Don Mauer
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Mom vs. Reese: Who has the best cornbread pie?Apr 08, 2026 5:28 am - I recently discovered Reese Witherspoon’s recipe for Corn Bread Chili Pie. It reminded me a lot of my Mother’s Corn Pone Pie. I headed for my recipe box and found my mom’s recipe from 1978. There were many differences between the two, but enough similarities to inspire this new best-of compilation.
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Homemade cheeseburger mac a healthier take on Hamburger HelperMar 25, 2026 5:11 am - Nearly 20 years ago, Hamburger Helper’s Cheeseburger Macaroni and I were good buddies. I wanted to make a quick, tasty dinner as inexpensively as possible. Did I read the ingredient list on the side of that box? No. Was I as focused on healthy meals as I am now? No. Now I knew I could do better.
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Bob’s Red Mill boxed chocolate cake mix delivers a ‘Wow’Mar 11, 2026 5:30 am - Just before Valentine’s Day, I stopped by seriouseats.com and saw the following headline: “We Tested 8 Boxed Chocolate Cake Mixes — Here Are the Ones We’d Bake for Valentine’s Day.” I decided to give one of their picks — Bob’s Red Mill — a try.
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One pan and 25 minutes is all you need for Bowtie Turkey with CabbageFeb 25, 2026 5:08 am - If you are looking for a healthy dinner that uses just one pan and arrives at the dinner table quickly, look no further than One Pan Bowtie Turkey with Cabbage.
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Whole kernels make buttermilk cornbread even more perfectFeb 11, 2026 5:35 am - The preparation and the cast-iron skillet are a big part of what has always made this cornbread so delectable. Now, to make it even better, Don Mauer adds a can of sweet, whole-kernel corn.
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When it comes to braising times, there’s a sweet spotJan 28, 2026 5:04 am - You might think when braising roasts and short ribs low and slow, the longer in the oven the better, right? You’d be wrong. Don Mauer once braised a chuck roast at 225 degrees for over five hours, believing it would be meltingly tender. No. It was stringy and chewy. Here’s why.
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Organic potatoes make casserole season even easierJan 14, 2026 4:49 am - I love the idea of slow-baking a hearty casserole to warm my kitchen and me when winter weather is downright nasty, as it has been. I chose organic ingredients for this Cabbage, Potato, and Bacon Casserole, and for good reason.
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Marzipan and toasted cashews add sweetness, crunch to slimmed-down blondiesDec 22, 2025 5:25 am - Blondies with marzipan, toasted cashews and white chocolate? Yes, please. Almost two sticks of butter and a cup of sugar? Not so fast. Don Mauer slims down the “perfect bar cookie recipe” in this Best of Lean and Lovin’ It column from 2017.
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Are the best boxed brownies gluten-free? MaybeDec 10, 2025 5:06 am - Surprised to see a gluten-free offering atop Tasting Table’s ranking of the best boxed brownie mixes, Don Mauer decided to take the winner to the kitchen to put it to the test.
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Spatchcock, dry brine deliver moist, memorable turkeyNov 24, 2025 6:49 am - After years of trial, error and dry turkey, Don Mauer landed on a Thanksgiving game changer. Now, for a moist and flavorful bird, he roasts a whole, heirloom turkey, spatchcocked and dry-brined.