21 Things I Learned How to Do in the Kitchen This Year

Sheet-pan eggs took the internet by storm. The idea is baking up a sheet pan full of eggs and slicing it into squares. It's like a quiche, only thinner, so you can actually top it over toast quite easily.

Get the recipe: sheet-pan eggs

Warm avocado always sounds strange to me, but I surprisingly loved tossing pasta in a creamy sauce made of avocado. It's like a lightened-up version of pesto and alfredo.

Get the recipe: avocado pasta

I'm an adult now, so when I'm craving an Otter Pop from my childhood, I sort of want it be all grown up . . . in other words, spiked. These strawberry pops combine Rosé wine with Lillet and freeze up in just a few hours.

Get the recipe: elderflower Rosé pops

Grilled cheese grilled cheese sounds redundant, but hear me out. If you sprinkle a layer of cheese on the outside of your grilled cheese sandwich, it sears onto the bread and forms a mouthwatering cheese crust.

Get the recipe: grilled cheese on grilled cheese

I'm lazy to the bones when it comes to making potatoes. I don't have time to parboil them before roasting. This is my tried-and-true technique that barely requires lifting a finger.

Get the technique: how to roast potatoes

If you shake up heavy whipping cream in a sealed mason jar, eventually you'll get whipped cream, followed by buttermilk and butter. The fat separates from the liquid in just a few minutes. From there, you can use the buttermilk in pancakes and season the butter to your liking.

Get the recipe: homemade butter

Never trust the directions on the back of a package of dried pasta. Instead, boil it one minute short of what it says and then toss the pasta in the sauce for an additional 40 seconds.

Get the technique: how long to cook pasta

I cooked dirt-cheap meals throughout the year. One I especially love is this new salad: romaine and orange, dressed with orange zest and juice from the peels. Salt and pepper it liberally and pair it with a can of tuna, and you're set.

Get the recipes: frugal meals

A coworker raved about how she roasts broccoli, and this inspired me to try her technique. Wow — it blew me away. The broccoli tastes like chips and I crave it regularly. Who knew I could actually crave veggies?

Get the recipe: roasted broccoli and cauliflower

My favorite sauce to put on mac and cheese and nachos (and serve as dip to a ravenous crowd) is this Super Melty Cheese sauce recipe from Guy Fieri. It blends smoked gouda, cheddar, and parmesan.

Get the recipe: cheese sauce

I made every single hacked meal my coworkers swear by and learned some things. FYI, chicken and potato curry is one of my absolute favorite pull-together dishes.

Get the recipes: Trader Joe's meal hacks

I transformed the iconic dish, 40 cloves of garlic chicken, into a comforting, brothy soup, appropriate for colds or keeping your immune system strong.

Get the recipe: 40 cloves of garlic chicken soup

I know $1,500 is a crazy-steep price for a smart oven, but I'm attached to this magnificent piece of equipment. The oven pairs with your smartphone and comes equipped with a camera to show you your food while it's baking. It features AI technology and automatically detects whatever it is you're wanting to bake like chicken, broccoli, or cookies, then proceeds to cook it. The dozens of presets mean you can perfectly roast food without having to think about temperature or time. There are plenty more reasons this oven rocks, but you can read the full review if you're intrigued!

Get the review: how to cook in a June Oven