August 18, 2025

Which No-Code Platform Is Right for Your Idea?

try to turn your idea into reality but unsure which no-code platform fit best ?

You be non alone !

I just broke down the top no-code platforms in my latest blog covering their strengths , ideal use cases , and what to watch out for .

Whether you are building an MVP , launching an e-commerce store , or automating workflows , choosing the right platform can save you tons of time and headaches .

Here ’ s a quick snapshot :

1/ Webflow for pixel-perfect custom websites

2/ Bubble for complex app logic without code

3/ Airtable for flexible databases and automation

4/ Adalo for building mobile apps quickly

5/ Zapier/Integromat to connect everything seamlessly

Knowing your project goals and technical comfort level will help you pick the winner ! If you ’ re exploring no-code for the first time or looking to switch up your current platform this guide breaks it all down with easy-to-understand pros and cons .

check mark away the full blog for insight that can save you month of trial run and error https://blog.mvplaunchpad.agency/which-no-code-platform-is-right-for-your-idea/

What no-code weapons platform have got you find works good for your project ? Let ’ s swap experiences ! 👇

August 18, 2025

What made you finally hire help and how did you know it was time?

For the longest time I convinced myself I could just hustle harder instead of bringing someone on but eventually customer emails were going unanswered, fulfillment was behind and I was still trying to tweak product pages at midnight. It hit a point where not hiring help was actually slowing growth so I had to get help even though I hated the idea of it.

What I'm trying to do is ease the transition is setting up a few controls on the backend things like organizing my finances better and issuing separate cards for contractors or ad managers, all through my business banking setup by Adro banking that lets me do that easily. Looking back I probably waited too long but I’m curious how others decided it was time or are you still going solo?

Was it revenue based? A time audit? Or just hitting a wall and realizing something had to give?

August 18, 2025

What if one bundle could replace every tool you use as an entrepreneur?

Hey everyone,

I've been building a toolset I wish existed when I first started out, and after a lot of feedback in DMs from this community, I finally pulled the trigger.

This All-in-One Mega Creator Bundle is something I'm both excited and proud of. Here's why it exists and why it’s priced almost too low:

I poured everything I’ve been collecting and using into it, my mega library of assets worth thousands (yes, the same collection I still pull from today), plus AI prompt scripts for T-shirts, logos, mockups, product-model visuals, content creation, even marketing visuals. I added a year of Canva Pro access with warranty and direct customer support, so it’s not just tools, it’s a full toolkit.

Why such a low price (9$)? Because I want it to go to people who are actually building, not to generate a quick buck. I see so many entrepreneurs overwhelmed juggling multiple subscriptions. I figured: what if one bundle could simplify everything and truly serve both beginners and pros forever?

Here’s what really inspired me:I kept switching between design tools, mockup libraries, AI scripts...you name it. It was slow, expensive, and chaotic. This bundle comes from that pain. If one product could cut all that friction, deliver quality value, and not break the bank, I’d build it. So that’s what I did.

The plan:

Launch with this “almost give-away” priceInvite early users to test, break it, and give feedbackGrow it into something that evolves with community input (yes, transparency all the way, just like this sub)Would love to know:

Would this help your workflow or side hustle?What would make it ridiculously valuable for you?What did you wish existed when you started building?Thanks for reading. Building in public here, and I’d love to ride along with feedback from founders like you.

August 18, 2025

Best ways to look for an angel investor?

Hello everyone, I hope you're all having a great day!

I'm currently seeking an angel investor for a startup I've been working on: a FiveM server. For those unfamiliar, FiveM is a popular mod for Grand Theft Auto V that enables custom multiplayer servers. You can find plenty of information about it on YouTube, Reddit & Online.

This isn't my first time running a FiveM server, but I'm aiming to make this one significantly larger than my previous project. I've been researching on Reddit for the past week, and while I'm not in a rush, I'm trying to figure out the best way to find an investor. I'm 19, and although my parents are aware of my past server, they're busy with their own business and unable to help financially.

To fund this project, I've been applying for jobs and working with my parents to save money. However, to make this server a success on a larger scale, I need to step out of my comfort zone and secure funding. I'm looking for one or two investors to provide $11,000. While that's a significant amount, I'm confident I can generate a strong return on this investment.

Any advice on finding the right investor for this project would be greatly appreciated!

August 18, 2025

Aita for wearing the “joke” bikini my friend got me?

