Our Most Popular on Pinterest
From phyllo-wrapped asparagus to a collection of forty fast meals, we love to see what goes viral on Pinterest. Click through the following slides to see what's getting pinned and repinned from CookingLight.com.
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The Most Common Cooking Mistakes
Every cook, being human, errs, bungles, botches, and screws up in the kitchen once in a while. If you have not "caramelized" fruit in salt rather than sugar, you have not suffered the most embarrassing mistake made by one of our editors. We did not have to look much farther than our staff―and their encounters with readers, friends, and relatives―to compile a list of the most common, avoidable culinary boo-boos.
Chicken Piccata
Briny capers and bright lemon really make this bird sing. Serve this tangy chicken with mashed potatoes or roasted seasonal root vegetables to make an even more comforting plate.
The Cooking Light Margarita
A regular happy hour frozen margarita is around 12 ounces and weighs in at 410 calories (56% coming from sugar). Our lightened version is 130 calories for a 6-ounce portion with just 14% coming from sugar.
40 Meals Under 40 Minutes
Use this meal-planner guide to find menus that suit your weeknight fancy, and voilà: faster, healthier weeknight eating for your entire family.
Summer Squash and Corn Chowder
Enjoy soup in the summertime by making this satisfying chowder featuring the season's best produce. A topping of cheese and bacon gives the soup extra kid appeal. Serve with this easy bruschetta: Top toasted baguette slices with a mixture of chopped tomato, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt.
10 Snack Mix Recipes
Kids (or adults) will go nuts for these easy snack mixes. Bonus: They’re all less than 125 calories per serving, and have enough fiber to keep those kiddos full until dinnertime.
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dipped Pretzels
Dip the pretzels, and store in the fridge on a parchment-lined tray up to five days ahead. Set out shortly before serving, but not too far ahead, as the chocolate may melt.
8 Easy Quinoa Recipes for 250 Calories
Quinoa is fast-cooking and makes tasty salads. You can cook on Sunday, chill, eat over the next few days, and tote to work. Here, we give you 8 delicious and unique combos to mix with 2/3 cup quinoa.
20 Grilled Cheese Makeovers
We can't knock the classic grilled cheese sandwich that we all grew up with, but sometimes a rainy (or sunny—we won't discriminate) day calls for something more. We've mixed it up and kicked it up to bring you 20 new ways to enjoy a comfort classic.
Sesame-Miso Cucumber Salad
This quick and easy cucumber salad pairs well with Asian-inspired entrées. Miso is a thick soybean paste with a salty, slightly sweet flavor. Look for it in the refrigerated part of the produce section or with the dairy products, or substitute soy sauce.
1-Cooler, 1-Weekend Getaway
We combined a little bit of make-ahead planning with some double-duty ingredients to build a menu of easy, straightforward meals that feed four deliciously and healthfully—from Friday night cocktails and dinner to Sunday brunch—without ever resorting to boring standbys like cereal, cold-cut sandwiches, and chips.
Here, we give you five easy meals that are perfect for a weekend getaway—plus a foolproof plan for packing and cooking.
Pinto, Black, and Red Bean Salad with Grilled Corn and Avocado
This Latin-accented three-bean and corn salad is studded with guacamole components: jalapeño, cilantro, white onion, lime, and avocado.
Sweet and Spicy Citrus Tilapia
This versatile marinade works well with several types of dishes, especially flaky, white fish like tilapia. Round out the meal with a cool side of green beans tossed with cilantro and lime.
Peach Lemonade
Peaches add sweet, mellow roundness to traditional lemonade. Stir in white rum or bourbon for grown-ups.
Strawberries, Peaches, and Basil with Orange Vinaigrette
Dessert vinaigrettes? It's an idea whose time has come. Dan Barber, the chef of the acclaimed locavore restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, New York, created the first dessert vinaigrette Cooking Light columnist Rozanne Gold had encountered. This is her adaptation of his recipe, which incorporated much more olive oil and melted butter. The warm vinaigrette releases an intoxicating perfume when poured over the fresh fruit. Serve within 20 minutes of preparing for maximum flavor and optimal temperature.
Chicken with Lemon Caper Sauce
Weight loss starts in the kitchen. Try the Cooking Light Diet
You can have dinner on the table in 15 to 20 minutes, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner with the family or a casual entrée for a dinner party with friends. Consider doubling the sauce to serve over noodles or rice.
Asiago, Potato, and Bacon Gratin
This side dish is a sure hit, featuring the three ingredients almost everyone loves: cheese, bacon, and potatoes. Combining Parmesan and Asiago cheeses provides depth and creaminess, while the buttery Yukon Gold potato stands in for the additional fat and calories.
Bourbon-Caramel Truffles
Truffles typically have the added richness of cream and butter. These ingredients help stabilize chocolate, which tends to scorch, separate, or become grainy if not heated carefully. We add corn syrup and evaporated milk for smooth, creamy confections.
Phyllo-Wrapped Asparagus with Prosciutto
Crunchy phyllo-wrapped asparagus makes great pick-up bites for a party. You can also chop the prosciutto and sprinkle it on the phyllo if you want.
Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema
Crunchy cabbage combines with flaky white fish and smoky cumin in this Latin-style dish. Crema is a fresh and creamy sauce that is the perfect thing to cool off the smoky spiced snapper.
15 Quinoa Recipes
Small, round, and a good source of protein, iron, and fiber, quinoa is a quick and flavorful way to get in a serving of whole grains. Find 15 delicious recipes for cooking with this ancient whole grain.
Chicken-Tortilla Pie
With only five ingredients, this colorful, family-friendly recipe comes together quickly! A rotisserie chicken with the skin removed can be used for the shredded chicken breast, but keep in mind that this will increase the amount of sodium in the dish.
Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese
This classic macaroni and cheese recipe has been updated for heightened flavor with the addition of Gouda and Parmesan cheeses and fresh spinach.
Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad
This 5-star recipe, a favorite of our online reviewers, is a classic no-cook, weeknight meal. The creamy dressing mellows the heat from the chiles—and best of all, it can be prepared in less than 30 minutes.
Lemony Cucumber Salad
Something fresh, vibrant, and crunchy is often missing from potluck gatherings; this easy, portable salad will get gobbled up quickly because it satisfies on all those levels.
