Grocery store junk food dinner ideas that satisfy cravings without cooking - CNN

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• Grocery store junk food dinner ideas that satisfy cravings without cooking - CNN
• This Easy Instant Pot Chicken Dish Can Create a Week’s Worth of Healthy Dinners - Well+Good
• WHAT'S FOR DINNER: Organic bone-in chicken cut into eight pieces - WPEC
• Easy Summer Menu Ideas - Summer Dinner Party Menu and Recipes - Parade

Grocery store junk food dinner ideas that satisfy cravings without cooking - CNN Posted: 24 Jul 2020 11:02 AM PDT Of course, you know a kale salad topped with a healthy protein and loaded with veggies is what you should be eating for dinner tonight. But as the Covid-19 pandemic still has us socially isolated, concerned about the health of our loved ones and worrying about cutting expenses to stay financially stable in these uncertain times, what we want is something affordable — and preferably cheesy — that can pretty much cook itself. Stress makes us want junk food Market research company IRI Worldwide reported in April that frozen food spending was up 31% over a year ago, while packaged food purchases were up 21%. Dr. Alison Mitzner, a family wellness expert, says — no surprise here — stress can lead to emotional eating. "Stress also causes an increase in hormones such as cortisol, which can in turn increase cravings for sugar, salt and fatty foods," she says. "Also, in times of stress, many people eat comfort foods and have unhealthier food cravings, as they are often associated with positive memories such as holidays." In fact, according to a 2015 Harris Poll, 67% of Americans say they turn to comfort food as a pick-me-up. Their faves? Pizza, followed by chocolate and ice cream tying for second and mac and cheese coming in third. And a study from Cornell Food and Brand Lab found when an environment is cluttered and chaotic, it can lead to choosing more indulgent food. So, we're bound to cave to cravings occasionally, and especially during times like these. Should the urge for those frozen pizzas, lasagnas or pot pies you gobbled down as a kid suddenly strike, just remember moderation is key. Mitzner says, "It is normal and OK to want the occasional extra snack or unhealthier option, but you don't want it to become a way to deal with your emotions or a way to cope." Sure, we try to fill our virtual grocery carts with mostly healthy options, but here are a few frozen comfort foods we're not ashamed to admit to snagging as well. All in moderation, of course. 18 frozen junk food dinners we're craving Marie Callender's Vermont Macaroni and Cheese (prices vary by location; instacart.com) Marie Callender's Vermont Macaroni And Cheese Peanut butter and jelly. Bacon and eggs. Macaroni and cheese. We'll take the latter when it comes to the world's greatest food pairings. We're not alone: A 2018 survey by Annie's found one-third of Americans say mac and cheese is their go-to comfort food. But how do you eat the dish? Of those polled, 71% of Americans use a fork, while 25% use a spoon. One thing not up for dispute: This bowl of comfort is delicious no matter which utensil you use. ______________________________________________________________________ State Fair Beef Corn Dogs (prices vary by location; target.com) State Fair Beef Corn Dogs - 5pk/13.35oz If you can't get out to the boardwalk and don't feel like trying a corn dog recipe at home, then nuke up a couple of these nostalgic and satisfying corn pups in the microwave in less than one minute, literally. ______________________________________________________________________ Evol Frozen Truffle Parmesan Macaroni and Cheese Bowl (prices vary by location; target.com) Evol Frozen Truffle Parmesan Macaroni and Cheese Bowl - 8oz We could honestly do a whole story on just mac and cheese, but we're listing a few options here that are so unique they don't feel repetitive. Like this truffle and Parmesan number that is a bestseller at Target. You know, to help you feel a little bit fancier when you transfer this from the microwave to a real bowl. ______________________________________________________________________ DiGiorno Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza (prices vary by location; instacart.com) DiGiorno Original Rising Crust Pepperoni Frozen Pizza Some say it can make you more productive at work. Some even say it may prevent illness and death. And it also ranks as the most addictive food. No wonder we could eat pizza — frozen, delivered