Monday, October 31, 2016

Patty Melt Grilled Cheese

A classic American diner sandwich, with melted cheesy goodness, a juicy patty and caramelized onions – made in a waffle maker!!!

Patty Melt Grilled Cheese - A classic American diner sandwich, with melted cheesy goodness, a juicy patty and caramelized onions - made in a waffle maker!!!

Happy Halloween!

(more…)

The post Patty Melt Grilled Cheese appeared first on Damn Delicious.



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://damndelicious.net/2016/10/30/patty-melt-grilled-cheese/

One-Pan Paprika Chicken with Potatoes and Tomatoes

Paprika Chicken with Potatoes and Tomatoes

One-pan supper? Now you have my attention. I love a dish you can prepare, shove into the oven, and then forget about for a little while. Just remember to set a timer!

This particular one-pan meal starts with tossing chicken and vegetables in an easy sauce while the oven heats, and ends with everyone sitting down to dinner an hour later.

Continue reading "One-Pan Paprika Chicken with Potatoes and Tomatoes" »



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/one_pan_paprika_chicken_with_potatoes_and_tomatoes/

Harvest Kale Salad with Roasted Winter Squash

Roasted winter squash, pomegranates and pecans over massaged kale with a light maple balsamic dressing – there is nothing boring about this salad! Rubbing the raw kale with olive oil for a few minutes leaves it tender and takes away the bitterness.

Roasted winter squash, pomegranates and pecans over massaged kale with a light maple balsamic dressing – there is nothing boring about this salad! Rubbing the raw kale with olive oil for a few minutes leaves it tender and takes away the bitterness.

Any winter squash will work here, I used acorn but butternut or kombucha would also be great. I’m SO excited to share this recipe from my friend Lexi’s new cookbook Lexi’s Clean Kitchen (affiliate link) which comes out Nov 8th. I met Lexi in Boston a few months ago and LOVED her! She’s bubbly, smart and originally from Long Island like me, so it was an instant connection. Her book is filled with delicious paleo-friendly recipes, but even if you’re not on a paleo diet it’s wholesome, delicious recipes.

Roasted winter squash, pomegranates and pecans over massaged kale with a light maple balsamic dressing – there is nothing boring about this salad! Rubbing the raw kale with olive oil for a few minutes leaves it tender and takes away the bitterness.

(more…)



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weightwatcherspointsrecipes/~3/H2I1zVptNtk/

Guess What

Baby

Baby

Baby

There’s a BABY!

Joining our family!

In April 2017!

OMGEEEEEE

Baby Announcement

Sage cannot even with this whole thing.

Baby Announcement

Baby Announcement

So overwhelmingly grateful for this wild ride of a life ♡

and so thankful for YOU for sharing the fun + joy with us!

The post Guess What appeared first on Pinch of Yum.



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinch-of-yum/~3/t_uiGDQMaSU/guess-what

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Easy Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd’s Pie comes to us from England, and is traditionally made with lamb or mutton. Here in the states we are more of a beef eating culture than a lamb eating one, and when one is served “shepherd’s pie” here, it is most often made with ground beef.

In England (and Australia and New Zealand) they would call the beef dish a “cottage pie” and the lamb dish “shepherd’s pie”.

Continue reading "Easy Shepherd’s Pie" »



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/easy_shepherds_pie/

Skinnytaste Dinner Plan (Week 48)

Skinnytaste Dinner Plan (Week 48)

Skinnytaste Dinner Plan (Week 48).  I hope everyone has a happy Halloween! Have fun with your little ghosts and goblins! If you are looking for some Halloween party ideas go to the seasonal recipes tab and click on Halloween. Some of my favorites are these French Bread Mummy Pizzas, Candy Corn Fruit Parfaits and  Mummy Cake Balls. Monday we will be out trick-or-treating so I am putting my slow cooker to work with pumpkin turkey chili, SO good!

 

Skinnytaste Dinner Plan (Week 48)

Monday: Crock Pot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili
Tuesday: Turkey Taco Spaghetti Squash Boats
Wednesday: Leftover Chili
Thursday: Turkey Cutlets with Parmesan Crust with Oven Roasted Cauliflower
Friday: Baked Chicken Parmesan with roasted garlic broccolini
Saturday: Dinner Out
Sunday: Slow Cooker Bahn Mi Rice Bowls

(more…)



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weightwatcherspointsrecipes/~3/d9aqK7f9QFs/

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Mexican Wedding Cookies

There’s something irresistible about Mexican Wedding cookies. I can’t help but reach for them whenever they appear on a cookie platter.

