The Sprite iced tea recipe was all the rage on social media in 2023, and when I tried it out, I found it to be simple and tasty. You just steep tea bags in Sprite to create a carbonated sweet tea. It’s mellow and just a tad tangy.

I’m a fan of bizarre beverages, from North Carolina’s beloved Cheerwine to Pepsi with milk to Coca-Cola Starlight. So of course, I had to try Sprite + Tea.

What is Sprite + Tea?

Can’t you just picture the Coca-Cola executives watching the DIY Sprite iced tea go viral and scrambling to get their recipe development team on it?

A press release from Coca-Cola says that the concept started out as an intern research project (go, interns!) inspired by that very viral trend. “We’re always listening to our consumers, but this particular phenomenon motivated us to explore how we could offer our own refreshing take on tea,” said Kate Schaufelberger, brand director for Sprite North America.

What does Sprite + Tea taste like?

The name says it all: Sprite + Tea blends crisp, lemon-lime flavored Sprite with refreshing iced tea. You can get it in regular and zero-sugar varieties, and there’s no caffeine.

From the little whispery “psst” as I opened the bottle of rich, golden soda to the fresh, citrusy scent, Sprite + Tea was a winner from the start. I confess, I’m not an enormous fan of either Sprite or iced tea, but this beverage is better than either of those drinks are alone.

There’s just the smallest kick from the bold tea flavor, and blending it with Sprite instead of water adds a sweet smoothness that kept me going back for more.

I can easily imagine this becoming a standby at summer barbecues and beach parties this year. Even if sweet tea isn’t a part of your regional tradition (translation: you’re not a Southerner), I’m sure Sprite + Tea will turn into an all-around favorite.

When can I get Sprite + Tea?

It’s a limited-edition drink, which should be in stores across the U.S. and Canada now or as soon as your stores can shelve it. My store didn’t have it on the soft drink shelves with the canned drinks, but instead had individual 20-ounce bottles in the coolers by the cash registers.

If you do see it, don’t wait to buy: Sprite + Tea will only remain available in the U.S. and Canada through October.

Related:

• Coke Zero vs. Diet Coke: What’s the Difference?
• I Tried the New Orange Cream Coke—Here’s My Honest Review
• I Tried the Spindrift Soda, and It’s Not What I Was Expecting

The post I Tried the New Sprite + Tea, and It’s About to Become the Drink of the Summer appeared first on Taste Recipes.

The Frosty has been a staple of Wendy’s core menu since the chain opened in the ’60s, and it’s been wildly popular (with almost no change) ever since.

I’ve been a Frosty fanatic since before I could walk. The food critic in me can’t resist a Wendy’s Frosty and fries for the perfect salty-sweet combo.

Recently, Wendy’s made a major change to its original Frosty by introducing Frosty Fusions, aka flavor swirls and mix-ins. I had to know if this was a change for the better, or if Wendy’s should’ve stuck to the tried-and-true.

Are the new Frostys good?

There are six new options in total, three Frosty Swirls and three Frosty Fusions. You can start with a chocolate or vanilla base and choose strawberry, caramel or brownie batter sauce for a Swirl. Fusions involve mix-ins on top: strawberry sauce with Strawberry Pop-Tart pieces, brownie batter with Oreo or crunchy toffee with caramel.

The vanilla-based Strawberry Frosty Fusion piqued my interest, so that’s what I ordered. Boy, did I make the right decision! As the Wendy’s employee placed my Frosty on the counter, I already knew it was going to be a great day. I grabbed it and sat down for a thorough taste test.

First things first, it’s still a Frosty. The consistency is thick, smooth and creamy. That’s a given. The vanilla and strawberry syrup combo reminds me of the Strawberry Frostys from once upon a time. The syrup tasted much more authentic than I had anticipated, and I appreciated it. It wasn’t overwhelming. I didn’t find myself wading through pools of syrup looking for a pocket of vanilla. The layers mixed together naturally and tasted incredible.

The absolute best part was the Pop-Tart mix-ins. I took my first bite and was instantly transported back to childhood. If you’ve ever had a frozen Pop-Tart, you know what I’m talking about! The combination of creamy Frosty and crunchy pastry was a symphony in my mouth. I was floored. And, on top of everything, the Pop-Tarts didn’t lose their flavor. The filling was sweet and worked well with the syrup.

I would put this Frosty Fusion on the same level as the Thin Mint Frosty. I only wish I had ordered a side of fries for the momentous occasion.

How long are the new Frostys at Wendy’s?

The Frosty Fusions and Frosty Swirls are part of the permanent Wendy’s menu! Because they’re absolutely perfect for the summer, I imagine you’ll be going back for more just like I will. Turns out, innovation is the key to success. Just don’t change your square burgers, Wendy’s.

Related:

• The Best Fast-Food Ice Cream, Ranked By a Food Writer
• Our Best Wendy’s Copycat Recipes
• McDonald’s Plans to Drop Something Brand-New This Year

The post Here’s Why the Brand-New Frosty at Wendy’s Won Me Over appeared first on Taste Recipes.

I also look for recognizable brands like Lenox, Hazel-Atlas, Hummel or old apothecary-style jars, which collectors love. Don’t sleep on flea markets and estate sales either; sometimes you’ll find rare pieces buried in a box of random kitchenware. The thrill is in the hunt, and once you start spotting these little treasures, it’s hard to stop.

The Most Valuable Vintage Spice Jars

Lenox Spice Garden

This delicately lovely spice jar set boasts hand-painted illustrations of fresh herbs that correspond with the contents. Full sets on eBay range between $500 and $700. The jars are adorned with two distinctive gold bands—one around the rim of the top and one on the bottom of each small, cream-colored jar. The names of the spices are also written on each container in gold. Authentic vintage sets will be marked “The Lenox Spice Garden” on the bottom.

Lenox Spice Carousel

Bring the whimsy of carnivals past into your kitchen with a lucrative spice jar set. White, gold-rimmed capsule jars are decorated with dazzlingly colorful animals in their full performance garb. And how much will a never-used, 22-piece set cost you? About $1,100, according to Etsy. Individual jars run between $25 and $100. Grab up what you can find from this vibrant 1993 collection.

Danbury Mint Hummel

Looking to add a touch of homespun innocence to your kitchen aesthetic? Hummel’s trademark images of children at work and play are somehow even cuter in spice jar form. The full set, going for $259 on Etsy, comes in a wooden, triple-row shelf that’s sturdy enough to house 24 spices, but compact enough for small kitchen spaces. To identify Hummel jars, make sure that the Goebel manufacturing trademark can be seen under the glaze; the symbol is often accompanied by a trademark number for further distinction.

Griffiths Milk Glass

Vintage milk glass spice jar sets aren’t just charming—they’re highly collectible, often fetching impressive prices depending on condition and rarity. Even the used and worn ones go for nearly $200. Their nostalgic appeal and classic kitchen style make them a favorite among home cooks and collectors alike. Complete sets, especially those with original racks and labels, are particularly valuable.

Griffiths milk glass is among the most sought-after, featuring squat, square-shaped jars with Art Deco-style labels and spice names printed in blocked lettering. Authentic jars will usually have a smooth bottom with no mold seams, and the labels will read “Griffith Laboratories” or simply “Griffiths” depending on the production year.

Lenox Walt Disney

Lenox Walt Disney spice jars are a fun and charming way to bring a little imagination into your kitchen. These collectible jars, released in 1995, feature classic animated characters alongside popular spices, making them a hit with both Disney diehards and vintage fans. Because they were manufactured in limited numbers, full sets can be quite valuable, with fully intact ones going for $1,700 to $2,500, depending on condition.

How to Know If Jars Are Really Vintage

With so many modern reproductions and reissued sets out there, it can be tricky to tell if your spice jars are truly vintage. One of the best ways to check is by looking at the bottom—authentic vintage jars often have telltale marks like maker’s stamps, worn bases or slight imperfections from older production methods. Reproductions might look a bit weathered, but they often have smooth finishes and newer-looking labels or decals. Be wary of jars that seem too perfect or come in trendy colors that match today’s design palettes; some might be straight from a 2021 Crate & Barrel collection. When in doubt, compare your jars to trusted reference photos or listings from reputable vintage dealers.

Related:

• How to Know If Your Vintage CorningWare Is Worth Thousands
• The Vintage Pyrex Patterns You Remember from Grandma’s House
• 13 Valuable Things to Look for at Goodwill

The post Shockingly Valuable Vintage Spice Jars to Look for at the Thrift Store appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Vintage ceramic, china and glassware need special care due to their delicate finishes and materials. We’re breaking down the best cleaning method to make your thrifted dishes sparkle without ruining the finish.

How to Clean Vintage Glassware, Ceramic and China

The first step to cleaning vintage glassware and dishware is to skip the dishwasher. The movement in the dishwasher, harsh soap and extreme temperature changes can damage dishes and cause glassware to crack or shatter. Here’s how to hand-wash vintage dishes with care:

1. Prepare the sink: Make sure your sink is clean before washing vintage dishes. Lay a folded towel in the bottom of your sink for cushioning, then fill the sink with warm water and a small amount of gentle dish soap.
2. Wash: Wash the dishes and glasses one piece at a time. Gently clean with a soft microfiber cloth. If it’s hard to reach the inside of a glass, you can use a stemware brush with soft foam bristles like this one.
3. Rinse: Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
4. Dry: After rinsing, place the dishes and the glassware upside down on a soft towel to air dry. Or you can hand dry carefully with a soft lint-free cloth.

Extra Tips for Cleaning Vintage Glassware

What to do if you see a cloudy film

You may notice a white or gray film on antique or vintage glasses. According to the American Cleaning Institute, to remove the cloudy film, “Soak [the glassware] in a weak vinegar and water solution for an hour or two. The vinegar (acetic acid) eats away the build up.” You’ll have sparkling glasses again in no time.

