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10 ways to instantly upgrade your hot chocolate

10 ways to instantly upgrade your hot chocolate

Winter has arrived and that means it’s time to break out your fuzziest slippers, coziest sweater, and snuggle up to a piping hot mug of hot chocolate for a few guilt-free hours of Netflix and chill. But no matter whether you use a homemade recipe or open a packet of the powdery stuff, basic hot chocolate can be pretty boring—especially as the winter wears on. Upgrade your old, uninspired recipe with one of these exciting, delicious hot chocolate additions. Also try this Winter White Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon. What to add to hot cocoa Add-in any of these ingredients for a brand new hot chocolate experience: Cinnamon brown sugar  Sprinkle in a bit of cinnamon and brown sugar for a decadent hot chocolate you only thought possible in your winter dreams. Freshly-brewed espresso or coffee The coffee/hot chocolate classic combo never disappoints. Go for freshly made espresso or coffee if…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Springtime pea tabouli salad

Spring salads can be so so good! Think of yourself eating whole, fresh ingredients and feeling happy, healthy, and full. This springy Mediterranean-inspired dish will deliver on all three. Springtime pea tabouli salad is filling thanks to the high-fiber peas and protein-packed quinoa (about 8 grams of protein per 1 cup cooked quinoa). It’s also loaded with tons of vitamins and minerals thanks to a bounty of beautiful spring herbs. Bring this main or side dish to the next family gathering or potluck. It’s vegan so everyone can enjoy it care-free. It’s also absent of easily-spoiled ingredients, so pea tabouli salad does well sitting out at picnics for extended periods of time. SPRINGTIME PEA TABOULI SALAD Ingredients 1 cup dry quinoa (will make about 3 cups cooked) 1/4 tsp salt 2 cups water 1 cup snow peas, sliced 1 cup snap peas, sliced 1 bunch parsley, chopped ~10 springs mint,…

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Seasonal

Shamrock shakes return to McDonald’s menus nationwide

Shamrock shakes return to McDonald's menus nationwideAltered McDonald's

Birds chirping and snow melting are all well and good, but the first sign of spring for many is the return of the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. The popular minty green milkshake is officially back on the menu, the company confirmed in a Tweet. Thirsty fans can find the creamy confection using a new feature on the McDonald’s mobile app that tracks which restaurant locations are selling the beverage or by using the Shamrock Shake Finder. https://twitter.com/McDonalds/status/1095714184363458561 For those not in-the-know, Shamrock Shakes — or Shammies — are made by blending McDonald’s vanilla soft serve with minty shamrock shake syrup and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. Since the beverage debuted in 1970, it has earned an impressive following. More than 6 million Shamrock Shakes have been sold. Much like the McRib, Shamrock Shakes are only available at McDonalds for a limited time, while supplies last. This year, you can…

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Seasonal

What is the difference between spearmint and peppermint?

What is the difference between spearmint and peppermint?

With the holidays here you can be sure of one thing — mint, mint, mint, and more mint. Peppermint is practically the poster child for the entire winter season, with candy canes, peppermint patties, peppermint bark, and peppermint flavored hot chocolate. Peppermint might steal the show, but actually, there are over 15 types of mint including orange mint, apple mint, and of course, spearmint. Peppermint and spearmint are, by far, the most popular. Peppermint vs. Spearmint So, are the two interchangeable? Well, all mints are not the same. You’re likely to notice right away if someone switches the spearmint in your mojito with peppermint or if your barista were to replace the peppermint in your mocha with spearmint. That’s not saying they wouldn’t be good — just noticeably different. From a botanical perspective, both have square stems and spear-shaped leaves, and both are great for cooking, but the two have…

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Seasonal

Freezing herbs and other methods to make them last all winter

Freezing herbs and other methods to make them last all winterAdobe stock

The cool, fall weather has been here long enough that most gardens are finally on their last leg. For many, the biggest draw of a home garden is the easy access to fresh herbs. But soon it will be too cold, and there won’t be any herbs left to pick straight from the garden. So what can you do to prolong access to your herb garden? Each herb favors different types of treatments, so Doug Oster, garden editor for the Tribune-Review and Everybodygardens.com gave us the dirt on how to best save each of the common herbs in the coming winter months. Move herbs Indoors If you grew herbs in containers this summer, some of them may continue to thrive if you bring them indoors. “There are certain herbs that will happily keep going on the window sill,” said Oster. “Rosemary, thyme, sage, mint, lemon balm. Those will be happy to limp along near a window indoors. They’re not going to look…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Arugula, mint and apricot salad