or homemade — every day of the week. ______________________________________________________________________ Caribbean Frozen Foods Jamaican Style Beef Patties — Mild (prices vary by location; target.com) Caribbean Frozen Foods Jamaican Style Beef Patties - Mild - 9oz There's something about the distinct combination of jerk spices and flaky crust in a Jamaican beef patty that we can't help but crave. It doesn't hurt that they're ready after just two minutes in the microwave. ______________________________________________________________________ Stouffer's Classics Party Size Lasagna With Meat & Sauce (prices vary by location; instacart.com) Stouffer's CLASSICS Party Size Lasagna with Meat & Sauce If Stouffer's is good enough for NASA, it's good enough for us during quarantine. According to parent company Nestlé, astronauts were fed frozen meals from the brand upon the 1969 moon landing, and Tektite 2 marine research aquanauts were served Stouffer's in 1970 while in the Atlantic. ______________________________________________________________________ Tyson All Natural Crispy Frozen Chicken Strips (prices vary by location; target.com) Tyson All Natural Crispy Frozen Chicken Strips - 25oz Strips, fingers, nuggets, dinosaur-shaped — who cares? As long as it's breaded and easy to pop in the oven, some oil, a microwave or an air fryer, we're in. Add a little ketchup, ranch or barbecue sauce for dipping and dinner is served. ______________________________________________________________________ Ore-Ida Golden Tater Tots (prices vary by location; instacart.com) Ore-Ida Golden Tater Tots You can have your french fries. Take your onion rings. When it comes to indulgent side dishes, we're all about the classic tater tot. Invented in the 1950s by the Oregon-based Grigg brothers, who founded Ore-Ida, tater tots not only work as a yummy side dish but are the stuff of legend when used in a casserole. Just ask Napoleon Dynamite. ______________________________________________________________________ Bertolli Frozen Chicken Florentine & Farfalle (prices vary by location; target.com) Bertolli Frozen Chicken Florentine & Farfalle - 22oz Creamy pasta is on the table and ready to satisfy your taste buds in minutes with the ready-made chicken Florentine from Bertolli. There's spinach in it, so it's healthy — right? ______________________________________________________________________ El Monterey Steak & Three-Cheese Burritos (prices vary by location; instacart.com) El Monterey Shredded Steak & Three-Cheese Burritos Shredded steak. Cheddar, mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheeses. Mexican spices. Tortilla. Really, do you need anything else? ______________________________________________________________________ Mrs. T's Mini Classic Cheddar Pierogies (prices vary by location; instacart.com) Mrs. T's Mini Classic Cheddar Pierogies Comfort food doesn't get a whole lot more comforting than pierogies. Little dough pockets stuffed with whipped potatoes and aged cheddar cheese, Mrs. T's versions work as an appetizer, entree or snack. Or, in our case, all of the above. ______________________________________________________________________ Mrs. Paul's Xtra Large Crunchy Fish Sticks ($5.99; amazon.com) Mrs. Paul's Xtra Large Crunchy Fish Sticks, Frozen Seafood, 30 Count Popular since the 1950s, fish sticks are generally made from cod, then battered, deep-fried and frozen. "They are especially popular with children, who eat them with ketchup, tartar sauce or other flavorful dips," writes Sherri Machlin in "American Food by the Decades." She goes on to write that parents love the food because it saves time and their kids devour them. "In fact, children who do not like to eat fish usually like fish sticks." Was she spying on our childhood? ______________________________________________________________________ Totino's Pepperoni Pizza Rolls (prices vary by location; instacart.com) Totino's Pizza Rolls, Pepperoni Their website claims that they're the nation's top-selling hot snack and who are we to argue? Totino's Pizza Rolls are notorious for burning the roof of your mouth because no one can wait for them to cool down before cramming them in. OK, maybe that's just our shame to live with. Either way, these pizza bites are a snack food that just about any '80s, '90s and even '00s kid has satisfyingly called dinner. ______________________________________________________________________ Frozen Beef & Cheese Mini Tacos (prices vary by location; target.com) T.G.I. Fridays