How to check if your vintage glassware contains lead

Antique dishes can contain lead, especially if they were made before 1971, when the FDA first started to enforce limits on the amount of leachable lead in dishware. The CDC recommends testing for lead by submitting a sample to a certified laboratory. That’s not always a realistic option, so home lead-testing kits are also available. Keep in mind that home tests are not as accurate as laboratory testing.

How to handle stubborn staining

If your vintage dishes have more stubborn stains, like yellowing or other discoloration, a very gentle abrasive might be needed. Hemswell Antique Centres recommends a paste made from baking soda and water: “Mix a small amount of baking soda with water until it forms a thick paste. Apply it gently to the stained area with a soft cloth or cotton swab. After allowing it to sit for a few minutes, gently rub in a circular motion.” Rinse the baking soda mixture away and allow the glassware the air dry.

Related:

• How to Identify Real Milk Glass
• ‘Depression Glass’ Hides in Plain Sight at Thrift Stores—Here’s How to Find It
• Crystal vs. Glass: What to Look for at the Thrift Store

The post How to Properly Clean Thrifted Dishes So You Don’t Ruin Them appeared first on Taste Recipes.

This love for a parent’s cooking is something Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Bruno Mars and I have in common. When it comes to his favorite foods, Bruno also has fond memories of the foods he ate while growing up in Hawaii—especially one particular dish prepared by his Filipino mother.

What does Bruno Mars love to eat?

Bruno’s favorite dish is chicken adobo, which is the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. In a past interview, Bruno mentioned that his mom would prepare the tangy, savory dish for him when he was growing up. She typically served it with a helping of yellow rice combined with olives and diced peppers—a recipe from his grandmother—on the side.

What makes chicken adobo so special is the deceptively simple balance of vinegar, soy and garlic in the marinade. Before the chicken even touches the skillet, it marinates in these strong flavors, which team up to give it its signature velvety texture and rich taste.

Bruno loves his mom’s chicken adobo so much, he even embraced the dish as his own nickname. In an Instagram post the singer shared from an appearance in Manila, he revealed his alter ego: Lil Prince Adobo. The dish connects to his heritage and, we can only guess, makes the globe-trotting performer feel closer to home wherever in the world he finds himself on any given day.

The family recipe also inspired the “24K Magic” singer to get into the kitchen himself. While he’s joked that he “can make Pop Tarts,” he also says that he’s learned a lot from watching his mom cook and now knows his way around the kitchen.

Despite packing big flavors, Bruno’s mom’s signature dish is a surprisingly simple and fast weeknight dinner too. If you don’t mind us, we’ll be giving this recipe a spin tonight.

Related:

• Ryan Gosling’s Favorite Dessert Is One of His Mother-in-Law’s Recipes
• The Best Recipes from Hawaii
• How to Cook Rice on the Stove (and Other Methods)

The post Bruno Mars’s Favorite Meal Is This Filipino Dish His Mom Makes appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Regular horchata is sweet yet refreshing, and I can’t make it through a day without some form of coffee. This shaken espresso felt like it could be the best of both worlds!

What’s in the Starbucks Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso?

This drink is a mix of blonde espresso and horchata syrup shaken with ice and topped with creamy oat milk. According to the Starbucks app, the horchata syrup is “a fusion of cinnamon, vanilla and rice flavors.”

If you haven’t ventured into the realm of shaken espresso yet, I highly recommend it. Inspired by the Italian shakerato (aka chilled espresso), the Starbucks version also incorporates milk for a creamy element. I find it so much tastier than a basic iced coffee, even though they’re quite similar.

How does it compare to a classic horchata?

I don’t think the two are meant to be compared. Because the Starbucks drink is made with horchata syrup rather than real horchata, I wouldn’t have known it was a horchata-inspired drink if I tasted it in a lineup of unmarked iced coffees. The cinnamon flavor stood out, but the sweet rice milk was totally lacking.

That being said, the drink is good! You really can’t go wrong with cinnamon, vanilla, espresso and oat milk. It would have been a real winner if it were made with a base of horchata shaken with a double shot of espresso. While it wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for, I’d still order the drink again—and I want to try making my own version at home.

If you’re curious to test out the Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, it’ll be on the Starbucks menu through summer.

Related:

• Copycat Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
• The Nespresso Vertuo Plus Is the Best Coffee Pod Machine Money Can Buy
• The Starbucks ‘Teddy Grahams Shaken Espresso’ Is Like the Adult Version of the Snack

The post I Tried the Starbucks Horchata Shaken Espresso—Here’s My Honest Opinion appeared first on Taste Recipes.

3. Dairy Queen

DQ offers a lot of ice cream cake options for special order, and stores also keep the basics on hand for last-minute celebrations. We purchased the classic 8-inch round ice cream cake for $34. This size promises to serve eight to 10 guests.

The Dairy Queen ice cream cake has a layer of vanilla ice cream, followed by a crunch layer made with chocolate cookie crumbles and caramel, then a chocolate ice cream layer. The entire cake was frosted with a thin layer of smooth white icing and then decorated with delicate pink embellishments.

We appreciated that this cake was designed with ample space for a personalized message. Plus, DQ had the largest cake for the lowest price, so it was a good value! The one thing that struck us as odd was the fact that it was all ice cream and no cake. It was more like ice cream in the shape of a cake with the addition of frosting and decorations.

The crunch layer was the real standout here; we kept sneaking more bites of that fantastic center.

Bottom Line: If you’re all about the ice cream and less about the cake, this one is for you. In fact, if the DQ Blizzard is a favorite of yours, there is an Oreo Blizzard Cake that reflects this legendary menu item.

2. Baskin-Robbins

Walking into our local Baskin-Robbins, we were impressed by the variety of ice cream cakes in the freezer ready for pickup. Each one was decorated, and there was a colorful array of frostings to choose from. Ice cream options included chocolate chip, mint chip and pralines and cream. There were square, round and rectangular cakes. Some even had “Happy Birthday” pre-written on them for anyone who might be short on time. For people who want a fully custom cake, Baskin-Robbins can do that, too.

We selected a pink cake with lovely roses, made with chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate cake. This ice cream cake was comprised of about 2/3 ice cream and 1/3 cake, and the entire dessert was coated with a thick layer of frosting. It felt more like a true cake than DQ’s option. For $30, this rectangular cake is meant to serve six to eight. The flavor of the ice cream was just OK, and we found the cake to be a bit dry.

Bottom Line: This ice cream cake is for anyone who doesn’t want to miss out on a thick layer of frosting and elaborate decorations.

1. Coldstone

The “Tall, Dark & Delicious” cake from Coldstone was the absolute best ice cream cake. A small round signature cake from Coldstone will run $36 and should serve up to eight. This impressive cake is made with two layers of moist devil’s food cake, along with a layer of sweet cream ice cream mixed with brownies and a layer of chocolate ice cream mixed with Oreos. The whole cake is wrapped in fluffy white frosting and finished off with a cascading fudge ganache.

Even before taking the first bite, we knew this ice cream cake was perfection. We loved the equal layers of ice cream and cake. The ganache was rich and delicious as well as visually stunning. The ice cream layers were flavorful and creamy, and the cake layers were moist with a delicate crumb.

We can’t wait to return to Coldstone before our next party to pick up one of the other options we saw on display in the store. We were lured in by “Oreo Cookies and Cream Extreme,” “Cookie Dough Delirium,” “Strawberry Passion,” “Cake Batter Confetti,” “A Cheesecake Named Desire,” and “Peanut Butter Playground.” Coldstone even makes ice cream cupcakes for individual ice cream cake experiences!

Bottom Line: Everything about this ice cream cake was 10/10—the cake, the ice cream and the frosting.

Related:

• The Most Iconic Ice Cream Flavor in Every State
• The Best Fast-Food Ice Cream, Ranked By a Food Writer
• This Cult-Fave Dairy Queen Treat Is Discontinued, But You Can Still Order It With This Menu Hack

The post I Ordered Ice Cream Cakes at DQ, Coldstone and Baskin-Robbins—There Was One Clear Winner appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Instead of bright primary florals, we’re seeing pans, gadgets and servingware in more modern, muted hues like jade, lilac and taupe. The fresh, summery styles have us completely smitten—and we’re already filling our virtual carts.

THE PIONEER WOMAN/WALMART

The New Pioneer Woman Collection

Ree Drummond's new designs swap pops of color and bright florals for soothing palettes and graceful silhouettes.

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What is the new Pioneer Woman collection?

The Pioneer Woman collection spans several home and kitchen categories, including decor, cookware and gifts. In the latest release, Ree swaps her bright florals and stark contrasts for soothing shades and delicate designs. These new products arrive just after the release of her newest furniture line, which features similar muted tones.

While we loved the classic collection’s vibe, the stunning new designs draw inspiration from Drummond’s love of romantic, heritage decor. It’s a much softer, more modern take on the trending vintage farmhouse aesthetic.

New shade offerings offer more versatility, allowing them to seamlessly blend in with pastel colorways such as those from Drew Barrymore’s Beautiful collection. While the new kitchenware still feels farmhouse chic and familiar, the change marks a new era of Pioneer Woman designs.

Our Favorite New Finds

THE PIONEER WOMAN/WALMART

12-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Set

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Set the table with a dinnerware set that’s as versatile as it is pretty. The romantic floral design of the 12-piece Agatha stoneware set couples vintage scallops with muted pastels, giving it a modern yet familiar feel. Each Pioneer Woman dinnerware set comes with four dinner plates, four salad plates and four bowls.

THE PIONEER WOMAN/WALMART

Stoneware Mugs

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Enjoy every sip of your morning coffee with these cute Colette mugs. Each set contains four 12-ounce mugs with pretty fluted sides and a sturdy stoneware build. Snag them in lovely lilac, light cream or denim blue. Bonus: they’re microwave and dishwasher-safe!

THE PIONEER WOMAN/WALMART

Comfort Kitchen Mat

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Anti-fatigue kitchen mats make a good addition to any home cookery. This Agatha comfort kitchen mat takes the product category to prettier pastures with a soothing green floral design against a clean white backdrop. It’s made of PVC foam with a slip-resistant coating that resists liquids and crumbs. Simply wipe away any spills!

