#1
2 cups cold, refrigerated butter
2 cups white sugar
1 tsp salt
2 cups chocolate chips
Optional toppings: sprinkle of sea salt, rice krispies, nuts, instant coffee powder, crushed pretzels
Put butter, sugar and salt in a large pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for about 30 minutes until mixture is dark amber. Pour into a foil lined baking sheet, tilt to spread. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top, spread after letting them melt for a minute. Add any optional toppings, I usually do sea salt. Let cool out of the fridge for an hour or so, then refrigerate at least one hour before breaking apart.
You don't need a candy thermometer or a double boiler or anything fancy.
I get butter and chocolate chips for about $6 each, and the sugar and salt are pretty cheap.
Notes: Do not soften your butter, it won't absorb into the mixture correctly. At all points of cooking, you'll probably think it's not working; it is.
#2
It's literally cream heated then chocolate added.
#3
To find out more about easy dishes that taste amazing despite the fact that they took minimal effort, we got in touch with Melanie Gunnell of Mel's Kitchen Cafe. She was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and share some of her favorite easy yet crowd pleasing recipes.
"The best low-effort recipes in my house aren't really recipes at all. Some of our favorite meals are simmering a can of black beans with warm, pantry-friendly spices, sliced chicken sausage and onions," the expert says. "Serve over rice. AMAZING."
"Another favorite is using rotisserie chicken meat and mixing it with BBQ sauce, layering over tater tots, covering with cheese, baking in the oven and smothering with toppings like sour cream, tomatoes, and lettuce for a 'loaded totchos' situation," Mel added.
#4
Rough chopped onion, fat of your choice.
Saute until slightly brown.
Bunch of rough chopped carrots.
Add to the pot, continue sautéing for a couple more minutes.
Flavorful liquid to cover (I usually use 1/2 bottle of white wine, remainder stock).
Simmer until carrots are very soft.
Blend until smooth and strain.
Season and serve.
Guests rave about it — and it really is just 15 minutes of active work with some leftover veg.
#5
Someone may say it’s not a fancy dish (eg in Italy), and that may be true but it’s fancy enough in my part of the world.
#6
On the other hand, we wanted to know if there were any labor-intensive recipes that Mel doesn't believe are worth it. "Yes, absolutely. Sushi, for one," she shared. "Leave it to the professionals who have better knife skills and access to super fresh ingredients. The same goes for fussy dishes like Beef Wellington. So much effort and skill go into making recipes like that, and the chance of failure are high. I don't think it's worth it!"
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If you're looking to upgrade your home cooking, without spending hours in the kitchen, Mel says it's really easy to elevate simple dishes at home to make them feel really special. Her first tip is using fresh herbs to amp up everyday dishes. "For instance, fresh basil added to spaghetti sauce or pasta salad makes the flavor pop!" she shared.
#10
There’s a million variations on it! Serious Eats talks about the science behind it if you want a good read, just search “ricotta” on their site.
#11
Throw meat, maybe some veg, good Thai curry paste and coconut milk into a slow cooker.
It's the best thing most people have ever tasted in their entire lives, apparently.
It's a standard for my big gatherings, usually alongside something that actually does take hours in the kitchen. The Thai curry goes down better, every time. It's so easily, accessibly *good*.
If I wasn't so stubborn as to see that as a challenge, I'd get depressed and not bother.
#12
Recipe.
Next, Mel recommends shredding your own cheese. "Pre-shredded cheese has a powdery coating added to prevent clumping, but it also prevents cheese from melting smoothly. Shredding cheese from the block makes dishes ultra-creamy and ultra-cheesy, and it is super easy and fast to do," she told Bored Panda. And finally, the expert recommends ditching the garlic powder and using fresh garlic instead. "It's a game changer!"
And if you're looking for even more cooking tips or great recipes to follow, be sure to visit Mel's Kitchen Cafe!
#13
notrosemurray:
Risotto! My favorite is just white cheddar and fresh chives with crispy onions from the salad aisle on top, but because it takes some time to cook it feels really fancy
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#15
It's really good with heavy cream added. But I just use whole milk. (Add the dairy products at the very end).
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#20
Boil shells. Stuff with ricotta. Add sauce and cheese, bake.