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Ina Garten, the queen of our kitchens, is (it turns out) also a goddess of gifts. That’s right — People got the Barefoot Contessa herself to spill the beans on her favorite holiday gift choices for those of us whose lives center on cooking and hosting, and none of them cost more than $100. It’s like Oprah’s favorite things list for the cook!

With Hanukkah coming up next week and Christmas right behind it, the season of presents is upon us, and thankfully Ina has great ideas on what we should buy (or, better yet, what other people should get us).

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When it comes to my personal meal plan, you can count on one thing: it will involve the slow cooker at least once a week all year long. The slow cooker is a constant and unbelievably helpful presence in my kitchen. I use it for everything and anything, but come the cold days of fall there are certain classics, like hearty beef chili and pumpkin spice oats, that I absolutely cannot pass up. And you shouldn’t either.

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Some furnishings really earn their keep in your home — multitaskers like poufs, side tables, and storage ottomans come to mind. They’re a surface for drinks, a spot to stash stuff, a makeshift seat when you’re throwing a party or having friends over. And then there are those style chameleons that can hold their own and adapt to any setting or space, and for that, they are invaluable.

IKEA’s picture rails definitely fall into that latter category. You can use them in just about any room of the house, and depending on what you’re looking to put on them, you can go shallow with the MARIETORP or a bit deeper with the MOSSLANDA offerings.

If you think pictures are the extent of what these guys can display, you’ve got another thing coming. Sure, they do have a built-in groove to angle your art so it really shines. But let’s think bigger, shall we? Because this IKEA classic is far more versatile than you may think.

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For a long time I listened exclusively to music while cooking, occasionally getting annoyed when a song I didn’t like popped up on the playlist and I had to clean off my hands in order to skip it. That all changed when podcasts started taking off a few years ago.

If, like me, you live alone or tend to do much of your cooking by yourself, listening to podcasts will help pass the time away. I’ve found that listening to podcasts while I’m chopping and prepping ingredients or standing over my stove helps hold my attention for any recipe that takes longer than five minutes to prepare.

Generally, I don’t listen to food-related podcasts while cooking. I find it difficult to follow a recipe when what’s being talked about in the podcast includes other types of food or cuisines. Luckily, there are endless engrossing non-food related podcasts worth listening to. I’m a huge fan of narrative and true crime podcasts, and any podcasts that feature engaging or enlightening interviews.

Here’s a list of my favorite podcasts of the moment for you to check out the next time you’re cooking.

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Once you’ve had real Bolognese sauce, you never look at spaghetti sauce the same again. Bolognese has a richly nuanced, deeply umami flavor that satisfies in a warm, homey (and foodie) way. Paired with lower carb, higher nutrient spaghetti squash, this meal makes for a true Primal favorite everyone at the table can enjoy. And with the convenience of an Instant Pot, you’ll be out of the kitchen in around 20 minutes, with dinner on the table in about 45 total. Simply cook the squash while you’re busy prepping the sauce ingredients for the ultimate in efficiency. The end result? A rich and meaty Bolognese dish that tastes as good as sauce that simmers for hours.

Time in the Kitchen: 20 (with additional 30 minutes cook time for sauce)

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 2 spaghetti squash (for double batch)
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (15 ml)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, grated
• 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped or thinly sliced
• 2 pounds ground pork (900 g)
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano (10 ml)
• 2 teaspoons salt (10 ml)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste (30 ml)
• ½ cup beef bone broth (120 ml)
• 2 15-ounce cans diced tomatoes, and their liquid
• 1 bay leaf
• Garnish: fresh basil and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

**Note: This makes a double batch of sauce. Save half the sauce in the refrigerator or freezer for leftover lunches or a second dinner.

Instructions:

Cut spaghetti squash in half (lengthwise makes shorter noodles and crosswise makes longer noodles). Scoop out the seeds in the center.

