Freeze your excess ginger root. When you buy a ginger root for cooking, the chances are you won't use the whole thing in one recipe. Whatever you have left can be frozen. Not only will it keep for a long time, it's really easy to shave off a piece with a sharp knife, or grate it when it's frozen.
When you are going to the butcher to get meats or fish, do not be scared to ask to smell the product before purchasing it. Sometimes the meat or fish is bad and the butcher does not even know it, which is why it is important for you to smell it.
For recipes that call for liquor or wine, you can substitute with fruit juices. Some people simply do not like the taste of liquor or wine while others do not want children eating meals that contain it. Therefore, fruit juices is suitable substitute that still provides your meal with the flavor it needs.
These are only a fraction of the tips that're out there to help you become a better cook. Hopefully you've learned some valuable information and are on your way to becoming a great cook. Even if you're only cooking for yourself, it's always nice to be able to make a good tasting meal!
How To Cook Great Tasting Food Like A Pro
Whether you're a brand new cook or an experienced one, there are plenty of sources of frustration in the kitchen. No matter what your cooking skills are like, little annoyances can make preparing a meal much more stressful. Here are some cooking tips that will help preparing your meals go a little more smoothly.
Ensure that you are getting the most out of your chef's knife by holding it properly during use. The thumb and the index finger should be on either side of the blade, at the point where it meets the handle. This will give the ultimate in control, when slicing through ingredients.
Put salt on your cutting board. It can be difficult to cut herbs on your cutting board. They tend to go all over the place. To keep this from happening, just sprinkle a little salt on your cutting board before you begin. This will work to keep them from slipping around.
To prepare for the meal that you are going to cook, make a comprehensive list of everything that you are going to need to cook your meal when you go to the supermarket. This will allow you to stay as organized as possible so there is no part of your meal that you leave out.
A good thing to remember regarding cooking is to store your ingredients and spices in a cool dark place and not on top of your stove. This is because humidity and light tend to cause spices and herbs lose their flavor. This is one of the things new cooks tend to forget.
After you have cooked a piece of food in the oven, you should give it several minutes to rest before serving. The last thing that you will want to do is serve any part of your meal that is too hot, which will ruin its overall quality for the person you are serving.
To take the metallic taste out of canned pumpkin pie filling, heat the filling with all of your spices first. Simply mixing your filling with the other ingredients and then baking traps the metallic taste in your finished pie. But by heating your pumpkin filling alone with the spices first, you release the metallic taste of the filling and simultaneously imbue it with the richer taste of spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger.
If you would like to bake a berry desert in the winter (when most berries are out of season), use frozen berries as a delicious and more eco-friendly alternative to fresh ones! Thaw your frozen berries for 45 minutes, drain the excess, then use as you normally would when making a berry pie or cobbler.
To have a meal ready when you get home from work use a slow cooker or crock pot. Some meals come prepackaged. All you have to do is pour it into the crock pot, maybe add some water and set the heat. If you like making your own meals you can prepare ingredients the night before. After you've prepared the ingredients put them in the fridge. Add everything to the crock pot in the morning before you go to work.
You should use your freezer bags more than one time. You need to store your meats or vegetables in regular storage bags and then place them into freezer bags so that you can use them repeatedly. Freezer bags are very expensive and this will cut back on your costs each month.
Tofu is a great source of protein that vegetarians should use to get the nutrients their body needs. Many vegetarians are lacking in protein because they are not eating meat. Tofu can be prepared in a variety of ways and really soaks up flavors so it can be served as a meal or as a quick snack.
When you are cooking pasta, follow this useful tip. Instead of strictly following the instructions given on the pasta box or package, try cooking the pasta one minute less than the time indicated. Then finish off the pasta by cooking it in a pan with sauce for the final minute. Doing so will give the pasta more flavor.
By doing this, you will find that you will have fresh fruit for a much longer time. In addition it will give you access to fruits that aren't always in season.
To make the perfect pasta, cook it one minute less than what you read on the box and cook it the rest of the way with the sauce you are serving with it. This ensures that you do not overcook the pasta if you were to toss it in with the sauce after you cooked the pasta until it was done in the pot of water.
If you are going to braise meat, cook it at a low temperature for a long period of time. By doing it this way, the meat will stay tender and it will retain its juiciness, which in turns, leaves the meat tasting good. Cooking it a high temperature can dry the meat out.
When you are cooking any dessert that has strawberries in it, add a small amount of aged balsamic vinegar. The vinegar gives the dessert a sweet taste and it helps to enhance the strawberry's taste. If the dessert is something bigger, such as a strawberry cake, add a touch more balsamic vinegar.
When cutting corn kernels on the cob, try this tip: Use the side of the knife that is not sharp to scrape the cob. This will extract the excess sweet juices from the cob, which can be applied to your corn dish and add a hidden burst of flavor to it, creating a new taste to the dish.
There are plenty of things you can do to take the stress out of cooking. Now that you've read this article, you have plenty of advice you can apply the next time you head to the kitchen. Now that you have these tips, you may find you're willing to try cooking something a little more challenging.
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