Sheela Prakash's Recent Articles
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This Ingredient from Trader Joe’s Sparked Life Back into My Summer Meals
By early May it had already hit 90°F in Charlotte and I began to panic: If this is spring in my new city, what the heck is summer going to be like? Turns out it’s just as hot and even more humid — welcome to the South! So while I usually lighten up my meals for just a few sticky months back home in the Northeast, I’ve been doing it for months already down here.
May 1, 2019
How I Packed My Sourdough Starter for a Move Across 5 States
I’ve been nursing a sourdough starter for well over a year now, ever since a friend gifted me a portion of hers. If you must know, his name is Mr. Funny Pants and he’s the closest thing I’ve had to a pet since my hamster died when I was 9. So I care for him quite a bit. So when my husband and I began to plan our move from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina, Mr.
May 1, 2019
Stop Buying Tilapia! Here Are 5 Other Fish You Need to Try.
Walk into just about every grocery store or fish market and you’ll find tilapia. Somewhere along the line it became as common and as popular as salmon. The fact that it doesn’t taste too fishy, is versatile to cook, and isn’t expensive probably has something to do with it. Most tilapia also sustainable, since it tends to be farmed pretty responsibly these days — especially in the U.S. and Canada.
May 1, 2019
5 Smart Ways to Use Your High-Speed Blender That Every Home Cook Should Know
My husband and I were recently gifted a high-speed blender (a Vitamix, to be exact), when we got married last year. At first, I was intimidated by this shiny new toy with a super-high-powered motor in our kitchen. It’s not exactly an inexpensive appliance Luckily, after staring at it on our counter for a few days, I got up the nerve to use it — and I am so happy I did.
May 1, 2019
Here’s How to Turn Frozen Shrimp into a Damn Good Dinner
It’s my day job here at Kitchn that convinced me that frozen shrimp was worth keeping in my freezer at all times. Previously, I’d simply buy shrimp from the fish counter at the grocery store when I needed it. Then my colleagues kept gushing about the freshness and convenience of frozen shrimp and I soon realized a whole lot of the “fresh” shrimp I was buying at the grocery store was actually previously frozen. So I gave it a try and almost instantly became a convert.
May 1, 2019
The One Frozen Vegetable Your Freezer Is Missing
Since I grew up on frozen vegetables that were cooked in the microwave until they turned to mush, I wrote them all off as soon as I was an adult. I avoided the freezer aisle completely and proclaimed I’d only buy fresh vegetables from then on out. Then I walked into Trader Joe’s, where it’s basically impossible to write off the freezer aisle. And it was there I discovered the one frozen vegetable that completely changed my opinion: frozen artichokes.
May 1, 2019
7 Smart & Easy Ways to Eat Frozen Broccoli
If you don’t already have a bag or two of frozen broccoli in your freezer, add it to your grocery list immediately. We’re huge fans of the stuff here at Kitchn — not only for its affordability and ease (forget about chopping down a big head of fresh broccoli!), but also for its versatility. Here are seven ways we love to use it. Add a little green to your breakfast by throwing frozen broccoli into your scrambled egg routine.
May 1, 2019
10 Ways to Make a Meal Out of Frozen Peas
Peas are the OG frozen vegetables. Whether you like them or not, it’s highly likely you have a bag in your freezer, if only to be used as an ice pack to soothe a bump or a bruise. But they’re worth so much more than that! You see, since frozen peas defrost and warm up almost instantly when cooked, they’re a rockstar ingredient for fast main dishes. Here are 10 ways we love to use them. Add some green goodness to your pasta dinner without even trying.
May 1, 2019
What Is Lillet?
The moment summer hits, my routine tends to involve rosé and icy gin and tonics. There’s just something about the sunny weather that makes me crave happy hour drinks a whole lot more often. While those have long been my go-tos, this year there’s a new bottle that’s been getting equal, if not more, playtime: Lillet. For some, Lillet isn’t anything new, as it’s been around for a good long while.
May 1, 2019
11 Fresh & Flavorful Ways to Turn Beans Into Dinner
Beans are a year-round staple in my book. I especially love them in the summer, though, when I can easily pop open a can and turn them into a simple, no-sweat dinner in no time at all. These 11 recipes are light and fresh, but definitely don’t skimp on flavor. They also help you use up those white beans, black beans, and chickpeas that are tucked away in your pantry.
May 1, 2019
How the Freezer Aisle Can Help You Eat More Healthfully
If the only reason you go down the freezer aisle is to buy ice cream, I’m here to tell you that there’s a whole lot of healthy goodness to be found in that chilly aisle. Stock up on it and you can instantly boost the wholesomeness of the meals you’re churning out in your kitchen. Here are four ways the freezer aisle can help you eat better. As long as they’re not in a sauce or salted, frozen vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh.
