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Onion ring and fresh green bean casserole

I know, I know. You’re saying to yourself, “Don’t mess with the classics.” But hear me out. Green bean casserole isn’t all that great. There. I said it. Under all of those oily little french fried onion bits is nothing more than a mess of hacked up rubbery green bean pieces swimming in a sea of grayish liquid. I’ve never been a fan, mostly because it means we take one of the only Thanksgiving side dishes that has a chance to be healthy and we smother it with loads of greasy ingredients. Also see our Handy guide to planning a Thanksgiving feast. A delicious green bean casserole doesn’t have to include unhealthy cans of slop. You can make it fresher, healthier, and tastier with just a few ingredients. So why not make the switch? This green bean casserole uses fresh green beans, mushrooms and onions, along with fresh thyme, whole…

Colcannon is the traditional Irish dish you must try

Lots of foods have become synonymous with Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day — Soda Bread, Shepherd’s Pie, and corned beef, to name a few. But have you ever heard of colcannon? It might be lesser-known on a global scale, but to the Irish, it’s a true taste of home. Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made with mashed potatoes, cabbage (or kale) and leeks, yet somehow, most parade-going, Irish heritage-loving Americans have never heard of it. It’s tasty (picture rich potatoes and lightly crunchy cabbage cradling a pool of melty butter) and easy to make, so it’s surprising it never caught on here on our side of the pond. The name colcannon is said to have originated from the Gaelic phrase “cal ceannann,” meaning white-headed cabbage — the vegetable most commonly mixed into the potatoes. During the 17th and 18th centuries, potatoes, cabbage, and leeks were considered to be food for the…

10 foods that can substitute as cleaning supplies

Cleaning your house isn’t exactly fun, but you might be able to make it easier — or at least, more amusing — with one of these 10 foods substituting as cleaning supplies. You can save some money by not spending on expensive specialty products. Not to mention, you can avoid coming in contact with a ton of potentially harmful chemicals that store-bought brands typically contain. These tricks will help you keep more money in your wallet, and they support a healthier lifestyle. Who doesn’t want that? 1. Coca-Cola Coke isn’t just for sipping. The highly carbonated beverage contains phosphoric acid, citric acid, and carbonic acid — all which help it serve as a cleaning product substitute. Use it to take rust off of pots, remove, remove hard stains for inside the toilet bowl, restore shine to coins and jewelry, and get grease out of clothes. 2. Ketchup It’s might be…

10 things you should never store in the refrigerator

The fridge is a great place for most fresh ingredients, but there are a few foods that will fare better if left at room temperature on your countertop or in a pantry. The average family of four in America throws out about $1,600 worth of food every year — often because the food wasn’t stored properly for maximum life span. Check out this list to learn how to make the most of some of the most common groceries. 1. Coffee beans If you’re shelling out serious cash on the best coffee beans, you better know how to store them. The National Coffee Association recommends storing beans in an opaque, air-tight container at room temperature. Air, moisture, heat and light are all enemies to your beans, so store in a dark and cool location, but never the fridge. Coffee is soft and porous and likes to absorb other flavors around it — in the…

What produce is in season in January: Citrus, beets, and more

Happy New Year, everyone! Whether you’re a lifelong healthy eater or just taking the first steps toward your New Year’s resolution, it’s easy to get tripped up on what healthy produce options are in season and available during the cold winter months. Sure you can buy nearly anything you want in the supermarket, but that doesn’t mean those strawberries shipped halfway around the world are going to be any good. To stick to your healthy diet (and detox from all of those holiday cookies), you need to know what’s going to taste best during this coldest month for growing. So what is in season in January? For most of the country, not a whole lot. But between cheery citrus and crunchy root vegetables, there’s still plenty of foods grown around the country to inspire your cooking through the season. Citrus Most of the citrus grown in the States comes from Florida,…

New tearless onions make kitchen prep less of a pain

Lots of great recipes require onions, so sadly, there’s no getting around it — the tears, the stuffy nose, the smelly hands. But after years of kitchen struggles and decades of work, scientists have finally figured out a solution to take away at least one of our complaints. Enter: The Sunion. They taste just like regular onions with a sweet and crunchy snap, but unlike other store-bought onions, Sunions won’t make you weep. They were created through natural cross-breeding over more than 30 years rather than using genetic modifications. When you cut into an ordinary onion, a volatile compound called lachrymatory-factor synthase is released. When this gas hits your eyes, you body produces tears in attempt to reduce the irritation, which is why you appear to cry. Sunions have been bred to have decreasing amounts of this compound, resulting in an onion that doesn’t release tear-causing gas when sliced and diced. Sunions made their debut back…

Slow cooker caramelized onions

Caramelizing onions in a crock pot with just a bit of olive oil and salt is a fool-proof method for getting a huge batch of these delicious, golden-brown morsels just right. Since most busy weeknight cooks don’t have the time to let caramelized onions reach their peak flavor, the solution is setting the crockpot and making them for the months ahead. Onions are naturally sweet, and cooking them slowly allows the natural sugars in the onion to caramelize. The result is an intensely rich flavor that improves any pizza, onion soup, pasta, dip or sandwich. Caramelized onions are good on pretty much every… single… thing. What else do you like them on? Follow these easy steps for never mushy, perfectly tender caramelized onions: Slow cooker Caramelized onions Ingredients 7-8 medium to large onions 3 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper Directions Peel and slice your onions about 1/8″ thick. Toss onions…

Tomato, zucchini, goat cheese and thyme tart recipe

Any recipe that uses up a good amount of veggies is a hit with me. I tend to go overboard at the farmers market — this time of year everything looks so delicious! — but it’s important not to let food go to waste. According to a Guardian report, roughly 50 percent of all produce in the United States is thrown away amounting to $1,600 in annual food waste for every family of four. With this staggering number in mind, I’ve made it a point recently to keep recipes on hand that use unusual vegetables, vegetables in bulk, or difficult herbs sometimes delivered in the CSA. Juices and stews are great for this task, but sometimes your veggies are just too darn pretty to hide. Tarts and galettes are a great option for showcasing those shiny vegetables, while also allowing plenty of space for layering and packing in leftover produce. You could easily throw in another layer of zucchini to…