Tips for Accomplishing Little Wins™ : What are Little Wins? How you can set them and stay motivated to achieve them. Also tips on celebrating life’s Aha moments with ZonePerfect® Nutrition Bars! ” A goal is a dream with a deadline – Napoleon Hill “, this is a quote that got stuck in my head the first time I read it (almost 15yrs back) and I follow it till date!...

Leftover Turkey Chili After spending Thanksgiving day chopping, roasting, baking, and simmering, you may find yourself avoiding the kitchen in the days after. Sure, leftovers are usually plentiful, but even those get old after a few days. If you’re looking to change things up from the typical Thanksgiving-leftover flavor profile, I think this turkey chili might be just the thing to spice up your dinner rotation. Not only is this recipe extremely easy, but it also repurposes a lot of leftover turkey!...

How long it takes: 1 hour Equipment you’ll need: baking sheet, blender, large saucepan Servings: 4 There’s something so satisfying about creamy soups and bisques, whether they are made with actual cream or not. Squash has a naturally creamy texture, especially when it’s puréed, so it easily transforms into a luxurious smooth soup. One of my most popular recipes is Panera copycat squash soup, a classic curried squash soup that’s more healthy than the restaurant version....

What is Upma? Upma is a fragrant, savoury South Indian breakfast made from rava/sooji or cream of wheat aka semolina. You can also make this with rice lava or polenta to make it gluten-free. It is dry roasted rava in water that has been flavored by mustard seeds, curry leaves, chana dal (husked chickpeas), cashews, peanuts, urad dal (lentils), onion, ginger, green chilli peppers and garnished with herbs. It tastes savoury and nutty and is also nutritious!...

This month we are taking a trip to South America, Peru. My globe trotting husband has recently visited Peru on business and just like his other trips he didn’t get a chance to visit any of the historic or touristic places. He brought us fridge magnets and a Peru key chain as souvenirs 🙂 I actually made a sweet quinoa porridge for today, but I was not happy with the way it turned out, so didn’t take pics and then procrastinated until the last minute to make today’s dish....

My Favorite Vodka Sauce Recipe Smooth, rich, incredibly flavored…the list of adjectives to describe this homemade vodka sauce recipe are truly endless and most definitely hunger-inducing! Remember the penne alla vodka I shared a few months ago? Today I’m sharing a standalone recipe for the sauce, just in case you don’t feel like serving it over penne pasta (like on a pizza with plenty of fresh basil?!). Why you’ll love it: Restaurant-quality flavor at home....

I think I have mentioned this many times before. I pack pasta one day every week and I do play with different sauces, and this one is our absolute favorite and easy to prepare as well. In the traditional white sauce, you don’t see any veggies, but I always try to sneak in some in all possible ways. Kiddo is not a big fan of spinach, but he doesn’t complain about spinach if it’s in this white sauce....

The Best White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies These white chocolate macadamia nut cookies totally hit the spot whenever a craving for a thick and chewy cookie strikes. They’re soft in the center and just the right amount of crisp at the edges, with the best sweet, creamy flavor (thank you, white chocolate chips), and a touch of salty, toasty crunch (thank you, macadamia nuts!). The balance is deliciously buttery and perfectly sugary, with the most satisfying texture ever....

Looking for a quick snack? Looking for a way to use leftover corn tortillas? Looking for warm restaurant style tortilla chips? You can stop looking, I have the answer for you: air fryer tortilla chips. How long it takes: 10 minutes Equipment you’ll need: air fryer, sharp knife Servings: 3 (but it’s easy to make more!) Don’t you just love those baskets of warm tortilla chips that are served at some restaurants?...

Chocolate Banana Brownies Burnt out on banana bread? Maybe I can interest you in these banana brownies, instead. This creative way to use up leftover produce yields a brownie with a distinct banana flavor that pairs perfectly with the chocolate. This recipe comes together quickly and easily, and is a great way to avoid banana waste! Since my kids have become so fickle about their banana consumption (devouring them some weeks, leaving them entirely untouched to turn brown others), I’ve had to get creative with ways to use up browning bananas....

