There's little more frightening than watching a purchased bag of Sunchips get caught in a vending machine, and no greater joy than when three bags of Sunchips fall for the price of one.
We've all been there.
all things food
There’s little more frightening than watching a purchased bag of Sunchips get caught in a vending machine, and no greater joy than when three bags of Sunchips fall for the price of one.
We’ve all been there. Read More >>
There's little more frightening than watching a purchased bag of Sunchips get caught in a vending machine, and no greater joy than when three bags of Sunchips fall for the price of one.
We've all been there.
Is there anything more autumnal than creamy pumpkin soup? A few weekends back, Chicago was seeing its first fall weather of the year. The air was crisp, a few leaves were turning yellow and red, and Jack and I were making our traditional Sunday trip to…
Read More
One of my go-to side dishes is steamed green beans. Why? Because they’re so fast, they’re uncomplicated, delicious, and you can make them several different flavors to match your main dish. They’re just the perfect no-brainer side dish. If you’ve only ever had canned green beans, please promise me that you’ll try steaming fresh green beans […]
The post How to Steam Fresh Green Beans appeared first on Budget Bytes.
One of my go-to side dishes is steamed green beans. Why? Because they’re so fast, they’re uncomplicated, delicious, and you can make them several different flavors to match your main dish. They’re just the perfect no-brainer side dish. If you’ve only ever had canned green beans, please promise me that you’ll try steaming fresh green beans at least once. They’re a whole different beast. A deliciously fresh beast. So, without further ado, let me show you how to steam fresh green beans, so you can have another simple, delicious side dish under your belt!
There is only one thing you need to know about making good green beans: DON’T OVER COOK THEM. Most people I come across who say they don’t like green beans have only ever had overcooked, drab, olive green, too-soft green beans (like the kind you get in a can). The trick is to cook them until they are bright green, tender, but still with a good bite. They’ll still taste fresh, vibrant, and green. Deeeelish.
Steaming green beans is so incredibly easy. All you need is a colander, pot or a deep skillet with a lid, and a steam basket. The steam basket holds the green beans just above the boiling water so they cook evenly and makes it really easy to lift the green beans out of the pot once cooked.
While the steam basket does help produce the best results, I’m not going to tell you that you can’t steam green beans without one. For years, before I had the few dollars to spend on a steam basket, I simply steamed my green beans directly in the one-inch of water. The bottom layer of green beans cooked slightly more than the rest, but guess what? It was barely noticeable. If you’re short on cash, follow the directions below minus the steam basket and you’ll do just fine.
Because it’s faster. One inch of water takes a fraction of the time to come up to a boil compared to a full pot of water. Also, less nutrients are leached out of the green beans when they steam compared to when they’re fully submerged in boiling water. That’s two good reasons, if you ask me!
I’m a happy camper with the simple combo of melted butter, salt, and freshly cracked pepper on my steamed green beans, but there are so many different things you can add. Try these flavors:
Frozen green beans are blanched, or partially cooked, before freezing. So, while you can steam them using this method, they may need a different amount of time to cook. Check the package for recommended cooking times.
Rinse your green beans in a colander. Snap off any ends that still have a stem attached. You can see what the stem looks like in the photo above. The other end of the green bean will be pointy, but those are fine to eat. In fact, that’s my favorite part. You can snap your green beans in half or leave them long and whole for a more dramatic presentation.
This is the metal steam basket that I use. It has a loop in the center for lifting the basket out of the pot and the outer edges can close in or expand to fit the diameter of your pot. You can also buy bamboo or silicone steam baskets, but I find these old-school metal baskets to be inexpensive and pretty indestructible.
Place about an inch of water in a pot or deep skillet and place the steam basket on top. The water should not be so deep that it comes up through the holes.
Fill the steam basket with the washed green beans and place a lid on the pot. Turn the heat on to high and allow the water to come up to a boil (about 3 minutes).
Once the water begins to boil, allow the beans to steam for about 5 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of tenderness. Aim for green beans that are a vibrant green color and are tender, but still have a bit of bite. They shouldn’t be a drab green or mushy.
Remove the pot from the heat, lift the steam basket and beans out of the pot, then discard the water. Place the beans back into the pot without the steam basket, add some butter, and stir to melt the butter (heat is off). Season with a little salt and pepper, then serve!
The fresh green bean flavor on its own is so delicious that I usually only add a little butter, salt, and pepper, but you can have fun and get wild with the seasonings! Let me know what your favorite flavors are in the comments below. :)
The post How to Steam Fresh Green Beans appeared first on Budget Bytes.
As people around the world continue to struggle with a whole range of pressing issues and climate change continues to reshape how we live, the desire to share our resources is stronger than ever. Donating directly to a cause you love and volunteering a…
As people around the world continue to struggle with a whole range of pressing issues and climate change continues to reshape how we live, the desire to share our resources is stronger than ever. Donating directly to a cause you love and volunteering are both impactful ways to help those in need, and conscious shopping is another great way to contribute.
There are a ton of brands that support meaningful causes by providing resources or donating a portion of profits. So, if you’re going to spend money on holiday gifts anyway, why not buy things that support these efforts for double the joy?