So it was my birthday couple months ago. Had a party. Got some gifts. My friend “Mandy” for me a “super cute bikini”. I liked it. Said thanks. She had ripped the tags off but whatever.

Anyway. Went to the community pool with my roommate. Wore bikini. Got in the water. Roommate immediately is like uhm girl.... I look and see that this bikini is now kinda see thru.

Haha good joke Mandy.

Anyway, Mandy invited me over to her place to hang out with her and her bf and a few others. Most leave and we’re still hanging out. I’m like hey, what if we get in your hot tub? I go change after them. And meet her bf in the hot tub she’s getting new drinks. I hop in. Immediately, he’s looking at my chest. I pretend I don’t notice and just make small talk. She comes out a few min after. And just looks in shock. Eventually gets in. “Uhh is that the one I bought?” Yeah I love it. I wear it everywhere. Make up some stuff about how I wore it to the beach, some party with lots of guys, etc. and she’s just like “oh”.

We’re in the tub for 20-30. Eventually get out and change. She approached me after and was like. “Uhm I’m sorry thought you’d notice. But it goes kinda see thru”. I’m like yeah I know why’d you buy me a ducking see thru bathing suit? “She’s like it’s a joke. Wait you knew? So you just spent last 30’ flashing my bf on purpose?” I reply I’m just wearing my birthday gift from her.

Anyway. Aita?

August 18, 2025

WIBTA for refusing to stop cooking bacon in my kitchen due to my teenage daughters vegan lifestyle?

Dad here, old fart, loves his daughter to pieces but I’m struggling to see eye to eye with my teenager and wife on this one.

We’ve always been a meat eating family, we live in the rural Midwest and bacon for breakfast is pretty much a given. This year my 14 y/o daughter decided to go vegan, and I jumped onto her support team with enthusiasm. We learned how to substitute ingredients, cook new things, try new things, I adjusted our budget to include more expensive vegan substitutes for her, etc.

None of this has been a problem for me until recently. She saw me cook bacon in a pan, and then I rinsed it out to load in the dishwasher. She exploded in anger (teen years, I’m not too fussed about the anger explosion, I know she doesn’t mean it) and said that that was HER pan for vegan food. I was completely floored and said, kiddo this here is a family pan, older than you, it’s not YOUR pan.

She asked me to purchase her a pan that she can solely use for vegan food. I didn’t want her to feel weird about food, so I said sure, and ordered her a few colored ones that are only for her. The reason they’re colored is so it helps me remember that I’m not to touch them unless I’m cooking vegan.

That wasn’t good enough. Now apparently the dishwasher is ‘contaminated’ with animal product, and the fridge has ‘bacon grease fingers’ on it (because I eat bacon and then touch the fridge) and she’s asked me and her mom to completely stop eating meat at home. I don’t mean I literally touch the fridge with greasy bacon hands, because I wash my hands, but it’s clearly enough that it upsets my daughter.

frankly I’m on team hell no, her mom is much more amenable and strongly wants me to consider taking our daughter up on the request. My wife’s reasoning is that both our parents live close so we can eat meat products there, and that she doesn’t want our daughter to feel uncomfortable in the kitchen. My daughter says she is fine with cheese and butter in the fridge, but it’s specifically meat products that make her feel sick. Now I’m sorry for her, but I feel like she just needs to adapt and live side by side, because I’m not going to stop eating bacon in my own house.

August 18, 2025

AITA for "announcing" that my dad's not paying my college tuition

My aunt and uncle are paying for my cousins college.

My dad had a college fund for me, but he had stipulations like he wanted nothing below a B for grades and to pre approve any classes I take, weekly meetings to discuss grades and a bunch of other stuff. Which would be fine if you have a normal dad. Mine isn't.

My dad has a temper and I spent 6th-12th grade stressed out about grades and being screamed at or grounded over things that sometimes weren't even my fault like a teacher not updating online grading and an assignment being marked "missing" because of it. And getting my back pack and locker randomly searched by him for no reason besides "to make sure I'm not hiding anything ".

I decided to pay for school myself because of 1 not being stressed over getting screamed at 2 I didn't feel like constantly worrying that he'd disapprove of a class or a grade and decide not to pay. Which I could totally see him doing. I'd rather be in debt than controlled for 4 more years.

I just finished my first year.

Well my family got together on the 4th and... well sometimes they're nosey. They were talking about my cousins school and my uncle looked at my dad and said "well how much is - my name- school costing you?"

