Roundup – Page 5 – FoodWatcher

8 Picnic-Ready Recipes the Food52 Team Is Cooking This Spring

Spring is officially here, and to celebrate the arrival of warmer weather and longer days, we asked the Food52 team to share the recipes they can’t wait to make this spring. The results, of course, are varied. Some are drawn to easy, high-impact recipes that pack tons of flavor. Others are seeking involved projects that are ideal for weekends (homemade hotdogs, anyone?). But there’s one common thread between these dishes: They’d all fit in beautifully at your next picnic, whether you’re gathering with friends for a potluck in the park or packing your lunch for a beach day. Without further ado, here are eight recipes we can’t wait to make this spring.

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1. Blueberry Lemon Cake

“Spring means planting in the garden and longer, sunnier days—and nothing tastes as sunny as lemon cake.” —Garrett McDonnell, Digital Designer

4 Things We Love In Stanley Tucci’s (Very Aspirational) Pantry

Earlier this week, Stanley Tucci made pasta for breakfast—and the internet loved it. While Tucci and his baked farfalle don’t necessarily invoke culinary wonder, his pantry is aspirational.

A combination of resourceful storage hacks, intelligent kitch…

Earlier this week, Stanley Tucci made pasta for breakfast—and the internet loved it. While Tucci and his baked farfalle don’t necessarily invoke culinary wonder, his pantry is aspirational.

A combination of resourceful storage hacks, intelligent kitchen equipment, and tasteful design choices (are those granite countertops I see?) make Tucci’s pantry both aesthetically and structurally pleasing. Regardless of how far you can walk into your pantry (impossible for me), these techniques and gear will improve any kitchen situation.

11 Melina Hammer Recipes With 5-Star Ratings From Our Community

If you’re familiar with my recipes—if not, welcome!—you probably know that I tend to focus on seasonal fare, with an emphasis on plant-based, locally grown ingredients (sometimes even from my own garden). With such an emphasis on produce, many of my recipes are perfect for the arrival of spring. Think: Asparagus and Fava Beans With Tonnato or Pickled Peaches With Burrata Toasts, a dish that’s ideal for firmer, earlier-in-the-season fruit.

With spring officially in swing, here are 11 of my favorite recipes for warmer-weather eating—each one of ‘em with a five-star rating from the Food52 community—complete with an invitation to add them to your own repertoire.

11 Easy Suhoor Recipes That’ll Keep You Satisfied All Day Long

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, starts on March 22 this year and continues until the evening of April 21. It’s a time of restraint and self-reflection for Muslims, and according to Dua Aldasouqi, a registered dietitian and nutritionist who observes Ramadan, it’s a wonderful time to focus on everything you have, give thanks for your community, and bond with your loved ones.

“Muslims take a deep dive into their faith during this month,” says Aldasouqi. “Outside of fasting, which is an act of worship, we dedicate time to reading the Quran, charity, community, volunteering—anything that is for the good of the public.” Ramadan is also a period of fasting during which Muslims typically eat only two meals a day and abstain from drinking water from dawn until dusk. Iftar is the meal to break the fast at sundown, while suhoor is the pre-dawn meal before the fast begins.

Our 32 Favorite Recipes for Spring Gatherings—All From Food52 Residents

Depending on who you ask, a spring gathering can mean many things. Maybe you’re hosting a big event, like Easter brunch or a Passover seder, for the first time and need to plan a full menu for a crowd. Perhaps a casual weekend picnic in the park is more your speed, complete with lots of snacks, dips, and drinks. Regardless of the seasonal soirée you’re planning, our community of Resident experts—from baking pro Erin McDowell to expert chef Lucas Sin—has you covered. Here are some of our favorite warm-weather-ready recipes from our Residents that are just waiting for a spot on your next dinner table, paper plate, or picnic blanket.

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Dan Pelosi

The Secret Sauce with Dan Pelosi (aka GrossyPelosi) is all about discovering the key to beloved family recipes. It’s no surprise that his own recipes are an extension of those sensibilities, whether he’s whipping up a sponge cake inspired by the one his grandma made every summer, or his mom’s Portuguese rice flavored with sausage and aromatics.

