Elise Bauer

Recipes and articles by Elise Bauer

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  Mom’s Easy Macaroni Salad

  When it's hot, cooking has to be at a bare minimum, right? This quick and easy macaroni salad with hard boiled egg, roasted red bell pepper, onion, mayonnaise, and paprika gives new life to your standard issue picnic macaroni salad!
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  Hot Cross Buns

  Hot Cross Buns are a traditional Good Friday treat! These slightly sweet yeast-leavened buns are spiced with cinnamon and speckled with currants, citron, and orange zest.
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  Pecan Meringue Cookies

  These light and sweet meringue cookies are made with just three ingredients: egg whites, sugar, and pecans. Great for a Passover or Easter treat. Start them the night before and let them cool slowly in the oven until morning.
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  How to Make Eggs Benedict

  Making Eggs Benedict is easier than you think — especially if you make Hollandaise in a blender! It just takes a little planning and know-how. Perfect for a special meal for a special someone.
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  Easy Blender Hollandaise Sauce

  Here's a quick and easy version of the classic French hollandaise sauce made in a blender. Read for eggs benedict in 10 minutes!
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  Quick and Easy Egg Salad Sandwich

  Here's how to make a classic egg salad sandwich! All you need are chopped hard boiled eggs, green onion, celery, mayonnaise and a dash of curry powder. Serve on toasted bread for lunch.
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  Shrimp Gumbo with Andouille Sausage

  Shrimp Gumbo is like a trip to New Orleans without the plane ticket. The secret is in the slow-cooked roux — don't skip it! Serve with white rice for soaking up the rich sauce.
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  Rosemary Focaccia

  Homemade focaccia is simply the BEST! It's easy to make, but be sure to give yourself the afternoon. You'll be rewarded with a rich, rosemary-scented bread that feeds a crowd. Serve as an appetizer or as a side with soup, roasts, or braises.
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  Chicken Fried Steak

  To make classic Chicken Fried Steak, pound steak cutlets thin, then bread and fry. Serve with rich country gravy. Chicken Fried Steak is a Southern favorite!
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  Mexican Lasagna

  Mexican Lasagna! Also known as Taco Lasagna or Mexican Casserole, this dish is layered with corn tortillas, ground beef, green chiles, beans, salsa, and cheese. A huge hit with a crowd! Perfect for potlucks.
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  Green Beans with Bacon

  Fresh green beans are a wonderful thing. Cook these by briefly blanching, then sauté in bacon fat. Toss with a little bacon, black pepper, and vinegar, and serve as a side with roast chicken or steak.
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  Broccoli Slaw with Cranberry Orange Dressing

  Don't toss your broccoli stems! They're sweet and tender, and fantastic tossed with cabbage, carrots, and a tangy cranberry orange dressing for this delicious slaw.
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  Easy Beef Brisket

  Easy 3-ingredient Beef Brisket! Here's how to cook beef brisket in oven, slathered in a mixture of BBQ sauce and soy sauce. Just wrap in foil, and bake until falling apart tender. This beef brisket is simple and delicious.
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  Corned Beef and Cabbage

  Here's the BEST Corned Beef and Cabbage for your St. Patrick's Day Party! We give you 2-ways to make it—boiled in spiced water the traditional way or baked with cloves and sweet hot honey mustard. Either way is delicious.
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  Home Cured Corned Beef

  Here's how to easily cure your own corned beef for St. Patrick's Day! It's made with beef brisket, pickling spices, and salt, and needs to cure for 5 days. The result is a corned beef that's more flavorful and unique than you can buy in the store.
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  Pork Stir Fry with Green Onion

  This Pork Stir Fry is such an easy weeknight meal. Made with just lean pork, some green onions, and garlic, and ready in 25 minutes start to finish. Skip the take-out and make your own!
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  Dad’s Stuffed Bell Peppers

  These Stuffed Bell Peppers are such a classic. They're made with a mix of ground beef, rice, onions, tomatoes, and spices. No need to pre-cook the filling — just stuff, bake, and serve!
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  Collard Greens

  Wondering what to do with collard greens? Here's an easy recipe for a simple side dish! Cook collards on the stovetop with onions and garlic — it's an easy, flavorful way to eat your greens.
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  Key Lime Pie

