About Me
It’s the recipe collection I didn’t even realize I had – the one derived from the side of a bag of fresh vegetables, a box of sugar, a jar of mayonnaise.
As someone who regularly scours food blogs, magazines and cookbooks for new recipes to try I was stunned to discover one day that there were nearly 40 recipes printed on the packaging of food items I had in my refrigerator and pantry. I’d overlooked most of them all of these years. Of course, I’ve made everyone’s favorite Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe countless times and who doesn’t love Rice Krispy Treats? But what about all of these other on-the-package recipes? It occurred to me there could be some hidden gems in here.
Cooking On the Side – as in on the side of food packaging – is all about “revealing” these on-the-package recipes, with photos of how they actually turn out, cooking notes and more descriptive directions than package space usually allows for.
In addition to Cooking on the Side, I write Panini Happy – a food blog dedicated to panini and other original recipes for the panini grill. Before taking time off to focus on raising our two little kids, I worked in online marketing and advertising for several well-known brands. These days, I’m enjoying the delicious life of a foodblogger in sunny San Diego.
CONTACT:
Got feedback? Questions? You can reach me by e-mail at cookingontheside AT yahoo DOT com
Which Flour Made the Best Biscuits?
The Best Ever Fudge Brownies
Chewy Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ice Cream Cookie Pie
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
Kathy, what a great idea! Those are some of my favorite recipes!
Hi! I jumped over from Facebook to your other blog to here! Love both blogs and I would love to eat lunch at your house one day! I think the idea behind this blog is brilliant! Good for you!
what a cute concept!
i’ve heard this recipe from the back of the domino confectioner’s sugar box is great:
http://www.dominosugar.com/Recipe.aspx?id=505
others:
-blondies on the back of the mini’s chocolate chip bag -ghiradelli cocoa box brownies
-baker’s chocolate one bowl brownies
-hershey’s perfectly chocolate cake (from the cocoa box)
I’ve been eager to bake again so I’ll definitely look into these – thanks!
Awesome idea!
Love your blog!
Love your blog and I cant wait to try the pumpkin spice cake. And you are exactly right, some of the best recipes are on the box. The companies spend mega bucks developing recipes that showcase their products to the best use of them. Good luck with this great blog.
I enjoy the recipes I’ve tried so far & look forward to more. I really like your voice. Whoever is doing your photos (you?) is fantastic too!
Thanks so much, Tina! Yes, I do my own photos – they’re a struggle sometimes but I have fun with it
We just made the Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and they are fantastic! FYI…we didn’t have enough regular sugar so we used all brown sugar and they still turned out great! Thanks Kathy!
I’m sure the brown sugar made them even better!
I had a recipe I saved from the back of a generic brand container of oatmeal for the best oatmeal cookies, thanks for the reminder to dig it out! And some of those side-of-the-box recipes are actually created by pretty well know chefs
A fabulous idea.There are many very good recipes on the backs of boxes and other packaging.
I just ran across your blog and I’m SO excited to start reading!!! So often when I find food blogs, I realize that the recipes they post are way too complicated or are for something that I would not want to cook. The recipes on your blog should be easy to follow, since they’re written for the masses, and will most likely be something I will want to cook since I already use a lot of the products on whose packages you’re finding the recipes!
I found your blog through the BYOB roundup and I just have to say that I love your blog. What a great idea! I have a drawer full of recipes that I’ve saved from boxes, cans and bags of food. I can’t wait to look through your recipes!
Greetings from Mexico!
A designated drawer – now there’s a good idea! I’ve been storing them in a ziploc bag. So glad you found me, Leslie!
This is such a clever idea. Love both your blogs, Kathy. I consider you a great find of 2010 – perfect way to start off my new year.
That is incredibly kind of you, Amy – thank you so much!
Kathy,
I just stumbled on your site searching for fun Valentine’s Day cookie recipes. The timing is amazing as I announced yesterday my plans to embark on a blogging journey of cooking my way through “Commander’s Palace New Orleans Cookbook”. The movie Julie & Julia truly inspired me. I’m not a blogger and someone who thinks she is ready to stretch her cooking abilities.
