Preparing dinner is even easier when you roast everything on a sheet pan… oh, and clean-up is a snap!

This is a great recipe to whip out during the week because you can mix and match the spices based on what you have on hand: Greek (lemon+garlic+oregano), Chinese (ginger+garlic+soysauce) or Italian (basil+garlic+tomatoes). Steam some veggies or make a big salad and voilà! Dinner Dilemma solved.

I like using chicken thighs for sheet pan meals because they won’t dry out in the oven like boneless skinless chicken breasts often do. They’re also less expensive, which is always a plus in my book! Click here for the step-by-step tutorial on how to make the fabulous Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken.

Tip: Get the kids to help with dinner by letting them peel and section the citrus fruit!

Like this recipe? Here’s more super easy dinner ideas: Easy Ravioli Bake and Island Chicken Drummies.

 

If you’re having a small New Year’s gathering (or if it’s just the two of you), I’ve got a great suggestion: King Crab Legs with Drawn Butter.

Easy. Elegant. Oh, yes, a bit expensive (which makes it extra special!).

King Crab is sweet and delicious, and unless you live in Alaska or further up north, it’s already cooked (and frozen) when you buy it. All you have to do is thaw, reheat and eat!

There are several ways to prepare King Crab, but I like to steam-reheat them in the oven. For a step-by-step tutorial on how to do it, click here.

Because this is a special night, I like to serve them with drawn butter (also called clarified butter). Drawn butter is butter that has been melted with the milk solids removed. You can also season it with herbs or lemon juice if you like. Drawn butter is also great to drizzle onto steamed vegetables.

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial for How To Make Drawn Butter:

Clarified Butter

prep: 5 minutes
cook: 15 minutes

serves 6, 2 tablespoons each

you’ll need… 

½ pound butter

let’s get to it…

1. Melt butter in a heavy saucepan on low heat.

2. Milk solids (in the form of white foam) will cloud the top: DO NOT STIR.

3. When butter is completely melted and small bubbles  begin to form around the edge, turn off heat. Let stand 3 minutes.

4. With a small ladle or spoon, skim off the milk solids.

5. You’ve made drawn butter! Try not to disturb any milk solids remaining on the bottom of the saucepan when you pour it bowls for dipping the crab.

 

For more Kitchen How-To and Tips, Check out my Extra Helpings Tab!

 

Scrambled Eggs are one of those recipes that seem relatively easy to prepare, but, for some reason, perfect scrambled eggs are hard to master.

Until now.

I’m giving full credit to the new 10-inch ceramic-coated Induction 21 Steel fry pan my friends at Chantal asked me to try out. The pan has copper melted into the steel, which conducts heat quickly and evenly. Even cooking temps are important so your scrambled eggs will have those light fluffy curds (not grainy dry ugliness).

The pan is also ceramic coated, which means it’s a non-stick pan… but doesn’t emit toxic fumes when it’s overheated. It is PFOA and PTFE free (click here for more info on what that means and why that’s a good thing). Chantal doesn’t recommend using non-stick sprays… butter and oil are best. It’s nickel-free… which is a plus, because I’m allergic to nickel!

The pan is made with titanium for added strength and durability… super important if you cook a lot.

I really like that the long ergonomic handle stays cool to the touch while cooking. It features a wide flat bottom, sloped sides and has a dripless pouring rim to reduce spillage. I used it on my gas cooktop, but it’s perfect for induction or other cooktops.

This pan does not need to be preheated and a low to medium setting is all you need for most things you’ll prepare. It is not dishwasher safe, but I don’t put my pots and pans in the dishwasher anyway.

This pan is great for searing fish fillets, browning chicken breasts, sautéing vegetables… or making the Perfect Scrambled Eggs! There’s a step-by-step tutorial after the recipe!

Tutorial: How To Make Perfect Scrambled Eggs

1. Gather your ingredients: 2 eggs, ¼ cup boiling hot water, 1 tablespoon butter, salt and pepper to taste.

 

2.  Heat your water.

3. Beat the eggs vigorously until completely blended (you want as much air in them as possible so that they’ll be fluffy); set aside.

4. Heat butter in the Chantal Induction 21 Steel™ Fry Pan on medium low heat until melted.

5. Beat boiling hot water into the eggs.

6. Pour immediately into the fry pan; reduce heat to medium low.

7. Push eggs gently across the pan with a wooden or silicone spatula, forming large, soft curds.

8. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until thickened and no visible liquid egg remains.

 

9. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

We fancy! Lobster is cheap right now, so we’re whipping up Lobster Deviled Eggs!

Cheap lobster you say? Yep, you bet. For a variety of reasons, there’s an overabundance of lobsters, so prices are falling. Costco, Sam’s Club and Walmart are selling frozen lobster tails and cooked claws at amazingly low prices.

And… if you really want to indulge yourself, pick up some live lobsters. Scared to try? Don’t be… here’s what you need to know.

So splurge this weekend and give it a shot! I’ve got a step-by-step how-to-do-it below the recipe. If Lobster Deviled Eggs aren’t your thing, buy the lobster tails anyway, prepare as directed in the recipe below and just dip them into warm melted butter.

Look who’s fancy now!

Step-by-Step Lobster Deviled Eggs

1. Gather your ingredients: 8 eggs; 1 8-ounce lobster tail, thawed; 1 teaspoon seasoning (like Old Bay); 3 tablespoons mayonnaise;  1 teaspoons Dijon mustard; 2 teaspoons lemon juice; ½ teaspoon salt (or more to taste); 3 tablespoons finely chopped celery; 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives (plus a little extra for garnish).

2. Boil the eggs. If you’re not sure how to do it, click here. Cool, peel and set aside.

3. Cut lengthwise through the top of the lobster tail all the way down to the tail with a pair of kitchen shears.

4. Reach inside the shell and loosen and pull the meat away from the shell (don’t remove the meat… the shell is the little oven that gives the lobster flavor); set aside.

5. Fill a saucepan with about ½ inch water and add the seasoning.

6. Place a steamer into the pan and bring to a boil. Place lobster tail on the steamer in the saucepan.

7. Cover and steam for 12 to 15 minutes or until the meat is no longer opaque.

8. Remove lobster tail from pan and cool completely. Pull meat from the shell and chop into ½-inch pieces (you’ll get about 5 ounces of meat); set aside.

9. Carefully slice the boiled eggs lengthwise. Wipe your knife off on a damp paper towel in between eggs so you don’t get yolk all over the egg halves. Place the yolks in a large bowl.

10. Slice off a tiny sliver on the bottom of each egg white so they don’t wobble on the plate; set aside.

11. Add mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice and salt. Mash the mixture with a potato masher. Taste and adjust the seasonings. I don’t add a lot of mustard because I don’t like to lose the lobster flavor.

12. Gently fold in the celery, chives and lobster. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings. Sometimes a shake of Old Bay is needed.

Spoon the Deviled Lobster mixture evenly into each egg white half. Sprinkle on the remaining chives (or get creative). Cover carefully with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.