May 1, 2019
5 Tips That Will Help You Master a Simple Fish Dinner
Like chicken or pasta, fish is really a blank slate when it comes to preparing it for dinner. Yet, unlike chicken or pasta, fish has a reputation of being hard to prepare, which makes it feel a bit daunting. The truth, however, is fish is just as easy to turn into a quick, flavorful dinner as those other guys. The key is to embrace a few simple tricks that will jazz up just about any fillet you bring home. Jazzing up your fish routine at home is easy.
May 1, 2019
7 Freezer Essentials If You’re Cooking for One
A smartly stocked freezer is a true asset for a solo cook. It ensures easy, fast meals for one are always within arm’s reach, no matter the day or occasion. And, of course, it’s a great place to stash leftovers. Here are seven ways to stock your freezer if you’re cooking for one. Keep a few bags of frozen fruits and vegetables in your freezer and you’ll always have something wholesome to reach for.
May 1, 2019
The Simple Tricks Our Editors Rely on to Get Dinner on the Table
Getting dinner on the table on busy weeknights is a challenge no matter who you are — yes, even if you’re an editor for a food website! Here at Kitchn, we struggle just as much as everyone else does to churn out dinner when our schedules are stacked. There are a handful of things that help us, though. A little foresight or a bit of assistance can make all the difference when dinner seems impossible.
May 1, 2019
The One Thing You Don’t (Always) Have to Do with Frozen Spinach
I have vivid childhood memories of my mom standing over the kitchen sink on Christmas day squeezing the water out of defrosted packs of spinach to make her famous spinach casserole. Later my sister took over the task and she’d be shuddering from the semi-thawed clumps in her hands. It always seemed like such a nuisance — and so cold! So as an adult, I sort of tried to avoid frozen spinach all together.
May 1, 2019
10 Ways to Make a Meal Out of Frozen Salmon
Frozen salmon fillets are a freezer staple these days. Keep a few fillets on hand and you have a healthy meal on your hands at all times without having to run to the fish market on your way home. Transfer a portion or two to the fridge in the morning to defrost, and in the evening you’ll have countless options for dinner. Here are 10 ideas to get you started. Salmon might not be the first fish that comes to mind when you’re thinking tacos, but it makes for some seriously tasty ones.
May 1, 2019
10 Quick and Easy Lunch Ideas Under 400 Calories
Lunches that hit your nutritional goals, but won't leave you with the munchies!
May 1, 2019
10 Pro Home Cooks on the Best Way to Eat a Ripe Tomato
There’s a whole lot to love about summer eating, and while it’s hard to pick a favorite, I’d argue that tomatoes are pretty high up there. I take a hard pass on the pale, mealy versions available at the supermarket year-round and instead wait to bite into the absolute best for just a few short months in the summer. I’m not alone in this feeling — 10 smart, seasoned home cooks agree that nothing beats the juicy sweetness of summer tomatoes.
May 1, 2019
10 Easy Lunch Box Ideas for Vegetarians
Get ready, fellow lunch packers! Your bento boxes are about to be bursting with vibrant veggies and creative meat-free mains. Whether you follow a vegetarian diet full-time or are simply interested in cutting meat from your midday meal, these veg-heavy boxes are sure to satisfy.
May 1, 2019
This Is How I Take the Stress Out of Packing My Lunch
I’ve never been great at the whole lunch thing. I rarely have the foresight to prep things in advance, and buying lunch every day can really add up. So more often than not, I snack. A little bit of this and little bit of that becomes my surprisingly satisfying midday meal, with bonus points that I can assemble everything quickly — with little-to-no actual cooking. Here’s how I build my snack-box lunch.
May 1, 2019
The Surprising Spice That Will Make Your Summer Tomatoes Mind-Blowingly Delicious
By now, you’ve likely eaten tomatoes every which way this summer. Maybe you’ve enjoyed them on toast, in a caprese salad, with pasta, or in pie. But there’s one way you likely haven’t enjoyed them, and it’s the perfect way to celebrate their juicy sweetness as the season begins to draw to a close. Try pairing summer tomatoes with a pinch of ground cinnamon (yes, cinnamon!). Let us explain why.
May 1, 2019
Your Dinner Table Is Missing a Shared Vegetable Plate
We all know eating vegetables is an important component of a well-rounded diet, but figuring out when to slot them in is the tricky part. Sure, you can toss a bunch of spinach into a breakfast smoothie and swear off everything but salad for lunch, but I think there’s an even easier way to boost you and your family’s intake of the good stuff: Add a shared vegetable plate to your nightly dinner table.
May 1, 2019
Recipe: No-Knead Skillet Focaccia
Serve this with dinner tonight.