These cookies have a crumbly, buttery, nutty texture that just melts in your mouth. Like I said: completely irresistible.

Continue reading "Mexican Wedding Cookies" »



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/mexican_wedding_cookies/

Friday, October 28, 2016

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Made right in the crockpot! So hearty, comforting and soothing. Perfect during the cold weather or fighting off a cold!

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup - Made right in the crockpot! So hearty, comforting and soothing. Perfect during the cold weather or fighting off a cold!

It’s finally starting to feel like Fall here as I wore my very first scarf of the season.

(more…)

The post Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup appeared first on Damn Delicious.



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://damndelicious.net/2016/10/27/slow-cooker-chicken-noodle-soup/

Detox Moroccan-Spiced Chickpea Glow Bowl

Detox Moroccan Chickpea Glow Bowl: clean eating meets comfort food! vegetarian / vegan. | pinchofyum.com

It’s Fridayyyy!

Who’s having fun with their life over the next two and a half days?

I have plans every day this weekend, which is a little unusual for me but I am v excited about them all, since they include things like eating out at my favorite Indian restaurant (I started strategically planning my order last night – I take these things seriously), going to a play with my best girlfriends, hosting a baby shower for which I will be making beautiful fancy-pants toast and a pumpkin streusel bundt cake ♡, watching my little brother play football, and eating the leftovers of this bowl to do a clean eating reset between all my going-out meals.

I sort of can’t believe that Monday is Halloween and then Tuesday is NOVEMBER. November as in the month before December. How did this happen. Did life play a trick on us? And does November mean we are officially moving into the supercold season and at what point is it acceptable to just put on my best sweats and stay inside 24/7 and call it winter?

I’m the kind of person who is always needing at least 3 pairs of thick socks, and who only ever eats hot to very hot food, and who talks to her husband about her need (NEED) for a hot tub on a daily basis. I really don’t love cold weather. But do you know what is kind of fun about cold weather? You can feel cozy. When we lived in the Philippines, I realized that without cold weather, you never get to feel cozy.

So as I’m bracing myself for November / winter / cold times ahead, I’m feeling 99% grateful for the opportunity to feel cozy with my sweats, thick socks, and a big glow bowl loaded with those Moroccan-spiced chickpeas. And also still 1% greedy for a hot tub. A girl can dream, right?

Detox Moroccan Chickpea Glow Bowl: clean eating meets comfort food! vegetarian / vegan. | pinchofyum.comDetox Moroccan Chickpea Glow Bowls: clean eating meets comfort food! vegetarian / vegan. | pinchofyum.com

So I’m super happy to be bringing this recipe / mashup / bowl situation to you today, guys.

Here’s what we have going on in this chickpea glow bowl:

Moroccan-spiced chickpeas simmered in sauce fire-roasted tomatoes. Couscous, cooked and fluffed to perfection, or our old standby quinoa, depending on your clean eating goals (I’m kind of over quinoa at the moment, so couscous did the trick beautifully for me). Cucumber salad aka cucumbers, some lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs to the max –> hello mint, parsley, and cilantro. Plain yogurt or hummus for a side-sauce bonus, and toasted pita wedges if you’re okay working a little bit of wheat into your detox.

And just in case you need some ideas, here are the situations that a Detox Moroccan-Spiced Chickpea Glow Bowl could be considered useful in a normal person’s life:

You have been eating out a lot this week. (Hi, yes.) You are returning home from a trip or adventure where you ate really well, and by really well, I don’t mean really clean. (Me again.) You like to eat super healthy food that a) gives you lots of nutrition and b) doesn’t taste like broken hearts and shattered dreams. (Oooh, yes, over here!)

This is currently acting as my colder-weather go-to for a super nutritious, plant-based meal that is basically the same experience as me eating my favorite comfort food. Okay, fine, pizza might still stand in a category all its own, but other than that, I’d say this detox bowl can compete with the best of them.

Detox Moroccan Chickpea Glow Bowls: clean eating meets comfort food! vegetarian / vegan. | pinchofyum.com

Detox Moroccan-Spiced Chickpea Glow Bowl
Author: 
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
Moroccan-Spiced Chickpeas
  • a swish of olive oil
  • ¼ cup chopped onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon each - chili powder and cumin
  • 1 teaspoon each - turmeric and garam masala
  • dash of each -cinnamon and cayenne (to taste)
  • 2 14-ounce cans chickpeas
  • 2 14-ounce cans fire roasted diced tomatoes
Bowls:
  • cucumbers
  • couscous
  • mint, parsley, cilantro
  • yogurt or hummus
  • olive oil
  • lemon juice
  • toasted pita wedges
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion; saute until soft. Add the garlic, spices, and chickpeas - stir until very fragrant. Add the tomatoes (undrained) and simmer for 20 minutes while you prep the other ingredients.
  2. Chop the cucumber, cook the couscous, and mince the herbs. Arrange bowls with desired amounts of all ingredients. Voila!
Notes
These are also very delicious as burritos. I am not joking. Wrap all those fillings up inside a large, warmed flour tortilla and be amazed.
3.5.3208

 

The post Detox Moroccan-Spiced Chickpea Glow Bowl appeared first on Pinch of Yum.