I said "what are you asking him for I'm the one paying for it?"

Later on my dad was pissed off and said that it was out of line to say that and I embarrassed him.

I didn't do it to embarrass him, I was just being honest. He doesn't even know how much tuition is so he was the wrong person to ask.

AITA

August 18, 2025

AITA for punishing my son after he said something racist?

About a week ago, my (39F) family ordered Chinese food for delivery. When the delivery driver came to the door, my daughter (16F) was taking the cat upstairs to put in her room because he always tries to eat the food. My son (13M) loudly says, “Make sure the hide the cat from the Chinese guy!” as I am at the door getting the food from the Chinese delivery driver. He very obviously heard what my son said and was upset by it. I quickly apologized and took the food.

I told my son that racist jokes were completely unacceptable and very wrong and he refused to admit that he was in the wrong. So, later that night I forced my son to write a sincere apology to the delivery driver, (his name was on the receipt) as well as write a one page paper on Chinese culture and a one page paper on why racism is perpetuated by racist jokes and stereotypes. Then the next day I took him to the restaurant and had him read his apology aloud to the delivery driver as well as give him the papers he wrote. The driver was very appreciative of the apology and thanked me for making my son do it. He then told my son about multiple instances where he had faced racist comments and attacks from people while he was a delivery driver.

That night my husband (43M) and I got into an argument about me making our son do this. He told me that it was embarrassing for our son to have to do the apology and that the “punishment didn’t fit the crime”. I told him that it was much more embarrassing for the driver to have to face that kind of racism and racist stereotypes and that our son would get over the embarrassment. I do not condone any kind of hateful thinking in my house, and the fact that my son said that embarrassed me as well. My husband told me that it was “just a joke” and it wasn’t that big of a deal. I feel like I might have over reacted some but I think it’s important to help my son understand how what he said was wrong and hurtful.

August 18, 2025

AITA for telling my extended family how many men (roughly) my sister has slept with after she outed our youngest brother as a virgin?

We had a family dinner this evening. My family has four kids in total: me, my elder sister (29F), younger sister (24F) and youngest brother (22M).

Extended family attended our family dinner. So all of our significant others, our cousins, aunts and uncles etc. During the dinner my elder sister and youngest brother got into a mild disagreement. My sister seemed (at least to me) to be coming across as very aggressive out of frustration and losing said argument. The two of them were too absorbed in their argument to realise the rest of us were getting a bit fed up.

Eventually my sister got really fed up and said “Shut up, I’m not going to argue with a 22 year old virgin.” My brother hadn’t done any personal attacks up until that point, it was completely unprovoked. I think it might have been the alcohol as my sister is a mean drunk.

Anyway, I immediately told my sister to grow up and that she was making an embarrassment of herself. She replied by saying everyone knows he’s a virgin and she didn’t say anything wrong. This annoyed me as my bro definitely has confidence issues and doesn’t need to be made fun of like this.

So I responded by saying how she slept with well over a hundred men while she was in college, and that since everyone in the family knows this it’s not a big deal right? Turns out her husband didn’t know this amazingly, I genuinely assumed he must have known. he left the party angrily saying my sister mislead him about her past.

Family is blaming me for their marital problems. I refuse to accept I did anything wrong. My sister bullied my brother in front of everyone, all I did was give her a taste of her own medicine.

August 18, 2025

AITA for not taking down my video that was a gift from my best man.

I have a sister that’s 6 years older than me.

My parents for years cancel on me last min because of my sister. I have a basketball game. Ops sorry sister doesn’t feel like going out. I am graduating ops sorry sister had a bad day at work. They have missed both major and smaller events in my life because of her melt downs.

I met the love of my life. We decided to tie the knot. From the beginning I told my parents how I am worried my sister will ruin another special moment in my life. My mom told me over and over again it would not happen.

The day of my wedding. I received a voicemail from my mom saying they couldn’t come because my sisters dog was sick and she was upset.

I was hurt, my best man however is a jokester. He took my phone then went to my fiancé and asked if he could post a video of our wedding as a gift? On social media. She loved his idea.

I had no idea about it until I came home. Our honeymoon was at a lake side cabin. No cell service.

The post caption was “My best friend. He is an amazing person even if his parents NEVER showed up for him. video was still pictures of us next to her parents, me on the dance floor, cutting the cake. Where you would normally see both parents in wedding pictures. The sound behind the video was my moms voice mail explaining how they couldn’t come because my sisters dog was sick.