May 1, 2019
10 Ways That Can of White Beans Can Be Dinner Tonight
My pantry is pretty trim, given the limited space I have in my apartment kitchen, but one thing I always keep on hand is a can of cannellini beans. Their versatility alone is worth giving them room in the pantry, among the boxes of pasta and bags of rice. Pop open a can or two, and in next to no time they become a simple and satisfying dinner any night of the week. Here are my 10 favorite ways to use them.
May 1, 2019
Think You Hate Sardines? It’s Because You Haven’t Had These.
These are our five favorites — and how to enjoy them.
May 1, 2019
10 Surprising Things to Do with a Can of Ro-tel
Next time you’re in the canned tomato aisle at the grocery store, forgo you’re usual plain diced tomatoes and opt for a can of Ro-tel. The Southern favorite is a blend of diced tomatoes and fire-roasted green chilies, so it has all the juicy sweetness you’ll find in regular canned tomatoes but with the bonus of bold, smoky spice. Basically, it has the potential to jazz up a whole lot of meals. Here are our 10 favorite ways to use a can.
May 1, 2019
10 Easy Ways to Upgrade Roasted Brussels Sprouts
It’s hard to beat a simple sheet pan of crispy roasted Brussels sprouts; it’s a fall and winter side dish that goes with basically everything. And while roasted Brussels sprouts are great served plain and simple — with just olive oil, salt, and pepper — sometimes it’s fun to play around. Start with a basic recipe like this one and add a little bit of this and that from your pantry to give this wholesome side dish an upgrade. Here’s how to do it.
May 1, 2019
5 Things You Can Do for Healthier Mac and Cheese
Of all the comfort foods out there in the world, I’ll argue mac and cheese just might be the most comforting. I mean, how can you really go wrong with pasta bathed in cheese sauce? It’s not exactly the most wholesome dish (although it’s pretty wholesome for the soul), but that doesn’t mean it should only be saved for special occasions. A few smart tricks and tips can make it a more balanced dinner that you can feel good about.
May 1, 2019
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Baking with Yeast
Whether you’re making pizza dough, sandwich bread, or cinnamon rolls, you’re going to need some yeast. It’s an ingredient in baked goods that can be a little daunting to those who aren’t familiar with it, but once you have a few tips and tricks under your belt to help you understand it better, it’s a great tool in your kitchen. Here are a handful of common mistakes to avoid when baking with yeast. The first mistake to avoid is not baking with yeast all together.
May 1, 2019
Recipe: Dorie Greenspan’s Chocolate-Covered Chai-Tea Bars
They're filled with warm spices and topped with a milk chocolate glaze.
May 1, 2019
Recipe: Dorie Greenspan’s Herb-Butter Chicken
There’s something so deeply satisfying about roasting a chicken. It’s a simple act that results in an impressive, dinner party-worthy meal that also feels so homey and comforting. This roast chicken from Dorie Greenspan’s new cookbook, Everyday Dorie, is easy and classic, but she elevates it with a few special tricks to ensure it’s extra special.
May 1, 2019
Recipe: Dorie Greenspan’s Ricotta Spoonable
If you know me at all, you know I have a deep love for ricotta — it’s probably one of the first five things I’ll tell you about myself. I love its creaminess, simplicity, and versatility. So when I spotted this playful-sounding recipe in Dorie Greenspan’s new cookbook, Everyday Dorie, I knew I needed to try it.
May 1, 2019
Recipe: Easy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta
If your weeknight pasta routine has become, well, routine, consider adding this flavorful shrimp dish to the roster. Inspired by Bonefish Grill’s cult-favorite Bang Bang shrimp — beloved for its creamy, sweet, and spicy chili sauce — this recipe is cheaper than dining out, better for you than takeout, and simple enough for even the busiest of nights. While Bonefish Grill’s Bang Bang Shrimp is obsession-worthy, it’s definitely more of a special-occasion dish.
May 1, 2019
Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken
You’ve likely stopped in the pasta sauce aisle a million times to grab a jar of marinara, but I’m guessing you skipped over the Alfredo sauce section. Well, I’m here to tell you to go back and grab a jar. It’s the secret to this creamy Italian chicken flecked with sweet sun-dried tomatoes and wilted spinach, which comes together easily in the slow cooker and begs to be served over pasta.
May 1, 2019
The Trader Joe’s Item You Should Be Stocking Up On — RIGHT NOW
Among the short list of ingredients I always have stocked in my freezer, puff pastry ranks high at the top. It’s a good thing to have on hand to turn out fast and fancy appetizers like baked brie and cheesy pinwheels — and it makes for quick savory dinner tarts and bakery-worthy breakfast treats. So it’s totally worth having a couple of boxes on hand at all times.
May 1, 2019
Recipe: Wild Rice Pilaf with Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries
Wild rice, roasted squash, dried fruit, and nuts make for the perfect fall pilaf.
