You’re probably familiar with classic chocolate truffles. But these beauties mix chocolate sandwich cookies, cream cheese and fresh strawberries for a treat that’s seriously irresistible. Plus, you can use a heart cookie cutter and hot-pink sprinkles to make them even more delightful.
GET THE RECIPE: Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cookie Truffles Recipe
Raspberry Chocolate Cookie Shots
These chocolate cookie shot glasses make such a fun treat for kids and adults alike. You can fill them with candy, milk — most anything — but you can’t go wrong with our raspberry mousse filling.
GET THE RECIPE: Raspberry Mousse-Filled Chocolate Cookie Shots
Tic-Tac-Toe Brownies
For an easy, yet completely lovable snack, create tic-tac-toe brownies by simply icing a few lines and adding conversation heart candies. This snack not only acts as a delectable treat but doubles as a mini board game.
GET THE RECIPE: 6 Heartwarming Snacks Your Valentine Will Love
That was 3 desserts to consider. How about 42 more to really challenge what to make? Copy and paste the link below to view all of them.
Enjoy these ham cheese and spinach breakfast pies on your way out the door in the morning or even as an easy breakfast for dinner option!
Ingredients 1X2X3X
▢1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed and rolled out
▢6 thick cut ham slices, leftover or deli slices, chopped
▢3/4 cup ricotta
▢1/2 cup grated mozzarella, plus more for topping
▢2 tablespoons milk
▢1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
▢salt and pepper to taste
▢1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
▢1 large shallot, minced
▢1 clove garlic, minced
▢4 cups baby spinach
▢1 egg, beaten
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking sheet.
Combine the ham, ricotta, mozzarella, milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Place the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat.
Once hot, add the shallots and garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the spinach and cook until wilted. Remove from heat and transfer to the bowl with the ricotta mixture.
Stir together until well combined.
Cut the puff pastry sheet into 4 squares, place on the baking sheet and spoon the filling into the center of each.
Gently fold up the sides of each square in a circular pattern pinching the creases together as you go.
Brush each puff pastry with the beaten egg and top with a sprinkling of extra mozzarella.
Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes until golden brown around the edges.
Remove from oven, let cool a few minutes before serving.
Oh, Milk’s Favorite Cookie, you sure do know how to excite a crowd. No matter what Oreo announces—whether it’s a new flavor, a returning flavor, or even a collaboration with another brand—fans everywhere become impatient as they await the new cookie creation.
We’re just three months into the year, and Oreo has already broken our brains with how many new items they’ve released. Let’s recount, shall we? We’ve seen the limited-time Black & White Cookie Oreos, Space Dunk Oreos, and Dirt Cake Oreos. Plus, the addition of the Gluten-Free Golden Oreos, Tiramisu Oreo Thins, and Peanut Butter Oreo Cakesters to the brand’s permanent portfolio. And that’s not even counting the dozens of collaborations we’ve seen in 2024 alone.
Just when you think the Oreo R&D team is going to get some rest—because, heck, they deserve it—the brand goes and drops another mouthwatering flavor. The newest one? Churro Oreos.
Oreo announced on social media that it’s rolling out a new limited-edition churro-flavored cookie.
“Add a little spice with Oreo Churro,” the Instagram caption read.
The new cookie will hit shelves on March 27 for a limited time, according to the brand.
Oreo’s Churro flavor will feature an all-new take on the Golden Oreo. The actual cookie itself will be fried dough-flavored and filled with churro-flavored creme and sugar inclusions.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but Granny Smith apples need a little extra to really shine. They are incredibly sour—definitely the sourest of the apples we tasted—and are tough to eat without puckering up and squinting. Obviously, a caramel dip elevates this apple to the highest tier, but a little salt can be an excellently refreshing addition, too.
But Gala, Oh baby!
Gala apples are another staple, and there’s a reason for it. They may be softer than trendier apple varieties, but what the lack in crispness they make up for in pure flavor. It has a great balance between sweet and tart, and it’s also one of the least expensive at the grocery store. It’s a win-win.
You probably knew that, but for baking, pies, etc. Check out this infographic!
The truth is, no single food contains superpowers to optimize your health. Rather than running out to buy the latest “superfood” you just read about, it’s best to focus on eating a variety of healthy foods and creating a “super diet.”
A well-stocked kitchen helps to create the foundation for a healthy diet. Keeping a variety of healthy foods around helps us establish a nutritious eating pattern composed mostly of balanced meals and snacks. Eating a more nutritious diet filled with a variety of healthy foods is a simple way to optimize our health and prevent chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.
These 15 foods are rich in a variety of nutrients and promote immune health, heart health and gut health. They can even help you drop a few pounds if that’s your goal. Including these tasty, satisfying staples can supercharge your health.
We hear a lot about losing weight, but what about when you want or need to gain weight? Many people also struggle with being underweight or below their ideal weight for their height. Being underweight can pose several health risks, including nutrient deficiencies, poor immunity, fatigue, and fertility issues, especially when they’re severe.
Nutrition is essential to your health and weight goals, whether that means losing, gaining, or maintaining it. Nutrition for weight gain comes down to consuming more calories than you’re burning off every day.
However, nutrition is also about nourishing your body. You could gain weight just by eating a ton of calories from junk food every day, but that wouldn’t do anything to benefit your overall health. Not to mention that eating a nutrient-poor diet sets you up for a higher risk of obesity and related chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
Instead, a diet pattern for weight gain should emphasize minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods. You can still include higher-calorie foods without relying on ultra-processed, fatty, and fried foods to optimize your energy intake.
Below are some of the best foods for supporting your weight gain goals.