  This Key Lime Pie is an American classic. Ours is made with lime juice and sweetened condensed milk in a graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream. Use key limes if you have them, otherwise substitute regular limes.
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  Lamb Chops with Rosemary and Garlic

  Lamb chops are such a simple and satisfying meal. Marinate them in rosemary and garlic, sear them quickly on the stovetop, and dinner is served. Great for a romantic date night or a dinner party.
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  Italian Meatballs

  These classic Italian-American style meatballs are huge and pillowy soft! They're mixed with ground beef and pork, loaded with herbs and cheese, and served with a traditional tomato sauce. Make them baseball-sized for a dinner entree, or roll them smaller for an appetizer.
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  Romanesco Salad

  Ever tried romanesco? It's a little like cauliflower and a little like broccoli, and it makes a GREAT salad! Give this vegetable a try with this simple recipe.
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  Roasted Beets with Balsamic Glaze

  The BEST way to cook beets? Roasted! These ruby red beets are roasted in the oven until sweet and caramelized, then tossed with orange zest and a balsamic glaze. So good!
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  Hanger Steak with Shallots

  Tender juicy hanger steak! Quickly sear this steak in a hot pan and then serve with a sauce of shallots and butter in a wine reduction. This makes an easy, yet impressive, home cooked meal.
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  Salmon Patties

  How to make salmon patties with cooked salmon, bread, green onion, dill, bell pepper, egg, lemon, and paprika. These easy salmon cakes make a perfect midweek meal.
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  Garlic Bread

  Here's how to make the BEST garlic bread! Two classic garlic bread methods: toasted and crisped under the broiler, the other soft from being wrapped in aluminum foil and heated in the oven.
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  Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

  These oven baked sweet potato fries are so addictive! Wedges of sweet potatoes, tossed with oil, sprinkled with spices, and baked at high heat until browned and crispy at the edges.
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  Homemade Rye Bread

  This homemade rye bread is light and soft inside with a crusty crust. Make it with or without caraway seeds. Great for reuben sandwiches, grilled cheese, and more!
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  Sopa Seca de Fideo (Mexican-style Angel Hair Nests)

  Delicious Sopa seca de fideo, nests of angel hair pasta, first browned then cooked in broth with tomatoes and onions. The noodles absorb all the broth! This is a great side dish to serve with any meal.
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  A Better Way to Cook Mushrooms

  Wondering how to cook mushrooms without the fat? Try dry sautéing them! This method is an easy and fast way to perfectly cook mushrooms, but without extra butter or oil.
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  Cream of Mushroom Soup

  This easy homemade cream of mushroom soup is creamy without a lot of cream! It's made with loads of mushrooms and that's about it. So quick and easy, you'll never buy the canned version again.
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  Kale Salad with Balsamic Dressing

  This easy kale salad comes together with dried cranberries, pine nuts, Parmesan, and a balsamic vinaigrette. No need to massage this make-ahead salad—the kale becomes tender as it rests before serving.
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  Cabbage Soup

  Here's an easy, nourishing cabbage soup for cold winter days. Made with just a handful of ingredients and ready in under an hour, the soup is simplicity at its best.
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  Easy Homemade Hummus

  Love hummus? It's so easy to make your own! Homemade hummus only takes 5 minutes, and it's so much better than store-bought. All you need are a few cans of chickpeas, some tahini, olive oil, some seasonings, and a food processor.
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  How to Make Croutons

  It's easy to make homemade croutons for your soup or salad with day-old bread. No need to turn on the oven; you can make these croutons in about 10 minutes on the stovetop.
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  Sweet and Sour German Red Cabbage

  This sweet-and-sour red cabbage makes an easy side dish for any German meal. Just four ingredients and ready 30 minutes! Great with sausages or pork chops.
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  White Chicken Chili

  This easy White Chicken Chili is like a milder, calmer cousin to Texas beef chili. Make it with canned or dry beans, and add extra chili peppers for more heat if you like! Keeps well and freezes well.
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  Red Lentil Dal