I had a great reading month! Not a lot of books, but really GOOD books. Really enjoyed everything on the list this month! While I’m keeping my reviews here on the blog, remember that you can follow the goodreads account with what I’m reading, so you can see what I read in real time. You can also join […]
The post What I Read In September 2020. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
I had a great reading month! Not a lot of books, but really GOOD books. Really enjoyed everything on the list this month!
While I’m keeping my reviews here on the blog, remember that you can follow the goodreads account with what I’m reading, so you can see what I read in real time.
You can also join the book club! We have the instagram and secret facebook group here.
You can find my reading lists here and previous What I Read posts here. I’d love to hear below what you read this month!
This was our September book club pick and I loved it. The story follows a fashion blogger who ends up on a Bachelor-esque dating show. It’s super cute and no where near as cheesy as it sounds. There is actually some depth to this book even though it is an enjoyable light read. If you’ve ever been in a relationship that you just can’t get away from, you will relate to this. It’s a good one.
Just finished this one late last night and also loved it. This is a more serious read than what I usually find myself with, but I ended up enjoying it so much, as heartbreaking as parts are. The story follows a student who is studying behavior in mice, trying to make sense of the addition issues that plague her family. I LOVED this writing. I also loved the struggle between science and faith (and could relate to that too). This book is sad and heartbreaking, but at the same time, so good I couldn’t stop reading.
Complete change of pace from the above! The story follows two strangers who are complete opposites (one is sort of awkward, one is um, a… film star.. of sorts! ha!) and end up living together. I love an opposites attract story! This was a light, easy and fun read – and definitely on the steamy side. I really liked it and it was nice to get lost in something sort of mind numbingly easy for a few days!
Oooh I was so excited about this! This is the sequel to The Royal We which I loved so much! It’s considered royal fan-fiction and I mean, who can say no to that? I did enjoy this but ddn’t love it anywhere near as much as The Royal We. I also read that so long ago that I found myself having to go back and kind of re-read parts of it (which was fun!). I think it’s crazy how much as happened in the actual royal family between the first book and the second. If you loved The Royal We, you”ll enjoy this. As a note, you should read The Royal We first!
The post What I Read In September 2020. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
These carrot fries are full of big flavor, sprinkled with ranch seasoning and baked until lightly crispy! Everyone will ask for the recipe. Good news, fry lovers: there’s a new fry in town. Carrot fries! This healthy fry recipe is full of all the nutrients of this popular vegetable: but tastes like your favorite greasy comfort food. Even better: they’re coated in ranch seasoning! This play on the standard pairing of carrots and ranch gives a savory zing to each bite. Of course, you can dip them in ranch too for double the fun. They’re baked, and there’s a little trick to give them a lightly crispy exterior. Everyone will love them! We couldn’t stop sneaking bites off the baking sheet. Ingredients for the best carrot fries You’ll need just a handful of ingredients for carrot fries: and most of them are the spices you’ll need of the ranch seasoning. Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand: Carrots: medium to large carrots work best, since they’re easiest for cutting fries Olive oil Spices: garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, dried parsley Cornstarch Salt How to cut carrots into fries The hardest part of this recipe is actually cutting the […]
These carrot fries are full of big flavor, sprinkled with ranch seasoning and baked until lightly crispy! Everyone will ask for the recipe.
Good news, fry lovers: there’s a new fry in town. Carrot fries! This healthy fry recipe is full of all the nutrients of this popular vegetable: but tastes like your favorite greasy comfort food. Even better: they’re coated in ranch seasoning! This play on the standard pairing of carrots and ranch gives a savory zing to each bite. Of course, you can dip them in ranch too for double the fun. They’re baked, and there’s a little trick to give them a lightly crispy exterior. Everyone will love them! We couldn’t stop sneaking bites off the baking sheet.
You’ll need just a handful of ingredients for carrot fries: and most of them are the spices you’ll need of the ranch seasoning. Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand:
The hardest part of this recipe is actually cutting the carrots into fries! How to get those perfect rectangle fry shapes? Well, it’s similar to the steps for cutting fries out of a potato. Here’s what to do:
Here’s the thing. When you bake carrots, they turn out beautifully tender: like with these Roasted Carrots. But that’s not what you want with fries! We don’t have a deep fryer and typically don’t like frying at home (it’s messy and not worth the effort). So we’ve found a few tricks to making lightly crispy baked carrot fries! They don’t come out crunchy like they would in a deep fryer, but they’re lightly crisp and totally satisfying. Here’s what to know:
We think so! These healthy carrot fries are part of a whole food plant based (WFPB) diet. Here’s why these fries pale in comparison to those from your favorite fast food chain:
Carrot are one of the best vegetables you can eat! They’re not just good for your eyesight. Here are some of the top nutritional benefits of this tasty orange veggie (source):
Yes, all these good things are present in a recipe of carrot fries! So why not give them a taste?