Cheddar & Bacon Loaded Potato Skins Taco night is a comfort all its own, but sometimes we just don't feel like putting in even that amount of minimal effort. These cute little mini tacos go straight from the microwave to your plate. Just add hot sauce, and dinner is fun and done! ______________________________________________________________________ TGI Fridays Cheddar & Bacon Loaded Potato Skins (prices vary by location; instacart.com) T.G.I. Fridays Cheddar & Bacon Loaded Potato Skins Craving your favorite bar snack but can't go to the bar? Here's the next best thing. According to the Idaho Potato Commission, potato skins debuted as an appetizer in the mid-1960s and "came from a radio story about sailors eating the vitamin-rich skins to ward off illness." ______________________________________________________________________ Mrs. Budd's Shepherd's Pie (prices vary by location; instacart.com) Mrs Budd's Mrs. Budd's Shepherd's Pie This meat and mashed potato classic may be high in calories and sodium but man does it taste good. ______________________________________________________________________ Hot Pockets Garlic Buttery Crust Pepperoni Pizza Sandwiches (prices vary by location; target.com) Hot Pockets Garlic Buttery Crust Pepperoni Pizza Sandwiches - 9oz/2ct Another pizza-like creation that we gravitate toward when we need a nostalgic trip down Junk Food Dinner Lane is pepperoni pizza Hot Pockets. They're kind of like the middle child between DiGiorno and Totino's, but we love them all the same. ______________________________________________________________________ Devour Buffalo Frozen Chicken Mac & Cheese (prices vary by location; target.com) Devour Buffalo Frozen Chicken Mac & Cheese - 12oz The final mac and cheese variation on our list is this intensely satisfying combination of buffalo chicken wings and macaroni and cheese. A match made in comfort food heaven. It packs an impressive 29 grams of protein too. Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed prices at the time of publication.

This Easy Instant Pot Chicken Dish Can Create a Week’s Worth of Healthy Dinners - Well+Good Posted: 24 Jul 2020 07:03 AM PDT We believe that cooking is an important piece of the wellness puzzle and that everyone can make magic (or at least some avo toast) happen in the kitchen. Sometimes, you just need someone to show you where to start. Cook With Us offers smart cooking tips and tricks from pros, easy recipes that help you make the most of simple ingredients, and all-around support for your cooking journey. See All Summer days are meant to be spent with your feet dipped in a pool with a good book in your hands. They're definitely not meant to be spent sweating (literally, like a lot) over a hot stove. The first four months of quarantine may have been spent in the kitchen stuck on a cook-do-dishes-repeat cycle, but that ends now. You can absolutely still have delicious, healthy, and hearty meals for dinner every night while only spending a few minutes putting them together. And classically trained chef, comfort food lover, and Sweet Tea and Thyme creator Eden Westbrook has the secret to making it happen. Her Instant Pot chicken and potatoes recipe not only works as a delicious stand-alone meal, it's versatile enough to be reinvented into a wide range of other meals that don't involve any cooking whatsoever.  Here, she shares the recipe, shopping list of everything you need to make it, and the five dinner ideas for Monday through Friday. Art: W+G Creative Instant Pot chicken and potatoes Yields 6 servings Ingredients 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (roughly 2 lbs. total) 2 lbs. baby red or gold potatoes, sliced in half 1/4 cup chimichurri sauce 4 Tbsp regular olive oil (not extra-virgin) 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper 1 tsp garlic powder 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1. In a large bowl, toss the chicken thighs and potatoes in the olive oil, chimichurri sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, distributing the seasoning and oil as evenly as possible. 2. Add chicken broth to your Instant Pot, then place chicken in the broth, and top with the potatoes. Lock the lid onto the pressure cooker and turn the vent to its "sealed" position. Set pressure cooker to "high" for 12 minutes. 