Blog Posts by CookingLight.com

Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks

Young cooks will enjoy breading the fish sticks and stirring together the tartar sauce. Look for wild-caught Pacific halibut at your fish counter for the most sustainable choice. Avoid Atlantic halibut. For tilapia, buy American farm-raised.

Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks

Ingredients

1 tablespoon 2% reduced-fat milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 pound halibut fillets, cut into 20 (1-inch) strips
1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
3/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
3/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1/4 cup light sour cream
3 tablespoons canola mayonnaise
2 tablespoons finely chopped bread-and-butter pickles
2 teaspoons minced capers

See More: Family Dinner Recipes

Preparation

1. Combine milk and eggs in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Add fish, and toss gently to coat. Place panko, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large zip-top bag. Add fish to panko mixture; seal bag. Shake bag gently to coat fish.

Mu Shu Pork Wraps

If your butcher is unable to cut an 8-ounce piece of pork loin, buy 1 pound and freeze the remainder for another use. Save your mushroom stems for stocks or broths.

Mu Shu Pork Wraps

Ingredients

• 1 small head green or Savoy cabbage
• 2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 (8-ounce) boneless pork loin, trimmed
• 1/2 cup matchstick-cut carrots
• 4 mushroom caps, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
• 3/4 cup sliced green onions, divided
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic

See More Superfast Asian Recipes

Preparation

1. Reserve 8 cabbage leaves. Shred remaining cabbage to measure 2 cups. Combine soy sauce and next 3 ingredients (through cornstarch). Cut pork crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Stack several slices vertically; slice pork into 1/4-inch-thick

Save money on meals without sacrificing taste or nutrition with these 10 best budget-friendly recipes. By Cooking Light

In honor of our 25th anniversary, we compiled a collection of our readers' best-loved budget recipes from the past 25 years. Based on research from MyRecipes.com, we pulled the Cooking Light recipes that received the most votes and highest star ratings. What makes these recipes budget-friendly? Each recipe will feed a family of 4 for $10 or less.

Don't Miss:
Budget Meal Plan
Budget Cooking: Feed 4 for $10
How to Stretch Your Food Budget

Not every food that sounds healthy for a child is as good as it appears. By Carolyn Williams, M.Ed., R.D.

Don't Miss:
Lunch Box Recipes For Kids (or Adults!)
Superfast Kid-Friendly Recipes
Cook the Kids Meal at Home

Roasted Cauliflower Fettuccine

Create restaurant-worthy meals from everyday ingredients. By Rozanne Gold

Anyone can make delicious recipes using costly, rarefied ingredients. But my greatest inspiration comes from transforming humble foods into enticing meals. Using a bit of ingenuity, I created these budget-friendly dishes, each with an unexpected "grace note" that makes the recipe feel celebratory despite the no-frills approach and simple preparation.

Simple chicken and rice get an Asian transformation with soy, scallions, rice wine, and healthy faux-fried rice, enhanced with the last of summer's fresh corn and a profusion of fragrant basil. Chicken thighs are less expensive and more flavorful than breast meat, so they anchor the dish. A bowl of miso soup would make a delicious beginning to this late-summer meal.

Chic & Cheap Recipe | Asian Marinated Chicken with Corn and Basil Faux-Fried Rice

Roasted Cauliflower Fettuccine is a great example of a simple recipe transcending the sum of its parts.

Black Bean Cakes

Black Bean Cakes

Here's an entire meal, ready in less than 20 minutes. For firmer yolks, cook eggs 5 minutes.

Ingredients

Cakes:

3 tablespoons canola oil, divided
5 large eggs, divided
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup panko, divided
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 garlic clove, minced

See More: Superfast Vegetarian

Salad:

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 cups mixed baby lettuce

Preparation

1. Place 1 tablespoon canola oil, 1 egg, and beans in a food processor. Pulse 20 times or until mixture becomes a coarsely chopped paste. Combine bean mixture, 5 tablespoons panko, onions, and next 5 ingredients in a bowl.

See More: 25 Best Vegetarian

If your stomach's always growling and you find yourself constantly snacking, these tasty eats can help you feel full longer. By: Karen Ansel, MS, RD, Cooking Light

Don't Miss:
8 Healthy Office Snacks
Cut 1 Cup of Sugar in 1 Day
Clean Eating Recipes for Any Night of the Week

Foods that Fight Fat

Get the skinny on these five foods that burn extra calories and keep you feeling fuller longer. By Julie Upton, MS, RD.

A calorie is a calorie-except when you're trying to lose weight. The foods you choose to eat can make or break a diet. Lucky for you, nutrition research now shows that some foods can help you whittle your middle by keeping you full longer and raising your body's metabolism so you burn more calories. Get your skinny jeans ready: These five foods will make you feel fuller without the added bulk.

See More: How to Eat the Right Amounts of Healthy Fats

Berries

Red raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are fiber-rich fruits with just 50 calories per cup. They're also among the most antioxidant-rich foods you can eat. Preliminary research shows that berries may contain certain flavonoids that increase production of adiponectin, a hormone that stimulates fat burning. In addition, eating strawberries with meals has been shown to help stabilize blood