I recently asked my email subscribers for feedback about what type of recipes they’d like to see more of on Rachel Cooks. I was overwhelmed (in a good way!) by the number of responses I received. How long it takes: less than a half hour, after marinating Equipment you’ll need: air fryer Servings: 4 If you were one of the people that responded, thank you! I’m so grateful for your feedback, always....

Bajji is a popular deep-fried snack across the Indian sub-continent. While you can find bajji on the restaurant menu, these are pretty popular in the roadside tea stalls in Tamil Nadu (one of the Indian states). Some call this pakora, too, but we usually call this bajji. Indian scallops I usually try not to compare Indian food with western food but to give an idea, I am going with a comparison....

How long it takes: 5 minutes Equipment you’ll need: small container with tight fitting lid, measuring spoons Servings: makes about ¾ cup Perhaps you’re acquainted with jambalaya, a rich spicy mixture of smoked meats, vegetables, and often fresh seafood such as shrimp or crawfish. Cayenne pepper, along with lots of other spices and herbs, seasons this regional dish. Cajun seasoning blend can be used for so much more. Use this blend to season creamy Cajun chicken pasta which is an easy one pot pasta recipe....

Carrot halwa, popularly known as gajar ka halwa/ gajrela, is a classic Indian dessert quite popular in Northern India. Gajar means carrots in Hindi, and halwa is more like pudding, of course, without eggs. If you follow my blog, you will all know how much I like fruit- and vegetable-based desserts. I have already shared Instant Pot zucchini halwa, and now it’s time for some carrot halwa. Being a South Indian, carrot kosambari and carrot poriyal were common in our households, and honestly, I don’t remember relishing carrot halwa growing up....

Just last week, I posted peanut chutney, and now I back with another chutney, but this time it is with my favorite vegetable – chow chow or chayote squash. I have explained what chayote squash is and how to cook it in my kootu post. So let me get into the recipe details right away. Jump to:Vegetable-based chutneys-What’s so special about this chow chow chutney-Chayote Squash Chutney Recipe Video-Step-wise details-Recipe Notes-Other chutney recipes for rice-📖 Recipe...

I know it’s a little cliché that everyone starts eating healthy foods again as soon as January rolls around. Have you made your New Year resolution? Maybe your resolution is to to work out at the gym every day, cut back on alcohol, take the dog for a walk twice a day, be a more considerate driver, or eat healthier food and less junk food. How long it takes: just a couple of minutes to stir up, with additional time to chill Equipment you’ll need: measuring cup Servings: 2 (makes 1½ cups) Whatever your resolution, there is no doubt that we should be eating healthy foods year-round....

How long it takes: 1 hour 10 minutes Equipment you’ll need: Dutch oven or soup pot Servings: 6 I’ve shared my recipes for chicken rice soup and chicken noodle soup (and we really love them!) but adding barley is another variation to try, especially if you like your soups hearty and filling. Barley has a fantastic chewy bite—you’ll also find it in this beef barley soup—and I love the substance and nutrition it adds to this easy chicken soup recipe....

How long it takes: 1 hour, 20 minutes, but mostly hands-off Equipment you’ll need: oven-safe Dutch oven, tongs Servings: 6 Husband-approved. As I was developing this recipe, my ex-Marine hubby, told me that chicken cacciatore was his favorite MRE, so I was hoping that this would be at least better than that. I should be able to cook a meal better than something that can withstand a parachute drop from 1,250 feet and stay edible for up to three years....

I’ve been crazy about chicken lettuce wraps ever since I tried them at a restaurant nearby. Cupped in crispy lettuce leaves and topped with crunchy wonton strips, the chicken filling is just the right balance of spicy, salty, and tangy. How long it takes: 25 minutes Equipment you’ll need: skillet, sharp knife, measuring utensils Servings: makes 14-16 wraps Of course, I immediately thought to myself, Why can’t I make these at home?...

Here in Michigan, it has been collllllllllld. Winter has arrived in full force. This of course means I’m craving lots of warm soups and stews. Nearly all my soups turn out more like stew — we like them thick. Less broth, more of the good stuff. If you have a guy in the house who might raise an eyebrow about eating soup as a main course – just make it super thick and full of great protein....