Arugula, mint and apricot salad2

Apricots are too often overlooked in the summer. We repeatedly reach for fresh berries and cherries, even peaches and watermelon. But for many, apricots are a fruit only eaten dried. A ripe apricot, with its dainty golden blush-color, dripping with juices is a perfect fruit on its own or used in a summer salad. Apricots give you a boost of vitamin A which is said to help repair skin damage from the sun. They also maintain electrolyte balance in the body — great for sweaty, active summer days, since electrolytes reduce cramping and keep blood pumping through your body. Expand your fruit horizons this summer and try this refreshing arugula, mint, apricot salad while the apricots are at their peak. arugula, mint, apricot salad Serves 2 Ingredients 2 cups arugula 1/4 cup mint leaves 2 ripe apricots, sliced 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 cup almond slices 1/2 orange (for dressing), cold 1 tbsp extra virgin…

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9 Tips for making the perfect fruit salad

9 tips for making the perfect fruit salad by Everybody CravesThinkstock

Summertime is synonymous with fresh fruit, so it’s no wonder why we consume so much fruit salad during these warm months. It’s sweet, refreshing and so easy to make, but for those in the know, there is actually more to it than just chopping up a bunch of fruit and tossing it in a bowl. Not all fruit salads are created equal. There are a few tricks you can follow to enhance the flavors and make the dish more pleasing to the eye. Here are 9 tricks to help you make your best fruit salads this summer, and all year long. 1. Buy fruit in season Fruit is flown in daily from around the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s fresh. It was likely picked weeks ago — before it was ripe and ready. It was packaged, bruised, stored and shipped before it ever made it to your grocery market. Instead, you…

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Explore the fresh flavors of Tabouli quinoa salad

Explore the fresh flavors of Tabouli quinoa salad this spring-3

Maybe you call it tabouli, or maybe it’s tabbouleh?  Or, maybe you don’t call it anything because you’ve never heard of it. But what’s important, is the fresh flavors you’re about to behold. Tabouli (pronounced tə-ˈbü-lē) is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine. The vegetarian salad is classically made with cracked wheat, loads of fresh parsley and ripe tomatoes — among other ingredients like quality extra virgin olive oil and zesty lemon juice. Originally from Lebanon, tabouli has become one of the most popular salads throughout Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines and has become popular in American food in recent years, as well. With so many countries adopting the dish, there are truly endless variations. If you don’t mind dicing and chopping for 20 minutes, you’ll have a fresh and extremely healthy salad full of bright tastes, textures and colors. It’s one of those dishes that measuring out ingredients just isn’t necessary, but I…

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Seasonal

12 Fun facts you didn’t know about candy canes

12 Fun facts you didn't know about candy canesPexels

Candy canes are one of the most recognizable symbols (and foods) of the entire holiday season. While most people wouldn’t consider a Christmas complete with the red and white striped sticks, few people know much about their long history. Whether you use one to stir your hot chocolate or just hang them on your tree, here are 10 fun facts about this iconic candy. 1. They are very old The first reference to candy canes in America dates back to 1847 when a German immigrant from Wooster, Ohio decorated his Christmas tree with the festive candy. Candy canes weren’t commonly hung on trees until 1882, but the first candy canes predate these events by a few hundred years… 2. origins Folklore says that in Cologne, Germany in 1670, a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral, wishing to keep the local children quiet during the Living Creche tradition of Christmas Eve, asked a candy maker to form…

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Seasonal

Cool down with mint this summer

cool down with mint this summer by everybody cravesPixabay

When days heat up, a dish prepared with light, crisp mint leaves will taste delicious. The cooling, sweet flavor of mint goes great with both sweet and savory dishes — try it with anything from omelettes to ice cream. While mint is easy to find at your local market this time of year, it’s simple enough that you should be growing it yourself. Seriously. It’s one of the easiest herbs to grow. It’s fragrant and fast-growing and requires a very minimal time commitment. Plant in a  container on your porch for easiest maintenance, since mint grown directly in the garden soil has a tendency to spread in weed-like fashion. When choosing your location, find a spot where the plant will receive morning sunlight and partial afternoon shade. Mint is pretty resilient, so the natural rain water might be all you need, depending on where you live. Just keep an eye on the pot’s soil. If it starts…

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