3. Once the cooking time is finished, do a "quick release" by turning the vent to the venting position. Be careful not to burn yourself with the steam by using a potholder to open the vent. Once the float valve has dropped, remove the lid. Use a slotted spoon to transfer chicken and potatoes to a large platter. Related Stories 4. Enjoy a serving of the chicken and potatoes for dinner on Sunday (served with extra chimichurri sauce). Store the leftover chicken and potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge to enjoy for dinner the rest of the week. How to use your Instant Pot chicken and potatoes in a whole week's worth of healthy, no-heat dinners: Monday: Chicken avocado spinach salad Even if you're not normally a salad person, you may find yourself wanting a big plate of greens on a 90-degree day. The Instant Pot chicken and potatoes is the key to making this salad hearty and satisfying. Simply mix a serving of your leftovers with spinach leaves and a sliced up avocado, which adds creaminess. The chimichurri sauce in the chicken and potatoes is flavorful enough that you don't even need dressing. Tuesday: Barbecue chicken sandwiches Cooking the chicken in the Instant Pot makes it so tender that it's practically begging to be turned into a barbecue sandwich. Shred a serving of leftover chicken, mash a serving of potatoes with a fork, and sandwich both between two buns. For extra fiber, you can also add slaw on top. (Prep School devotees will remember this recipe from June.) If you don't want to spend time making the slaw, you can also add some leftover spinach on top of your meaty middle, too. Wednesday: Cheesy chicken smashed potato hash Scoop a serving of your leftover Instant Pot chicken and potatoes into a small bowl; mash the potatoes with a fork, until they're your preferred texture for hash. Chop up any extra vegetables you desire for extra fiber, like onion, red bell pepper, and tomatoes, and combine them with the chicken and potatoes mixture. Then, put the mixture on a plate and top with one-fourth cup shredded cheese. Microwave for 45 seconds, or until the cheese is all melty. Feel free to mix in a serving of greens (after microwaving) if you desire. Thursday: Chicken and veggie quesadillas Start by chopping up your veggies of choice. (Like in the hash, onion, red bell pepper, and tomato all work well in quesadillas, too.) Then, combine all your chopped veggies in a bowl, with a serving of leftover Instant Pot chicken and potatoes. Place one flour tortilla on a plate and brush it with olive oil. Add your chicken and potatoes mixture  on top, add one-fourth cup shredded cheese, and place another flour tortilla on top, brushing it with olive oil. Place it in a panini press for two minutes. If you don't have a panini press, simply put the uncooked quesadilla on a skillet for four minutes on medium-high heat, flipping over halfway through. Once warmed (by either method), put it on a plate and cut it into fours. Top with avocado for a creaminess that pairs well with the chimichurri sauce. Friday: Chimichurri chicken salad Use the rest of your leftovers to make an easy chimichurri salad. Simply mix the chicken and potatoes with diced beefsteak tomatoes and diced cucumber. Add lemon juice on top to brighten the whole dish. Insider tip: lemon juice helps virtually all leftovers from tasting like…leftovers. Serve on toasted bread or on top of greens. Get more healthy cooking inspo in Well+Good's Cook With Us Facebook group.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER: Organic bone-in chicken cut into eight pieces - WPEC Posted: 24 Jul 2020 06:58 AM PDT [unable to retrieve full-text content]WHAT'S FOR DINNER: Organic bone-in chicken cut into eight pieces  WPEC

Easy Summer Menu Ideas - Summer Dinner Party Menu and Recipes - Parade Posted: 26 Jun 2020 12:00 AM PDT (The Mom 100) It's true: some people aren't enamored with cooking. But what seems to trip up even people who like to cook is meal planning—and menu planning most specifically. What goes with what, how to make all of the dishes feel like a cohesive meal…this is what often stands in between a cook and a special lunch or dinner. The following summer menu ideas are nicely balanced, thinking in terms of flavor, protein, sides, color and texture. Each will lead you to a sensational summer meal and hopefully they will make you think about some of the recipes in your repertoire—or the ingredients laying around in your pantry, waiting to be used up. From a romantic date night menu at home, to a backyard BBQ menu and a Saturday night family-friendly menu, you'll never be at a loss when the dreaded "What's for dinner?" question comes up again. Summer Menu Ideas 1. Date Night Menu at Home Even though you may have been sheltering in place with your partner the last few months, that doesn't mean you don't need to break up the day-to-day routine with a special dinner. If anything, you might need the romance more than ever! Pick a day to make the following recipes, and get a nice bottle of wine to go with them. Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp with Smoked Paprika This is a very delicious and lavish looking appetizer, and if you feel like mixing things up by doing some with shrimp and some with asparagus, you'll have an even more impressive kick off to your meal. Related: 16 Dinner Recipes (courtesy of Katie Workman) Filet Mignon with Creamy Parmesan Mustard Sauce A small beautifully tender filet mignon is a splurge, but they are a real special occasion steak. This one is simply seared and then topped with a creamy sauce with tang from Dijon mustard, umami from the Parmesan, and a great creamy texture. (courtesy of Katie Workman) Endive, Arugula and Orange Salad A little burst of citrus in a salad is beautiful on many levels, and goes so well with the creamy sauce for the steak. 2. Saturday Night Menu for the Family The days do blend together, and it's really nice to take a moment and make sure that your family meal feels special. Saturday night is a great time to do this, smack in the middle of the weekend—even if weekends are exactly at they used to be! (courtesy of Katie Workman) Avocado and Cannellini Bean Crostini with Gremolata A ripe avocado and a can of beans turn into a fun and nutritious little appetizer. (courtesy of Katie Workman) Southwestern Chicken Taco Salad Bowl This salad is a full-on festival of color and texture and flavor—a joy to look at and a joy to eat. (courtesy of Katie Workman) Chocolate-Covered Caramelized Matzoh S'Mores Can't get outside to make traditional s'mores over a campfire? Here marshmallows get squished between two layers of toffee chocolate matzoh in one of the greatest things to happen to a piece of matzoh. Related: 36 Diner-Inspired Recipes 3. A Backyard Barbecue Menu Hopefully at some point you will get a chance to grill this summer, and because you are outside you will be able to have some friends over in a safe manner. Here's an easy menu to turn to for a casual barbecue get-together. (courtesy Katie Workman) Mustard Marinated London Broil A hefty dollop of Dijon mustard mingles with onion, Worcestershire sauce and thyme in this deeply flavorful marinade for steak. Parade Daily Celebrity interviews, recipes and health tips delivered to your inbox. (courtesy of Katie Workman) Summer Corn, Tomato and Bacon Salad Starring the two best vegetables of late summer, with bacon as a supporting actor. Spicy Cole Slaw That classic slaw, with a bit of a kick. (courtesy Katie Workman) French Potato Salad This mayo-free potato salad is very clean tasting, with fresh herbs and a touch of mustard and a lovely vinaigrette dressing. (courtesy Katie Workman) Ice Cream with Chocolate Peanut Cornflake Crunch The best thing to happen to a bowl of ice cream since fudge sauce. Now that you have three menus that work for any kind of summer occasion, try them out in the coming weeks, pin these recipes so you'll have them on hand and enjoy! Next up, check out a yummy Saturday supper idea! Katie Workman is a food writer, and the author of Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook. She writes a regular column for the Associated Press, called Kitchen Smarts, as well as other cooking and lifestyle features. Katie has written for many publications including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Better Homes and Gardens, Cooking Light, Eating Well, Parents, Rachael Ray Every Day, and various online outlets such as FoodNetwork.com, Food52, thekitchn.com, and NBC/Better. She has appeared on the Today Show, Access Hollywood Live, NPR, and many other shows.  Katie is co-host of two cooking shows on Bluprint.com: Real Life Kitchen and Efficient Weeknight Cooking. She works with select brands creating content and developing recipes, as well as consulting and acting as brand ambassador.  She also posts regularly on her popular blog, themom100.com. Katie sits on the board of City Harvest, New York's leading food rescue nonprofit, and also the Leadership Council of No Kid Hungry.  She lives with her husband and two boys in New York City (well, the older one is in college, but she's still in a bit of denial).

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