THE PIONEER WOMAN/WALMART

15-Piece Ceramic Cookware Set

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Ceramic cookware is all the rage due to its nonstick and toxin-free surface. The Harlow 15-piece ceramic cookware set is the perfect way to experiment with ceramic cookware on a budget—and the lilac, jade and taupe shades are cute to boot. The set contains two saucepans, a stockpot, a jumbo cooker, two frying pans, a steamer insert, an acacia wood spoon rest, a spoon, a turner and a silicone trivet.

THE PIONEER WOMAN/WALMART

Stoneware Serving Platter

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Serve up smiles with this stunning stoneware platter. Available in three soft shades and spanning 16 inches, it’s ideal for apps, mains and even desserts. Don’t worry about cleanup, either—it’s completely dishwasher-safe.

THE PIONEER WOMAN/WALMART

Wood Rolling Pin Rack

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Rolling pins are important for pie making, but they take up a lot of room in the gadget drawer. This wood rolling pin rack solves that dilemma by setting aside a spot just for them. A sturdy wall mount on the back of the acacia wood rack offers tons of support for up to six baking rollers.

Where to Buy

Those interested in shopping the collection can pick up the new pieces as they roll out on Walmart’s website. While some of the new items still haven’t dropped, those that have are selling out quickly. We recommend scooping up any and all pieces that capture your attention as quickly as possible—especially since the new, contemporary collection appeals to a much wider audience.

Psst: If you love the original collection, you can find a number of items on deep discount as Walmart makes room for the new pieces!

The post Walmart Just Dropped an Updated Pioneer Woman Collection—And It’s Prettier Than Ever appeared first on Taste Recipes.

The Solo Stove Windchill 47 cooler joins the ranks of YETI and HydroFlask with a promise of multi-day ice retention and behemoth 65-can capacity. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Here’s the kicker: Solo Stove reinvents the product category by including real, built-in air conditioning among other fun features. The fleet of surprising additions makes the Windchill 47 a truly unique option for outdoorsmen and summertime soirees.

VIA MERCHANT

Solo Stove Windchill 47 Cooler

With a real air conditioner, water mister and ice retention that lasts days, the new Solo Stove cooler redefines glamping.

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What is the Solo Stove Windchill 47 cooler?

The Solo Stove cooler comes in light tan and dark green shades and weighs about 42 pounds. It boasts a roughly 30-inch length, a width of just under 19 inches and stands about 18.5 inches tall. It’s pretty comparable to the size of other coolers we love, including the budget-friendly Lifetime cooler. That said, it distinguishes itself with a rounded appearance and a top panel hosting controls for the air conditioner, plus two charging ports.

The Windchill 47 cooler works by turning its icy inside temps into frigid, dry air-conditioning. The secret is in the construction, which utilizes a built-in heat exchanger, high-powered fan and water pump. Together, these traits create a cool blast of real air conditioning, which lasts for over three hours on a single charge. Talk about a cool feature!

Experts at Taste Recipes are serious about the best coolers. Believe us when we say we’ve never seen anything quite like this. Aside from the air conditioner, it ticks all of our boxes in terms of advertised ice retention, capacity, mobility and drainage. (Although our team agrees we’d need to test the cooler first to ensure it actually delivers on its claims.) Solo Stove even offers add-ons like a drink dock and a snap-on side table, sold separately.

Product Features

The Solo Stove cooler is pricey at nearly $650, but it’s also buzzing with new features that justify the high price point. Enhancements include the aforementioned air conditioner, a built-in water mister, and even USB-C and USB-A ports for charging up devices on the go. A heat exchanger ensures more than three hours of chilly, dehumidified air blasts via the vent hose attachment. This clever attachment also silos the airflow in any direction for effective cooling.

But that’s not all. In addition, the Solo Stove cooler comes with its own rechargeable battery, plus a plug-in power adapter for lengthier escapades. It also boasts rugged all-terrain wheels and a telescopic handle for easy transport. There are also smaller bonuses included, like a built-in bottle opener, lid kickstand and easy rear drain plug. It truly is the MacGyver of coolers!

Where to Buy

VIA MERCHANT

Solo Stove Windchill 47 Cooler

Solo Stove's new cooler marks their first foray into cool-centric products—in more ways than one.

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The Solo Stove Windchill 47 is currently on preorder, with an estimated shipping date of June 16, 2025. It retails for around $650, making it just about double the price of the legendary YETI cooler. While it’s definitely not a budget option, the prospect of built-in air conditioning is priceless for folks who endure sweltering summers.

The post The New Solo Stove Cooler Has a Feature We’ve Never Seen Before appeared first on Taste Recipes.

When she isn’t bringing her acting chops to the silver screen, she’s running a gin company. Yes, you read that correctly! She and husband Tom Ackerley and a handful of friends created Papa Salt Gin, inspired by the botanical profile of her native Australia. As a gin lover, this immediately grabbed my attention. I wondered what Margot Robbie’s favorite cocktail could be, and now that I know, I simply must try it!

What is Margot Robbie’s favorite cocktail?

It sounds delicious and has a super cute name: It’s a Papa Salt and Pepper. She uses Papa Salt gin and soda water, then garnishes it with an orange rind and a crack of black pepper. It’s simple, and sounds absolutely delightful.

I know that gin is a divisive spirit, but I love it. In my experience, the best gin cocktails are the ones that really let the unique flavor profile shine through. Gins are distinct, and should be celebrated for it! The key is to use a really high quality gin, and although I haven’t had a chance to sample it yet myself, Papa Salt seems to hit that mark. It won the Platinum Medal for Best Gin in the 2022 L.A. Spirit Awards, after all.

The combination of gin and soda lets the gin’s flavors shine through, and a twist of orange and a crack of pepper are the perfect way to highlight the botanicals that make gin so delicious. Given that it’s an Australian-based spirit, it makes sense that I can picture myself sipping this cocktail on a sunny, sandy beach. The Papa Salt and Pepper feels like a perfect way to welcome the warmer months—no plane ticket to Australia required!

Related:

• Ryan Gosling’s Favorite Dessert Is One of His Mother-in-Law’s Recipes
• This Was Julia Child’s Favorite Cocktail and I Totally See Why
• The Best Gins for Making a Negroni Cocktail

The post Margot Robbie’s Favorite Cocktail Is Simple But Refreshing appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Now, Shake Shack has officially announced its own fried pickles, and I’m here to give you all the juicy details.

How are Shake Shack’s fried pickles?

Restaurants often attempt fried pickles, but often, they’re not well-executed (in my humble opinion). Sometimes they don’t have enough batter and end up as hot, soggy pickle slices wading in grease. Sometimes they’re so over-battered that the core essence is lost altogether.

I’m wildly excited to inform you that Shake Shack hit fried pickles right on the money—my only complaint is that there aren’t more in every order.

My first impression was pure joy. I could see the green rind of the eight pickles peeking through the edges of the golden brown batter. There was a tiny bit of grease coating the bottom of the cardboard clamshell, but that only informed me they were fresh out of the fryer. That’s a win for me.

I picked up my first pickle and admired the consistency. I took a bite and nearly wept at the crunch of the batter. When a food claims to be battered and fried, I expect it to be battered and fried! There was even a small, unexpected kick of spice in that crunchy coating.

Combined with Shake Shack’s delicious buttermilk ranch, I finished my order in less than a minute.  As far as fried pickles go, these were some of the best I’d had in a long, long time. Good work, Shake Shack.

How long will they be on the menu?

Fried pickles will only be on the menu through summer, so there’s no time to dawdle. When you visit your local Shack for a side of your own (as you should), don’t forget to order a Banana Pudding Shake while you’re there. I can’t imagine a more elite combo of fast food goodness.

And when the fried pickles have to make an exit, don’t worry. We’ve got the perfect fried pickles recipe for you.

The post This Popular Fast-Food Chain Just Quietly Added Fried Pickles to Its Menu appeared first on Taste Recipes.

While nibbling around the cob, typewriter-style, I’ve noticed something interesting: When I count the number of rows on each cob, I only ever get an even number. When I pick the best ears of corn at the market, do I just have good luck and buy only even-numbered cobs? Or is this something about the way corn grows?

How many rows are on an ear of corn?

Most ears of corn have eight to 20 rows of kernels. And yes, that number is always even.

If you dabble in backyard gardening, you may appreciate this nerdy botany lesson. Corn develops from female pistillate flowers, which produce seeds. Those seeds are what turn into kernels of corn. In the early stages of corn growth, the cobs are lined with rows of flowers. As part of development, each row doubles itself, leading to an even number of rows on the final ripe cob.

Does corn on the cob ever have an odd number of rows?

Odd-numbered corn cobs are rarer than four-leaf clovers by far. Biologically, corn develops in paired rows. Once in a blue moon, you may strip away corn silks to reveal an odd-numbered ear. This can be a sign of stress during the growing season, or it may be a rare inbred variety of corn. Like hen’s teeth, these asymmetrical ears are just plain unlikely.

Related:

• Ways to Enjoy Fresh Corn
• How to Grow Cucumbers in Your Home Garden
• Food Questions You Never Thought to Ask

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At first, this pairing seems ridiculous. But I’m a certified taster and the author of How to Taste, and I can tell you that there’s solid logic behind this trend.

How does this flavor combo work?

The pairing of spicy jalapeños and crisp wine relies on several flavor interactions to tickle your taste buds. First, spicy notes mute sweetness. A one-note wine that leans a bit sweet will feel less sugary and more crisp when you add heat from sliced peppers.

Second, this pairing depends on contrasting flavors. The vegetal notes from the jalapeño contrast any citrusy or berry-like notes in the wine. This contrast elevates the flavors, making them more intense and easier for you to pick out and taste.

Finally, acid or tartness in wine is intensified by hot peppers. This doesn’t mean your wine will taste sour in the presence of peppers, but many bottles will feel snappier and crisper on the palate.

