Chris Cooks
Roasted Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts with Red Pepper Sauce
Jules has really been into Brussels sprouts lately (as she showed in our fridge tour), and while she could eat them the same way every day, if I'm gonna enjoy it then I gotta mix it up. Roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts are a timeless pair - add a roasted red pepper sauce and this […]
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August 4, 2024
Chris Cooks
The Best Steak Frites Recipe On The Internet
Have you ever played that game with friends where you ask, "What would you choose for your last meal?" Well, steak frites is my pick. While this traditional dish of steak and fries is often served in European brasseries, I love Asian flavors, so I came up with this unexpected — but entirely tasty — […]
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July 21, 2024
Chris Cooks
A Non-Vegan's Favorite Vegan Mushroom Taco Recipe
I have a thing for tacos. They're just everything you could want in a tasty little handheld package. I've done smash burger tacos, chicharron de ribeye tacos, al pastor tacos, and grilled steak tacos. But when I want to serve tacos to some of my vegan friends and family members, I put mushroom tacos on […]
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July 14, 2024
Chris Cooks
Easy Chili Lime Grilled Shrimp Recipe
We’ve been traveling to several North Carolina beaches this spring and summer, and I’m always in search of some good seafood. The coastline has great shrimp that is often fried or steamed, but this time of year I crave the flavor of the grill. Plus I love adding fresh flavors and herbs to my dishes, […]
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July 7, 2024
Chris Cooks
All of Our Best Picnic Salads | Chris Cooks
One of my favorite things about summer is eating (and cooking) outside. Who doesn't love a picnic? It's the ultimate grab-and-go meal. Yes, there's some prep involved, but that always makes the food taste even better. And to me, it's not a real picnic unless you have a salad or two. It's nice to have […]
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June 23, 2024
Chris Cooks
The Best Potato Salad Recipe for People Who Don't Like Potato Salad
I'm not really a traditional potato salad guy. They can be kind of gummy and flavorless with very little texture other than a little bit of celery. But I do love potatoes (I'm from Idaho after all), and I wanted to give this side a chance to redeem itself by creating a potato salad that […]
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June 23, 2024
Chris Cooks
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Macadamia Nut Pesto
Grilled pork tenderloin is inexpensive, super tender, really juicy, and quick to cook. That makes it an all-star protein in my book. I love to serve it simply grilled with a flavor-packed sauce, and so I decided to do a take on a pesto featuring the classic basil and olive oil base, but swapping in […]
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June 16, 2024
Chris Cooks
Virgin Piña Colada Italian Ice in the Ninja CREAMi
All summer long, I want something fresh and cold, and frozen desserts just win every time. Italian ice is a classic dessert that was created in the United States by Italian immigrants but it was likely inspired by Sicilian granita. (This article from Saveur is an amazing deep dive into Sicily's contributions to the world […]
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June 9, 2024
Chris Cooks
Italian Summer Pasta Salad (Grain-Free, Dairy-Free)
This recipe is a mixture of several pasta salads I grew up eating. It has an Italian flavor profile with lots of basil, tomatoes, Italian sausage and figs, but I add more texture and color with plenty of vegetables, some grilled, some raw. They're all chopped up to make a fresh salad that's an amazing […]
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June 2, 2024
Chris Cooks
Best Hot Dog Toppings - The Ultimate Hot Dog Bar
For someone who loves to cook things from scratch, you might be surprised to learn that hot dogs are my favorite food. There, I said it. And I stand by it. What really makes hot dogs fun are the toppings you can add to them - endless combinations, and a great way to serve a […]
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May 26, 2024
Chris Cooks
Rotisserie-Smoked Leg of Lamb
Leg of lamb is such a dramatic dish. And if you're going to cook one, slow-roasted on a rotisserie in a smoke-filled grill chamber is about as good as it gets. There's just something about the way the smoke of a grill coaxes out so much flavor from lamb...it's incredible. I wanted to create a […]
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May 19, 2024
Chris Cooks
Recipes You Can Make For Mom On Mother's Day | Chris Cooks
This year for Mother's Day, I wanted to share with you some delicious dishes you can make for your mom, your wife, or any mother figure in your life to show some love and gratitude. Now, since I do 90% of the cooking in our house, Mother's Day is just a regular day of cooking, […]
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May 2, 2024
Chris Cooks
Roasted Cauliflower with Homemade Dairy Free Caesar Dressing
I'm so proud of cauliflower. 20 years ago, I mean who would have thought, right? You can get it tempura-fried, roasted in romesco sauce, served as a steak - endless options! Here's another for you, featuring a homemade dairy free Caesar dressing that is just as good — if not better — than the original […]
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April 14, 2024
Chris Cooks
Virgin Mojito Recipe: Cucumber Honey "Nojito"
The warmth of the sun is calling me outside more and more these days, and I love it. Soon enough, though, it will be summer, and we'll be sweating profusely, looking for relief. And when I need some refreshment, few drinks hit the spot for me like a "Nojito." This is a non-alcoholic take on the […]
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April 7, 2024
Chris Cooks
The Best Deviled Egg Recipe - A Classic
It's no secret that I'm a deviled eggs connoisseur of sorts. I've professed my love for smoked salmon deviled eggs, pickled beet deviled eggs — even drunken deviled eggs. But silly me skipped right over the classic deviled egg recipe, and I feel that it's best we back track and share how to make the […]
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March 30, 2024
Chris Cooks
The Best Dairy-Free Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (No Grain or Gluten)
I've shared a recipe for tasty mashed potatoes, we've talked perfecting the baked potato, and I've reached food nirvana with the cheese-less potato casserole. But this recipe today is extra special. There's something that just says "you made a lot of effort" about homemade scalloped potatoes, but that béchamel is a no-no for the dairy-free […]
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March 24, 2024
Chris Cooks
A Dairy-Free Take on the Shamrock-Green Shake
The challenge? To make a non-dairy — but delicious — green take on the iconic shake that everyone loves this time of year. We all know it's not hard to make a green smoothie. Add some spinach or kale, and bingo — you've gone green. But I wanted this shake to be a little more […]
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March 17, 2024
Chris Cooks
How to Bake a Potato Perfectly, Every Time
I'm an Idaho boy. I lived there for almost my entire life (until moving to NC a couple years ago). And while there are many areas in Idaho, I grew up deep in the heart of potato farming country and I loved it. Every October our schools would close for two weeks so all the […]
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March 10, 2024
Chris Cooks
Plant-Based Protein Balls - PB&J Chocolate Chip
A grab & go protein snack that doesn't contain grain, gluten, or dairy is harder to come by than one might think. It's not until you develop sensitivities to these foods and start reading every food label that you realize that nearly all protein snacks contain, whey, rice, quinoa, grain-based syrups, oats, or any number […]
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March 3, 2024
Chris Cooks
How to Make the Best Thai Massaman Curry
Let's address the elephant in the room - no, I am not from Thailand. I've never even been (though it is a dream of mine)! I know that tends to make people feel some kind of way, especially with International cuisine. But I feel that I need to share this authentic Massaman curry recipe anyway, […]
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February 25, 2024
