“Truly one of the easiest desserts with the best result,” Drummond said of her Puff Pastry Braid in a clip from her Food Network show The Pioneer Woman. “If you pull this out of the oven and you have guests over, they won’t believe how easy it is to make.”
You start by laying out a sheet of premade puff pastry dough, which you can buy in the freezer section at your local grocery store. Down the center of the thawed dough, add a generous scoop of chocolate hazelnut spread and use the back of a spoon to spread it over the center section of the dough, leaving a slight lip at the top and bottom. Sprinkle chopped peanuts, almonds, pecans, or any other topping you like on top of the spread.
On the two bare sections of puff pastry dough, slice an even number of sections radiating from the center outward (these sections will become the braid). Then, fold the top and bottom lip of the center section of the dough, and then braid your cut sections over the center, overlapping one strand over the other until you reach the end.
Coat the puff pastry with a beaten egg to help it get a glossy coating once baked, and sprinkle a bit of sea salt over top before popping it into the oven.
Once the braid is puffed, baked, and cooled, you can top it with Drummond’s delicious glaze, which consists of powdered sugar whisked with vanilla extract and milk. Once everything is combined, drizzle the glaze over the braid before cutting and serving.
There are so many ways to customize this dessert. Drummond suggests swapping out the chocolate hazelnut spread with premade pie filling or fruit tossed with sugar and cornstarch for a fruity, sweet dessert. Or, you can do melted butter with cinnamon sugar and pumpkin pie spices for an autumn-flavored treat.
Grab the full recipe here and add this sweet treat to your repertoire. Your guests won’t believe just how simple and easy this dessert is to make — shh! We won’t tell them, either!
Before you go, check out our slideshow below:
“They’re finally back!” Laura from the Costco Hot Finds Instagram account said in a recent video. “It’s pumpkin spice muffin season in the Costco bakery. You get eight in a pack. These are soft, super moist, and they smell out of this world. I love that pumpkin spice streusel on top. These are perfect with a cup of coffee.”
These are all-butter muffins, meaning they literally melt in your mouth when you eat them, and they’re made with moist and flavorful pumpkin puree, which Costco works into its signature pumpkin spice batter. You can grab a pack of eight muffins for just $6.99.
“Oh, I will be spreading cream cheese on mine!!” one person commented on Laura’s post. Another person said, “With a pumpkin latte…..yum.”
In the comments section, Laura recommends keeping these muffins in the freezer (or the fridge) until you’re going to warm one up and eat them. Because they’re so moist and packed with butter, they might spoil faster than other pastries. “The good thing is they’re not filled with preservatives,” she wrote, adding, “so just pop them in the freezer and they’ll be good as the day you brought them home when you heat them up!”
A few minutes in the air fryer or toaster oven will make these muffins taste like they just came out of the oven for the first time!
Pick up a package (or two!) of Costco’s pumpkin spice muffins to ring in pumpkin spice season in the best, most delicious way possible!
Satisfy your sweet tooth with more awesome Costco bakery items seen in the gallery below.
Every year, it seems like we spend an inordinate amount of time researching new zucchini recipes to keep up with our freakishly productive garden patch, but this year, we’re already done. That’s because Martha Stewart just shared her recipe for a double-chocolate zucchini sheet cake with a decadent cream cheese frosting that’s perfect for all of your end-of-summer, beginning-of-fall get-togethers, potlucks, picnics, and barbecues, and we may never want to use zucchini another way again.
Earlier this week, Stewart shared a pic of the decadent go-to on her Instagram. She shared the photo with the caption, reading, “Our chocolate-zucchini cake is just the thing for a summer party. It packs in four whole cups of shredded zucchini for a nutritional boost and plenty of moisture. We love topping it with a tangy cream-cheese frosting and, for an eye-catching finish, a few sugared zucchini blossoms. Tender, chocolatey, and just sweet enough, this summery cake is an all-around winner. Get the recipe at the link in our bio. 📷: @jason_donnelly_photography.”
What we love about this recipe is that, while you can’t taste the zucchini at all, it does serve an important purpose in the recipe. The water in the zucchini helps keep the cake super-moist, and the zucchini also adds a dose of healthy fiber to each square of cake you cut from the pan. We also love that the cake is made in a jelly roll pan, making for easier serving when dining will a crowd.