I came home a week later to hundreds of messages. Family members from both sides insisting I take it down. I was told my sister hasn’t stopped crying. My mom is refusing to leave the house.

I maybe the A here. I didn’t take it down when I got my messages. I didn’t call my family back right away. I waited until my vacation time was over at work and enjoyed my time with my Wife. In our new home. Before I contacted anyone.

My dad told me to take down the video. It was “just a bad night for them”. That they will make it up to me and my wife for not coming. My reply was exactly how do you plan to “make up” my wedding? It’s a once in a life time thing. You choose to ignore my feeling on the whole matter.

Then he just repeated he will make it up to me. I told him I would take down the video only when he made up missing my wedding. Flustered we both hung up the phone before we both said things we shouldn’t have.

Am I the A here. I could have just taken down the video.

August 18, 2025

AITA for bringing up my brother's "premature" birth at Christmas dinner to get my parents to shut up?

I am a nurse practitioner and I am the primary care provider for a lot of the low risk maternity cases at the practice where I work. I also work hand in hand with the doctors and midwives to create a healthy maternity, birth, and postpartum situation.

My fiancee is completing her residency. We live together and have for a few years now. We aren't in any hurry to get married. We originally had plans to do so a couple of years ago but then we got really busy for two years.

It is driving my very religious parents crazy that their youngest son is living in sin. I don't really care. I'm an adult and I do what I want. We are getting married in June.

So we are visiting my parents for Christmas. The way it came together this year everyone is at my parents house. So that's my folks, my three siblings, myself and fiancee, and seven grandchildren. So seventeen people.

At dinner my mom starts going on about how she is so glad that we are finally getting married and she won't be embarrassed at church any more. And my dad says how proud he is of his three older kids who all either waited to get married before moving in together or got married right away after moving in together. My fiancee was getting embarrassed and I was getting mad over this stupid argument we have had too many times. And a family dinner was the last straw.

I have asked them repeatedly to just accept that they cannot control how I live my life. I refuse to stay with them when I visit even if I come alone. Hotels are just easier.

So I started talking about a premature baby I had been reading about. It was almost three months premature and weighed about 1.6 pounds. It was super strong and healthy for being born so little and the NICU had high hopes for the baby doing well.

My mom and dad both got deer in the headlights looks on their faces. To bad. Should not have fucked around with my fiancee's feelings.

So I asked about my oldest brother. He was born almost four months premature. Is there a chance that we could check out the family album where we keep all the records of family births and stuff.

I already know my brother was over 9 pounds and almost 23" long when he was born. My grandmother told me all about it the first time my parents tried to shame me.

The subject gets changed very fast. After supper my parents told me that I should not try to embarrass them with private things that are not my concern. I told them that if I heard anything about my living arrangements ever again for the rest of my life I would make sure to keep bringing up the FACT that my mom was in her second trimester when they got married.

My parents are mad at me for telling them how to behave in their own home. But my fiancee is happy that they seem to be off the subject for good.

AITA?

August 18, 2025

AITA for pretending to get fired when customers get a temper with me?

I am a high schooler with a weekend job at a coffee shop. My coworkers who work weekends are:

James - the owners son, he goes to my school. He's a shift manager but it's not a real formal thing, he's a friendly guy.

Danielle - A college student who sometimes works weekends too.

So sometimes customers will come in and just be angry about such little stuff. Like literally blow up about nothing. I dunno if theyre in a bad mood already and looking for someone to take it out on or what, but it's a lot... Like how sad so your have to be to be a grown-ass man taking your anger out on high school and college kids.

So James and I were joking about having a little fun with them and hopefully getting them off our backs.

So one day I was at work and some guy was having a temper about how we don't make the coffee hot enough... Which I couldn't do a thing about because I gave it to him right out of the machine.

So James came in and was like "sir is there a problem here" and the guy started ranting at him too. So he was just like "OP, this is unacceptable, you're fired."

I started acting real sad, like "no please don't fire me, my family needs the money, I need this job, pleaseeee" and he played up being a hard-ass, telling me to take off my apron and leave.