These flavor interactions are the same reason a spicy margarita has a more punchy lime flavor than its pepper-free counterparts. This new trend is basically just the spicy margarita of wine!

A glass of wine that’s a bit boring and sweet will seem brighter, crisper and more complex just a few moments after you add slices of jalapeño. Of course, you’ll also get the subtle heat of jalapeños, especially in the aftertaste. If you aren’t a fan of heat, remove the seeds from the jalapeño slices before you drop them in your glass.

Which is better, jalapeños in rosé or sauvignon blanc?

Most viral TikTok videos use one of two types of wine: sauvignon blanc or rosé. Both wines are good candidates for this spicy trend.

Sauvignon blanc is known for big tropical flavors, especially when it comes from New Zealand. These wines naturally have notes of lush mango and tangy passionfruit, but many also have subtle notes of grassiness and even green bell pepper. Adding jalapeño will make those tropical flavors less sweet and elevate the greener vegetable flavors if they are present in the wine.

If you like a savory note to your vino, then this is great news. But for some people, the wine is less enjoyable because it will taste more like bell peppers than the tropical fruits this wine style is known for. If you love those green pepper notes in a wine, look for a sauvignon blanc from Chile. You can find one on this list of white wines under $20.

A glass of rosé is an ideal place to pop in some pepper slices. This is especially true of rosés on the sweeter side, which can benefit from the reduction in sweetness that spicy peppers provide. Typically, rosé has notes of red fruits, berries and stone fruit, which all provide a nice contrast to the grassiness of jalapeño. Plus, very cold rosé seems even more refreshing because the jalapeño heat will boost the wine’s crispness!

For the best rosé-to-pepper matchup, look for a wine that is a little darker in color. These tend to be sweeter and have heavier fruit flavors, which benefit from the lift and liveliness of the pepper’s heat.

The Best Way to Prep Your Jalapeño Wine

Anytime you add juices, fruits or other ingredients to wine, reach for a bottle on the less expensive side, like these rosés under $20. Then, make sure your wine is well-chilled. The coldness of the wine is another way to contrast the spiciness of the peppers, which will up the freshness factor. Make sure you pour the wine in a glass with a wide rim; this will allow you to enjoy the tantalizing aromas of both the wine and the peppers.

Now that your wine is prepped, on to the peppers! The thinner your jalapeño slices, the faster the flavors will infuse into the wine. Add a few thin slices at a time, and give the flavors a minute to infuse between additions for the perfect balance.

If your glass is full of jalapeño seeds, know that the spice level will continue to increase the entire time you enjoy your glass of wine. Alcohol is very good at extracting spicy compounds from the jalapeño seeds.

My perfect jalapeño wine has four very thin slices of the pepper with just two or three seeds plopped into a cold glass of sweet French rosé, specifically Jean-Luc Colombo Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé Cape Bleue or La Vieille Ferme Rosé. The subtle spice and red raspberry flavors come together for a refreshing treat that is best enjoyed on a sunny summer day.

Related:

• Wine and Cheese Pairings Everyone Should Know
• 15 Wines Under $15: These Are the Best Rosé Options
• How to Make Wine Taste Better By Aerating It

The post This Is the Reason People Keep Putting Jalapeños in Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc appeared first on Taste Recipes.

I’d be surprised if you haven’t caught him in a movie over the last two decades. From Silver Linings Playbook to A Star Is Born, he’s got a whopping 12 Oscar nominations to his name. Personally, I think his best performance was lending his voice to Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy, but we can compare notes another time.

It was during press for his movie Burnt that he revealed something very touching. Apparently, his grandma has served as a big source of inspiration in his life.

What is Bradley Cooper’s favorite meal?

“What would you eat as your last meal on Earth?” is the question he was asked during an interview with People. His response? “My grandmother’s cheesecake.”

It’s not just the cheesecake that stood out to Bradley. Apparently, he has a ton of memories of his grandmother making pasta as well. She inspired a lot of his approach while filming Burnt. “My grandmother always had flour caked in her engagement ring,” he said. That detail was woven into a conversation in the movie.

It’s clear that Bradley Cooper takes acting, cooking and his family seriously. I love hearing men praise the culinary talents of the women around them. Ryan Gosling has had nothing but amazing things to say about one of his mother-in-law’s recipes, which he describes as “angels crying on your tongue.” So, if you’re a Hollywood heartthrob who wants to become even more swoon-worthy, I highly recommend talking about how much you love your mother’s recipes!

Related:

• Cheesecake Recipes Perfect for Springtime
• This Is Ina Garten’s All-Time Favorite Dessert
• 99-Year-Old Dick Van Dyke Eats This Surprising Food Combo Every Day

The post Bradley Cooper’s Favorite Meal Is One of His Grandmother’s Recipes appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Chef Darren worked at Buckingham Palace for years before becoming Princess Diana’s personal chef after her divorce from Prince Charles. He was the one in charge of making the Queen’s decadent chocolate birthday cake, as well as the aforementioned banana desserts that Prince William loved.

But when he wasn’t making desserts, he was keeping an array of delicious savory dishes on the menu for Diana. One of them is a trick for crispy potatoes that I have never heard of before.

What was the hack for crispy potatoes that Princess Diana loved?

In a video for Delish, Chef Darren outlined the way Princess Diana requested her potatoes be prepared. “Take some potatoes, toss them in egg whites and also a little paprika,” he said. The trick is then to dry bake the spuds rather than tossing them in oil or any other kind of fat. The combination of the egg whites and the dry heat of the oven would make the skins extra crispy.

I would love to try a recipe that Princess Diana loved, but unfortunately I’m allergic to eggs. While this one is a no for me, you should definitely give it a try and see how the potatoes crisp up. I’ll just stick to roasting my potatoes in olive oil, and dedicating my next stuffed bell pepper night to Diana!

Related:

• Princess Diana’s Favorite Foods
• This Is What Princess Diana Kept in Her Personal Snack Fridge
• The Surprising Snack Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte Both Love

The post Princess Diana Loved This Hack For Extra Crispy Potatoes appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Why does flour come in paper bags?

There’s actually a very good reason why flour is packaged in paper bags. Paper bags breathe, allowing air to circulate. For many foods, exposure to air is a big negative, because you want to lock moisture inside the food. Think of chips, crackers and cookies, all of which would be dry as sawdust if they were transported in paper. But for different types of flour, air circulation is ideal. Air prevents moisture from building up in the flour, which can cause the flour to spoil, clump or mold.

Of course, there’s another reason to package flour in paper: It’s cheaper! Plus, home cooks have traditionally transferred flour into their own containers, so the paper bags weren’t expected to stand up to storage or wear and tear.

At home, it’s a good idea to store flour in a tightly sealed container, which will prevent pesky bugs from getting into it. It will also cut down on mess when it comes time to measure flour. Plus, it’s a great way to use that cute set of vintage canisters you picked up on the cheap at Goodwill.

How to Open a Bag of Flour the Right Way

You can cut down on dust and spills when opening a bag of flour. The trick is to take it slow. Tearing too fast agitates the flour, causing big puffs of dust.

Many bags of flour are sealed with a stitch: one side will have a single stitch, and the other will have a double stitch. Gently tear open the single stitch, then peel across the top flaps to open the bag. Use a scoop or measuring cup to carefully transfer the first few cups of flour into a storage container before gently pouring out the rest of the bag.

If you really want a zero-mess experience, place the bag of flour on a piece of parchment or waxed paper before opening it. Then you can tip any spilled flour into your container.

In an airtight container, flour will keep for a very long time. Technically, flour does expire, but it should be safe to eat as long as it doesn’t smell or look rancid.

Related:

• Whole Wheat Flour Recipes We Love to Bake
• What Is 00 Flour?
• Ways to Use Up a Bag of Cake Flour

The post Why Is Flour Sold in Those Hard-to-Open Paper Bags? appeared first on Taste Recipes.

True to form, Paul’s recipe features exact instructions for ingredients in metric measurements for more precision. You’ll need a kitchen scale to measure accurately, but the small kitchen tool is worth it. Paul also specifies exact times for kneading and proofing the dough, which makes for easy baking. Unlike a technical challenge, his recipe leaves no room for guesswork.

How to Make Paul Hollywood’s Focaccia

Ingredients

• 500 grams strong white bread flour
• 8 grams fine salt
• 10 grams instant dried yeast
• 30 milliliters olive oil, plus extra for oiling
• 370 milliliters water
• 75 grams pitted Kalamata black olives
• 1 small red onion
• 10 cherry tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• About 150 milliliters olive oil, to drizzle
• Flaky sea salt

Directions

Step 1: Mix the dough

First, mix the base dough. Unlike some bread recipes I’ve made before, where the yeast has to “wake up” in warm water, this recipe calls for combining all of the dough ingredients (flour, salt, yeast, olive oil and water) together at once until they’re mixed well. From there, jump right into kneading, either by hand or with a bread hook in an electric mixer.

Step 2: Let the dough rise

Next, transfer the dough back to an oiled bowl and leave it to rise in a warm place for two hours or until it has roughly doubled in size. My kitchen doesn’t get a lot of sun, so I find it’s best to use the proofing setting on my oven. Make sure the dough is covered in cloth or storage wrap, or sealed in a proofing bag.

Step 3: Transfer it to the pan for a second rise

Once the first rise is complete, the dough should have doubled in size. It will feel light and airy—just right for the texture of focaccia. Grease the pan you’re using for baking, and carefully tip the dough in, spreading it into a rectangle as best you can. Cover or seal it again, and leave it for another 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Step 4: Garnish and bake

Once the final rise is complete, preheat your oven and garnish the focaccia. Try to evenly distribute the tomato, red onion and olives, then top it off with a seasoning of dried oregano. Drizzle the focaccia with more oil, then bake it until it’s golden brown.

Paul Hollywood Focaccia Review

I think we all know by now that Paul Hollywood knows bread. He is, after all, the king of Bread Week! This recipe proved that to me all over again. It’s hard to make a good focaccia in a short amount of time, and I’m often disappointed with recipes that try to shorten the process. Paul Hollywood’s focaccia, though, was the exception: it baked up in just a few hours with the ultimate airy, soft texture.