I look forward to following you from now on.
Take care.
You are awesome!
I just found your website while looking for a new recipe. I love the idea. In fact, one of the recipes from the side of the bisquick box has become a favorite of ours … Ultimate Chicken Fingers! Give it a try!
Found you!!
Great recipes and love your web site! Those are two very lucky kids to have you as their mom.
Stay healthy!
Awww…thank you so much!!
I was searching for a new recipe for Braised Short Ribs and was delighted to find the Wolfgang Puck recipe on your site. The ribs were awesome. I love reading recipes also and had to check if you had my most favorite recipe that I have found on packaging – the fudge recipe found on Eagle Sweetened Condensed Milk. I make it every year to give as gifts and friends ask me for it again and again. It is amazing what you can find on the packaging of a product. Thanks for doing this in one spot!
Just stumbled here by accident and can’t stop reading-what a great blog you have going! Glad I found it
Thanks so much, Christie – I’m glad you found it too!
The Land o Lakes CC Cookies was off the hook. I think I could have use just a little more salt (I used sea salt, that might have made a difference). But the texture of the cookie was PERFECT. thanks for sharing.
Hello! It was great to meet you at BlogHer Food a couple of weekends ago. I had a great time talking to you and have really enjoyed your reading your blogs!
Thanks so much, Heather – it was lovely to meet you too!
Just discovered your blog while randomly searching for a chocolate chip recipe besides the one published by Toll House. I’m so glad I found this site, and I’ll be returning often!
–I love your idea for this blog. VERY cool!
Hey Kathy, love the blog…I’ve only tried the hershey’s chocolate cupcakes which were a big hit at home and at work, but awesome. (the second time I made them, I sprayed the cupcake pans/ skipped the liners, and squiggled some white frosting on top of the chocolate….my family swore they were just like Hostess cupcakes! I love when I get away with making a homemade , chemical free treat. Thanks again
The french apple pie recipe I found on your site was wonderful. Everyone at my thanksgiving dinner loved it, and I will make it again, once my calorie intake has settled back to normal after our feasting! I had an old recipe for French apple pie from my mother in Canada from the 50′s or 60′s. It was very close to the recipe you provided, except had one half of the sugar in the topping.
So glad to hear the pie went over well! I made it this year too, I love that recipe.
I love your blog! What a great idea. I just subscribed and can’t wait for the emails. I wish you peace and good food in the new year.
Mary
I love browsing for new ideas especially when it involves baking. I can’t believe that I haven’t seen your website before!! Excellent idea! Will be checking you often. Congrats.
What a GREAT concept! (I found your blog because someone pinned those precious Valentine’s Rice Krispie’s treats… and we are on the SAME page because I made something similar this weekend too and am posting about them tomorrow!)
My FAVORITE ‘on the box’ recipe is the Dark Molten Chocolate Cakes on the Baker’s Bittersweet Baking Chocolate (the purple box). These things are easy to make, can even be made ahead of time, and make an IMPRESSIVE dessert… just like restaurant moltens!
So glad to have found you! ~ Lauren
I found a “on the side” recipe that I love and wanted to recommend it to you for review as well. It’s from Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge brownies, and it’s called “Fudgy Pretzel Brownie” – - absolutely awesome!!!
Lynne Lloyd
Awesome idea, and I will be trying some of these recipes soon! I didn’t know if you’ve tried the Oatmaeal Chocolate Chip Cookies on the Quaker lid or not, but I get RAVE reviews wherever I take them. I personally leave out the cinnamon because it doesn’t seem to go with chocolate chip to me. Enjoy!
Hi !
Just read your biscuit test using White Lily Flour. I live in Los Angeles and if you are ever in LA, you can purchase it at Surfas in Culver City. http://www.surfaslosangeles.com/about
Sage
Thanks so much! Surfas has been high on my list of places to visit soon – you’ve given me one more good reason.