The angry guy started to backtrack, like "It isn't that big of a problem, you don't need to fire her over it. I didn't mean it" and James was like "No, we pride ourselves on the best customer service"

Of course after all that drama I still had my job, we were just acting. And we've done it a couple times, whenever a customer will lose their temper at Danielle or I, James will storm in and "fire" us. And almost every time, the person who had come in angry will apologise and say that they didn't mean it. It's kind of satisfying, making people realize their actions might actually have consequences.

Anyway, I was telling my friends from school about this and a few of them thought it was a mean prank, to let someone go away thinking they'd gotten someone who desperately needs the money fired.

AITA for this joke?

August 18, 2025

AITA For suing my girlfriend after she had my 1967 impala project taken to the scrapyard?

I'll try to keep this short. I had a 1967 Impala 4 door that I bought in Feb 2019. A couple months ago I bought my first house that had a 2.5 car garage. I moved the car in and started tearing it down for a complete restoration. I had the body in one bay and the chassis in another, plus the whole garage filled with parts. About two months ago my girlfriend came to live with me during this whole crisis and the whole time has hated that car. She wants to park in the garage but I have 2 acres of land with a lot of nice places to park under shady trees or hell even in the barn if it has to be inside. I tell her tough luck its my house and its not like I can just throw it back together real quick. Anyways I was out of town for a couple days on a business trip for the small local company I work for. When I got back, my girlfriend was all smiles. Making me food all the time, doing all the chores, all that. I though maybe she just was happy to have me home but then I realized that I didn't see her car in it's usual spot. I asked her where she parked so I could make sure I mow that area and keep it clean and she said not to worry because she parked in the garage. I asked how and she told me to go check it out. Turns out that while I was gone she hired some people to come over and move everything related to that car, including the drivetrain, body, and chassis and all parts, and take it to the local dump/scrapyard. I was absolutely dumbfounded. I had spent over 11k on that car including new parts, services, and the car itself. I told her that I was going to be taking her to court for that and she brushed me off like I was being dramatic. I told her that its done between us and to pack her things and leave. I admit I was a really angry but I did end up getting a lawyer, and as I have all the receipts for all that money spent and I have her on my house's security cam footage letting the guys in and watching them take it all I think I can win. Her family and friends are absolutely blowing me up saying its just a stupid old piece of junk and that she cannot pay back all that money I spent, and that I should just let it go. But I have been putting all my time, effort, and money into that car for a year and a half now and goddammit if I am not going to get justice for what she did. AITA

Edit: Thank you all so much for the support and awards and everything. I'm glad I have some people on my side. I got a call from her mom about 20 minutes ago and she told me that i was ruining her daughter's life over a stupid car. I told her she ruined her own life. I've been gathering documentation and stuff and I'm about to head down to the police station and file a report, as suggested by lots here. Once again thank you all

UPDATE : went to the police station last night, was told to come back in the morning. just got back and filed an official report against her for grand larceny and grand theft auto. i showed them all the receipts i had for the car and the footage of her letting the guys come and take it as well as the title for the vehicle in my name. they said they will be in contact with all 3 parties (me, ex gf, and junkyard guys) soon and they will hopefully be able to recover some or all of the car. just have to wait now

HUGE UPDATE : THEY FOUND MY GODDAMN CAR!! the junkyard guys apparently were in the middle of hiding it when the police came to ask them questions. it was on a forklift and they were gonna put it on top of a pile of cars that was hidden behind more piles of cars. they said it was theirs and they had the title, but obviously didnt have the title for it and since they matched the vin on the chassis and body to the vin on my title, it was obviously mine. I know at least one person there has been arrested, i think he was in the camera footage i talked about earlier but idk if it was the boss or whomever or even his specific charge, they also told me they would be looking into this specific junkyard for any other vehicles reported stolen. they said they haven't been able to get in contact with my ex just yet but they're working on it. im just so glad they found my car. luckily i made quite an album of pictures detailing me tearing down the car and so i can use that to prove what parts they had were mine so i can hopefully get most or all of it back. police haven't let me take it back home yet as they say it is evidence or something so hopefully i can get it back eventually. thank you all so much for the support and advice! SHES GONNA BE ALRIGHT

August 18, 2025

AITA for telling my wife the lock on my daughter's door does not get removed til my brother inlaw and his daughters are out of our house?

My brother in-law (Sammy) lost his home shortly after his divorce 10 months ago. He moved in with us and brought his twin daughters (Olivia & Sloane18) with him a couple of months ago. His sister (my wife) and I have one daughter (Zoey 16) and she and her cousins aren't close but get along fine.