After grating your zucchini, you’ll want to drain it, and then squeeze the excess moisture out. You can do this by putting the grated zucchini in a square of cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel, then twisting it into a ball to squeeze out the water. This is what will give the cake the right balance of moisture without being watery.
For the chocolate, Stewart uses Dutch-processed cocoa powder, which gives the cake that signature deep, dark chocolate color. She also adds in some chopped semisweet chocolate, for even more decadence.
Last but not least, you won’t want to leave off the smooth, rich cream cheese frosting. It has just enough tang to cut through all the sweetness. Stewart also decorates her cake with sugared zucchini blossoms, which she says taste like candied pumpkin. If you can get zucchini blossoms from your garden, or the farmer’s market, it’s a fun project to try, and not too complicated — you basically just toss zucchini blossoms with oil and sugar, then slowly bake them at a low temperature until dry.
The end result? A decadent double chocolate cake that your friends and family will beg you to make all summer, and a zucchini recipe you finally won’t get tired of.
Get Stewart’s full recipe for her Chocolate-Zucchini Sheet Cake With Cream-Cheese Frosting HERE!
Before you go, check out the gallery below:
Watch: How to Make Sugar Cookie Berry Pizza
We know there are a lot of royal rules, but it seems there isn’t much about what they eat (besides avoiding shellfish)! During a royal trip back in 2016, specifically during their visits to India and Bhutan, Kate spoke to model Neelam Gill about her love for curry, to which Gill said that Kate “told me she loved Indian food, so I told her she’d be fine with the spices.” However, the Prince of Wales “struggles with the spices.”
Now, it’s unclear what types of curry she likes, but we do know about one recipe she adored back in 2013 when she was pregnant.
During her pregnancy, she enjoyed a vegetarian curry made of potatoes, peas, black lentils, spinach and cauliflower, prepared by Bucklebury’s Peach’s Spar store owner, Chan Shingadia’s wife, Hash Shingadia., per UsWeekly.
However, back then, it wasn’t spicy, so it seems Kate has truly embraced the spicier side of Indian cuisine (sans William, of course).
Before you go, check out our gallery:
From her outrageous garlic bread (trust us, it lives up to the name) to a simple summer pasta recipe that marinates fresh garlic with juicy tomatoes, these dishes prove there’s no limit to garlic’s versatility. We’ve included weeknight-friendly sides like crispy roasted potatoes and garlicky sautéed spinach, as well as hearty mains like roast chicken and a bold shrimp appetizer. Whether you’re cooking for friends, family, or just yourself, these Ina Garten recipes will bring big flavor and satisfy any garlic lover.
]]>Mealtime can feel like a constant chore, even for those of us who like to cook. This is where ChatGPT comes in to save the day. Sharing creative recipe ideas, meal planning, helping you plan dinner using the ingredients you have, and most importantly, helping you get dinner on the table fast.
For parents, especially, offloading some of the mental load onto ChatGPT can ease stress and solve the daily, unending conundrum: “What’s for dinner tonight?” If you’re sick of the same old cycle of weeknight dinners or want to empower your tween to whip up their own after-school snack, ChatGPT has got your back.
Below, we’re sharing 11 practical, creative, and genuinely helpful ChatGPT cooking prompts that can help you meal plan smarter, cook faster, and give you some fresh ideas (and cooking techniques) to spice up your mealtime repertoire.
1. “I have chicken thighs, kale, and sweet potatoes. What can I make for dinner in under 30 minutes?”
This is the holy grail of weeknight prompts: quick, flexible, and focused on what you already have. ChatGPT can help you avoid a last-minute grocery run (or DoorDash order) by pulling together a recipe from ingredients already in your fridge and pantry. It’s great for those moments when you just can’t conceive of what to put on a plate.
2. “What’s a weeknight dinner rotation I can follow to reduce stress — something like pasta Mondays, taco Tuesdays, etc.?”
