Hungry Blogger

Simple Food for Sick Bloggers

What's your go-to comfort food?

Alright, you hungry lot. I had a great cookbook to share this week (and I'll share it later) but I ended up catching a nasty virus that has me down pretty bad! Freddy Krueger has taken up residence in my throat and it's hard to swallow, but I did come up with something quick and easy that was both nourishing and satisfying: mashed cauliflower.

You might be saying, "I know about this already," but did you know that you can buy it mashed already as a frozen side at the grocery store? I'd forgotten that I'd even purchased it, but when I saw the rest of my family comfortably swallow their pizza tonight (lucky devils), I knew I had to have something comforting and good. I'm tired of soup and water, which is what I've had for the past four days! So I microwaved the frozen vegetable and added in some spices and voila, creamy deliciousness that eased my throat, if only for a moment. If you decide to do this, go with the store brand and not the name brand--it's cheaper and so good.

If you don't feel like peeling potatoes and making comfort mash, what do you do when you are sick? I'd love to read your recipes and see their photos in the comments below.

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Potatoes 75 Ways

And none are the ways you expect!

If you're a traditional potato lover, I can't guarantee you'll love this book, but if you're a FOOD lover, you just might! That's because in Raghavan Iyer's Smashed, Mashed, Boiled and Baked: A Celebration of Potatoes in 75 Irresistible Recipes, you will come across ideas for potatoes that you might have never thought about in your wildest dreams. Gone are the standard mashed, boiled and baked potatoes! In their place you'll discover Kung Pao Potatoes, Harissa Potato Salad, Creamy Massaman Curry and other vibrant, creative dishes that will please both your eyes and your palate.

Some of the dishes may look a litte crazy, but what do you expect from a James Beard Award winning chef? In addition to the wide variety of recipes, you'll encounter great tips for working with potatoes, recipes for sides and toppings like homemade ricotta and applesauce, and even quirky quotes about potatoes that will make you laugh. Don't pick up this book if you are hoping for a tiny variation on your typical meat and potato dishes, but DO grab it if you are the kind of adventurous potato lover willing to give something new a chance!

What is your favorite potato dish? Care to share the recipe and some photos in the chat below?

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Perfectly Baked, Every Time

Share Your Favorite Baking Tips

Plenty of people claim to be able to bake but not "cook." Why? Because baking is more of an exact science. Normally if you calculate the right time and temperature, measure all of the ingredients right and follow the recipe, you just can't go wrong. Of course, there are some recipes that are much trickier than others, and that's what this is all about. Some of the best baking tips in the world begin with "Meaure properly" and "follow the recipe," but what else is there?

Some great baking tips include...

Never underestimate the value of a greased pan, but only when called for. Don't skip it if it's in the recipe!

When it comes to banana bread, the mushier and nastier the outside of the banana, the better it's going to be. Even if its skin is black, as long as it's sealed and not oozing, use it!

Always sift when it says to sift.

Don't skip chilling your dough, resting your bread dough, and other "wait for it" steps. These are critical for the chemistry to work!

If you're a great baker, what kinds of tips do you have for people beyond "follow the recipe"?

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Father's Day Menu

What's on yours?

Father's Day is less than three weeks away! Have you started to prep your menu for Dad's big day yet, and if so, how do you do it? Is it some kind of barbecue or a fancy sit-down meal? Do you eat out or do you make everything from scratch?

For my husband's Father's Day lunch, we are heading to a burger place that I know he's going to love. We've never been before but he definitely loves a good burger. If you're planning to go out for Father's Day, now is the time to budget it in, call the restaurant to check Father's Day hours and specials and map it out if it's new to your family. You may even want to call around to see who has a Father's Day brunch planned. Many restaurants do a special brunch for a great price, sometimes with drink specials.

If you are planning your menu to cook at home, Delish has some great ideas that are easy but tasty, like a steak frites burger, pulled pork and other favorites.

Share your Father's Day ideas and recipes in the chat!

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Memorial Day Must-Haves

What are you making?

Memorial Day is less than a week away and plenty of hungry bloggers are finalizing their meal prepping plans. Do you have your guest list, food prep and all of the rest of your details all set for the long weekend ahead? If you are looking for some tasty bites and beverages that won't add too much to your waistline, Hungry Girl has a wonderful list of must-haves that you need to check out. The Jazzy La La Lemonade is definitely on my to-make list.