These carrot fries are delicious on their own, as an easy healthy side dish for dinner. But of course you can spice them up with a dipping sauce! Here are a few we’d recommend:
These carrot fries are a fantastic healthy side dish to complete a meal. They’d be perfect with all sorts of dinner ideas — here are a few of our top choices:
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
PrintThese carrot fries are full of big flavor, sprinkled with ranch seasoning and baked until lightly crispy! Everyone will ask for the recipe.
Keywords: Carrot fries
These pumpkin cinnamon rolls are perfectly soft and chewy and topped with a heavenly maple cream cheese frosting. Easy to make and ready to go in just around 1 hour! Last week, I made my annual pilgrimage across Barcelona to the American import store here to bring home a season’s worth of my favorite nostalgic […]
These pumpkin cinnamon rolls are perfectly soft and chewy and topped with a heavenly maple cream cheese frosting. Easy to make and ready to go in just around 1 hour!
Last week, I made my annual pilgrimage across Barcelona to the American import store here to bring home a season’s worth of my favorite nostalgic fall ingredient — canned pumpkin purée.
It’s one of those classic American ingredients that’s nearly impossible to find here in Europe. (Fresh baking pumpkins are pretty hard to track down in Barcelona too.) So as soon as the import store announced that they had received their first shipment this season, I hightailed it across town to call dibs on a bag full of cans to bring home. And to celebrate, Barclay and I decided to make a big batch of these for brunch the next day.
Our favorite pumpkin cinnamon rolls. ♡
This recipe is basically just a simple twist on my favorite 1-hour cinnamon rolls recipe, made with lots of extra pumpkin purée and pumpkin spice added to the dough, plus a generous pour of maple syrup stirred into the cream cheese frosting for some extra fall vibes. The rolls bake up to be perfectly soft and chewy and lightly golden on top. And oh my goodness, they are just outrageously delicious. We shared them with a bunch of friends over the weekend and everyone couldn’t stop raving about them (and probably would have polished off a second pan, had I made more, lol).
The great news for all of us is that they are super quick and easy to make as well! The dough only needs for a few short rise times, which allows this entire recipe to come together from start to finish in around an hour. And I’ve included options below for how to make the dough either with a stand mixer, if you happen to have one, or how to knead the dough completely by hand.
If you love pumpkin as much as I do, I think you are going to love this one. So track down some pumpkin purée (hopefully it’s easier to find where you are!) and let’s make some pumpkin cinnamon rolls together!
Here’s a peek at how I’ve been making pumpkin cream cold brew at home! I mean, to say that I’m obsessed with the pumpkin cream cold brew is an understatement. Remember a few weeks back when I shared this coconut cream cold brew? Well, it easily became a staple here, especially the afternoons. This is […]
The post Pumpkin Coconut Cream Cold Brew. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
Here’s a peek at how I’ve been making pumpkin cream cold brew at home!
I mean, to say that I’m obsessed with the pumpkin cream cold brew is an understatement.
Remember a few weeks back when I shared this coconut cream cold brew? Well, it easily became a staple here, especially the afternoons.
This is super similar, except we’re making a pumpkin coconut cream mixture, much like the pumpkin cream cold brew from starbucks. Which is my LOVE. I mean, I could drink one everyday. I just adore that drink.
My version is much similar, but no where near as sweet. Don’t get me wrong – there is sugar in the pumpkin coconut mixture, it just not as sweet as the store version. Which is fine, because I like to save any of my sweet(er) coffee drinks for outside the house. But in the case that you DO want it sweeter, you can add more!
I mean, doesn’t this look like ice cream below?!
You start with coconut cream. I always have a few cans in the refrigerator – store them there because they need to be cold for this. You can use the cold cream from the milk to whip, or you can actually buy a can of coconut cream too. Either way works.
And don’t worry about it being super thick, because it works better when it’s softly whipped anyway. Think super soft peaks!
Whip in the pumpkin, some spice (I like less, most people prefer more than I do!), vanilla extract, some sugar and salt.
Pour a glass of your favorite cold brew. Or if you really want, you can absolutely throw this on top of hot coffee too!
Top the iced cold brew with a few spoonfuls of the pumpkin coconut cream. Oh my gosh. It’s heavenly!
If you’d like, you can add some pumpkin syrup, vanilla syrup, or heck even maple syrup to the cold brew.
This is such a great drink because you can really customize it to your liking.
And for me, it’s ALWAYS iced coffee season. I love iced so much more than hot. Once this season is over, I’ll move to an iced eggnog latte. Give me iced all the time!
Swirls together nicely too!
The post Pumpkin Coconut Cream Cold Brew. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
And it’s October! 6 months of our book club going strong! Here’s our October book pick… We will be reading Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. I absolutely LOVE his books and am so excited to read this one along with you. Here’s the scoop: Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an […]
The post Jessica’s Book Club: October 2020. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
And it’s October! 6 months of our book club going strong! Here’s our October book pick…
We will be reading Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. I absolutely LOVE his books and am so excited to read this one along with you.
Here’s the scoop: Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can’t fix their own marriage. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue.
We will discuss the book in our secret facebook group the last week of October – date to come! Follow jessica’s book club on IG and facebook for details throughout the month, and to see what else I’m reading. xo
The post Jessica’s Book Club: October 2020. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.