Our Most Pinned Recipes and Tips

April 12, 2012
Credit: Photo: Quentin Bacon
We're absolutely addicted to Pinterest, and we love seeing what you're pinning from us! Take a look at the most pinned recipes and tips from Cooking Light, and follow our boards at Pinterest.com/CookingLight.
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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

See More: 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.

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Chicken Piccata

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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The Cooking Light Margarita

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: The 130-Calorie 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.

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40 Meals Under 40 Minutes

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
See More: 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.

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Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

View Recipe: 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.

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10 Snack Mix Recipes

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
See More: 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.

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Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

Credit: Photo: Marcus Nilsson
View Recipe: 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.

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8 Easy Quinoa Recipes for 250 Calories

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor & Mandie Mills
See More: 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.

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20 Grilled Cheese Makeovers

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
See More: 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.

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Sesame-Miso Cucumber Salad

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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1-Cooler, 1-Weekend Getaway

Credit: Photos: Charles Masters & Randy Mayor
See More: 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.

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Pinto, Black, and Red Bean Salad with Grilled Corn and Avocado

Credit: Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: 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.

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Sweet and Spicy Citrus Tilapia

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Peach Lemonade

Credit: Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Peach Lemonade

Peaches add sweet, mellow roundness to traditional lemonade. Stir in white rum or bourbon for grown-ups.

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Strawberries, Peaches, and Basil with Orange Vinaigrette

Credit: Photo: Mary Britton Senseney
View Recipe: 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.

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Chicken with Lemon Caper Sauce

View Recipe: 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.

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Asiago, Potato, and Bacon Gratin

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

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Bourbon-Caramel Truffles

View Recipe: 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.

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Phyllo-Wrapped Asparagus with Prosciutto

Credit: Photo: Marcus Nilsson 
View Recipe: 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.

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Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

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15 Quinoa Recipes

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
See More: Cooking with Quinoa: 15 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.

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Chicken-Tortilla Pie

Credit: Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: 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.

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Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

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Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad

Credit: Photo: Lee Harrelson
View Recipe: 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.

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Lemony Cucumber Salad

Credit: Photo: Quentin Bacon
View Recipe: 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.

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