DinnerLow cooking temperatures brown and dry the seasoned skin on a pork belly․ Higher cooking temperatures crisp the scored skin․ Aluminum foil on the sides helps prevent the seasoning from burning․ Siu yook‚ a popular Chinese dish‚ is made of pork belly that is topped with browned‚ crispy skin and contains some fat as well as lean meat․
DinnerMicrowaving sweet potatoes makes them soft and ready to cut for other dishes․ Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes is one dish that uses soft sweet potatoes and a thick‚ savory beef and salsa filling‚ as well as optional toppings․
DinnerBrowning the seasoned chicken before baking allows it to absorb flavors and pick up color from the sauce while cooking․ Allowing the chicken to rest for a few minutes after cooking helps retain moisture in the meat․ Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken is a baked chicken casserole dish made with a brown sugar and soy sauce gravy seasoned with garlic․
BreakfastOne cup of mashed banana provides moisture for this quick bread without adding heaviness․ Sour cream adds moisture and tenderness instead of heaviness to the quick bread․ The sour-cream banana bread has a strong banana flavor and texture and a browned‚ crisp‚ crackly top crust․
DinnerFrying the egg and batter at 350 degrees browns the chicken to prevent it from becoming dry․ Chinese orange chicken consists of cut chicken pieces covered with a thick‚ sweet-spicy sauce made with orange juice and peel‚ ginger‚ garlic‚ and red chili peppers․ Dishes of Chinese orange chicken are served with browned chicken and an orange sauce poured over the top․
DessertsUse firm bananas that hold up after cutting and dried strawberries as toppings for a layered strawberry cheesecake banana pudding dessert․ The no-bake dessert includes vanilla wafers and cheesecake and pudding layers that are moist but firm enough to cut․
DinnerWith a preparation time of 30 minutes and cooking time of 45 minutes‚ Risotto Carbonara is a full meal that substitutes Arborio rice for pasta in classic carbonara dishes․ Hot stock used in cooking the rice adds creaminess․ Other flavorings include salty and smoky bacon and fried Genoa salami; Parmesan and Romano cheeses; and white pepper․
DinnerPrep the chicken‚ onion‚ and garlic ahead of time․ Cook rice and add cream at dinner time․ This four-serving cajun skillet recipe includes chicken and long-grain rice cooked in a creamy cajun sauce․ Individual servings of this dish can be eaten for lunch or dinner throughout the week with no further cooking required․
DinnerMarinating chicken strips in a lime and spice mixture allows the chicken to absorb the flavors․ The marinated chicken is cooked in a skillet․ Chicken fajitas consist of chicken and peppers and onions that are sautéed but still slightly crisp and served with tortillas and other toppings․
Snacks & AppetizersPrepare and cut a 9×5-inch loaf of zucchini bread in advance for easy service․ Top individual slices of zucchini bread with cream cheese or powdered sugar just before serving․ Traditional zucchini bread with cinnamon and optional walnuts is moist and suitable for breakfast and other uses․
LunchHeating the tortillas helps them hold in the filling when you fold them․ The Chicken Caesar Wraps recipe includes romaine lettuce‚ chicken‚ Parmesan cheese‚ croutons‚ and Caesar dressing wrapped in a flour tortilla․ These make a good lunch or dinner dish with a crunchy texture․
DinnerBreaded chicken cutlets are fried at medium-high heat and have a crispy exterior and soft interior․ Homemade Alfredo sauce is prepared with cream and Parmesan cheese․ Chicken fettuccine Alfredo contains breaded chicken and fettuccine pasta in Alfredo sauce․
DinnerSearing the honey-glazed chicken in oil before returning it to the recipe helps it develop a golden exterior․ Resting the penne for a few minutes before serving helps it soak up cream sauce․ Other ingredients in the Southwest Chicken Alfredo recipe include cheddar cheese‚ tomatoes‚ and other hot spices that add flavor․
DinnerCook crispy soy chicken to try a new rice dish and save leftovers to eat again later․ Flavorful, juicy boneless chicken thighs cooked with honey and soy sauce pair well with scallions and sesame seeds as toppings for serving with rice dishes․
DinnerChoose 80/20 ground beef to enhance the flavor and moisture of this recipe‚ or prepare lean ground beef and add beef broth‚ as recommended in the article․ Hobo Casserole with Ground Beef is a casserole made with stacked potatoes‚ onions‚ mushrooms‚ other vegetables‚ and cheese‚ hot and bubbly․
DinnerBrowning chorizo with oil infuses the oil with a smoky paprika flavor from the chorizo‚ which can enhance the flavors of other ingredients in the soup․ One Spanish potato soup recipe uses waxy potatoes‚ bell pepper‚ and cream with a smoky flavor․
DinnerChoose boneless‚ skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces as a nutritious‚ easy-to-cook‚ and store-friendly ingredient․ Chicken and broccoli pasta with rotini includes chicken and broccoli florets in a parmesan and lemon cream sauce with lemon flavor․
Snacks & AppetizersPrepare the cauliflower and panko-Parmesan mixtures ahead of time․ Keep them separate until it is time to coat and bake․ Parmesan-Crusted Cauliflower Bites are small pieces of cauliflower coated with panko and Parmesan and golden brown on the outside, with a tender inside․ Serve as a snack or side dish․
DinnerChoose 21/25-count peeled and deveined shrimp for quicker cooking and more appealing appearance․ Moist shrimp are good when added to cooked spaghetti and other vegetables․ Vegetables commonly used in Shrimp Lo Mein include broccoli‚ cabbage‚ peppers‚ and green onions․ Shrimp Lo Mein sauce is made with soy sauce‚ hoisin sauce‚ and brown sugar․
LunchLow to medium heat allows the garlic in the butter to soften without burning․ Caramelized garlic and other seasonings serve as the base for the lemon pasta dish․ Starchy pasta water and Parmesan cheese provide a creamy texture to the lemon butter sauce․ Red pepper flakes add some heat․
DinnerFor a family dinner‚ chicken carbonara is a skillet dish made with fettuccine‚ chicken‚ and turkey bacon․ Hot fettuccine is mixed with an egg and Parmesan cheese sauce․ Turkey bacon‚ garlic‚ parsley‚ and more cheese are used to enhance the appearance and taste of this dish․
DinnerChoose bacon that will cook quickly and release extra fat and flavor when sautéed․ The smoky flavor of bacon can enhance the flavors of this pasta dish․ Spaghetti is tossed with tomato cream sauce, garlic, fresh cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and a touch of red pepper flavor․
DinnerMake a dish for four in a pan by precooking the pasta and chicken‚ then prepare the pesto cream sauce right before serving․ Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta includes sliced chicken and small pasta shapes tossed in cream and pesto sauce with Parmesan cheese․ Save pasta cooking liquid to use when reheating pasta dishes during the week․
LunchBrowning the chicken before adding it to the sauce adds a brown color to the chicken․ Quickly cooking the chicken after adding it to the sauce helps maintain the chicken's texture․ One-Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta with Penne and Spinach includes spinach and sun-dried tomatoes in a Parmesan cream sauce with pasta for dinner․