I loved how simple it was to mix everything together at the same time, and I was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t negatively affect the final product. I love an easy recipe that doesn’t cut corners on taste, and this one fit the bill perfectly. If you’re looking to experiment with other focaccia recipes, try our classic focaccia recipe, which features honey and an artistic design. You could also make any of these into focaccia sandwiches!

How to Store Focaccia

Because of the delicious crunch that the olive oil produces, it’s best to store focaccia wrapped in foil. Avoid plastic wraps, which can trap moisture with the bread and leave you with the infamous soggy crust. To reheat focaccia, put it in the oven in the foil, and it’ll crisp right up.

Related:

• Recipes for Homemade Bread
• Great British Baking Show Copycat Recipes
• I Tried the Viral ‘Onion Boil’ Recipe and It’s Worth the Hype

The post I Tried Paul Hollywood’s Focaccia Recipe, and I Gave It a Handshake appeared first on Taste Recipes.

What is udon carbonara?

This innovative dish can be traced back to a little udon shop called Shin in Tokyo, where they serve a deconstructed version of what became the viral sensation. After this tiny restaurant’s recipe was name checked by both Shania Twain and Margot Robbie, it soon took the internet by storm. Discussions relating to udon carbonara are all over Reddit, and, of course, it has become one of those TikTok recipes everyone is trying. I just had to get in on the action and come up with my own version of udon carbonara, which takes inspiration from @3rdculturecooking on TikTok as well as the blog Marion’s Kitchen.

Ingredients for Udon Carbonara

• Bacon, pancetta or guanciale: I used 8 ounces of center cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch strips. Pancetta and guanciale are also great options—just use the equivalent amount.
• Eggs: The rich sauce is made with three whole eggs, plus two egg yolks.
• Parmesan cheese: Incorporate 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the carbonara sauce.
• Black pepper: Season the cheesy carbonara sauce with 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper.
• Udon noodles: I used 1 pound of frozen udon noodles. I like how they were so much thicker than the dried version and looked more like the videos online. If you are feeling adventurous, you could even try making your own homemade udon noodles!
• Nori or nori komi furikake: I used 1 tablespoon of the nori komi furikake rice seasoning, but you could also finish the dish with the equivalent amount of nori seaweed snack that has been crumbled or cut into strips.

How to Make Udon Carbonara

Start by crisping your bacon in a large saucepan. At the same time, go ahead and get a large pot of water boiling so you can cook the frozen udon noodles. This is also a good time to crack all of your eggs and egg yolks into a bowl then whisk in the Parmesan cheese and black pepper. I mixed the sauce in advance, rather than attempting a deconstructed sauce where a raw egg is cracked on top before serving.

Once the bacon is crisped to your liking, remove it from the heat and drain the bacon on a paper towel. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from the pan, and return the bacon to the pan as well. By this time, your water is probably boiling and ready to cook the noodles. Toss them in, and keep a close eye; they will be cooked in about three to four minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the udon cooking water before draining the noodles.

Add the noodles to the pan with the bacon and give them a quick stir to coat. Add about 3 or 4 tablespoons of the reserved cooking water to the bowl with the eggs, and whisk to combine. This helps temper the eggs and makes sure you don’t end up with scrambled eggs instead of a glossy, rich sauce. Add the egg mixture to the pan and then make sure the noodles are all evenly coated.

Serve udon carbonara with a sprinkle of nori kumi furikake for a dash of color, then dive in!

Does udon carbonara live up to the hype?

The restaurant that created udon carbonara has only six counter seats and two tables, so once the word got out, people waited in line for hours to try it. If someone wants to spot me a ticket to Tokyo, I will gladly wait in line to give it a try and report back, but I really enjoyed this simplified version of the viral sensation. The texture of the udon noodles was prefect, and they are a great vehicle for the rich carbonara-style sauce. I also liked the addition of the furikake as a garnish. It added another flavor dimension and a lot of visual interest. I plan to try it again, but this time in the deconstructed style—with a runny egg yolk on top and bacon tempura on the side—to see if it’s harder, and if it elevates the dish.

Related:

• Japanese Recipes You Can Make at Home
• How to Make TikTok Ramen, a Dry Take on the Soupy Noodle Dish
• Comfort Food Mashups

The post I Tried The Viral Udon Carbonara Everyone Is Losing Their Mind Over appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Redecorating doesn’t have to be spendy, either! Through May 27, Society6 is also offering a deep discount sitewide for Memorial Day. Shop the Society6 sale and turn your home into a sophisticated spring refuge (or prep for that warm-weather soiree). Here’s everything you need to know about the sale.

VIA MERCHANT

Society6 Memorial Day Sale

Browse hundreds of artisanal-made decor, party supplies and home goods at Society6.

Shop on Society6

What is Society6?

Much like online marketplaces for handmade items—think Etsy and Amazon Handmade—Society6 is a hub for artists and customers to connect. Where it differs from other art marketplaces is in its ordering methods.

While artists design each and every piece on the site, a separate team of artisans make everything sold at Society6 upon request, rather than the customer placing an order directly with a seller. Not only does this expedite production, but it also cuts down on waste, guarantees quality and makes shopping the listings a breeze.

Apart from championing self-expression, the site promotes an array of talented, independent artists, meaning there’s truly something for everyone. It’s also super easy to navigate, and there are lots of ways to discover new prints via curated collections and artist spotlights.

What is the Society6 Memorial Day sale?

The Society6 Memorial Day sale starts on May 15 and runs through May 27, 2025. Customers enjoy savings of up to 30% sitewide. Plus, enjoy an additional 10% off from May 22 until the sale ends.

Savings span all product categories, with the biggest discounts focusing on wall art. Save a staggering 30% on prints, posters and other wall hangings. Or, save 10% on furniture like sling chairs or 20% on everything else. This includes outdoor decor, clothing and other lifestyle items.

Our Favorite Society6 Items

Not sure where to start shopping? Our editors hand-picked a few of their favorite items for summer.

VIA MERCHANT

Limoncello Wine Chiller

Shop on Society6

Every warm-weather gathering needs a bottle of white wine, and every bottle of wine wine needs chilling. Do it in style with this limoncello wine chiller, which features lemons and leaves on a nautical-inspired navy background.

VIA MERCHANT

La Festa Italiana Cutting Board

Shop on Society6

Made from bamboo wood, this eco-friendly La Festa Italiana cutting board boasts a bevy of Italian-inspired foods. Bring the taste of Italy to your kitchen—and protect your counters, too!

VIA MERCHANT

Floral Serving Tray

Shop on Society6

Channel spring with this flat lay floral-print serving tray. Made from durable, easy-to-clean acrylic, the tray comes in two sizes for all your hosting needs.

VIA MERCHANT

Oysters and Art Books Print

Shop on Society6

This oysters and art books print pairs timeless beauty with a modern twist. The springy vibes are subtle enough that’s it’s perfect for year-round display. Customers choose from five sizes and the material of the frame, should they opt for a ready-to-hang version.

VIA MERCHANT

This Must Be The Place Welcome Mat

Shop on Society6

Both Talking Heads fans and typography lovers can agree that this charming welcome mat is as cute as it is functional. Featuring an iconic quote, each indoor/outdoor mat comes in two different sizes and has a nonslip backing.

Where to Shop

You can find all of the picks above (and so much more) on the Society6 website. Prices vary based on the product, but basic art prints start at around $10.

The Society6 Memorial Day sale offers hundreds of products printed with landscapes, still life paintings, patterns and typography—along with everything in between. There truly is something for every occasion, budget and style!

The post The Society6 Memorial Day Sale Is Here—Stock Up on Art and Entertaining Essentials appeared first on Taste Recipes.

While Pop-Tarts has added quite a few different flavors since its debut, like the recent Girl Scout Cookies collab, the concept has stayed consistent. You truly can’t go wrong with this rectangular pastry.

So, how could one possibly improve on such a fine food? The answer is ice cream.

Apparently, Pop-Tarts has joined forces with the ice cream sandwich world. Here’s what we know about summer’s next best treat!

What are Pop-Tarts ice cream sandwiches?!

Creamy ice cream will be layered between two familiar Pop-Tarts pastries, completely transforming the warm Pop-Tart experience into a sweet, frozen escapade. Three fan-favorite flavors will be available as ice cream sandwiches: Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon, Frosted Strawberry and Frosted Chocolate Fudge. My only question is, how did I not think of using Pop-Tarts to make my own ice cream sandwiches?

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While my heart yearns for Wild Berry, I’m more than happy to indulge in any available flavor. We love Pop-Tarts because they’re nostalgic and remind us of easier times. Combine that with the simplicity and whimsy of an ice cream sandwich, and you have a dead ringer for a summer smash hit.

Younger me would have given anything to have Pop-Tarts for breakfast and a Pop-Tarts ice cream sandwich out by the pool. I’m not one to disappoint my inner child—sweet moments are far too hard to come by.

Where do I find them?

Pop-Tarts ice cream sandwiches will be available exclusively at Walmart starting May 2025. Later this summer, Pop-Tarts ice cream pints will also be available at select retailers.

Related:

• We Tasted Off-Brand Pop-Tarts—Here Are the Best Ones
• Cereal & Milk Ice Cream Sandwiches
• Unique Ice Cream Flavors You Haven’t Tried Yet

The post Pop-Tarts Just Quietly Dropped a Brand-New Product for Summer appeared first on Taste Recipes.

The new release is an 8-gallon insulated tote in a peachy hue, complete with the original Trader Joe’s Pasadena location emblazoned on the front. Fans are obsessed with the affordably priced bags (only $7.99!) and scoop them up as soon as they appear in stores.

What’s so special about the Trader Joe’s cooler bags?

For starters, who doesn’t need a good way to bring home all that Trader Joe’s frozen food? TJ’s also sells mini cooler bags that make a good lunch box.