Fruits
The following are examples of energy-dense fruits to incorporate into your regular eating pattern.
Avocado: Rich in healthy fats, avocados are a calorie-dense option, providing vitamins and minerals. Use them to make avocado toast or guacamole, add them to soups and salads, or spread them on wraps and sandwiches.
Dried fruits: Add calorie-dense and portable dried fruits like raisins, blueberries, and dates to snacks or meals.
Bananas: A convenient and calorie-dense fruit that also provides potassium.
Vegetables
Though vegetables are often associated with weight loss, certain vegetables, such as potatoes, can support your goal of increasing daily caloric input.
Potatoes: Whether baked or mashed, potatoes are a starchy vegetable that can contribute to calorie intake.
Sweet potatoes: A filling, nutrient-dense carbohydrate source that provides vitamins and fiber.
Grains
Similar to starchy vegetables, certain grains can add nutrient-dense calories to your meals without requiring too much volume.
Quinoa: A versatile whole grain that provides both carbohydrates and protein. Use quinoa in soups, salads, stir-fries, homemade veggie burger patties, or as a breakfast grain.
Whole grains: Choose whole grains and whole grain varieties of bread and pasta for added fiber and nutrients—for example, amaranth, barley, oats, brown rice, and millet.
Protein Foods
Make sure you include protein in your diet. There are various animal- and plant-based proteins to consider.
Nuts and nut butter: Almonds, peanuts, cashews, and nut butter are high in healthy fats and protein, providing many calories in small servings.
Salmon: Fatty fish like salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein, contributing to overall health and weight gain.
Eggs: Eggs are a great source of protein, healthy fats, and various vitamins and minerals.
Legumes: Chickpeas, lentils, green peas, and black beans provide a good combination of protein and carbohydrates.
Soy: Tofu and tempeh are protein-rich, nutrient-dense, minimally processed soy foods you can add to stir-fries, soups, salads, and breakfast scrambles.
Dairy
Incorporating dairy can also support your weight gain goals. Examples of sources to try include:
Cheese: Full-fat cheese varieties are high in calories, protein, and calcium.
Greek yogurt: High in protein and rich in probiotics, Greek yogurt can be a nutritious and calorie-dense snack. Stir in other nutrient-rich ingredients, like chia seeds or oats and cinnamon.
Cottage cheese: High in protein and versatile, you can include cottage cheese in various dishes. Add berries and nuts or make it savory with herbs and veggies such as chives and bell peppers.
Other Energy-Dense Foods
You don’t have to increase your calorie intake one food at a time. Foods like smoothies and trail mixes pack a punch when maximizing energy and nutrient needs.
Smoothies: Smoothies are an excellent vehicle for calories and nutrients. Include higher-calorie liquids, like full-fat fortified soy milk, and add cashew butter, ground flax seeds, and pitted dates.
Canned coconut milk: Include coconut milk when cooking foods like soups or curries or add it to smoothies for an extra calorie boost. Just note that it’s high in saturated fat and should be consumed in moderation.
Vegetable oils: Add a small amount of flax or walnut oil to salads or use olive or avocado oil in cooking for an extra dose of healthy monounsaturated fats.
Trail mix: Create a customized trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits for a calorie-dense snack.
Dark chocolate: In moderation, dark chocolate can be a tasty way to add calories and antioxidants to your diet. Look for higher percentages, like 70–80% cacao, for the most nutritional benefit.
What Helps You Gain Weight Quickly?
Increasing your total calorie intake is the best way to gain weight quickly. One common guideline is to aim for a surplus of 500–1,000 calories per day to gain weight at a moderate and sustainable rate. This could lead to a weight gain of about 1 or 2 pounds per week. Remember that these numbers are rough estimates, and individual needs may vary.
Here’s a basic approach to determining your daily calorie needs for weight gain:
Calculate basal metabolic rate (BMR): Use an online BMR calculator to estimate the calories your body needs at rest.
Factor in physical activity: Multiply your BMR by an activity factor representing your daily physical activity level (sedentary, lightly active, moderately active, very active).
Add a caloric surplus: Add 500–1,000 calories to the calculated total to gain weight. This is the number of calories you should aim to consume each day.
Of course, boosting your calorie intake isn’t the whole story. Considering the details of your overall diet to achieve long-term, sustainable changes to your weight is also important.
Here are a few ways you can encourage faster weight gain through your diet pattern:
Prioritize nutrient-dense foods: Choose nutrient-dense foods to ensure that essential vitamins and minerals accompany your weight gain. Include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats in your diet.
Maintain balance: A balanced diet includes carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. This helps support overall health and provides the energy necessary for weight gain.
Eat regularly: Be consistent with your meals and include nutritious snacks to maintain a steady calorie intake throughout the day. For example, instead of eating three large meals daily, perhaps you can switch to five slightly smaller meals and three snacks.
Opt for larger portion sizes: Serve yourself more than you usually would, particularly with calorie-dense foods. If you’re not hungry for it, don’t stuff yourself, but also don’t limit yourself if you’re interested in eating more than usual in a sitting.
Use sauces and dressings: When you’ve put together your meal or snack, consider adding healthy toppings and sauces to enhance your meals’ flavor and calorie content. Examples of this can include olive oil and vinegar, guacamole, hummus, or a yogurt-based dressing.
Gaining weight requires consuming more calories daily than you burn off through your daily activities. Having a plan in place is important to helping you achieve your goal. Healthy weight gain should emphasize nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods to benefit overall wellness. Eating more frequently, adding calorie-rich sauces and dips, strength training, and patience are critical to successful weight gain.