Add a cup of water to the Instant Pot. Place a steaming trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot and set the squash halves on top. Cover and make sure the pressure release valve is set to “sealing.” Select the “manual” setting and set the cooking time for 20 minutes on high pressure.

After cooking time, do a quick release by moving the pressure release valve to “venting.” Remove squash and pour out any liquid that has collected inside the squash. Use a fork to pull the squash apart into “noodles.” Set aside.

While the spaghetti squash is cooking, prep the sauce ingredients.

When you’re ready to make the meat sauce, select the sauté setting on the Instant Pot, and heat the olive oil. Cook the pork about 10 minutes until fully browned, then remove and drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Leave a tablespoon or two of pork fat in the bottom of the pot (draining the rest to discard or save for other cooking uses).

Add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic and sauté about 5 minutes to soften the veggies. Add ground meat and season with oregano and salt. Break the meat up into small pieces.

In a bowl, whisk together the tomato paste and bone broth. Pour into the Instant Pot with the diced tomatoes and bay leaf. Mix well.

Cover and make sure the pressure release valve is set to “sealing.” Select the “manual” setting, and set the cooking time for 30 minutes on high pressure. Move the pressure release valve to “venting” for a quick release.

Store half of the Bolognese in a food storage container.

Serve the other half on top of the spaghetti squash (if needed, reheat the squash briefly in the microwave) with fresh basil and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Nutritional Info (per serving—8 servings from doubled batch recipe):

• Calories: 450
• Carbs: 13 grams
• Fat: 28 grams
• Protein: 33.5 grams

The post Instant Pot Bolognese With Spaghetti Squash appeared first on Mark’s Daily Apple.

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There are plenty of tried-and-true winter cocktail recipes that remain staples of the holiday season: sparkling apple cider sangria or a cranberry fizz (which also works as a mocktail) immediately come to mind. The classics are all well and good, but why not step outside of your cocktail comfort zone this year?

Leave it to Trader Joe’s to provide the unexpected, but perfect, ingredient to upgrade your drinking game: bourbon barrel-aged Vermont maple syrup. Sure, you can pick up a bottle to pour over your pancakes to give breakfast a grown-up kick, but you could also save a splash for a nightcap now that the weather is getting chillier.

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When Walmart released Ree Drummond’s line of cookware and kitchenware several years ago, I fell madly in love with pretty much all of it. The Anthropologie-like whimsy hooked me at first glance, but the porcelain and high-quality ceramic designs of her dishes, cups, and mugs, plus the affordable pricing, are what had me coming back for more. Not to mention, I’m something of a Walmart-aholic and love finding hidden treasures whenever I can.

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The best gifts to give (and receive) are the ones that you don’t know you need until you get them. Maybe they feel just ever-so-slightly too spendy and it’s hard to justify the expense, so you live without them. But these little luxuries are exactly the presents your friends, family, and work wives will cherish the most. Because, yes, there is someone in your life who really needs a garlic keeper — and you will change her life.

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Ladybugs are cute, right? My daughters and I love them — when they’re outside, that is. But last fall, I experienced a bizarre phenomenon: a minor ladybug infestation in my kitchen! I was a little weirded out by how many there were (maybe a dozen) and the fact that I kept discovering them for months. I was worried they might spread disease or eat through the pantry, so I decided to take my ladybug quandary to the pros.

Here’s what you should know about ladybugs, according to an expert.

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If we’re being honest, no one is more surprised than me at how legit these pancakes are. As someone who claimed for years not to like cottage cheese, these pancakes were the gateway that finally made me a believer. These are high-protein, low-fat pancakes with three simple ingredients that cook up fluffy and actually taste good. If it sounds too good to be true, I assure you it’s not.

The crisp edges, soft, tender center, and wholesome, subtly sweet flavor make them not just good, but go back for seconds and wake up 15 minutes early to make these on a weekday good. Enjoy them with a drizzle of maple syrup, switch it up with a dollop of jam, or go for another boost of protein with some Greek yogurt and fresh fruit.

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