Beyond function, though, the colorful bags have become a niche status symbol. Since their releases are infrequent (and come in a limited quantity), the bags are a fun yet useful collectible item for Trader Joe’s fanatics. If you can find a bag in stores, look for them on eBay or Poshmark at a steep markup.

Do all stores have the cooler bags?

Trader Joe’s began rolling out its peach cooler bag on May 6, so while some stores may not have them in stock anymore, others could be putting out their shipment now. I recommend calling ahead to see if your location has any available.

The spring-hued bag is already seeing steep markups across various reselling platforms, so grab yours while Trader Joe’s has them in stock!

Related:

• Trader Joe’s Fans Can’t Believe How Perfect This Brand-New Find Is
• Trader Joe’s Sells Timothée Chalamet’s Go-To Snack—and We’re Obsessed
• The Best Snacks at Trader Joe’s Right Now

The post Trader Joe’s Just Stocked a Brand-New Cooler Bag, and I Know It’s Going to Sell Out Immediately appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Boo Buckets have come close, and kids loved the Furby toys and Hot Wheels cars. But no collection of Happy Meal toys could whip up a frenzy like Teeny Beanies—until now.

Here’s what Ronald McDonald himself has in store for us.

What is the new McDonald’s Happy Meal?

McDonald’s is bringing back its wildly popular Squishmallows Happy Meal toys! Your kiddo’s Chicken McNuggets will now come with one of 12 adorable plush characters, like the adorable cactus Maritza. Squish collectors, the full lineup is: Charles, Zumirez, Junie, Rorty, Mirren, Babs, Rossi, Maritza, Cam, Cookie, Stevon and Halley. Halley is an Intergalactic Axolotl, which is a brand-new McDonald’s exclusive.

Each pocket-sized Squishmallow comes with a character hang tag that tells you the name and a little about each Squish. There will also be a code to scan so you your kids can play an interactive game. No word on whether you’ll need tag protectors to protect your Squishmallows investment.

This collection is returning after a two-year hiatus, and people are already lighting up Instagram to say they’re having Happy Meals for dinner all week long.

When will McDonald’s have Squishmallows?

You can start building your Squish squad right now. The toys will only be available for a limited time while supplies last, so find your perfect Squish before they all disappear. If you don’t make it to McDonald’s for a Squishmallows Happy Meal, hold out for another couple of years. You can buy a full set of the 1998 McDonald’s Teeny Beanies on eBay for only $20.

Oh, and for the next hit McDonald’s Happy Meal toys? My bet is a Jellycats collection.

Related:

• 8 Best Fast-Food Kids Meals, Ranked
• Things You Probably Didn’t Know About McDonald’s Nuggets
• I Tried the New McDonald’s McCrispy Strips—Here’s My Honest Review

The post McDonald’s Just Brought Back This Wildly Popular Happy Meal After a Two-Year Hiatus appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Introduced in the early 1900s by Italian immigrants, Italian beef is a staple of our proud city. When you visit, expect to have at least four Italian beef restaurants nearby at all times. When it comes to Italian beef restaurants, Midwestern fast-food chain Portillo’s shines with a heavenly glow.

The chain was quick to capitalize on Chicago’s latest global achievement, the election of Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025. Just one day later, Portillo’s announced “the Leo,” a scrumptious Italian beef created in honor of its holy namesake.

I booked it over to my nearest Portillo’s as soon as I heard the news.

What does the Leo taste like?

This simple-looking Italian beef was quite possibly one of the most delicious sandwiches I’ve had in an obscenely long time. It’s been running laps around my brain, and now I want it for every meal. Breakfast? The Leo. Snack in the middle of the day? The Leo. Not even that hungry? The Leo.

Portillo’s humbly describes this sandwich as a “divinely seasoned Italian beef, baptized in gravy, and topped with your choice of sweet or hot peppers.” Every bite of this sandwich has oregano, basil, thyme and rosemary-soaked beef.

Any self-respecting Chicagoan goes extra dip with the gravy, but there are some drier options for those not looking for bread bathed in juice. As a lover of the spicy life, I also opt for both sweet and hot peppers.

The soft texture of the roll combined with the intense flavor of the tender beef and spark of the peppers created a Broadway spectacle on my tongue. I didn’t even stop to grab a napkin as the juice rolled down my wrists. I can’t speak for the Pope, but I have a feeling he’d be honored to be immortalized with such a meal.

How long will the Leo be at Portillo’s?

While I want the Leo to be available every day, I don’t think it will be a permanent menu item. Perhaps it will last through the end of May, or the end of summer. Possibly, it will be on the menu until Pope Leo XIV is no longer pope. For those unlucky few who can’t drive to a Portillo’s, check out our favorite Portillo’s copycat recipes and whip up a Leo at home.

The post This Fast-Food Chain Just Dropped a Sandwich Called ‘The Leo,’ and I Feel Blessed appeared first on Taste Recipes.

15. Blue Ribbon Classics Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

The first thing we noticed about Blue Ribbon’s 48-ounce tub of cookie dough ice cream was the fact that it wasn’t even called ice cream. Instead, it was referred to as a frozen dairy dessert. This made us pause to check the ingredient list, and it was very telling. The first ingredient was actually buttermilk, rather than cream, and we also noticed high-fructose corn syrup and other additives.

The first spoonful was unappealing. In addition, the cookie dough was sparse and uninteresting. The large tub sold for a very reasonable $2.50, making this dessert light on the wallet.

14. Food Club Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Flavored Light Ice Cream

This 48-ounce tub from Food Club is described as cookie dough-flavored light ice cream swirled with cookie dough morsels and chocolate flavored chips. The label states that it has 54% less fat and 23% fewer calories than regular ice cream. Ingredients included milk fat and nonfat milk, sugar, a lot of additives, and artificial flavor.

We found it difficult to call this cookie dough ice cream. The fluffy and unsubstantial ice cream was sparsely flecked with tiny bits of cookie dough and a few chocolate pieces. We had to dig around the tub to find enough to sample. At $2.89, the ice cream was not a huge investment, but it also didn’t have much of a payoff.

13. Great Value Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Great Value is the house brand at Walmart, and the brand’s 16-ounce container was certainly a value at only $1.87. The first few ingredients were also promising: milk, cream, skim milk and sugar. Similar to the Blue Ribbon brand’s product, buttermilk is incorporated into the Great Value ice cream. Unfortunately, the label also indicated that this product contains bioengineered ingredients. The flavor was average, and the cookie dough chunks were not significant. All that to say it wasn’t our favorite.

12. Blue Bunny Super Chunky Cookie Dough

Blue Bunny sells a 46-ounce container of “frozen dairy dessert” rather than real ice cream. The label describes the product as a cookie dough frozen dairy dessert with cookie dough batter and cookie dough and chocolate flavored chunks. That description alone told us we shouldn’t expect real ice cream and that the chunks inside weren’t even real chocolate, but rather chocolate flavored bits. We only want the best chocolate chips dotting our ice cream!

The scoops from this tub were light and fluffy, with a ribbon of cookie dough batter as well as pieces of cookie dough. This was certainly an interesting twist that we didn’t see in any other of the options we sampled. It could have been quite delicious had the ingredients been of higher quality. Alas, this $3.99 container wasn’t worth the slightly higher price point.

11. Kemp’s Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

The smiling face of the Pillsbury Doughboy caught our eye when we picked up a 1-1/2-quart tub of Kemp’s ice cream. If you’re a fan of the Pillsbury refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough, this ice cream is for you. We could definitely taste that signature Pillsbury flavor in this product, we just wished there was more! Fudge chunks throughout made a surprisingly fun addition. At $4.39, this was more expensive than some of the other products, but it matched the quality.

10. Turkey Hill Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

The style of this product from Turkey Hill was a bit different from all the other ones we sampled. When we took the lid off this 1.44-quart container, we saw so many small slivers of chocolate that it almost looked like cookies and cream. Turkey Hill also boasts ice cream that is cookie dough flavored as well as having cookie dough chunks. While this sounded good in theory, we couldn’t really distinguish the flavor base of this ice cream from a classic vanilla ice cream.

As with others in this ranking, there weren’t nearly enough cookie dough chunks. At $3.69, this ice cream was a good value, and we liked the unique twists, we just wanted everything to be a little more substantial.

9. Halo Top Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Light Ice Cream

Halo Top is a light ice cream brand that tells you upfront how many calories are in the entire pint. For $3.99 and 490 calories per pint, this light ice cream states that, compared to leading ice creams, it has 74% less fat and 51% fewer calories. We were also intrigued because the label claimed that there would be “mix-ins in every bite” which is exactly what we were looking for in a cookie dough ice cream.

We quite liked the distinctive caramelized flavor of the ice cream itself, but found there weren’t exactly bits of cookie dough in every bite. That being said, this was our favorite of the light ice cream options.

8. Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough Ice Cream

This product caught our eye, because if anyone knows the ideal recipe for cookie dough, it’s the folks at Nestle Toll House. That also means we went in with high expectations for the quality of the chocolate chips as well as the cookie dough.

We loved the additional mini Nestle Toll House morsels scattered throughout the ice cream, but wished there were even more. When you’re recognized with having some of the best cookie dough, there’s no reason to hold back. Having made the iconic chocolate chip cookie recipe many times, we could definitely taste the flavor of that classic recipe in the bites of cookie dough, which was fantastic. At $4.39, this product was slightly more expensive than other options, but we feel the quality was worth it.

7. Tillamook Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

The ice cream from Tillamook was certainly unique among all the ones we tried. The carton states, “Tillamook ice cream is made with more cream than is legally required. Our ice cream is smooth, rich and extra creamy.” From the first scoop, we found this to be absolutely true. The ice cream was light and airy while also being extremely creamy.

It was super easy to scoop, and it was made with real ingredients and fewer additives than other products. But the cookie dough bits were definitely hiding in this carton. In fact, we had to really dig just to find some. For $5.99, this was a more premium price tag for a higher quality product. If you like your ice cream very, very creamy, this one from Tillamook is for you.