May 1, 2019
Recipe: 5-Ingredient Creamy Tomato Baked Orzo
Most pasta dinner recipes begin with bringing a pot of salted water to boil. Here’s your permission to skip that step. Instead, you’ll combine orzo, tomato sauce, baby spinach, and two kinds of cheese in a baking dish and toss it in the oven for 40 minutes. Yes, that’s really it. It’s so simple, you hardly need a recipe, which is a good thing because it’s so comforting and creamy that you’ll likely make it again and again.
May 1, 2019
If You Drink Wine (Ever), You Need This $9 Amazon Find
Wine isn’t something my husband and I save for weekends or special occasions. We actually enjoy it most nights of the week — casually, though! Just a glass with dinner to toast to the day. (It’s a habit I developed from my days in Italy and really do enjoy the ritual.) This means that once we open a bottle we’d really like for it to be able to last us a couple of days, as a single bottle of wine holds about four to five glasses.
May 1, 2019
I Tried Trader Joe’s New Talenti-Like Gelato — Here’s How It Compares
Ice cream is never really on my shopping list, but I tell myself I should walk down the aisle “just in case,” which means I’ll inevitably fall for a sale, or a new flavor will convince me to grab a pint. A couple of weeks ago, I did exactly this at Trader Joe’s and I like to think it paid off because I spotted a Talenti lookalike (which Trader Joe’s announced this week)!
May 1, 2019
The Best Budget Bottles of Sparkling Wine for the Holidays
With the holiday season comes celebrations big and small, which means bubbly is bound to be making at least a few appearances. Whether you’re pouring a few bottles into your punch bowl for the holiday party, popping one or two to toast with for New Year’s Eve, or wrapping up one to bring over for Christmas dinner, these are the bottles of sparkling wine to reach for.
May 1, 2019
A Simple Trick for Even Better Gingerbread Cookies
Of all the cookies I look forward to indulging in during the holiday season, spice cookies are my absolute favorite. Specifically, I love soft, molasses-rich gingerbread cookies, but really anything that’s filled with all the warm spices of the season will do. For years I’ve been on the hunt for the spiciest cookie of them all.
May 1, 2019
Cookie Hack: Add Pretzels to Boost Texture, Flavor, and Crunch
Among go-to choices for cookie dough mix-ins, chocolate chips, nuts, and dried fruit tend to be the major players. Maybe some M&Ms or coconut flakes get tossed in, but that’s usually where the line is drawn. Dig around your pantry a little more, however, and you’ll discover plenty more odds and ends that are pretty spectacular in cookies. One such ingredient? Pretzels. This salty snack might not seem like a fit for cookies (including bar cookies!), but trust me, it works.
May 1, 2019
This Is the Best Budget Bottle of Sparkling Wine You Can Buy
As far as I’m concerned, celebrations big and small deserve bubbles — which means I’ve been popping quite a few bottles of sparkling wine this holiday season. I don’t exactly have the means to uncork pricey Champagne and other bottles of high-end sparkling wine on the regular, though. My eyes pretty much always narrow in on the under-$15 shelf when I’m out shopping.
May 1, 2019
Everything You Need to Know About Roasting Vegetables
We’re not quite sure where we’d be without roasted vegetables. They’re a simple weeknight side dish staple, a meal prep go-to, and generally our favorite way to load up on good-for-you produce. While it’s easy to roast vegetables, a few general guidelines ensure you’re set up for success. Here’s everything you need to know, from temperature and cook time to seasonings and more.
May 1, 2019
The Nighttime Routine That Sets Me Up for a Better Morning
I’ve always wanted to be that person who has a morning or nighttime ritual — who sits with the newspaper every morning when sipping their coffee or meditates for 10 minutes before bed. Sadly, rituals are usually lost on me. I get bored or just forget to partake. That’s slowly starting to change, however, as I’ve begun to practice a little more self-care.
May 1, 2019
What to Know About Pairing Chocolate & Fruit
When you think of chocolate and fruit, chocolate-covered strawberries are probably the very first thing that come to mind. It’s hard not to love the treat, whether you splurge at the Godiva store at the mall or you make them yourself for someone you love. That’s really just the beginning when it comes to enjoying chocolate and fruit together, though.
Apr 30, 2019
This Is the Best Red Wine to Pair with Steak
To me, steak is one of the ultimate special-occasion foods. We don’t eat it very often, but when we do it’s usually when Valentine’s Day or my husband’s birthday rolls around. That’s when I pull out all the stops: a nice piece of meat, extra-buttery potatoes, and, of course, good wine. When you think of steak, you probably think of red wine.
Apr 30, 2019
Recipe: Flamin’ Hot Tots
Cheetos-inspired tater tots for the win.
Apr 30, 2019