The Dollar Tree Has Tons of Grocery Options—Here Are 14 Recent Finds

Grocery prices are still at record highs, which means many of us are seeking more affordable alternatives to pick up essentials for the fridge and pantry. While the Dollar Tree may be best-known for party props, cleaning supplies, and inexpensive houseware, the store also carries a wide variety of the familiar food brands you can find in any Walmart, Kroger, or Publix. In fact, they even boast a range of specialty items to accommodate more specific cooking and baking needs—all priced competitively at the chain’s signature $1.25 per unit.

After a recent perusal of the shelves, we’ve rounded up 14 products we were pleasantly surprised to find. From gnocchi and tamarind soda to egg noodles and guava nectar, Dollar Tree is a one-stop shop for a good portion of your grocery list (the chain doesn’t sell fresh produce and many refrigerated items). Even better, these budget-friendly products are also conveniently available online for same-day delivery.

Our 11 Best Recipes Where Butter Plays The Lead

When it comes to food, butter is a lot like Meryl Streep: It seemingly has its hand in everything that’s generationally good. From croissants to shellfish to cocktails, butter routinely transcends ordinary recipes into delicious classics. To honor butt…

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1. Classic Croissants

Behind every great croissant lies an even better butter block. The French pastry demonstrates the peak of butter’s powers as it creates a flaky texture, rich flavor, and golden finish. Everyone should make croissants at least once, and there’s no better entry point than this recipe from Erin McDowell.

The 10 Most Popular Recipes We’ve Ever Shared on TikTok

As I write this in March 2023, I have two pieces of evidence that confirm TikTok is still alive and well:

I was on it this morning (definitely not during a meeting).
The person sitting next to me at the coffee shop has been scrolling through it on th…

As I write this in March 2023, I have two pieces of evidence that confirm TikTok is still alive and well:

I was on it this morning (definitely not during a meeting).
The person sitting next to me at the coffee shop has been scrolling through it on their phone for nearly an hour.

Regardless of what people think about TikTok, one thing is undeniably true: The food rocks. All of it looks good, all the time. Over the last few years we’ve learned techniques, tricks, and new recipes on the app, while also sharing some of our own. Of everything we’ve posted so far, here are our most-viewed recipes on TikTok—ranked by popularity.

Our 10 Most Popular Recipes in February

Despite its quick 28 days, February had no shortage of delicious meals. Over the last month, our community embraced seasonal eats inspired by everything from Valentine’s Day to Mardi Gras, along with modern updates to comforting classics—bourbon-braised leeks, chicken and dumplings, and flaky, buttery hand pies, to name a few. In no particular order, here are our top recipes from February 2023.

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1. Miso & Butternut Squash Pasta

You’d never guess that this silky-smooth, luxurious pasta sauce is made from just squash (roasted until caramelized and fork-tender), garlic, pasta water, and miso. Most of the cook time is also hands-off, meaning it’s the ideal pasta recipe for kitchen multitaskers.

I Tested 11 Trader’s Joe’s Seasoning Blends to Find My All-Time Favorite

If there is one thing I enjoy even more than dipping sauces, it’s seasoning blends. So, it’s no surprise that a trip down Trader Joe’s herb and spice aisle had me feeling like a kid on Christmas morning (albeit a very strange kid who’d prefer fried chicken over an Xbox). The affordable grocery chain currently offers 11 jarred varieties and I bought each of them to face off in the ultimate seasoning blend taste test.

To keep things fair and consistent across the board, preliminary judging included the blend and the blend only. While there are bland and basic foods like chicken and potatoes that could serve as tasting vessels, I didn’t want anything to impart an additional flavor and give one contender an advantage over the other.

Reusable Berry Basket (Set of 2) $27.98

Outdoor Zip-Up Picnic Blanket Tote $37

Mepal Microwavable Nested Storage Boxes $65–$75

1. Blueberry Lemon Cake

Vintage Silver-Plated Eclectic Flatware $40–$250

Large Ripple Cups $70–$140

Mosser Colored Glass Dinnerware $76–$172

Dan Pelosi

French Ceramic Butter Keeper $50

Extra-Large Glass Butter Keeper $34

Kilner Glass Butter Churner $50–$78

1. Classic Croissants

Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Baking Sheets $24–$34

Five Two Everyday Soft Cotton Cloth Napkins $30–$45

Casafina Modern Classic Ceramic Dinnerware $74–$220

1. Miso & Butternut Squash Pasta