6. Favorite Day Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Favorite Day is one of the house brands at Target, and its cookie dough ice cream was a standout in comparison to other budget-friendly generic options. The 1-1/2-quart container is a fantastic value at $3.49.

Without making the leap into the much more expensive, super-premium ice cream market, this was our favorite. The flavor of the ice cream was on point and there were significant pieces of decadent cookie dough in every bite. As a bonus, there was a recipe for cookie dough ice cream bars right on the package. We’ll be sure to check out other varieties from Favorite Day, and this ice cream will likely end up in our Target carts on the regular from here on out.

5. Jeni’s Ice Cream Double Dough

It’s no surprise that the highest-ranked ice creams on our list might come with a higher price tag. That’s in part because they’re made with premium quality ingredients. The $8.49 pint from Jeni’s ice cream is no exception. The brand’s outstanding products are made with grass-grazed dairy products, and the difference is significant.

In addition to the pieces of cookie dough in the Jeni’s pint, the ice cream itself is designed to taste exactly like rich and buttery cookie dough. The brand tried to mimic the experience of enjoying fluffy dough made with creamed butter and brown sugar and lightly kissed with vanilla. It’s described as an ultra-creamy brown sugar custard with caramelized depth. There is no doubt this is an incredible product.

Our only qualm is that calling it “double dough” is slightly misleading. We tasted more of the caramelized aspect of the ice cream more than we did the cookie dough. If you’re looking for the most unique and richly flavored ice cream on our list, this is the way to go.

4. Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

The name Häagen-Dazs has been synonymous with excellent ice cream for years. This 14-ounce container of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream retails for $4.39, which is significantly less than other premium products on the market.

We loved looking at the ingredient list and actually being able to pronounce everything on the carton. Cream, milk, sugar—just the good stuff here. The signature vanilla ice cream was just as delectable as we remembered, and the bits of soft and buttery cookie dough were plentiful. There were also chocolate chips mixed throughout. It’s described as a “cookie dough lover’s dream come true,” and we couldn’t agree more.

3. Oberweis Super Premium Cookie Dough Ice Cream

If you want the most bang for your buck, pick up a pint of Oberweis for $4.69. Since 1927, Oberweis has been making high-quality ice cream, and it shows no signs of stopping. Out of all the products we sampled, this was the best of the best when it came to the ice cream base. Of course, the cookie dough was top-notch as well.

We loved the bit of poetry on the back of the carton. It says, “Our cookie dough ice cream awakens childhood memories, as you savor sweet spoonfuls of delectable dough, drenched in our vanilla ice cream, taking you back to that indulgent moment when you last licked the spoon clean.” That perfectly summarizes our experience eating this ice cream. It was so good, it made it hard to rank these top three without giving them all the number one spot.

2. Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Ben and Jerry’s claims to have originated the concept of cookie dough ice cream. The brand says, “We knew we were on to something big when we made the world’s first batch of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream in 1984. Today the flavor still reigns among our all-time most popular concoctions.” We found that this pint from Ben and Jerry’s contained far and away the best cookie dough of the lot. The balls of perfect dough were huge and incorporated into every bite. There was no need to dig around for the yummy bits, because the cookie dough was front and center. If the most important factor in a scoop of cookie dough ice cream is the dough itself, look no further; Ben and Jerry’s is the way to go. Plus, at $4.49 per pint, the price was appropriate for the quality.

1. Graeter’s Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip

Taking top honors in our taste test is the cookie dough chocolate chip ice cream from Graeter’s. The carton describes the product as “French Pot” ice cream. After the first (perfect) bite, we were intrigued to learn more. Apparently, this family company has been making ice cream for five generations since 1870, and it’s clear it has perfected the craft.

Each batch of ice cream is made only 2-1/2 gallons at a time in rotating freezers. This is how the family made it 155 years ago, and how they still make it today. It’s clear that this ice cream is crafted by hand. The vanilla base was magnificent, and the cookie dough pieces were exactly what we were looking for. The addition of a chocolate fudge swirl through the center of the pint was the element that took this ice cream over the top. It came as a delightful surprise when we pulled out the first scoop, and we were in heaven from the first bite. At $7.99, it was the most expensive of all the ice creams we sampled, but we would gladly pay over and over again for something this delicious.

The post I Bought 15 Pints to Find the Best Cookie Dough Ice Cream appeared first on Taste Recipes.

That’s why I didn’t immediately cry blasphemy when this recipe for potato lasagna appeared mid-scroll. I’m willing to try creative and unique adaptations, and you know what? This one is a winner.

Why You Should Use Potatoes Instead of Noodles

While I will forever love a traditional béchamel lasagna with layers of hearty meat sauce, tender noodles and cheesy goodness, sometimes a change of pace is warranted, either due to time, dietary restrictions or simply wanting to try something new.

I love potato lasagna for all these reasons and more. First, the prep and cook time is considerably shorter than that of most traditional lasagna recipes—we’re talking almost 30 minutes shorter. While you do need to roast the potatoes before assembling, you can work on prepping the other layers while the oven works its magic on the taters.

Second, potatoes are gluten-free, making this a great lasagna option for those who follow a gluten-free diet. Sure, many gluten-free pastas exist, but potatoes are an affordable, unprocessed alternative that are packed with nutrients.

Finally, cooking the same old thing can get boring. Using potatoes in lasagna offers a wonderful textural and flavor change that transforms the dish into a new yet familiar recipe.

How to Make Lasagna with Potatoes

To make a potato lasagna, put your pasta pot away and grab a sheet pan. Begin by roasting sliced potatoes coated with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper until tender, then let cool. Meanwhile, brown your favorite Italian sausage in a skillet and mix together ricotta, bread crumbs, spinach and spices in a medium bowl.

To assemble, evenly arrange a third of the potatoes on the bottom of a 13×9-inch baking dish. Then, top with half of the spinach mixture, followed by half of the sausage. Sprinkle a layer of mozzarella over the sausage and then repeat the layering process again, ending with a final layer of potatoes and grated Parmesan cheese.

From here, the whole thing is baked uncovered in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the top layer of potatoes is golden and crisp. Let it stand for a few minutes before digging in with a spatula to serve.

What I Love About Potato Lasagna

While purists will say that this isn’t a real lasagna recipe, they will have to concede that potato lasagna is delicious. It’s basically a lasagna version of  zuppa Toscana. What I love most about this recipe is the array of textures and flavors in every layer. The top layer of potatoes offers a crispy contrast to the creamy cheese, zesty sausage and tender potatoes on the inside.

Another great feature of potato lasagna is that it’s so versatile. Like all good recipes, once you master the method of using potatoes in lasagna, you can change up the other ingredients to just about anything you please. Replace the Italian sausage with ground beef in marinara for a traditional spin, or do a potato version of our Buffalo chicken lasagna. Vegetarian? Omit the sausage and draw inspiration from all-veggie lasagna. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination and willingness to try something new.

Related:

• Weeknight Dinners You Haven’t Tried Yet
• What to Make With Every Type of Cheese
• Zesty Italian Sausage Recipes

The post I Made Lasagna with Potatoes, and I’ll Never Go Back to Noodles appeared first on Taste Recipes.

As an introvert, you betcha I am not in my comfort zone when I have to ask for anything out of the ordinary at Starbucks. Sometimes, I chicken out of ordering what I really want because I’m afraid the barista will get exasperated with me. But a shaken espresso that also tastes like the cutest kid’s snack ever? I knew I had to overcome my Starbucks fears for this one.

How to Order a Teddy Grahams Shaken Espresso

There are so many iterations of this drink that I’m not sure which one is the original. Most recipes I saw called for four or more pumps of sweeteners. Since I’d rather taste the coffee than all the syrup, I went with one crafted by a Starbucks employee, TikTok creator @GrahamCracker888.

Here’s what my order looked like:

• Grande brown sugar shaken espresso with blonde espresso
• Oat milk
• Pump of honey blend
• Vanilla sweet cream cold foam
• Sprinkle cinnamon

Because this version started with the Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso, I had a feeling I would like this Teddy Grahams version. I’ll drink anything with brown sugar in it (hello, Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cortado).

It didn’t actually taste like the Teddy Grahams I grew up snacking on after school until I really mixed in all the cinnamon. Even then, the espresso made it a more bitter version of the snack. Honestly, though, I liked it that way! If I’m drinking a sweetened espresso drink, I still want to taste the espresso.

10/10, would order again.

Tips for Ordering Secret Menu Drinks

To be honest, this was my first time ordering anything from a secret menu. I went in with notes written in my phone’s Notes app and read them directly to the barista. That felt way more comfortable than asking if the barista knew how to make a “Teddy Grahams shaken espresso.”

The secret menu isn’t official, and baristas are already working at the speed of light to get orders out. If you want to try this drink, bring a list of ingredients or order with the app. It’s easy to customize a drink that way, plus it’ll be ready for pickup when you get to the shop.

Related:

• • Your Ultimate Guide to Different Types of Coffee
  • The Best Starbucks Drinks
  • Starbucks Secret Menu Drinks You Need to Try

The post The Starbucks ‘Teddy Grahams Shaken Espresso’ Is Like the Adult Version of the Snack appeared first on Taste Recipes.

What is an Americano?

Though it shares a name with an espresso drink, the Americano cocktail has nothing to do with its caffeinated cousin (aside from its Italian origins). Credit for the creation of this Italian cocktail goes to Gaspare Campari, a bar owner in Milan, Italy. Yes, as you might have guessed, he is also the creator of the Campari aperitif! The eponymous Italian liqueur has a bitter flavor that’s unmistakable. It’s rounded out with herbal, orange and floral notes.

Campari created his Americano cocktail in the 1860s as a riff on another popular cocktail he served at Caffe Campari, called a Milano-Torino. The Milano-Torino is made with equal parts Campari (from Milan) and sweet vermouth (from Torino). The addition of soda water turns a Milano-Torino into an Americano. The resulting cocktail is sweet, bitter, bubbly and incredibly refreshing.