  This easy Indian dal is ready in under an hour, and makes a satisfying vegetarian lunch or dinner. Serve with rice or naan. This soup also keeps well and can be frozen for up to three months.
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  How to Make Perfect Guacamole

  The best guacamole keeps it simple: just ripe avocados, salt, a squeeze of lime, onions, chiles, cilantro, and some chopped tomato. Serve it as a dip at your next party or spoon it on top of tacos for an easy dinner upgrade.
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  Gingerbread Cookies

  Gingerbread Cookies are the essence of the holidays and are deeply flavored with spices and molasses. Decorate with royal icing and enjoy them for dessert or on your Christmas tree!
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  Glazed Baked Ham

  Glazed Baked Ham is so easy and delicious! Choose from two different glazes, both with honey. Baked ham is a great way to feed a crowd during the holidays.
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  Best Holiday Fruitcake

  This easy Christmas fruitcake is perfect for the holidays. It's light, tender, and full of dried fruits and nuts. Sprinkle the loaf with brandy, or leave it out! Either way, this fruit cake is a welcome addition to the holiday table.
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  Peanut Butter Cookies

  These are the best peanut butter cookies ever! Use your favorite store-brand peanut butter and a combination of white and brown sugar. For the best cookie shape, let the dough chill for at least three hours before baking.
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  Bread Pudding

  This best-ever Bread Pudding is so easy to make. Just soak bread cubes with eggs, sugar, and milk, then bake. Add bourbon-soaked raisins and spices to make it extra-special. This New Orleans dessert is a classic for Christmas, Mardi Gras, or any special meal.
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  Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies

  First Lady Laura Bush's classic kitchen sink cowboy cookies won her cookie fame for a reason. They're made with oatmeal, pecans, coconut, and chocolate chips for an over-the-top cookie you can't resist.
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  Crispy Hash Browns

  What's the secret to the crispiest hash browns ever? Press out as much extra moisture as possible after grating and before frying. Here's how you can make them perfectly browned and extra crispy, every time.
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  Dungeness Crab Cakes

  Crab cakes with Dungeness crab are a treat! They can be a little delicate, so a chill in the fridge before frying helps them from falling apart while frying.
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  Classic Stuffed Mushrooms

  These classic stuffed mushrooms are loaded with shallots, garlic, walnuts, breadcrumbs, and chopped mushroom stems. Sprinkle with Parmesan and pop them in the oven and you've got a great appetizer for the holidays.
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  Pecan Pie

  With a homemade crust, sweet pecan filling and a touch of molasses, this is THE pecan pie for your Thanksgiving table! Make it a day or two ahead, or freeze it for even longer.
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  Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

  These oatmeal raisin cookies are just the way Grandma made them, except with butter instead of shortening! They're made with old-fashioned oats, brown sugar, and plenty of raisins.
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  Clam Chowder with Corn

  This Clam Chowder is the bomb! It's a variation of a classic New England clam chowder recipe, and includes corn in addition to hard shell clams, potato, and cream.
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  Mom’s Stovetop Turkey Stuffing

  Classic Thanksgiving turkey stuffing recipe made with French bread cubes toasted in butter, walnuts, onion, celery, apple, green olives, and stock made from turkey giblets. No stuffing is better than Mom's!
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  Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie

  This is absolutely the BEST homemade pumpkin pie recipe! Make it with canned or fresh pumpkin puree and up to several days ahead. Also freezes well! Thanksgiving pie never looked so good or so easy.
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  French Vanilla Ice Cream

  This homemade vanilla ice cream is made with a custard base, sugar, cream, and real vanilla beans. So classic, and so good!
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  Roasted Brussels Sprouts

  Even the most adamant sprouts haters will love these roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese. So crispy and delicious!
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  Classic Bolognese Sauce

  This classic Italian sauce simmers for hours to develop maximum flavor. Made with a blend of ground beef, pork, and Italian sausage, it's great with fresh tagliatelle or fettuccine, pappardelle, or other pasta.
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  Butternut Squash Soup

  This butternut squash soup has a secret ingredient—a tart green apple. It adds just the right balance for the squash. Ready in an hour and freezes well.
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  Pumpkin Bread

  Pumpkin bread tastes so quintessentially of the fall, with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and molasses. Plus an optional orange glaze! Use canned or homemade pumpkin purée.
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  Caramel Apples