Olivia & Sloane have no respect for Zoey's privacy, none. they used to walk into her room and take everything they get their hands on. Makeup, phone accessories, clothes, school laptop etc. Zoey complained a lot and I've already asked the girls to respect Zoey's privacy and stop taking things. My wife and Sammy saw no issue with this. After all, they're girls and this's typical teenage girls behavior. I completely disagreed.

Last straw was when Zoey bought a 60$ m.a.c makeup-kit that looks like a paintset that she saved up for over a month and one of the girls, Sloane took it without permission and ruined it by mixing shades together while using it. Don't know much about makeup but that's what Zoey said when she found the kit on her bed, and was crying. I told my wife and she said she'd ask Sloane to apologize but I got Zoey a lock after I found she was moving valuable belongings out the house because of this incidence!!!

Sammy and his daughters saw the lock and weren't happy, the girls were extremely upset. Sammy asked about it and I straight up told him. He said "my daughters aren't thieves!!! it's normal that girls of the same age borrow each others stuff" he said Zoey could easily get another makeup kit for 15 bucks from walmart and shouldn't even be buying expensive - adult makeup in the first place and suggested my wife take care of this "defect" in Zoey's personality trying to appear older than she is. He accused me of being overprotective and babying Zoey with this level of enablement.

I told him this's between me and my wife but she shamed me for putting a lock on Zoey's door for her cousins to see and preventing them from "spending time" with her saying I was supposed to treat them like daughters, then demanded I remove it but I said this lock does not get removed til her brother and his daughters are out of our house.

She got mad I was implying we kick them out and said her family'll hate me for this. so I reminded her that I let Sammy and his family move in which's something her OWN family refused to do so she should start with shaming/blaming them for not taking their own son and nieces/granddaughters in. if it wasn't for her family's unwillingness to help we wouldn't be dealing with this much disturbance at home.

Everyone's been giving me and Zoey silent treatment and my wife is very much upset over this.

August 18, 2025

Left beer in cooler outside. Wife found it. Figured the reddit would like this.

August 18, 2025

This dead straight line of bubbles in my beer

August 18, 2025

Pour one out: The inventor of the red Solo cup has died

Pour one out: The inventor of the red Solo cup has died | CNN

There’s really only one way to properly honor Robert Hulseman, the inventor of the red Solo cup.
August 18, 2025

Merlin Milk Stout puts on a show.

August 18, 2025

Bud Light now owes all of Philadelphia free beer after Eagles Super Bowl win

Bud Light now owes all of Philadelphia free beer after Eagles Super Bowl win

Dilly Dilly? More like Philly Philly. Let the party begin, Philadelphia!
August 18, 2025

Color Scale for Wines

August 18, 2025

Cradling a child-sized bottle of Caymus at work a few weeks ago. First double magnum I’ve opened and decanted!

August 18, 2025

Can I still drink my wine? It got quite cold during shipping, is it too damaged to drink?

August 18, 2025

Celebrated getting my Master's Degree with a Dom Pérignon from my birth year!

August 18, 2025

This is peak California

August 18, 2025

The kind of positivity I need in my life.

August 18, 2025

Nazis suck. But this was an interesting find in a client’s home cellar

August 18, 2025

Creamy Garlic Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

4.5 cups water

8oz elbow pasta

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp butter

1.5 cups sharp cheddar, grated

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 tsp thyme

1.5 teaspoon onion powder

1 pinch of dried parsley

Salt, add to taste

Directions

Boil water in a pot. Add pasta and cook for 7 min or Al Dente. Drain and set aside.In a deep pan add the butter on medium low heat and saute garlic for 3 minutes or until fragrant. Slowly pour in whipping cream a little at a time until simmering. Whisk in shredded cheese a little at a time making sure it's melted before adding more. Add seasonings and simmer until thickened.Add pasta to cheese sauce and stir.Serve hot.Serves 3-4 people. :)

edited to add whipping cream

August 18, 2025

“Marry Me” Chicken & Tortellini

“Marry Me” Chicken & TortelliniTime: 40 mins

Original Recipe: https://craftycookbook.com/marry-me-chicken-tortellini/

Note, I didn't name this dish. "Marry Me Chicken" has been around for a while, it always features pan fried chicken breast served in a sun dried tomato cream sauce. This version serves it up over tortellini tossed in extra sauce.

Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast16-20 oz fresh or frozen cheese tortellini2 cups half-and-half, or 1 cup cream + 1 cup whole milk1 ½ tsp chicken better than bouillon, or chicken bouillon cubes⅓ cup sun dried tomatoes, drained and chopped fine½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, or sub basil or parsley1 tbsp freshly minced garlic¼ cup all-purpose flour½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (add more to make it spicy, or omit if very sensitive to spice)½ tsp dried oreganoolive oilgarlic powderfreshly cracked black peppersaltInstructions

Fillet the chicken breast(s) and pound to a thin, even thickness. Season all over with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Pour flour onto a shallow plate and dredge the chicken in it, shaking off any excess.Warm 2 tbsp olive oil over medium high heat, sear breasts for about 3 mins per side, until golden, then remove to a cutting board. Slice into the largest piece to ensure it’s cooked through, then tent with foil to keep warm. Do not wipe the pan clean. Turn off the heat to allow the pan to cool slightly.Meanwhile, begin boiling a large pot of salted water. Cook the tortellini per package instructions while preparing the rest of the meal. Drain and cover to keep warm until needed. (Most cook times are short, so wait until the sauce is almost done)In the pan you cooked the chicken, cook the garlic and red pepper flakes over medium heat until fragrant (about 1 minute), add more oil if needed. Next, add the half-and-half and reduce heat to medium low. Add the bouillon and oregano, mix well and scrape any browned bits into the sauce. Once simmering, add the parmesan (reserving a little for garnish) and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is the consistency of thick cream, about 10 minutes.After simmering, add the chopped sun dried tomatoes and mix well. Add the chicken back to the pan and spoon sauce over it until it’s coated. Warm it in the pan for 1-2 minutes, then remove to a cutting board and cut into bite sized pieces.Toss the tortellini in the sauce, then plate into serving dishes. Top with the chicken, then garnish with the reserved parmesan and fresh thyme.If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear how it went and any feedback you have in the comments section!

August 18, 2025

Lasagna with Meat Sauce and Béchamel Ricotta Filling

A. Meat Sauce

- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

- 3 large carrots, peeled & finely chopped

- 1 large onion, diced

- 4 large cloves garlic, minced

- 1 green bell pepper, diced

- 16 ounces lean ground beef

- 8 ounces ground pork

- ¾ cup red wine

- 2 cans, or fresh (28 ounces) diced tomatoes

- 1 tablespoon tomato paste

- 1/2 tablespoon ketchup

- Course kosher salt (Diamond Crystal Brand) and fresh, or dried, Italian herbs (oregano, rosemary, thyme).

INSTRUCTIONS

In a 10 or 12 inch heavy-bottomed stainless steel or cast-iron skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until sufficiently pre-heated. Add onion and carrots, season slightly with a healthy pinch of kosher salt. Sauté until translucent, about 8 minutes.Add garlic and bell pepper. Continue cooking until garlic is fragrant but not scorched.Increase heat to high. Add beef and pork and cook, breaking apart the meat with a wooden spoon until mostly browned. Approximately 10 minutes.Add wine and deglaze. Boil off the wine until it is mostly evaporated, 3-4 minutes at least.Stir in tomatoes with all liquid if using canned. Reheat to boiling and then reduce heat to medium-low.Add ketchup and tomato pasteSeason with more salt and select italian herbs to your liking.Simmer the now mostly completed sauce, uncovered, for at least 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened sufficiently.Preheat oven to 375.B. Béchamel

- Metal whisk

- 2 tablespoons butter

- 3 tablespoons flour

- 2 cups of milk, heated to just under a boil

- Salt and white pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

In a 2 or 3 quart saucepan, melt butter over low heat.Once butter is completely melted and covering the bottom of your saucepan, blend in the flour by small amounts, stirring frequently with whisk.Once all flour is blended in, continue cooking for 2 minutes without browning or coloring the mixture.Remove from heat. Allow to slightly cool and then pour in the heated milk in one swift motion. Immediately and quickly blend the mixture together with whisk.Return saucepan to the stove over medium-high heat and continue stirring quickly until the sauce comes to boil.Boil for about 1 minute, while stirring, until sauce is thick enough to coat and cling to the back of a spoon.Remove from heat and season slightly with kosher salt and white pepper. Careful not to over-season as to avoid overpowering the dish.If sauce is too thin, boil it down while stirring continually until reduced and thickened. If sauce is too thick, simmer and thin out with milk added in a tablespoon at a time. If sauce is lumpy, either strain or blend it and then simmer for a few minutes.C. Filling

INSTRUCTIONS

- 1-2 cups freshly made béchamel

- 7 ounces, approximate, ricotta cheese

- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese.