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinch-of-yum/~3/hMLRo6N2gwk/morrocan-spiced-chickpea-glow-bowl

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Updating an Old Blog Post: September Traffic and Income Report

September Income Report - Updating an Old Blog Post | pinchofyum.com

Hi there!

Bjork here. Checking in for the monthly income report here on Pinch of Yum.

We’ll look at three things in this report.

  1. September’s income totals
  2. September’s traffic totals
  3. September’s takeaway: Updating an Old Blog Post

We’ve been doing these reports for over five years now. The first time we ever published one of these was back in September of 2011, when we made a total of $21.97 and had almost (but not quite) 50,000 pageviews. You can check out that first income report here.

We’ve followed an insanely simple formula to get the blog to this point: Consistently doing the work and finding ways to do it a little bit better along the way.

Our key to success is showing up.

Not all the time. Not every single day. But almost all of the time. Almost every day.

Post by post. Picture by picture. Email by email. Year by year. Brick by brick.

A few years after launching Pinch of Yum we started another site called Food Blogger Pro. We followed the same slow and steady formula with Food Blogger Pro: show up every day and improve little by little.

Today FBP is a thriving community of over 2,300 members from all around the world. It’s truly an amazing group of bloggers and we’re deeply honored to be a part of it.

Note: We’re opening Food Blogger Pro for our Fall enrollment period really soon. Be sure to jump on the waiting list if you’re interested in joining.

If you’re starting and building your thing, whether it be a blog, a non-profit, or a new career, I’d encourage you to have a long-term mindset, show up every day, and find ways to enjoy the work.

Let’s take a look at the numbers for September…

Income Report Numbers

Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links. All of the products listed below are products and services we’ve used before. If you have any questions about any of the income or expenses you can leave a comment and we’ll do our best to reply.

Income

Expenses

Traffic Totals

Below are some Google Analytics screenshots from the month of September 2016.

Traffic Overview

Traffic Overview - September 2016

Top Ten Traffic Sources

Top Ten Traffic Sources - September 2016

Mobile vs. Desktop vs. Tablet

Mobile vs Desktop vs Laptop - September 2016

Income Report Takeaways

Updating Old Blog Posts

The takeaway that I wanted to focus on today is updating old blog posts.

Here’s the deal:

If you’ve been consistently blogging for a certain amount of time then you’ve probably built up a decent amount of content. For instance, over the past 6+ years of blogging Pinch of Yum has amassed 934 posts.

That’s a lot of content.

It’s one of the reasons why Pinch of Yum is able to get 4 million page views a month.

You often here people talk (myself included) about the “secret” of success being consistently publishing high quality content over a long period of time. It’s 100% true.

But it’s easy to get tunnel vision and only focus on creating content, all the while forgetting that it’s also important to update and improve your old content.

There are a few benefits to updating old blog posts vs. creating new ones:

  1. The new date will be updated in search results. This is a positive indicator for people that consider the date to be a factor in how relevant something is. Obviously this isn’t a huge deal with recipes (vs. tech news, for instance) and it only applies if you include a publish date on your recipe post.
  2. You can research old posts that are performing well (using Google Analytics) and double down on their success by exposing them to your audience again.
  3. It feels good to take a break from using the “create stuff” part of your brain and instead use “improve stuff” part of your brain. It’s good to switch it up every once in awhile.
  4. If you work with brands, you can connect with a brand that might be a good fit to sponsor the updated post. It’s sometimes easier to pitch a post that’s already been published (and will soon be republished) vs. trying to pitch a post that’s just a concept.
  5. You can feature seasonal content. You probably don’t have all the time you need to make all of the recipes you want for certain holidays or reasons. Instead of burning out on Thanksgiving food you can highlight some past recipes that you’ve already made.
  6. You get a chance to review the basic on-page SEO elements. We suggest using Yoast SEO for this.
  7. You can refine the keyword for the post. If you feel like the original keyword you used (or maybe you didn’t use one at all) was off then you can update it to something relevant and targeted.
  8. The biggest benefit? Increased traffic to the post. It’s not a guarantee, but we found this to be true when we tested this out at the beginning of the month. See below for more details. 🙂

At the beginning of October Lindsay updated this sweet potato casserole recipe.

