Lots of recipes this week, but it still felt like a much calmer time in the kitchen…maybe because I stuck to simple ones.

This week, my older brother gifted me a box of his favorite “fancy” cashew milk 🥛. I’m not really a glass-of-milk drinker, so instead of going my usual smoothie route. Instead, I thought of chia pudding 🥄 and remembered a few recipes I had saved on Instagram from the same creator – @healthyeatsbyfi. I ended up trying five of her recipes and really enjoyed them.

They’re written for two servings, but I think they’re so filling 🥣 that one serving works perfectly for breakfast. Last summer, I made plenty of chia puddings but never found my go-to meal prep version—until now 🎯. I’ll definitely be trying the rest of her recipes soon.

Recipes Made So Far This Year:

Goal: To try seven new recipes each week 🗓️, aiming for 365 this year!

Number of Recipes Made This Week: 16

Number of New Recipes Tested as of 7/27: 419

Weeks Achieving Seven or More New Recipes: 30 out of 30 ✅

This Week’s Recipe Test Summary

Impress Someone🌟

Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes – Broma Bakery 🧁🎉
Nico’s birthday called for a Paw Patrol tower with cupcakes covered in sprinkles. Last year I tried two different sprinkle cake/cupcake recipes, and neither made the repeat list… so thankfully, I found this one! It will now be my go-to for Funfetti cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

Would Make Again 👍

Creamy Pesto Pasta – Natasha's Kitchen: 100+ Easy Family-Favorite Recipes by Natasha Kravchuk 🍝🌿
Another pesto recipe… yes, but this one comes together in minutes and has a splash of heavy cream to make it extra creamy. Quick dinner or lunch recipes are always a winner.

Thai Chicken Satay Skewers – RecipeTin Eats Dinner: 150 Recipes for Fast, Everyday Meals by Nagi Maehashi 🍗🥜
Red curry paste might be my new obsession. This had a different flavor profile than my usual cooking, and both H and I really enjoyed it.

Savory Tuna Wrapped in Cozy Rice – @groovyfoodies 🐟🍙
A pantry-friendly recipe that’s filling, satisfying, and perfect for when you don’t want to run to the store.

Homemade Croutons – Love & Lemons 🥗🍞
Homemade croutons will always beat store-bought. You control the salt, spice, and crispiness—never too much, never too little.

Baked Teriyaki Salmon – Natasha's Kitchen: 100+ Easy Family-Favorite Recipes by Natasha Kravchuk🐟🍯
My first teriyaki salmon recipe, and the salmon disappeared fast. Definitely a keeper.

Peach and Sour Cream Pancakes – Smitten Kitchen Keepers: New Classics for Your Forever Files by Deb Perelman 🍑🥞
Loved this one! It tastes more like a spiced muffin than a traditional pancake, but the addition of peaches made for a fun change.

Chia Pudding Recipes
All of these follow a similar base—chia seeds, honey, and vanilla—but each has its own twist in flavor and fruit. I finally found a combination I can prep ahead that’s filling and works for breakfast or a snack.

• Blueberry Lemon Chia Pudding – @healthyeatsbyfi 🫐🍋

• Matcha Chia Pudding with a Matcha Chocolate Magic Shell – @healthyeatsbyfi 🍵🍫

• Peaches and Cream Chia Pudding – @healthyeatsbyfi 🍑🥛

• Raspberry Chia Pudding – @healthyeatsbyfi 💗

• Strawberry Chia Pudding – @healthyeatsbyfi 🍓

Would Not Make Again 👎

These didn’t hit the mark for me, but recipe testing is super subjective. Some were just okay, some were good but not memorable, and a few I didn’t enjoy at all. Rather than breaking each one down, I’m just listing them here.

Cobbler-Style Oatmeal – Justine Doiron 👎 🍑🥣

Creamy Chicken and Rice – Natasha's Kitchen: 100+ Easy Family-Favorite Recipes by Natasha Kravchuk🍗🍚

One-Pot Baked Greek Chicken & Lemon Rice – RecipeTin Eats Dinner: 150 Recipes for Fast, Everyday Meals by Nagi Maehashi 🍗🍋🍚

Lemon Linguine with Zucchini & Basil – Go-To Dinners by Ina Garten 👎 🍋🍝🥒🌿

I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, or any recipe requests you might have. Just respond directly to this email.

See you next week. Keep cooking! 👋 

Vale from ValeCooks