Simple Dry Brine Oven Roast Chicken Recipe

Oven-roasted whole chicken in a bed of vegetables served in a black bowl placed on a white surface

Roast chicken used to be a staple of the home cooks repertoire. Today, however, I have a surplus of take home rotisserie chickens on store shelves threatening this right of passage for home cooks. While it is easy to just pop into a store and pick up a bird, you will never get the same …

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Simple Classic Cheese Quesadilla Recipe

Cheese quesadilla garnished with tomatoes and avocado served in a ceramic green bowl placed on a white surface

When I think of childhood food joys I often think of quesadillas. There was just something so easy about putting some cheese in a tortilla and popping it on the stove or in the microwave for an easy afternoon snack. Quesadillas were the late night snack food of sleepovers, all night study sessions, and one …

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The Ultimate Guide to Picking and Cooking a Turkey

Oven roasted whole turkey

Turkeys are inherently difficult things to cook because they are big, often frozen, very lean, and have bones. Plus, I don’t eat them very often and so I rarely get practice cooking them. Just ask yourself, how many times have you made chicken breast compared to how many times you have baked a turkey? So …

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Easy Dry Brine Turkey Recipe

A top view of sliced dry brine turkey with sauce served on a square white plate placed on a wooden table

While you might enjoy sliced turkey throughout the year, there are only a couple select times each year that you probably enjoy a giant turkey meal. Most commonly, this is during Thanksgiving, partially due to needing a bird big enough to feed a large gathering of people.  If you’re in charge of cooking the turkey …

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Simple Lemon and Garlic Swordfish Recipe

Lemon garlic swordfish garnished with tomatoes served on a yellow plate beside a fresh lemon and tomato placed on a polka dot cloth

For those who do not regularly eat seafood or live near the ocean, you may not be that familiar with swordfish in cuisine. It might sound like an exotic fish that is a bit intimidating to eat; however, it actually has a very mellow taste and is great for cooking. What is Swordfish? Swordfish is …

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Easy Juicy Sous Vide Tri Tip Recipe

Finished sous vide tri tip recipe with vegetables on a plate

I am a huge fan of sous vide cooking at my house, probably most so when it comes to beef. Of all the cuts of beef out there, there is maybe none so perfectly matched for sous vide cooking other than tri tip.  If you are a family that likes varying degrees of doneness (from …

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Simple Peppered Seared Ahi Recipe

A top view of peppered seared ahi with pasta and bread served on a white plate

I am sure you’ve heard before that tuna is the “chicken of the sea.” Well there are many kinds of tuna out there, and one of my favorites is ahi. You can really think of ahi as the “beef of the sea,” specifically seared ahi which lends itself perfectly to rare seared style cooking. This …

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Simple Oven Roasted Kalua Pork Recipe

Kalua pork served with rice in a bowl

Many of you will not know this, but my entire family is from Hawaii. My sister and I were the first ones in my family born here in California. As you might imagine, I grew up with quite a bit of Hawaiian culture and traditions. One of my culinary favorites has always been kalua pork …

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Simple Butternut Squash Gnocchi Recipe

Butternut squash gnocchi served on a clear plate on top of a colorful place mat

Two years ago, I was invited to a potluck for Thanksgiving up in San Francisco. At the time, I was really on a gnocchi kick, and I really wanted to make a dish that included this. I ended up going a bit overboard and made around 200 butternut squash gnocchi dumplings! Luckily, they were a …

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Easy Oven Roasted Brined Turkey Breast Recipe

A plate of oven roasted turkey breast paired with cranberry sauce

I always thought it was very strange that I eat turkey sandwiches all year long, but when it comes to oven roasting a turkey, I reserve this for once a year on Thanksgiving. That said, I am a pretty firm believer in roast turkey year round.  Ask a group of people what the best part …

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How Long to Cook Bratwurst on the Grill

Bratwurst sausages on a grill

Grilling your bratwurst is not as simple as people may think. You have to be very careful not to burn them or leave them undercooked. Knowing how long to cook bratwurst on the grill will help you achieve the perfect texture and taste.  How Long to Cook Bratwurst on the Grill Bratwurst is typically minced …

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Easy and Healthy Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Spaghetti squash garnished with cheese and herbs on a square white plate placed on a white wooden table

During fall and winter spaghetti squash is easily found in your local market. While this might seem a bit intimidating to the beginner foodie, spaghetti squash is actually one of the easiest things you can cook! Maybe even easier than the pasta it replaces.  What is a Spaghetti Squash? Spaghetti squash is a yellow oval …

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