How to Make an Americano Cocktail

The ingredient list for an Americano cocktail is simple. For the alcohol, you’ll need a bottle of Campari and a bottle of sweet vermouth. While Campari is fairly shelf-stable, you’ll want to use the freshest possible sweet vermouth for the best flavor. Because sweet vermouth at its heart is a fortified wine, it begins to lose its flavor within a month of opening (even when stored properly in the refrigerator). For the soda water, use unflavored sparkling water or, for added flavor, use sparkling mineral.

An Americano is typically served in a highball glass, but if you prefer less soda water, serve it in a lowball or rocks glass. To make the cocktail, fill your serving glass with ice. Then add 1 to 1-1/2 ounces of Campari and an equal amount of sweet vermouth. Top with soda water, and stir gently to combine. For a little pizzazz, garnish with an orange peel twist.

Americano Cocktail Fun Facts

• Although he is most associated with the martini (shaken, not stirred!), the first cocktail that James Bond ever orders is an Americano in Casino Royale (1953). The suave spy preferred his Americano be made with Perrier.
• The Americano is known as the father of the Negroni cocktail, which replaces the soda water with gin.

Related:

• Aperol Spritz
• Easy Batch Cocktails to Sip at Your Next Party
• Tequila Drink Recipes for Summer

The post This 3-Ingredient Americano Is the Only Drink You Need This Summer appeared first on Taste Recipes.

According to tester Nicole Doster, who has used the Breville oven nearly every day for three years, it’s the ideal balance of performance and convenience. However, the $400 price tag and substantial cubic foot interior make it a tough sell.

Enter: the new Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact, which packs all that precious power into a smaller, cheaper package.

VIA MERCHANT

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact

Packed with 10 different cook settings and with all the functionality of its larger cousin, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact is perfect for small kitchens.

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$249.95 at Sur La Table

Shop on Williams Sonoma

What is the new Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact?

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact is essentially a smaller version of the Breville Smart Oven. While the original oven measures in at 21.4 x 17.3 x 12.7 inches, the newer, smaller version is much more petite at 15.7 x 16.9 x 10 inches. It boasts a similar build, complete with a glass viewing door.

Much like its larger counterpart, the Breville Compact boasts 10 smart oven settings: Air Fry, Fries, Wings, Bacon, Crispy Reheat, Toast, Bagel, Pizza, Broil, Bake and Roast. It also includes one of Nicole’s favorite features from the original, which is its Element iQ System. This clever technology tells the oven exactly where to concentrate heat based on the cooking mode, resulting in crispy chicken tenders and tender, moist cookies.

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact also utilizes super convection speeds that heat up food faster and make it crispier than many other ovens we tested. And, if you find that your fries are still limp after the timer goes off, the “a bit more” button adds additional cooking time to any preset.

The biggest difference between the original oven and the compact oven is the size. The original boasts a behemoth cubic foot interior that fits a 14-pound turkey, a 13×9 pan, a 5-quart Dutch oven and a 12-cup muffin tin. On the other hand, the newer, smaller oven offers a 0.5 cubic foot capacity. This makes it ideal for smaller servings like four slices of toast, an 11-inch pizza, a 4.5-pound chicken or one pound of French fries.

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact also comes with a fleet of appropriately sized accessories, including a broiling rack, roasting pan, air fryer basket and an oven rack.

Both our product testers and editors were wowed by the larger oven in our tests, and we expect similar results from the smaller option. The original Breville Smart Oven has held up fantastically throughout the years—Nicole still swears by it in 2025!

Where to Buy the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact

VIA MERCHANT

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact

Make toast, air fry wings and more—all in a smaller, wallet-friendly package.

Shop on Breville

Shop on Macy's

$249.95 at Sur La Table

Shop on Williams Sonoma

Just like the original Breville Smart Oven, folks craving crispy foods and cookies on-demand can snag the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact at most major retailers. These include Macy’s, Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma and directly on Breville’s website.

The oven retails for around $250—about $150 less than the larger version. It’s the perfect all-in-one for the home cook trying to save on money and space!

The post Our Favorite Air Fryer Toaster Oven Now Comes in a Smaller Size (And It’s Cheaper, Too!) appeared first on Taste Recipes.

If you’re from North Carolina, your home-state beverage of choice is almost certainly Cheerwine, aka the “nectar of North Carolina.” And as someone who’s reviewed everything from 7Up Shirley Temple to warm Dr Pepper to, uh, Hot Take Dr Pepper, I had to try it.

What is Cheerwine?

What is Cheerwine? First off, it’s not a wine, though its burgundy color definitely looks like red wine when poured into an elegant glass. There’s no alcohol in Cheerwine. It’s a cherry-flavored, nonalcoholic soft drink that’s been produced by the same North Carolina family since 1917.

It’s such a home-state taste that North Carolina brides and grooms have been known to incorporate the drink into weddings, whether as a favor for guests or to inspire the design of the groomsmen’s socks!

What does Cheerwine taste like?

If you didn’t grow up with Cheerwine, you might expect a sharp, tart cherry taste, but Cheerwine is smooth and rich. It’s not as harsh as the black cherry soda we had at birthday parties as kids. (Looking at you, Shasta.)

There’s just a touch of spice that keeps the drink lively. Plus, it’s made with real cane sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup.

While Cheerwine didn’t bubble and fizz when I popped the bottle cap, there’s a delightful buzzy, carbonated edge to the drink, and it carries the lightest scent of fresh fruit. There’s almost a creamy, dessert-like taste to it—I can imagine it working as a secret ingredient in brownies or as an ice cream topping.

When my daughter’s friends discovered I had Cheerwine in the house, they raided my fridge so fast, I had to go out and buy more!

Where to Buy Cheerwine

If you’re in and around North Carolina, Cheerwine is likely everywhere. But you might be surprised at how accessible it is in other parts of the country, too.

Try Googling “Cheerwine” and your city name; I was able to find it sold in individual 355-ml bottles in the refrigerated section of my Seattle grocery store. You can also check candy and specialty soda shops, World Market or order on Cheerwine’s site. Raise a toast, y’all, to those few regional treats that have stayed true to themselves.

Related:

• The Most Iconic Food from Every State
• The Best Ginger Ale: Our Top Soda Picks
• I Taste Tested 14 Off-Brand Sodas to Find the Best Ones

The post What Is ‘Cheerwine,’ and Why Do Southern People Love This Soda? appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Pepperoni onion ring pizza has the same base of crisped onions and melted Parmesan cheese. That base is then topped with sliced pepperoni, Italian seasoning and shredded mozzarella cheese. Oh my gosh, it is good.

What are onion ring chips?

Onion ring chips are one of the latest onion-based TikTok recipes to go viral (the onion boil and French onion pasta are two other favorites). The baked, savory snack is made by layering very thin slices of onion over grated Parmesan cheese on a baking sheet. In the oven, the onions fry in the melted cheese and fuse into a sheet that’s crispy at the edges and tender through the middle.

I first heard of this pizza variation from creator Jessica Hirsch on her TikTok account CheatDayEats. Since she doesn’t specify the ingredient amounts, I used our viral onion ring chips recipe as the starting point for our onion ring pizza.

Ingredients for Onion Ring Pizza

• 7 ounces grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 2 to 3 small white onions, peeled and cut into thin slices (1/8- to 1/4-inch thick)
• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons Italian spice blend
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 16 thin slices of pepperoni
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

How to Make Onion Ring Pizza

Step 1: Layer the ingredients

Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a 17×12-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Spread the grated Parmesan cheese into an even layer over the parchment. Lay the onion slices in a single layer on top of the cheese with the sides touching, but not overlapping. Brush or spray the tops of the onions with a light layer of olive oil. Sprinkle the Italian spice blend, salt and black pepper over the onions. Finally, arrange the pepperoni slices over the top.

Step 2: Bake the onion ring pizza

Place the pan in the oven and bake the onions for 15 minutes; the cheese will be browned at the edges and the onions browned on top. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the top of the onions and pepperoni. Bake the onions for another three to four minutes until the mozzarella is melted. Move the pan to a wire rack and let the onions cool for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Serve the onion ring pizza

The onion ring pizza tastes best when it’s served warm. Slice it into pieces, or tear off pieces to eat. Serve pizza onion ring chips with dipping sauces like ranch dressing or marinara sauce.

Onion Ring Pizza Tips

What type of onion is best for onion ring pizza?

This recipe calls for white onions, but other types of onions will work too. Try yellow, purple or Spanish onions instead. For a mellower, sweeter flavor, make the onion ring chips with sweet Vidalia or Walla Walla onions (they’re the ones that make Tennessee onions so good!). What’s most important is to choose small onions that will fit in your mandoline (if you’re using one)—that way more onion slices can be squeezed into the pan.

How do I make my onion ring pizza crispy?

A couple of steps help ensure the onion ring chips crisp up as much as possible. First, make sure to cut the onions into very thin slices; they should be no more than 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick. A mandoline slicer is the easiest way to make consistent, thin slices. Also, add just a light coating of oil on top of the onions (olive oil cooking spray works well). Too much oil will make the onions soggy.

What should I top the onion ring pizza with?

To give the pepperoni pizza onion ring chips a spicy kick, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, sliced jalapenos or a few banana pepper rings. For a meat lovers version, add crumbled, cooked Italian sausage or diced ham to the top along with the pepperoni. You can also add a light drizzle of marinara sauce on top of the chips. Because the onion ring chips are very thin, avoid wet toppings like pineapple chunks or too much sauce; the excess liquid could make the dish soggy and prevent crisping.

Related:

• I Tried the Viral TikTok Egg Boil, and I’m Officially Hooked!
• I Tried the Viral ‘Charcuterie Nachos,’ and They’re Pure Chaos in the Best Way
• I Tested the Ridiculously Popular Trader Joe’s Caramelized Onion Dip Pasta

The post I Tried a Pizza-Style Version of the Viral Onion Ring Chips, and It’s So Dang Tasty appeared first on Taste Recipes.