In roughly equal parts, combine all ingredients, stir well, and taste.Reserve some parmesan to both top unbaked lasagna and garnish completed lasagna.D. Assembly

INSTRUCTIONS

- 1 package (8 to 9 ounces) of no-boil lasagna noodles.

In the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish, ladle about 1 cup of meat sauce to evenly coat the bottom of the dish.Arrange 3-4 (depending on width of noodles) noodles over sauce, careful not to overlap or touch sides of the dish.Ladle 1 ½ cups meat sauce over noodles.Spread about ¾ - 1 cup of filling over meat sauce. Best method is to use a tablespoon, dropping dollops across the layer and then spreading slightly. The filling will loosen while cooking so it does not have to be perfect.Repeat steps 2-4 with all remaining ingredients until you finish with a final layer of meat sauce.Top assembled lasagna with filling and freshly grated parmesan.Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes in preheated oven at 375.Remove foil and bake for 15 additional minutes.Remove dish from the oven and raise oven rack to the highest position. Set broiler to high and place uncovered lasagna on topmost rack directly under heat elements. Broil carefully, with over door ajar, until the top is perfectly crisped and brown.Turn off heat, remove from oven and rest for a minimum of 15 minutes.With a serrated knife, divide lasagna into equal portions and guide your cuts by the small gaps between noodles.Serve garnished with fresh chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. Pair with peperoncinis and the rest of that bottle of red wine.

August 18, 2025

Baked a chocolate cheesecake that is known in Germany as "Russischer Zupfkuchen"

The original recipe with more details and images can be found here.

https://delightbaking.com/chocolate-cheesecake-aka-russischer-zupfkuchen/

Total ingredients needed

300 g All-purpose flour250 g White sugar350 g Butter4x Eggs10 g Baking powder30 g Cocoa powder – Unsweetened2 packages (~16 g) Vanilla sugar500 g Farmer’s cheese (40% fat)1 package (~37 g) Instant vanilla pudding mix1x Vanilla bean1. Mix chocolate dough

300 g All-purpose flour30 g Cocoa powder – Unsweetened10 g Baking powder125 g White sugar1 package (~8 g) Vanilla sugar150 g Butter (softened)1x EggsStart by sifting in the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder and baking powderMix with a hand mixer using dough hooksAdd white sugar, vanilla sugar, softened butter and egg and mix until well combined2. Rest

Form a ball out of the chocolate dough Wrap it in cling film Place in the fridge for 30 minutes3. Melt butter

Place 250 g butter in a pot and bring it to low / medium heatStir while cookingAfter whe whole butter is melted put it aside to cool down4. Coat springform pan

Grease a 26 cm springform pan with butter on bottom and all sidesTake the chocolate dough out of the fridge and divide in halfPut one half aside and use the first one for coating the springform panPress the previously created dough into the bottom and up the sides of the springform pan tightly5. Mix filling

3x Eggs125 g White sugar1 package (~8 g) Vanilla sugarPreviously melted butter500 g Farmer’s cheese (40% fat)1 package (~37 g) Instant vanilla pudding mix1x Vanilla beanMix all of the mentioned ingredients together with the hand mixer on low speedStart by adding the vanilla sugar and eggsAfterwards add the previously melted butter, farmer’s cheese, instant vanilla puddingScrape the insides of the vanilla bean and also add them to the mixtureYou want to have a homogenous mass so don’t mix too longAs the last step, pour the whole mixture into the coated springform pan6. Scatter chocolate dough

Take the other half of the chocolate dough you previously have put asideScatter it around the top of the filling7. Bake

Put a bowl with about 500 g water on the bottom of the oven and a baking grill in the middlePreheat it to 165°C (329°F) with the upper and lower heat functionAdd the chocolate cheesecake and bake for 60 minutesAfter 60 minutes of baking turn the oven off and slightlty open the oven door8. Cool

For a good result you want to cool down the chocolate cheesecake very slowlyAs mentioned before start the cooling down process by slightly opening the oven door for 60 minutesAfterwards place the cake on the counter for further cooling of 3 hoursAs the last step, put it in the fridge and let it chill for at least 4 hours