My Favorite Cooking Blogs

Listen, I'm not naturally gifted in the kitchen. Far from it. So, I rely on a handful of trusted cooking blogs to guide me through almost any dish. Time after time, these culinary whizzes prevent disaster and, even more impressively, help me masquerade as a bonafide cook. Thought I'd pass their names along, in case anyone is looking to expand their recipe repertoire :)

AMBITIOUS KITCHEN'S SKILLET ENCHILADA

Ambitious Kitchen's fare leans clean, nourishing, and often works around dietary restrictions. I usually turn to Monique's blog for her vegetarian and vegan meal ideas. (I swear -- they're so tasty, you won't miss meat.) Sometimes, she uses ingredients that are slightly inconvenient to track down (like coconut flour or nutritional yeast), but there are also plenty of dishes that can be whipped up with cupboard staples. Honestly, her recipes are very easy to follow and ALWAYS turn out really, really well!

My favorite recipes: Skillet Enchilada, Avo Blueberry Quinoa Salad, and Crunchy Cashew Thai Salad.

SMITTEN KITCHEN'S PASTA E CECI

Smitten Kitchen is my resource for "mom food" (which I mean in the very best and most complimentary way possible). There's an undeniable sense of cozy homeyness to Deb's recipes. Her dishes are unpretentious and extremely satisfying. Plus, the catalogue of cakes (and other assorted desserts) is bonkers -- super handy for special occasions or holidays.

My favorite recipes: Slow-Roasted Sweet Potatoes (duh), Marbled Banana Bread, Dijon-Braised Brussels Sprouts (only made this twice but we still talk about it!), Pasta e Ceci.

BASICALLY'S SPICY STIR FRY WITH CELERY AND PEANUTS

Basically is Bon Appetit's fun off-shoot that caters to an intro-level crowd. A lot of their recipes are fundamentally basic, with a decadent twist. Even though the dishes aren't particularly difficult to execute, this isn't the blog for easy, last-minute meal prep. (Think: Tricky ingredients, lengthy cooking time, etc.) However, when you have the time and foresight, Basically will absolutely help you pull together something awesome to eat.

My favorite recipes: Spicy Stir Fry (insanely tasty without chicken), Sour Cream and Onion Biscuits (Josh made them in April -- so dangerously good that we never tried them again lol).

Do you follow any cooking blogs? Which ones do you like best?

Image credit (top): Cooking Light
Image credit (dishes): These photos come from their respective blogs :)