  Caramel from scratch is easy! And apples dipped in delicious homemade caramel sauce are perfect for Halloween!
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  Easy Enchiladas

  This easy recipe for Tex-Mex cheese enchiladas is a family favorite! Just lightly fry corn tortillas, roll them up with Jack or cheddar cheese, cover with a tomato and green chile sauce, more cheese, and bake.
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  Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Casserole

  Slow cooker chicken and rice with onions, peas, and tomatoes—but no canned soup, please! This one's unique thanks to the combination of cumin and cinnamon.
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  Spaghetti and Meatballs

  Spaghetti and meatballs is such a comfort food classic! The meatballs are made from ground beef and Italian sausage, served with a sauce with mushrooms, onions, basil, and Parmesan. Dig in!
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  Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

  Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls are hearty comfort food at its best! Cabbage leaves are stuffed with ground pork, onions, garlic, egg, rice, and spices, and braised in a tomato sauce.
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  Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

  Don't throw away the pumpkin seeds from your pumpkin! Roast them for a delicious healthy Halloween snack.
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  Pot Roast

  Cooked low and slow on the stovetop, beef chuck or shoulder roast becomes a fall-apart tender pot roast. Onions, garlic, carrots, and red wine make this a satisfying, flavorful dinner.
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  Roasted Cauliflower

  Tired of steamed cauliflower? Try roasting it! Roasting brings out nutty, buttery flavors in the cauliflower. A squeeze of lemon juice and some Parmesan cheese are all you need to turn this into an excellent side dish.
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  Mom’s Perfect Pork Chops

  Pan-fried pork chops on the stovetop are so quick and easy! Use a homemade dry rub to really bring out the flavor of the chops.
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  Creamy Polenta

  Creamy polenta! This light and fluffy polenta is perfect for serving with ribs, chicken, pork, lamb, or veal, and is also great with roasted veggies.
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  Easy Chicken Parmesan

  Chicken Parmesan is a classic for a reason! Chicken cutlets, breaded and fried, smothered with tomato sauce, and covered with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses are so good. Serve with pasta or on a roll.
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  Homemade Apple Pie

  This is absolutely the best homemade apple pie you'll ever make! It has a flaky, buttery crust and a tender, lightly-spiced apple pie filling. Use a combination of apples for best flavor, and bake until the top is golden and the filling is bubbly!
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  Vegetarian Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna

  Vegetarian Lasagna to feed a crowd! This one is filled with meaty shiitake and cremini mushrooms, spinach, and ricotta and Mozzarella cheeses. Your vegetarian and meat-eating guests will fight for seconds.
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  Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

  Sweet potato soup balances the sweet and savory with onions, garlic, onions, and leeks, along with a bit of nutmeg and cinnamon. Creamy and satisfying!
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  Classic Baked Chicken

  If you can bake chicken, you can make dinner over and over again. This is a simple recipe with salt, pepper, and olive oil, but so versatile.
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  Chicken and Rice Casserole

  Way better than casserole made with canned soup! This from-scratch version of chicken and rice casserole bakes with mushrooms, garlic, cream, and herbs.
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  Potato Leek Soup

  Potato Leek Soup is a classic! Nothing's better than a bowl of hearty potato soup on a chilly day. And it's easy, too! No cream needed, just purée the soup to make it thick and creamy.
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  Beef Brisket Pot Roast

  Beef Brisket cooked as a pot roast couldn't be easier. Just sear and then cook it in the oven with onions and garlic all afternoon until it becomes fall-apart tender. The leftovers freeze beautifully, too!
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  Apple Carrot Cupcakes

  It’s as if carrot cake and apple cake decided to get together and have babies. These apple carrot cupcakes are the best of both, and the cream cheese frosting is amazing!
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  Homemade Tartar Sauce

  Homemade tartar sauce with mayonnaise, dill pickles, capers, and more. It's quick, easy to make, and much better than anything you can buy in a jar! Serve it with fish or crab cakes.
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  Sausage, Peppers, and Onions

  Such a satisfying combo! Italian sausages cooked with bell peppers, sweet onions, crushed tomatoes, and garlic. Served on a hoagie roll or over pasta or polenta.
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  Baked Stuffed Jalapeños