Having a loose dinner framework takes the mental load out of “what’s for dinner?” It’s hugely helpful for busy families. This prompt helps you set up themed nights that still offer flexibility but make grocery shopping and weekly planning easier and more efficient. Customize the prompt further with your own likes and dislikes.
3. “Suggest five quick, high-protein breakfasts I can make in under 10 minutes before work.”
Busy mornings are inevitable. This prompt gives you fast, protein-packed breakfast ideas like Greek yogurt parfaits, veggie egg bites, cottage cheese toast, or smoothie blends that will keep you full until lunch. Great for anyone tight on time who wants to start the day on a healthy note.
4. “Give me 3 kid-approved meals that are also adult-friendly.”
Tired of cooking two separate dinners every night? This prompt helps you find that sweet spot where kid comfort food meets grown-up flavor. Think baked chicken tenders with an herby dipping sauce, veggie-loaded quesadillas, or creamy pasta with hidden greens. It’s all about meals your kids will eat without protest — and that you’ll actually enjoy, too.
5. “Give me a Sunday meal prep plan with 3 mains and 2 sides.”
Future you will thank you for this prompt. Sit back and let ChatGPT create a balanced, easy prep plan so your fridge is stocked with ready-to-eat meals, saving you time, money, and decision fatigue all week long.
6. “Build me a grocery list and five-day meal plan for under $75.”
Especially helpful for anyone on a budget, this prompt gives cost-conscious, filling meals and organizes them into a full plan and shopping list.
7. “What meals can I make this week using Costco / Trader Joe’s staples?”
Great for shoppers who rely on bulk or specialty store staples. ChatGPT helps translate your go-to items into practical meal ideas that don’t feel repetitive and can inspire new ways of whipping up ingredients – think sheet pan gnocchi, flatbread pizzas, and chana masala rice bowls.
8. “Help me plan a dinner party menu for 6 people — something seasonal and simple but impressive.”
Entertaining for a crowd? ChatGPT will create a balanced menu that fits the season, tastes great, and won’t have you stuck in the kitchen all night. With recipes and shopping lists, you’ll be super organized for your next dinner party. Bonus prompt: ask ChatGPT to curate a seasonal cocktail or wine pairing for the meal!
9. “Give me a holiday brunch menu I can prep the night before.”
Take the stress out of entertaining and allow ChatGPT to do its thing. ChatGPT will offer overnight casseroles, baked goods, and easy make-ahead dishes to help you host a festive, low-stress holiday brunch.
10. “What kitchen skills should I master to make everyday cooking easier?”
Looking to level up your cooking skills? This prompt gives you a shortlist of essential skills (like knife technique, how to cook grains properly, or seasoning 101) that will give you kitchen confidence.
11. “Teach me how to pan-sear salmon properly — step by step like a beginner.”
Another chef skill in your back pocket. ChatGPT breaks down the pan-searing process in simple, beginner-friendly steps – from choosing the right pan and cooking oil to knowing when to flip. You can now enjoy restaurant-quality salmon at home.
]]>Ina Garten is the master of transforming exquisite-looking, delicious meals into approachable, everyday recipes. For any avid follower of the celebrity chef, you know about her love of tomatoes. While she frequently recommends the canned variety to make her meals quick and easy, Garten clearly loves to use gorgeous, colorful, fresh tomatoes in her summer-ready dishes. In fact, she recently took to Instagram to celebrate tomato season and share her favorite easy tomato recipes.
“For me, tomatoes and corn are the taste of summer,” Garten captioned her post.
If you love tomatoes as much as Garten, here are all of the easy, light, and refreshing Ina Garten tomato recipes you need to have in your summer recipe arsenal.
Heirloom Tomatoes & Blue Cheese Salad
While tomatoes and mozzarella are a classic summer pairing, why not change things up by swapping the delicate mozzarella for some tangy blue cheese? It’s perfect for a fun take on an old classic. Plus, there’s no cooking involved!
