As I mentioned in my first KCA article a hope of mine for these adventures is to return to my cookbook challenge. Today the first cookbook revisit is revealed! To kick things off I am once again cracking open my Pioneer Woman: Dinnertime cookbook and restarting my journey of cooking my way through meals had on the Drummond ranch. Hope you enjoy my thoughts!
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If you want to watch me cook (aka struggle) all the meals mentioned in this post and the other Kitchen Chaos Adventures articles you can head on over to my YouTube channel! Episodes will be posted there for my channel members.
(Linked here: https://www.youtube.com/@theeverydayadventurers/membership )
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Now…on to the food!
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Recipes
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Stovetop Mashed Potatoes
When you need a reliable comfort-food side dish without a bunch of extra hassle, these stovetop mashed potatoes definitely get the job done.
In terms of the cooking process, the recipe was honestly really simple and easy to make. I do wish these came out a little creamier but even so, they still tasted really good.
Overall, it’s a very simple and standard mashed potato recipe that I would definitely use again.
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Ratings (Scale of 1-10):
Taste: 7
Difficulty: 1
Likelihood of Making Again: 9
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Chicken Cacciatore
While this dish delivered on flavor, I think it is a one-and-done recipe for my kitchen.
The biggest highlight for me was the sauce. Everything simmered together into a rich, savory, and comforting base with a great depth of flavor, and served over egg noodles, it was absolutely delicious. The chicken thighs and vegetables, however, were just not my cup of tea. As a picky eater, I have never been a big fan of either. Even though I went in with an open mind, it wasn’t enough to make me want more than one small serving.
In terms of the cooking process, it sits right around the middle of the difficulty scale. It wasn't a massive undertaking or a complicated all-day project, so it is manageable if you have a little time on your hands. At the same time, it definitely isn't a quick, throw-it-together meal—between chopping, browning, and simmering, it still requires a fair amount of active prep and patience (and, for whatever reason, a crap ton of dishes).
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Ratings:
Taste: 8
Difficulty: 3
Likelihood of Making Again: 3
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Cashew Chicken
This dish could have been so good… if it wasn’t for the insane amount of saltiness. Like, reach-for-a-glass-of-water-after-every-bite level of saltiness.
Honestly, the underlying flavors were actually really promising, which makes the whole thing even more frustrating. Beneath all that sodium, you could tell there was a solid, tasty cashew chicken recipe trying to shine through. Unfortunately, the salt completely took over to the point where it was so bad I couldn’t even finish my bowl.
In terms of the cooking process, it was fairly easy to throw together. It didn't require a ton of complicated steps or hours in the kitchen, which normally would put it in my regular weeknight rotation.
Truthfully, I’m not entirely sure whether I messed something up along the way or if the recipe itself just naturally produces this salty of a concoction. Either way, that uncertainty makes me pretty hesitant to try making it again anytime soon.
Ratings:
Taste: 2
Difficulty: 2
Likelihood of Making Again: 4
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Coleslaw
Let me start by saying that I am NOT a coleslaw person, so the fact that I’m sitting here saying this coleslaw wasn’t terrible is honestly a pretty big compliment coming from me.
When it came to actually tasting it, it definitely wasn't the worst thing I have ever eaten. While it didn't magically convert me into a massive coleslaw fan overnight, the flavors worked well together, and I could actually see why people might enjoy it.
Speaking of people enjoying it, this dish did get a stamp of approval from my dad. Since he enjoyed it so much, I’d definitely be willing to whip up another batch if he ever requests it. Otherwise, because coleslaw just isn't my thing in general, it definitely won’t be a recipe I’ll be making for myself again.
The recipe itself was fairly simple, though it did require a bit more prep work just because of all the chopping involved. Although it would have been even easier if I had better knives that actually cut. (If you watch my members-only cooking video, you will see what I mean. lol)
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Ratings:
Taste: 8
Difficulty: 3
Likelihood of Making Again: 5
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Pan Fried Pork Chops, Slice Baked Potatoes, and Lemony Green Beans
Let’s kick things off with the lemony green beans.
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For this dish the original recipe calls for the use of fresh green beans, but, because I am not a fan of their texture, I pivoted to the easy and cheap route and used canned green beans instead.
Using the canned beans made the cooking process ridiculously easy. There was basically zero prep work involved, and the whole thing came together in just a few minutes on the stove. So, if you are looking for a fast, no-fuss side dish, the effort level here is as low as it gets.
When it came to the flavor, though, things went a little sideways. I adjusted the amount of lemon juice that went into the green beans to try to avoid them being overpowered by the acidic flavor… and I apparently didn’t adjust enough. Every bite still packed a massive, super-tart punch that took over the entire dish.
Even setting my heavy-handed pouring aside, I’m not sure if I would make these again. At the end of the day, I realized I just don't really think my green beans need to have a lemon flavor to them. Plain, classic green beans work just fine for me.
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Ratings:
Taste: 6
Difficulty: 1
Likelihood of Making Again: 6
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Next the Slice Baked Potatoes
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While these potatoes were pretty tasty, I definitely think they were way more work than they needed to be.
The filling itself was great and easily the best part of the dish. Everything came together into a delicious, comforting classic that I would happily make again.
However, the overall process was pretty time-consuming. This specific recipe has you slice the potatoes into individual circles instead of cutting them in half which felt like waaaaay more effort than was necessary for the exact same flavor payoff.
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Ratings:
Taste: 7
Difficulty: 10
Likelihood of Making Again: 2
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Finally, the pan fried pork chops.
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If you are looking for a quick, straightforward dinner, these pan-fried pork chops deliver.
In terms of the cooking process, the whole dish was honestly pretty simple. There wasn't a ton of complicated prep or a massive list of steps, making it an easy, low-stress meal to throw together on the stove without spending all night in the kitchen.
When it came to the actual taste, though, I personally thought the pork chops had a weird flavor to them. To be completely fair, I don't eat pork chops—or pork in general—anymore, and both my dad and my brother really liked them so I’m thinking the “weird flavor” was probably just a me problem rather than an issue with the recipe itself.
However, even with their stamp of approval, this is definitely not a dish I would make again for myself. Since pork isn't my thing, I’ll happily leave this one to the rest of the family.
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Ratings:
Taste: 4
Difficulty: 3
Likelihood of Making Again: 1