Many people make sure to barbecue on Memorial Day, which often includes classic fixings like potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw and other picnic foods. You can go the traditional route or make up something completely new. In fact, in a time when the "melting pot" that makes America seems to be on shaky ground, particularly when it comes to accepting people of different backgrounds, it's a great time to include a hodgepodge of different foods that represent your background.

What does your menu include for this weekend?

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Burgers in a Box

A subscription service for burger lovers

People who love subscription boxes that send goodies to their door each month AND big juicy hamburgers are in luck. There is a subscription box that brings you everything you need to create a giant burger meal for two for $59 per month. Called BurgaBox, it's the creation of celebrity chef Paul Malvone, who personally curates each monthly meal. You get everything you need to whip up the burgers plus sides and fixings. One box, for example, comes with the burgers, buns and toppings PLUS ingredients to make macaroni and sweet potato fries, plus beans and coleslaw.

This is the box to get that special someone who loves to cook. You can select various themes, party boxes and gift boxes as you need them, too, making it one of the more convenient subscription services.

Have you tried BurgaBox? What did you think of it?

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Hobbies

Home Cooking

Food & Beverage

Mother's Day Meals

It's time to prep that menu!

Have you started working on your Mother's Day meal plan yet? Whether you're cooking for your own mom, the mother of your kids, your parent or yourself, you're in luck. There are so many excellent meal plans available online! All you need to do is gather the ingredients and carve out the time to prep these delicious Mother's Day meal plans.

Julie's Eats & Treats has an amazing, full Mother's Day brunch menu. It consists of carmelized onion and apple wraps with hummus, avocado toasts, lemon pull-apart rolls, lemon poppy seed muffins, banana crepes, quiche and more. It's a spread fit for a queen!

At Southern Living, you can explore menus that moms themselves ask for, from mimosas and fruitini to Tuscan pork chops with pinto beans and cornbread. Yum!

If Mom is on a tricky meal plan, you could try this list of 10 guilt-free brunch ideas.

Do you have your own meal plan ready? Share it with us below.

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Pasta Carbonara

It may not be what you think it is

Too many restaurants dub anything with an alfredo sauce as a “carbonara.” Even sandwich shops that pour the sauce on their sandwiches call their sandwiches carbonara creations when they’re anything but. Real pasta carbonara is pretty different from an alfredo sauce.

If you want to know if your dish is a true carbonara, ask if it’s made with eggs and Pecorino Romano cheese. It’s not going to be as saucy or creamy as an alfredo sauce. A carbonara dish almost always has bacon or pancetta in it, and it’s garnished with tasty black pepper. It’s also usually made with spaghetti noodles, although other types of pasta may also be used to create the dish. For an easy recipe, try this one.

Are you a pasta carbonara fan? How do you prepare it?

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Dressing Up Your Cucumbers

Make them taste even better

As a little girl, I loved having raw cucumbers as a snack. My mom usually just sliced them up and we ate them raw. We might have a little salt sprinkled on our cukes but that was pretty much it. As an adult, I’m finding out that it’s really fun to try new ways to eat cucumbers.

This week, I tried sprinkling some chili powder on my cucumber slices along with some salt, pepper and lime juice. I took the idea from the Mexican Made Meatless blog and they are the best cucumbers I’ve ever had! I used the Arizona spice blend from Penzey’s, my favorite spice shop, and wow. They are just amazing and I never would have thought to do something this simple yet tasty.

How do you dress up your cucumbers?

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Food & Beverage

Home Cooking

Recipes

Customize Your Ramen

Your plain Ramen can be so much more

If you’ve gone to college, been down on your luck or simply like the taste of noodles, chances are you’ve had the good old standby, Ramen noodles, a time or two. People who are on a shoestring budget often eat their ramen plain, but once you’ve grown up or at least got a couple of bucks, it’s time to add a little nutrition and variety to your noodles once you’ve got the whole, you know, boiling them thing down.

Toppings like eggs, veggies and meats are pretty common among Ramen eaters. Fish is another popular addition to the broth and noodles in Asia, especially when prepared with soy sauce or miso. Tiny flavorful green onions are a favorite, and some people like to add radishes, carrots and other vegetables. Pork, especially ham, is another popular ingredient. The dish is catching on as a more upscale item. Some restaurants even prepare nothing BUT ramen.

What is your favorite ingredient to add to Ramen noodles?

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