Although life seems to slowly be starting to go back to normal, many of us are still stuck at home. Many people have taken to home cooking, not only out of necessity, but also as a fun activity. Trying new recipes is a great way to make the best out of a difficult situation, but it can be frustrating when recipes have unique ingredients and you lack the time and energy to make an extra run to the store. Ranging from savory to sweet, here are five great recipes to try with ingredients you (probably) already have.
This super quick spread is great for sandwiches, crackers, and bagels.
Cheese and Herb Spread
Ingredients
Instructions
Mix together the cream cheese, garlic, Parmesan cheese, dried herbs, and black pepper in a bowl until the mixture is smooth and the ingredients are evenly combined. Chill in refrigerator for 7 hours or overnight before serving.
Use up those vegetables in the back of your freezer for a quick stir fry perfect for lunch or dinner.
Frozen Vegetable Stir Fry
Ingredients
Instructions
Heat the oil in a pan on high heat and sauté the garlic for about 1 minute.
Add the onion and frozen vegetables and cook on medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring continuously.
Add in the soy sauce, cumin, and paprika and keep stirring for another 1-2 minutes, fully incorporating the sauce and spices.
Mix the cornstarch and water in a bowl and add to stir fry. Cook for another minute, or until vegetables are cooked to your liking.
Garnish with sesame seeds and parsley and serve immediately over rice, noodles, or alone!
Put those canned tomatoes and boxes of pasta from your pantry to use with this amazing sauce.
Tomato Cream Sauce
Ingredients
Instructions
Sauté the garlic and onion in olive oil in a large saucepan on high heat for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the pasta.
Add in the tomatoes, dried herbs, salt, and black pepper, then mix.
Bring the sauce to a boil then allow to simmer uncovered on medium-high heat for 20 minutes. When the pasta is ready, add 1/2 cup pasta water to the sauce.
Mix in the cream and basil and allow the sauce to cook on low heat for another 5 minutes.
Mix in pasta and serve.
Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Then peel, core, and cut apples into large chunks, then toss in a bowl with the white sugar, lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Put apples into baking dish *9×9 in. pan works best.
To prepare the topping, mix the brown sugar, flour, oats, and cinnamon in a bowl. Then, grate the cold butter into the mixture and mix well until it’s crumbly.
Spread the topping over the apples, then bake for about 35 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with ice cream!
A spin on a similar lemon cake, this orange cake with chocolate ganache is a great dessert to make time spent at home more enjoyable.
Orange Yogurt Cake with Ganache
Ingredients
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350° F then grease a 8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch (or similar size) loaf pan, line bottom with parchment paper, then grease and flour pan.
Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into one bowl and in another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, orange zest, and vanilla. Then, slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
Use a rubber spatula to fold the olive oil through the batter until fully incorporated, then pour batter into the loaf pan. Bake for 50 minutes or until a knife placed into the cake comes out clean.
While the cake bakes, cook the 1/4 cup orange juice and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves, then set aside.
When the cake is done, let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out and pour the orange juice and sugar mixture on while warm so it absorbs it.
While the cake finishes cooling, microwave the cream in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute. Then, add the chocolate chips, start mixing, then slowly add the orange juice while mixing until the ganache is smooth. Pour over the cake and enjoy!