Apples are the quintessential fall fruit. Check out some of my sweet and savory apple recipes for breakfast, dinner, and everything in between. Here’s a brief overview of some key things to know about apples, the best apple varietals for different uses, and some helpful tools for all your apple-centric cooking and baking.
These Apple Pie Baked Beans take baked beans to a whole new level. Yes, you read that right – this apple pie baked bean recipe is what happens when two classic American comfort foods get together and make a delicious baby. So say goodbye to blah canned baked beans, and say hello to the new…
Make this Strawberry Apple Pie and you’ll be forever dreaming about ways to make recipes with strawberries and apples. That’s because strawberries provide sweetness and color you can’t get from apples alone. Read on to learn all the tips and tricks for making this recipe. Or just grab your rolling pin, hit that Jump to…
Apple waffles with caramelized onions are a scrumptious fusion of sweet and savory flavors. Imagine waffles packed with apples, soft and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Whipping up these apple and onion waffles is a breeze, especially if you have some leftover caramelized onions on hand. If not, don’t worry! Just…
These Sourdough Apple Muffins were requested by a reader who asked for an apple muffin recipe packed with apples. They are quick and easy, coming together in under 30 minutes. The fruit seems to be an afterthought in too many apple muffin recipes. That’s not true for these sourdough discard muffins with over one cup…
This lemon apple curd recipe makes a silky smooth apple curd that’s not too sweet and not too tart. Whether enjoyed straight from the fridge or freezer or used to fill a pastry shell, every bite is a mouthful of memories of rain boots and red-orange maples. This apple curd follows in the footsteps of…
This Apple and Blackberry Pie recipe is a variation on a classic apple pie. It’s made brighter in color and flavor by adding plump blackberries to crisp fall apples. It’s the perfect fall pie for when apple season comes around. Or this apple blackberry pie will bring back memories of late summer if you have…
This Sourdough Apple Cake is fragrant, moist, and densely packed with apples, pecans, and raisins. It’s easy to make. And it is a great illustration of the Ugly Duckling Bakery motto that my recipes taste delicious but look homemade. Because it is very very ugly. So read on to learn all the tips and tricks…
This one-pan apple bourbon pork tenderloin is a quick, easy, and tasty meal that you can make on a weeknight. It takes 30 to 40 minutes from start to finish. And you can make a salad, unpack lunchboxes, and help out with homework during the same time. The preparation of pork tenderloin in this recipe…
This recipe for Baked Chicken and Apple Meatballs brings together two favorite dinner ideas: meatballs and fruit for dinner. Meatballs are great for weeknights, because, aside from a little chopping, they are simple to make and come together in about 30 minutes. Once you learn there’s a pretty standard meatball formula, you’ll realize they have…
This Unsweetened Strawberry Applesauce recipe is made in less than hour with only three ingredients: strawberries, apples, and a bit of vanilla. You may think that no added sugar means that it’s going to be tasteless and hard to swallow.. You’d be wrong. This homemade strawberry applesauce is unsweetened because strawberries provide that gorgeous color…
Dried Apple Rings are proof that not everything good in life is illegal, immoral, or fattening. That’s because these oven-dried apples are as sweet as candy but take only two ingredients. So read on to learn everything you might want to know about dehydrating apples. Or just grab your apple, hit that Jump to Recipe…
When Prue, one of the judges of the Great British Bake Off, said in Season 8 that Kate’s sticky toffee apple caramel cake was the best cake she had ever eaten, I wanted to try it. And when the list of bakes in the reddit 52 week baking challenge included GBBO, I knew that this…
This Red Kidney Bean Hummus is a red kidney bean dip made in classic hummus style with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. It’s perfect as a dip or with Middle Eastern meals, and it’s even easier to make than classic hummus because there’s no peeling chickpeas. Read on to learn all the detailed…
The French 95 is a variation of the classic French 75 that uses bourbon in place of gin. Add lemon juice, simple syrup, and top with sparkling wine, and you have a sparkling bourbon cocktail that’s perfect for celebrations or to accompany spicy meals. So read on to learn all about bourbon and the detailed…
Elevate your Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust instead of the traditional shortbread. Just mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter to make a bottom crust, top the graham cracker cookie crust with lemon curd, and bake until firm. Read on for all the detailed tips and tricks for making the lemon curd and the…
This Turkey Pot Pie with Puff Pastry recipe is a fabulous use of leftover Thanksgiving turkey, but you can also use it with leftover rotisserie chicken, pan-roasted chicken breasts, or Dutch oven pulled chicken. It’s easy to make if you buy puff pastry or have leftover rough puff pastry in the freezer. Read on to…
This Rocket and Pear Salad is made with rocket (aka arugula), crisp pears, crunchy toasted walnuts, and shaved Parmesan. It’s a simple salad you can put together in about 15 minutes. Read on to learn all the best pears for salads and tips and tricks for this arugula salad recipe. Or just grab your pear…
This Feta Kale Salad with Cranberries and Pecans is an easy cool-weather salad that you can make in under 30 minutes and vary over and over. Serve your chopped kale salad with cranberries as a side salad for your Thanksgiving turkey or any roast meat, or add hard-boiled eggs or a can of beans, and…
This recipe makes a delicious and easy Cranberry Sauce from Dried Cranberries when you are craving cranberry sauce but can’t find fresh cranberries anywhere. Made in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect accompaniment to turkey dinner or cast iron pan-roasted chicken breasts. Read on to learn all about cranberries and the key recipe tips and…
These Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts are an easy side dish you can make in 30 minutes. Serve them tonight with perfectly cooked pan-roasted chicken breasts and some homemade cranberry sauce, or make them part of your favorite grain bowls. Read on to learn all about Brussels sprouts, maple syrup, and balsamic vinegar. Or just grab…
What is Prosecco? Prosecco is, quite simply, the sparkling wine of Italy. Made in a specific region of northeastern Italy with a specific grape, there is nothing else quite like it. Read on to learn all about Prosecco, Italian wine regions, and Prosecco classifications. Or just jump on down to find my favorite Prosecco cocktails.