Get the full recipe from Barefoot Contessa
Anna’s Tomato Tart
If you’re looking for a tomato-centric main dish and are craving something with a bit more substance, Garten has you and your plate covered — with cheese, that is. Whether you’re looking for a fresh dinner party recipe or to impress your friends and family with something special, follow Garten’s instructions to make a homemade crust (it calls for a secret ingredient: dried beans!). For the filling, Garten keeps it simple with sliced tomatoes, Guryére and Parmesan cheeses, fresh herbs, olive oil, and Dijon mustard for some extra flavor and depth. Get the full recipe here. (It’s also, as she helpfully notes, on page 79 of Cooking for Jeffrey.)
Slow-Roasted Tomato & Ricotta Bruschetta
Want to “#keepitsimple” but still whip up a crowd-pleaser? This dish calls for just three ingredients: fresh bread, soft cheese, and some slow-roasted tomatoes. Garten explained how she “didn’t even need a recipe!!” And, even without instructions, we trust that this five-minute appetizer will not disappoint. The chef suggests pairing it with either pesto pasta or grilled lamb chops for one easy, dinner party-ready spread.
Grilled Bread With Tomatoes
This dish proves that less truly can be more and is perfect for vegans or anyone just trying to cut down on dairy. With only tomatoes, spices, and some fresh greens, this bruschetta-inspired dish is perfect for a hot day and to serve alongside other small plates or for happy hour. Grill up thick slices of rustic bread and top with some raw, ripe tomatoes, olive oil, and herbs for a delicious, nutritious snack or side any time of the day.
Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad
If you’re looking for an indulgent option without the bread, this timeless Caprese salad is perfect for the hot weather. To make Ina Garten’s take on this classic Italian starter, use plum tomatoes and soft fresh mozzarella with some balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, spices, and a bit of sugar. Top with basil leaves for a refreshing, artisanal touch. Get the full recipe here.
Tomato & Goat Cheese Crostata
For an elevated version of your standard homemade pizza, try out Ina Garten’s Tomato Crostata. Garten shared a similar recipe with Food Network that you make in under an hour. To make this recipe, use puff pastry, goat cheese, a tomato, onions, garlic, some fresh herbs, dry white wine, and good olive oil. Sauté the onion according to the directions, assemble, and place the tart in the oven for a nearly effortless Italian meal. Get the full recipe here.
Before you go, check out our gallery of Ina Garten’s best dinner recipes below:
From finger foods kids and adults will want to chow down on, to more elevated apps for kid-free events, we’ve curated a list of appatizer recipes that are so easy, they almost don’t need recipe instructions. So browse through our top easy appetizer picks and enjoy eliminating the stress of menu planning for your next gathering.
Bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese
Bacon-wrapped dates are that elusive combination of super-fancy and super-easy.
Get the full recipe from Pinch of Yum.
Honey & pistachio goat cheese appetizer
Want something a little more involved than a cheese plate? Try this honey and pistachio goat cheese, which guests can spread on crackers, apple slices or whatever other vessels you serve.
Get the full recipe from A Southern Soul.
Easy, cheesy garlic bread
Cheesy garlic bread may not be the most elevated appetizer, but its flavor is definitely award-winning.
Get the full recipe from Cafe Delites.
Mini-quiche
This recipe gives four suggestions for mini-quiche filling. Try all four or pick ~The Favourite~ and just make one.
Get the full recipe from Culinary Hill.
Ahi tuna cucumber bites
These next-level tuna cucumber bites call for high-quality fish but are really easy to throw together once you have the ingredients.
Get the full recipe from Paleo Leap.
Asparagus-pancetta puff pastry bundles
Store-bought puff pastry is the ultimate secret weapon when it comes to simple, classy appetizers. Here, it gets some vegetable treatment with asparagus-pancetta puff pastry bundles.
Get the full recipe from Completely Delicious.
Smoked salmon sandwiches
Serve smoked salmon sandwiches at you’re parties and we’ll RSVP yes every time.
Get the full recipe from Recipe Tin Eats.
3-ingredient cranberry-brie bites
Another great way to put puff pastry to use? Three-ingredient cranberry-brie bites.
Get the full recipe from Tablespoon.
Crab-stuffed potatoes
The cool thing about these crab-stuffed potatoes is that you can use small potatoes for the appetizer version or make giant ones with baking potatoes.
Get the full recipe from Life Currents.
Spinach dip bites
Love spinach dip, hate the mess? These spinach dip bites are perfect.
