This past week, I was chatting with two of my friends’ moms about ValeCooks, and they both asked me a question I get all the time: “Who eats all the food you make?” 🤔

Aside from H and me, I have a big family. I’m often cooking at my parents’ house 🏡, bringing food to friends, dropping off treats at my sister’s, or watching my cousins clear out my fridge (a very common occurrence!). I also love sharing with neighbors. Between all of us, very little ever goes to waste. Honestly, the best part of this whole adventure is sharing what I cook with the people I love. 💛

But here’s my main secret: I almost always scale recipes down. Instead of making an 8-serving dish, you’ll usually find me making a 2-serving version for me and H. My favorite tool for this is the scaling feature in the Paprika Recipe Manager app (where I keep all my recipes! 📱). That way, if a recipe calls for a large pasta bake that serves 6, I can easily adapt it to make a smaller bake for 2–3. It keeps us from being overloaded with leftovers and allows me to test many more recipes each week.

Over a year ago, I even made a YouTube video showing how I use Paprika’s scale feature—no math required. It’s been such a game-changer.

If you have other questions about my ValeCooks adventures, drop them here—I’d love to do a Q&A! ✨

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: Week 34: 9 ✔️ & Week 35: 7 ✔️ 

Number of New Recipes Tested as of 8/17: 483

Weeks Achieving Seven or More New Recipes: 35 out of 35 ✅

This Week’s Recipe Test Summary

Impress Someone🌟

Nothing this week.

Would Make Again 👍

Tart Cherry Gummies – Easy Healthy Recipes 🍒
I made these for my sister and the kids, and shortly after she sent me a video of Lucia saying she wants “muchos, muchos.” I’d call that a success. I love finding healthier versions of childhood classics like Jell-O.

Chocolate Creme Fraîche Banana Bread – Snackable Bakes: 100 Easy-Peasy Recipes for Exceptionally Scrumptious Sweets and Treats by Jessie Sheehan🍌🍫
This banana bread was so moist and delicious…even better the next day. Please note that this recipe calls for prunes, but the cookbook one does not. I made it without prunes.

30-Minute Indian Butter Chicken – Two Sleevers 🍗
A Reddit user shared this Instant Pot recipe with me. My cousin and H loved it—full of flavor and a true one-pot dish. The only issue: the sauce dried out in the Instant Pot, and I got a “burn” warning. Next time, I think I’ll add more water to prevent that.

Would Not Make Again 👎

For me, these landed in the ‘not again’ pile—either just okay, replaced by a better version I already know, or not enjoyable. My rule of thumb is: would I make this for my mom or mother-in-law? If not, it doesn’t make the cut.

• Linguine with Lemon, Basil, Pecorino and Mascarpone – Bitter Honey: Recipes and Stories by Letitia Clark 🍋🌿🧀

• Caramelized Lemon Pesto Pasta – Pass the Plate: 100 Delicious, Nutritious Recipes to Share with Family & Friends by Carolina Gelen 🍋🍝

• Layered Yogurt Flatbreads – Smitten Kitchen 🫓

  

• Cinnamon Swirl-Banana Bread Mug Cake – Sweet Tooth: 100 Desserts to Feed Your Inner Child by Sarah Fennel🍌

• Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies Recipe with Tart Cherry – at home on the prairie 🍎🍒

• Sleepy Time Cherry Smoothie – Compass Rose Nutrition 🍒🥤

• No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars – The Honour System 🍫🌾

• Chocolate Brownie Larabars – 730 Sage Street 🍫 

• Olive Oil Smoothie – @amberiscooking 🫒🥤

• Easy & Refreshing 3-Ingredient Hibiscus Iced Tea – Nurtured Homes 🌺🧊

• Hibiscus Chia Fresca – iTasty.net 🌺🌱

• Toasted Cashew Coconut Bars – The Honour System 🥥

• Matcha-Berry Frozen Yogurt – bon appétit by Shilpa Uskokovic 🍵🫐🍦

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