  Jalapeños Peppers stuffed with cheese and bacon make a great appetizer for a crowd! They're easy to prep ahead and then throw a batch in the oven when people get hungry.
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  Fettuccine Alfredo

  Fettuccine Alfredo two ways: with cream and nutmeg, or with butter and Parmesan! Try it both ways and decide which one you like the best!
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  Best Ever Sloppy Joes

  Best Ever Sloppy Joes! These cook in one pot, with ground beef, onions, garlic, carrots, and celery, in sweet-and-sour tomato sauce. Served messy on purpose, over hamburger buns.
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  Chicken Fajitas

  A flavorful marinade and a quick sear make for easy homemade chicken fajitas—onions and bell peppers help, too. This is a classic you can make yourself!
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  Easy Breakfast Casserole

  This breakfast casserole is adaptable to whatever ingredients you have on hand—cheese, veggies, meats—and can be assembled the night before and baked in the morning. Or eaten for dinner—your choice!
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  Baked Spaghetti

  Baked Spaghetti Casserole with thin spaghetti, sausage, mushroom, and tomato sauce, ricotta, Parmesan, and Mozzarella cheeses.
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  Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

  Oatmeal and chocolate chips are great together. Add in some pecans and coconut and we're pretty excited. But it's the brown butter that take these cookies over the top!
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  Easy Cashew Chicken

  Skip the Chinese takeout and make this Cashew Chicken at home! Marinate the chicken in peanut oil, chili powder, honey, and tamari, and then cook with onions and mushrooms.
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  Pulled Pork Sandwich

  Skip the jarred BBQ sauce! This pulled pork comes together easily and the homemade marinade makes the difference. Slowly cooked pork shoulder becomes fall-off-the-bone tender.
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  Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

  Bacon-wrapped shrimp! Ridiculously good, grilled or roasted in the oven, and seasoned with chili and lime. Two tricks ensure crispy bacon without overcooking the shrimp. Perfect for your next backyard BBQ!
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  Green Chile Enchiladas

  Green chile enchiladas! These are made with corn tortillas stuffed with roasted green chiles and jack cheese, then smothered with roasted tomatillo salsa verde. Great as a make-ahead meal or freezer meal.
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  Herbed Turkey Burger

  Turkey burgers come to life with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. So simple but so good!
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  Spicy Zucchini Soup

  Here's another delicious way to use fresh zucchini: Turn it into a spicy soup with mint, cilantro, and jalapeño. Serve it hot or cold!
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  Zucchini Fritters

  Have extra zucchini? Make zucchini fritters! With freshly grated zucchini, egg, flour, and herbs, they are easy. Serve with a garlicky lemony sour cream dipping sauce.
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  Chicken Salad

  This family favorite chicken salad is made with celery, bell pepper, green olives, apple, lettuce, and mayo—plus a secret ingredient that makes all the difference!
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  Sausage Stuffed Zucchini

  Have a few extra-large zucchinis? Stuff them with Italian sausage, onions, garlic, tomato, and fresh breadcrumbs, and bake!
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  Tuna Macaroni Salad

  This family favorite tuna macaroni salad is made with canned tuna, elbow mac, bell peppers, parsley, green onion, iceberg lettuce, and mayonnaise. Try it for your next potluck, BBQ, or family gathering.
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  Caprese Salad with Tomatoes, Basil, and Mozzarella

  Italian caprese salad is a summer classic! Make it extra special with heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, and fresh mozzarella. This is the BEST way to enjoy summer tomatoes.
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  Easy Cucumber Salad

  Use up the bounty of summer with this refreshing and crispy salad with cucumbers, rice vinegar, salt, pepper, and chopped fresh dill or basil.
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  Zucchini Tomato Quiche

  Make the best of the summer's bounty with this zucchini tomato quiche. With fresh grated zucchini, colorful cherry tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan, it's just the thing for brunch, or a make-ahead breakfast or lunch.
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  How to Grill Juicy Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

  How to get juicy chicken breasts on the grill? It's all in the brine! Just 30 minutes of brining makes all the difference between dry chicken and perfect chicken.