It was a pretty big update, including new photos, a recipe video that Alana and Krista created, some additional written content, and updating some of the SEO metadata (using the Yoast SEO plugin I previously mentioned).

If you’re updating an old post you don’t have to do a big overhaul like we did for this post. Even small changes like updating the SEO metadata and adding in some new (and relevant) written content can help.

Lindsay also worked with a brand that sponsored the republished post (it wasn’t previously a sponsored post).

The Results from Updating an Old Blog Post

The proof is in the pudding, er, sweet potato casserole…right?

Here are the results from updating and republishing that post.

Traffic

Here’s a screenshot of the overall traffic to this post from the past 30 days.

Updating an Old Post 30 Day Traffic Overview

And here’s a few screenshots comparing traffic from the week before we updated the post and the most recent week of traffic.

Updating an old post before and after pageviews

Updating an old post traffic comparisson

Search Position

So the experiment was a success, right?

Well, not so fast…

Straight up traffic stats aren’t exactly a good metric to use when gauging whether this was a successful experiment or not. Here’s why: It’s possible (and likely) that we’re getting more traffic because republishing the post simply resulted in more people finding it because it was more prominently displayed on the blog. Or, perhaps we’re getting more traffic because it’s close to Thanksgiving, so more people are making this recipe.

A better metric to look at is the Search Analytics area in Google Webmaster Tools.

Specifically, I’m looking at the Position report for the query sweet potato casserole recipe.

This handy little report shows us the average position on a Google search results page for certain search queries.

If the number is 10, that means that this post, on average, shows up as number 10 in Google search results for the term “sweet potato casserole recipe.”

As you probably know, higher is better.

Here’s a screenshot of the before and after for republishing the post.

Position based search analytics

Pretty interesting!

So does that mean that be republishing and updating this post resulted in it showing up higher in Google searches?

In a word, yes.

We saw a consistent and steady lift for three days after republishing that post. After that it came back down a bit but then slowly started going up again.

It’s an exciting graph to look at (at least as far as graphs go) because it shows pretty clearly that updating and republishing that post resulted in a boost in it’s position on search results pages, which almost always results in a boost in traffic.

The process is pretty simple:

  1. Update the content by finding ways to make it more valuable (better photos, better explanation of the recipe, updated metadata)
  2. Change the publish date and hit update.

Two quick things to consider if you do this:

  1. If you’re changing the URL (like we did) then you’ll need to make sure and redirect the old URL to the new URL. We use a plugin called Pretty Link to do this. If you’re technical you can jump into your blog’s .htaccess file and manually do that redirect.
  2. If the republish date you pick results in the post being the most recent post on your blog then your RSS-to-Email campaign (if you have one setup) will probably send out an email to your subscribers. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s something to be aware of.

The two tools you’ll need to do the tracking for this are Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools, both of which are free (and incredibly powerful).

There cheers for tasty and (re)fresh(ed) recipes!

Because of You

It’s because of you that this thing we call Pinch of Yum can exist as it does today. Thank you so much for making these recipes, leaving comments with your love and feedback, sending emails, following on social media, and sharing this food around the table with your families and friends.

Every month we donate a portion of Pinch of Yum’s income to non-profit or foundation that’s near to our heart. This month we’re donating to the Children’s Shelter of Cebu and helping to fund their budget for daily meals.

The post Updating an Old Blog Post: September Traffic and Income Report appeared first on Pinch of Yum.



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinch-of-yum/~3/szH0laD5q30/september-report-updating-an-old-blog-post

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Easy BBQ Chicken in the Oven

Easy BBQ Chicken in the Oven

Grilling might not be for everyone. But delicious, tender BBQ chicken legs certainly should be.

If you don’t have a grill or the weather is keeping you inside, this easy technique for making barbecue chicken in the oven is all you need.

Continue reading "Easy BBQ Chicken in the Oven" »



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/easy_bbq_chicken_in_the_oven/

Creamy Parmesan Orecchiette with Butternut Squash and Broccolini

orchiette-4

Hello hi!

Good news, friends! We are looking at creamy-but-not-overly-creamy FALL PASTA on the menu tonight.

This can be filed under the category of fall bliss – little bites of whole wheat orecchiette with roasted butternut squash and broccolini, tossed with a light Parmesan cream / thyme / garlic sauce and sprinkled generously with pumpkin seeds and Parmesan.

