Easy-to-Cook Recipe Reviews

Craving a Snack?

I’m sure most of you have had popcorn before: salted, unsalted, buttered, cheddar, or whatever your heart desires. But have you tried Italian Parmesan popcorn? Or maybe Cinnamon Sugar popcorn? On just one pin on Pinterest,  we can find 6 different types of popcorn using different spices to make your popcorn even more flavorful. Today, we tried 2 types; Italian Parmesan and Spicy Chili, to see if they’re comparable to their usual, classic style.

First, I tried Italian Parmesan popcorn. With butter, salt, parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, it created a very tasty popcorn. I would definitely recommend it, given it is a simple thing to add to your popcorn. Afterwards, I tried Spicy Chili with butter, salt, cumin, chili powder, and ground cayenne pepper. Both  tasted amazing and flavorful, rather than plain buttered popcorn. As someone with a wide range of spices constantly in my house, it’s nice to finally put them to use. (Recipe also available at www.AndiAnn.com)

In late 2024, this sweet treat went viral all over the internet. Case in point: frozen gummy bears! Take gummy bears, soak them in soda (usually Sprite), then freeze them overnight. This puts a fun, fizzy twist on your usual gummies. And today, I finally tried them.

Before trying this recipe, I had high hopes, since everyone made it sound so good. But upon trying it, my expectations began to shift.  I soaked the gummy bears for a few hours, then put them in the freezer overnight. Then, I took them out and let my family try them. At first, the texture was a little weird, but I overlooked it. The taste was fine, but depending on the flavor of the gummy, it tasted funny,since it was mixed with the lemon and lime taste from the soda. My family also agreed on this, though they liked it a bit more than I. Overall, I would give this recipe a 2.5 out of 5 because of the crumbly but jelly-like texture.

Yes, There are Drinks Too

On a cold winter day, my favorite thing to make is hot chocolate! While scrolling on TikTok, we found a recipe for homemade hot chocolate along with a simple 4 ingredient peppermint whipped cream.  Today, I finally made it.

Hot chocolate is such a popular drink and is perfect for a cold day, so I had high hopes for this recipe as well. First, I chopped the dark chocolate into small pieces and began making my roux. I added milk, heavy cream, cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla, and finally, slowly added in the chocolate. Once the hot chocolate was done and warmed up, I started working on the whipped cream. The recipe promised that the whipped cream could be hand whipped, so that is what I did. I put heavy cream in a bowl and started whisking it vigorously, making it thicker. As it thickened, I added in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and the most important ingredient—peppermint extract. Then I continued to whisk until the whipped cream formed soft peaks. It took a little while to make, but it was finally ready. I put it in a mug and finally tried it. The hot chocolate was thick and creamy and had a rich flavor. The whipped cream was soft and flavorful as well. I let my family try it and they agreed that it was tasty. Though I thought the dark chocolate was a bit overpowering and bitter, it was still good and enjoyable. Overall, I would recommend this recipe to anyone that is looking for a homemade hot chocolate that is rich and full of flavor. However, the whipped cream did take a while to make (around 10 minutes of continuous whisking), so I would recommend using an electric mixer or staying patient because the results are definitely worth it. Finally, I would rate this recipe a 4 out of 5.

Desserts are Always a Favorite

Do you happen to like cheesecake? Cookie dough too? How about cookie dough cheesecake? Have you ever tried that? Whether you have or haven’t, we found a quick cookie dough cheesecake recipe while scrolling on Pinterest. With edible cookie dough crust, a cheesecake-like filling, and extra chocolate chips, this recipe claims that you can make a delicious dessert in under just an hour.

The recipe was short enough for me to finish it the morning before going to school, though you need to keep it refrigerated for around 30 minutes. I’ve made this a few times, and I think it's a very good recipe. Even if it doesn’t taste exactly like cheesecake, it tastes good regardless and is close enough to still be enjoyable. First, I made the edible cookie dough. Then I pressed it to the bottom of my container to act as a crust. Second, I made my chocolate chip cheesecake and placed it on top. After refrigerating, it was done! I let a few of my friends try it, and they liked it just as much as I did. It’s an easy snack to make for yourself at home, or make to take to school. I would definitely recommend it. (Recipe also found on ‘British Recipes Book’ account on pinterest)

Hungry for More?

Have you ever seen those videos of people making ramen that looks delicious and that includes those extra ingredients that you’ve never even heard of? Well, we found a ramen recipe on Pinterest that looks picture perfect. It claims to be a simple, easy recipe; so let’s see if it’s even up for comparison against the picture.

I did do a few things differently. The ramen was slightly overcooked, and I didn’t add red chili or coriander; everything else was added. To start, I chopped up ginger, garlic, and scallion. Had I had the other ingredients, I would also have chopped coriander and red chili. Other steps include soft boiling one egg, heating up milk, and making the actual ramen. I mixed the chopped vegetables with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and hot milk. I think the recipe is good, though I think I didn’t quite do it justice, which is probably why I’m rating it a 3. I think it has plenty of potential, and many reviews on the video confirm  how much people love it. I think it's a fun thing to try, though time consuming given the many moving parts. (Recipe can be found on ‘Food Experts (Fred’s Kitchen & Beyond)’ account on Pinterest or Instagram)