Chilaquiles – Easy Weeknight Meal

By Ben Mims
For Cooking Newbie, a blog for beginner cooks

One of my favorite ways to make weeknight meals even easier is to reuse leftovers from the night before in a totally new way. And often, it can be much easier than you think.

Where I live in San Francisco, I’m surrounded by restaurants that serve burritos, so I’m constantly eating them. They often come with a basket of tortilla chips for free, like most other Mexican restaurants across the country.

I’m never able to even touch the chips because I’m too full, once I eat the burrito. My solution is to save the chips and make chilaquiles.

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Yearning for Rice Pudding

By Ben Mims
For Cooking Newbie, a blog for beginner cooks

When the weather starts to show signs of warmth in March after a long, harsh winter, my heart skips a beat. But then that glimmer of hope vanishes with the next day’s blistering cold, reminding me that spring is further off than I’d hoped.

These back and forth weather changes always make me yearn for rice pudding. Mostly because it just tastes so good and is easy to make, but also because I love it piping hot from the stove to warm me up during cold days, or ice-cold from the fridge as a cooling treat on warmer days. It’s light enough to serve as breakfast or a snack, with a little granola sprinkled on top, or dressed up for an elegant dessert, especially if you serve it in coupe glasses.

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Superstar Kale Salad

By Linda Anusasananan
For The Family Table, a blog for busy families

I love the farmers' market. Today I found three bunches of kale for $5.

Bunches of curly green, Red Russian, and laciniato kale beckoned with their freshness. Since I wanted to use the kale raw, I tasted the leaves and chose the most tender and mild: the dark green laciniato with long, narrow leaves and a pebbly texture.

Once shunned, kale is the new superstar of greens, noted for its high concentration of antioxidant vitamins A, C and K. Often used for soups and long-cooked preparations, people are discovering creative ways to use this healthy green.

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Enter for a Chance to Win Cool Tools

By Sandy Hu
A new video for Video Friday

Everyone can use some new kitchen tools – especially this time of year when we’re all in a cooking and baking frenzy. So Special Fork has made it an annual holiday tradition to offer a sweepstakes package of cool kitchen tools. Dave and I go out to shop personally to make the selections, asking at cookware stores about the hot sellers. This year’s prize package retails for $122.

Today, I’m showing you what we hand-picked for this year’s lucky Special Fork sweepstakes winner. To enter, please go to our Facebook page.

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Cool BBQ Tools for Labor Day Grilling and Beyond

By David Hu

Even though Labor Day is almost upon us, there’s no reason to stop grilling until well into the fall. For die-hard grillers, even winter snows aren’t a deterrent.

So we’ve partnered with Companion Group to give away grill tools (estimated retail value: $120) that are going to make you want to run outside and fire up the grill!

For Video Friday, I’m showing you the great tools you’ll win. And even if you don’t win, we think you’ll want to preview some of the hottest tools for barbecuing. Sweepstakes ends this Sunday, 9 p.m. PST.

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