Not too heavy, not too light, just total pasta perfection that is everything October should be, all in one big bowl.

orchiette-5

I ate my first inspirational version of this pasta at the blog retreat I attended this weekend (shout out to Chef Tony from Kroger – seriously AMAZING), and this pasta specifically was the kind of life-changing food magic that just requires that you come home and make it happen immediately, again and again, in your real life.

Things I love about this recipe include its meatlessness (although please, by all means, ADD THAT BACON and we will cheer your name from the rooftops), its quick and easy method, its comforting cream sauce that is just barely there and requires nothing more than just a light roux and a little broth or milk + Parmesan, its large quantity of leftovers and their ability to stay yummy for several days, and its glorious way of satisfying a hangry dinner situation with pretty minimal effort. You know I’m all about the good food / minimal effort combo.

This might sound weird, but since the squash sort of melts into everything and the cream sauce is just a little bit Parmesan-cheesy, it DID kind of remind me of a grown up version of macaroni and cheese. Like, think THIS mac and cheese. I’m saying that as a compliment, just for the record, because as we all know, mac and cheese is, in fact, the meaning of life. It is like macaroni and cheese is meeting its lighter version with grown up pasta shapes, more exciting flavors, and luscious roasted fall vegetables. And let me tell you: it is a PARTY.

orchiette-1orchiette-2

How are you guys feeling about fall cooking right now? Are you so totally in the zone? Are you over it and ready to bake Christmas cookies for the next two months?

I am making like 300 fall recipes today that I am so excited about: winter miso vegetable soup, moroccan-spiced chickpea burrito bowls (don’t even get me started), homemade bread bowls, and pumpkin cake with a caramely streusel layer running through the middle. I literally cannot be stopped. I burn candles, I wear tall boots, and I cook the heck out of fall life. This is my official food season, and after a few weeks of slowed-down rest this last month, I feel like I am finally getting into my fall food groove, where I can actually make the exciting food ideas I have at or near the rate that they are coming to me. A little late, maybe, since it’s now almost November, but late is my lifestyle.

Today: I’m wishing you all the weeknight joys of a good meatless pasta dish coated with a light and creamy Parmesan sauce. May your roasted veggies be just the right amount of crispy, your sauce perfectly creamy, and your pasta bowls super extra deep. Mwah.

orchiette-3

Creamy Parmesan Orecchiette with Butternut Squash and Broccolini
Author: 
Serves: 8
 
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1-2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • ½ cup white wine (optional)
  • 2-3 cups chicken or vegetable broth, or milk
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
  • lemon juice to taste
  • salt to taste
For the Pasta:
  • 16 ounces orecchiette (I used DeLallo whole wheat orecchiette)
  • 3 cups cubed butternut squash
  • 3 cups broccolini
  • olive oil, salt, and pepper
  • pumpkin seeds
  • additional Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. SAUCE: Melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and thyme and saute until soft. Add the flour and whisk until smooth - let it cook for a few minutes to avoid a floury taste. Add the wine and whisk to incorporate. Add the broth or milk, ½ cup at a time, and whisk to incorporate. When thickened slightly, add more liquid. Finish with the Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and salt to taste. Sauce should be smooth and light.
  2. VEGETABLES: Place the veggies on two separate baking sheets. Drizzle with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast at 400 degrees for about 20-30 minutes, until tender but not falling apart.
  3. PASTA: Cook the pasta according to package directions. Set aside.
  4. FINISH: Toss everything together (sauce, pasta, vegetables, additional broth as needed to keep it loose) and top generously with pumpkin seeds and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
3.5.3208

 

The post Creamy Parmesan Orecchiette with Butternut Squash and Broccolini appeared first on Pinch of Yum.



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinch-of-yum/~3/q1rOKD63cV8/creamy-parmesan-orchiette

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Turkey Taco Spaghetti Squash Boats

These are my favorite new way to eat spaghetti squash! Filled with the most flavorful turkey taco meat, cheese and topped with pico de gallo.

These are my favorite new way to eat spaghetti squash! Filled with the most flavorful turkey taco meat, cheese and topped with pico de gallo.

These are my favorite new way to eat spaghetti squash! Filled with the most flavorful turkey taco meat, cheese and topped with pico de gallo.

I wasn’t sure how these were going to turn out when I thought about this idea, but I know how amazing my spaghetti squash enchilada boats are so I had a feeling these would be good!  Turns out, they were even better than I could have dreamed, I am now officially hooked. You can easily make this dairy-free or whole30 by omitting the cheese.

(more…)



from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8174097 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weightwatcherspointsrecipes/~3/nYvX9oggcRs/