Get the full recipe from Lil’ Luna.
Cranberry-prosciutto crostini
Breaking news: Cranberry sauce is not just for Thanksgiving. Keep a can or two on hand to whip up these super easy crostinis.
Get the full recipe from Pizzazzerie.
Skillet black bean queso dip
This elegant skillet queso will be the star of your spread.
Get the full recipe from Peas and Crayons.
Bacon & spinach 4-cheese stuffed mushrooms
These bacon-spinach-cheese-stuffed mushrooms are even more stacked than this year’s best picture category.
Get the full recipe from Will Cook for Smiles.
White pizza dip
No matter what kind of party you’re throwing, white pizza dip deserves an invitation.
Get the full recipe from How Sweet Eats.
]]>If you’re the type of person who likes to put thought into every single detail of entertaining, then you likely have a stash of decorative ice cube trays already on lock. But these new molds from Target’s Threshold line should be added to your Halloween collection ASAP. They come in super fun shapes that will make your guests do a double-take at whatever potion you’re handing them.
They’re the perfect accessory for any spooky season cocktail party, and at just $10 each, you can collect them all.
The Skull Ice Cube Mold from Threshold comes with four skull-shaped cavities to freeze some super spooky skull-shaped cubes. Place the two halves of the mold together and use the included funnel to fill the entire compartment. After a few hours in the freezer, you’ll be left with bone-chilling cubes that are perfect for your Halloween goblet.
Threshold Skull Ice Cube Mold
You can use regular water for these ice cubes, or make them stand out even more by using cranberry or grape juice to add a bit of depth to the cube (and flavor to the drink!).
Looking for something not so spooky? This Threshold mold makes your ice into rose-shaped cubes, which can actually be used for cocktails well past Halloween. This vampy mold is filled the same way as the skull mold and is top-rack dishwasher safe, so cleanup is a breeze.
Threshold Roses Ice Cube Mold
How cute would these look floating in a coupe glass or bobbing up and down in a glass of rosé?
And if you’re still going strong in your Reputation Era, then check out this ice cube mold that shapes your cubes into snakes. This mold works similarly to the other two, but instead of having one smooth side and one side with an indentation, the entire cube is shaped like a coiled snake. The snake’s head on each cube sticks up a bit, so it will look like he’s coming up for air when put into your drink.
All of these ice cube molds are available at Target right now for just $10 each, so grab one of each to make every drink a little extra special this Halloween season. Both you and your guests won’t be able to get enough of them!
Before you go, check out our slideshow below:
“Good morning to this cinnamon roll peach cobbler only! 🤩🍑” Ree Drummond wrote on The Pioneer Woman Magazine’s Instagram page. That’s right: sweet cinnamon rolls combined with a mouth-watering peach cobbler makes for a fabulous breakfast.
In the caption, Drummond described her Cinnamon Roll Peach Cobbler recipe like this, “This shortcut recipe layers warm, bubbling peaches under fluffy cinnamon rolls for a dish that’s part breakfast, part dessert, and completely irresistible.”
Um, you don’t have to tell us twice — we need this recipe immediately.
Start by slicing peaches (or using sliced frozen peaches to make it even easier) and putting it in a saucepan with melted butter. Then you’ll add lemon juice, cinnamon, sugar, and other ingredients, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Once it’s done, you’ll pour the entire mixture in a 2-quart baking dish. That handles the cobbler part of the recipe, now for the cinnamon rolls.
Luckily, this recipe calls for a storebought tube of large cinnamon rolls, which you’ll slice in half to get 10 cinnamon rolls. Put them in the dish, covering the peaches mixture as much as you can. Pop them in the oven while the kids get ready for school and let cool 10 minutes before glazing them with the icing that came in the tube. This icing replaces the vanilla ice cream that you usually have with cobbler, adding the final sweet touch to this mouth-watering breakfast.
We need a new name for a breakfast/dessert combo that’s as decadent as this — breaksert? Desserfast? Either way, we’re obsessed.
Get Drummond’s full Cinnamon Roll Peach Cobbler recipe HERE.
Before you go, check out our slideshow below: