Latest news with #Chowhound
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How To Dress Up Those Store-Bought Cupcakes So They Look Professional
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. When you want a particularly polished dessert to present on an extra special occasion, you typically have two options. You can spend several bucks a pop at the finest confectionery in town, or you can unlock some previously unseen skill as a pâtissier. The former option gets expensive when you're buying more than a couple of treats, and the latter is largely unrealistic in most cases. While something like cupcakes can be relatively easy to make at home, all the steps between mixing and finally frosting can be prohibitively time consuming. A pack of good old supermarket cupcakes, instead, can split the difference Buttercream or bare cupcakes (even some sweet muffins can pass as a bare-faced cupcake) take best to customization. The soft topping is a good base for additions, and the plain one is obviously even more customizable with store-bought frosting hacks that add color and flavor. And you can dress either up with items you already have on hand, or source some with extra care for this very occasion. A melted chocolate drizzle or chocolate shavings, which you can simply create with a candy bar and a vegetable peeler, can add some professional pizzazz. So can a literal cherry on top, should you have a jar of oversized Bada Bings kicking around. And when you're going out of your way to jazz things up, Bee Point edible gold literally gilds those readymade treats like little else. Read more: 11 Store-Bought Chocolate Cakes, Ranked Worst To Best Those gold flakes are a go-to for desserts that stun, and a whole glittering tableau can give a batch of cupcakes a high-end cohesion. Shining sugar pearl sprinkles in alternating metallics or even mixed on each cupcake, create an intentional, tailored look that could have very well been conceived by a dessert professional. The same goes for food-grade glitter, too. Vibrantly hued edible flowers also create a beautifully blooming garden motif that seems like it's straight out of a magazine. These types of items aren't most folks' idea of pantry essentials, but it's always a good idea to keep a little something that adds only an aesthetic value lying around. If you've been thrust into a truly last minute cupcake decorating emergency, there is also an admittedly goofy, but still pretty brilliant way to decorate frosted cakes with a paper towel hack that works on more petite sweets, too. And, if you've gone the unfrosted route with plans to top the cupcakes at home, you can make store-bought frosting taste much better with just a few minutes of whipping. Read the original article on Chowhound.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
The 2-Ingredient Gin Cocktail You'll Be Drinking All Summer Long
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Gin often makes the short list of the essential spirits you need to have a functional home bar, and for good reason. The liquor is used in bonafide classic cocktails such as the Negroni, and it's a versatile ingredient in your drinks regardless of the time of year. Gin can be incorporated into quintessential fall-inspired cocktails, and you can even bring the warmth to your gin and tonics for the biting cold of winter. And when summer is around the corner, gin once again emerges as a frontrunner for your cocktails of choice with the ultra-simple summer collins, a two-ingredient drink combining only gin and lemonade. The summer collins is bright, citrusy, and floral -- perfect refreshment on a summer day. The botanicals in gin, such as juniper, coriander, and citrus peel, lend a much more complex and floral flavor to this drink compared to a neutral spirit like vodka, while it has a lighter and brighter profile compared to a warmer spirit like whiskey. The thing to consider here is strength. Some recommend a simple 50/50 mix of gin and lemonade, but that's a pretty potent glass. Consider a more traditional mixed drink ratio -- around one part gin for every three parts lemonade -- to combat the summer heat. With the summer collins, that last task should be pretty easy. Read more: 11 Ginger Ale Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best What Makes A Summer Collins? Two Tom Collins cocktails -On the surface, it's simple: just gin and lemonade. But as with all things mixology, the details provide a lot more depth and need some attention. The main thing to consider here is what qualifies as lemonade to you. In the United States, the drink is usually just a blend of lemon juice, water, and a sweetener. But across the pond in Europe, it's often a carbonated product by default -- something more akin to a citrus soda. Even the name "summer collins" hints at this fizzy origin, since its predecessor, the Tom Collins, includes soda water. Adding citrus sodas or syrups to drinks is pretty common in Europe -- just look at the shandy and radler. When you use a sparkling lemonade, the summer collins becomes yet another example of this easy but effective formula. Of course, carbonation isn't required to make this drink sing. A summer collins made with fresh lemonade will still be plenty revitalizing in the summer heat. Just make sure to choose among the best lemonades you can buy if you don't make your own. You could even throw a change-up with a deliciously minty Egyptian lemonade, which should mix incredibly well with your gin. And don't forget that you can play with your gin, too, including nonalcoholic options like Monday Zero Alcohol Gin. No matter what ingredients you choose, you should be in for some fresh and relaxing summer sips. Read the original article on Chowhound.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Texas Roadhouse's Chili Is A Fan-Favorite Thanks To One Special Ingredient