This Purple Cabbage Slaw recipe makes a purple cabbage and carrot salad that will be your go-to mayo-free coleslaw for all your hot weather barbecues. It’s in its happy place piled high atop a pulled chicken or pulled pork sandwich or served alongside all the burgers and hot dogs you can eat. But if you’re…
Introducing the best Dutch Oven Pulled Chicken, a simple and versatile recipe that hinges on slowly poached boneless chicken breasts. This cooking strategy, similar to the sous vide cooking method, creates the most succulent shredded chicken for all your favorite dishes. Combine your Dutch oven pulled chicken with a homemade barbecue sauce for mouthwatering barbecue…
Mastering the art and science of making meatballs and meatloaf is a trick every busy cook should have up their sleeve. That’s because meatballs and meatloaf are fuss-free and guaranteed to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. Plus they work wonders for finicky eaters who cringe at the sight of traditional cuts of meat. So prepare to…
This Raw Carrot Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette will transform the humble carrot into your favorite side dish. Made from paper-thin but still crunchy slices of carrots coated in a light dressing, this side salad works with grilled favorites or with a light lunch. Even better, you can explore a world of taste possibilities by…
This delicious blackberry simple syrup recipe will elevate any homemade cocktail. With a few ingredients and a tiny bit of time, you can create a sweet and tangy syrup that adds a flavor burst to any drink. Whether you’re a seasoned mixologist or a cocktail newbie, this recipe is easy to follow and guarantees a…
This creamy Sumac Sauce will take your taste buds on a journey. Travel to the Middle East in just 10 minutes with a blend of sour cream, yogurt, lemon, olive oil, garlic and tangy sumac. Make it thinner and drizzle the sumac dressing over a crisp garden salad or a hearty fattoush. Or serve the…
Are you looking to learn to make classic cocktails and frustrated by promises of Top 10 Cocktails that fail to deliver? Tired of mixologists who boast about easy to make cocktail recipes and in the next breath use obscure ingredients you don’t have at home? Read on for a simple schematic that shows cocktail families…
Once you’ve mastered the basics of baking, you’re probably looking to try new things in new ways. Learning a few baking ratios is all you need to free yourself from recipes and bake like a pro. There’s no magic here. Using these baking ratios to create your own cakes and cookies is about knowing what…
This thick and hearty roasted broccoli almond soup uses roasted broccoli to up the broccoli flavor and subs toasted almonds in place of the cream you often find in broccoli soups. While a cheesy broccoli and cheddar soup is delicious, sometimes we all want something healthier. Honestly, I find that cream to be unnecessary anyway….
These Southwestern black bean burgers are seriously delicious and easy to make! With just a few simple ingredients like black beans, corn, and spices, you can create a burger patty that’s bursting with flavor. Die-hard carnivores won’t ask, “Where’s the beef?” when they try these veggie bean burgers. There’s no mushy bean burger here, and…
Dehydrated orange slices and other dried citrus are easy to make and infuse their fragrant perfumes into your dry martini or other favorite cocktail. Or use your dried orange slices for a garland or decoration for your winter table. Read on to learn all about citrus genealogy and detailed tips and tricks for dehydrating oranges….
These Spicy Pickled Onions provide the perfect bit of tangy sweetness, heat, and crunch to serve with a taco meatloaf or your favorite pita pocket sandwiches. And the beauty of refrigerator pickled onions is that they need only five ingredients and 10 minutes of your time. Read on to learn all about refrigerator pickles and…
If you’re like me, you love making (and eating) meatballs because you know that homemade meatballs are super easy to make with infinite variety. But some times you need ideas for what to serve with meatballs instead of pasta. So read on for tons of suggestions for side dishes for meatballs! Or use the table…
This Pornstar Martini Mocktail is a non-alcoholic version of the Pornstar Martini made with passion fruit puree, lime juice, simple syrup, vanilla extract, and a dash of bitters. It’s a lovely drink, whether you’re doing Dry January, trying to cut calories, or drinking for two, This Pornstar mocktail keeps all of the flavor, the balance…
The 52 weeks of cocktails challenge continues for its third year! This cocktail challenge was suggested as I wrapped up the 2021 reddit 52 weeks of baking challenge with my chocolate peppermint spritz cookies. I dabbled in cocktails in 2021. However, it wasn’t until I started making cocktails at home every week that I Iearned…
This One Pot Pasta with Ricotta and Lemon is for anyone looking for a simple weeknight meal. It’s a one-pot pasta that’s quick, easy, cheesy, and very lemony. And one pot meals means less time spent cleaning up. So read on for all the detailed tips and tricks for this recipe. Or grab a big…
These Mashed Purple Sweet Potatoes make an easy two-step, three-ingredient recipe to accompany a simple roast or an unusual Thanksgiving side dish. If you love mashed sweet potatoes and banana, this is the recipe for you! You’ll love that the richness in these vegan mashed sweet potatoes comes only from the sweet potatoes and the…
This Leek and Butternut Squash Quiche is packed with leeks & butternut squash, cheese, and a smooth, creamy filling. It’s a great Meatless Monday option if you have a ready pie crust or for brunch if you want to bake from scratch. Don’t feel a bit of guilt about eating this pie for breakfast! So…