While Texas Roadhouse is best known for its steaks, the chain restaurant's sides and add-ons are just as beloved, whether that's its world-famous rolls or its hearty Texas chili. The latter ranked high on our list of the best Texas Roadhouse appetizers, and netizens agree that the meaty stew is tops — some even consider it a can't-miss item on the menu. Accordingly, people are as hungry for the recipe as they are for the actual chili. A number of employees at the chain have shared their insider knowledge on social media and explained that the quality comes from the meat that Texas Roadhouse uses in its chili. According to a Reddit thread, the ground beef is made from the trimmed ends of the hand-cut steaks the restaurant serves, meaning you're getting bits of filet, ribeye, and more in your bowl. While a number of past and present employees have corroborated this process, it hasn't been officially confirmed by the company. If you're unconvinced, you can ask the employees at your nearest location for more information. Read more: The Best Texas Roadhouse Menu Items, Ranked Texas Roadhouse prides itself on using high-quality meat, so the trimmings that go into its chili are a huge step up from the ground chuck roast you're probably used to eating. This cut is commonly used in chili because all of the other, saucy ingredients help soften the tough meat up. The fatty end trimmings that Texas Roadhouse uses aren't super delicious on their own, but the low-and-slow cooking required for chili makes them moist and flavorful. All of that fat will leach into the chili as it stews, giving you a fuller mouthfeel and richer taste. Copycat recipes for the chili recommend using beef chuck roast. Alongside the medley of spices and veggies, this comes close to the original dish and offers an affordable, at-home alternative — you're probably raising your eyebrows at the idea of buying an expensive steak just to grind up for chili! For the real deal, you'll have to either shell out big or head to your local Texas Roadhouse and take advantage of the restaurant's $3 cup of chili made with steak trimmings. Read the original article on Chowhound.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Store-Bought Potato Salad Is The Only One You Should Be Eating
Potato salads complete the plate, there's simply no debating that. In fact, the potato salad appreciation is felt around the world with varying takes from dinner tables in Ethiopia to Greece. This is all testament to the fact that a glorious potato salad that sits well on the taste buds is worth shouting about. While there are certainly ways to make a winning potato salad with the help of some flavorful ingredients, there is nothing like a pre-made potato salad that leaves you wanting a few spoonfuls more, every time. Sprouts' Deviled Egg Potato Salad is exactly that. Led entirely by a deep love for potato salad-adorned meals, Chowhound's own Noelle Giannina ran through the best to the worst of store-bought potato salads. The idea was to taste test the best of deli potato salads from some of the most popular grocery stores found in the country. The flavors ranged from rich and sweet to overly preservative-laden to a tub's worth of disappointingly mushy potatoes. The combination of creaminess and tanginess made Sprouts' Deviled Potato Salad stand out the most, making it a clear winner. Read more: Store-Bought Pickles, Ranked From Worst To Best Since potato salad is classically a side dish, it sometimes gets less of the seasoning, attention and enthusiasm from cooks looking to make an impression with the main meal. Fresh and natural ingredients were therefore considered in the ranking, which was favorable for the Sprouts' salad, which prioritized the key ingredients as whole foods (potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and mayonnaise are listed as the first three ingredients), packing in lots of fresh, natural flavor. Despite the fact that the Sprouts' Deviled Eggs Potato Salad is far from the classic and traditional version, it makes use of some of the same pickled ingredients and fragrant ingredients -- like garlic, paprika, and onion -- that boost most potato salad recipes. The extra addition of egg may make this potato salad sound off-putting if you're not keen on potent eggy flavors, but the hard-boiled egg taste is not dominant at all, making it a mellow addition that mingles in with the range of flavors in a perfect balance. This Southern-inspired potato salad does justice to the culinary reputation of the region, so you can expect every mouthful to be pretty committed to full-bodied flavor. It also is a great dish to bring along to most occasions, including summer picnics or even as part of an Easter meal, as is tradition with deviled eggs. As one of the heartier potato salads, it can be enjoyed warm or served cold to complement your meal. Sprouts' Deviled Egg Potato Salad comes in at $5.99 for a 15 ounce serving. Read the original article on Chowhound.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trader Joe's Is Recalling A Popular Condiment. Here's What You Need To Know
Attention Trader Joe's enthusiasts and condiment collectors, you might want to check your cabinets and fridge doors. The tIki-themed, California-based, cult-favorite grocery chain that is best known for its many snack food options announced a recall for its popular Hot Honey Mustard Dressing on March 29, 2025. The Trader Joe's website notes that the recall is due to the fact that the dressing may contain undisclosed peanut, sesame, soy, and wheat, which could be dangerous for those who are allergic to any of these ingredients. This follows a February 2024 recall of Trader Joe's products due to risk of listeria. So far, no issues regarding the Hot Honey Mustard have been reported by customers. Impacted products were sold in Arkansas, Colorado, Washington D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Read more: The Best And Worst Barbecue Sauces To Buy At The Grocery Store Recalled bottles of Trader Joe's Hot Honey Mustard Dressing have a sell-by date of May 27, 2025. You can also identify impacted products by the stock keeping unit number, or SKU, which is located on the exterior of each bottle. The SKU of affected bottles is 80152. If you believe you have a recalled bottle, you can either dispose of the product or return it to your local store for a refund with no issue (Trader Joe's has one of the best return policies in the business, after all). If you would like to speak to someone regarding this recall, you can call the Trader Joe's Customer Relations department at 626-599-3817. If you prefer, you may also email the chain through the customer product feedback page. Additionally, you can contact the issuer of the product, Fresh Creative Foods, by calling its customer support line at 888-223-2127. The line is active Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Pacific Time Zone. Read the original article on Chowhound.
