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Meghan Rodgers

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Delicious Dill Pickle Deviled Eggs

Is there any party, picnic, or potluck that isn’t made infinitely better with a dish of deviled eggs? This old-fashioned appetizer is a staple at spring gatherings and certainly around Easter holiday dinners. This year, instead of the everyday recipe, serve a tray of these tangy dill pickle deviled eggs. This is why they’re called Deviled Eggs. They incredibly easy to prepare. Just hard-boil eggs, then mash the yolks with a bit of mayo, Dijon. Add a splash of pickle juice, finely chopped up Dill pickle, and some fresh dill, and you can take your deviled eggs to the next level. Here’s how to make perfectly hard-boiled eggs… or make hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot. Tip: Make sure your pickles are super finely chopped, or that you’re using a piping bag tip that the pieces can easily be squeezed out of. You don’t want to have to fight with a…

Easy ways to help restaurants survive the Coronavirus pandemic

The United States has fully plunged into the coronavirus pandemic. It’s an uncertain time for most people and businesses, and restaurants are no exception. Small businesses of all kinds depend on foot traffic, and with people staying home voluntarily—and now by government mandate in many areas—businesses and their employees are feeling particularly vulnerable. Here’s how you can help. Get take-out But just because you can’t sit down and grab a beer and a burger at your favorite local business doesn’t mean you can’t still help support them during their time of need. Some restaurants have adapted to offering take-out for the first time, while others have extended take-out menus already in place. Others have even started to offer delivery service or at the very least, curb-side delivery. Make a quick phone call to a local restaurant and see what services they’re offering. They’ll be happy to hear from you! Tip…

Strawberry basil chia smoothie

This delicious vegan, gluten-free smoothie is inspired by spring. The sweet, magical taste of those early season strawberries combine with savory basil and protein-packed chia for a nutrient boost you need right now. It’s the perfect way to start your morning or give your self a guilt-free afternoon snack. This smoothie only requires four ingredients, which makes adding it to your grocery shopping list a breeze. Use fresh or frozen strawberries (depending if they’re in season or not). If you use fresh strawberries, add a bit of ice to the blender or pour over ice to chill smoothie. Fan of fruit? Also try this light and refreshing Peaches and Cream Smoothie. Strawberry basil chia smoothie Makes 2 (Halve this recipe for a single serving) Ingredients 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries 2 3/4 cups unsweetened coconut milk (or almond milk or whatever type of milk suits you!) 3 tbsp chia…

How to freeze milk and other milk substitutes

Buy too much and it goes bad. Buy too little and your morning cereal might be left dry. If you’re constantly fighting the battle of how much milk to buy, you might find it helpful to know that milk can, in fact, be frozen. By freezing milk, you can be sure you’ll have enough to last you through a shortage, whether that be a coronavirus pandemic or simply a miscalculation on the amount you’ll need while making holiday recipes. Milk can also be expensive at times, so if you see it on sale, you can use this simple trick to help stock up and save some money. Also read: Keep milk out of the fridge door, and other storage tips. Here’s what you need to know about freezing milk. How to freeze milk Step 1: Choose a milk. Because freezing liquids can often cause fat to separate, skim and low-fat milks…

What you should really stock up on for Coronavirus prep

With the coronavirus pandemic in full swing and “nonessential” businesses coast to coast closing their doors, Americans are facing the reality of two weeks stuck at home. While toilet paper and hand sanitizer have been flying off shelves, there are other things that make more sense in preparation for 14 days holed up at home. Supply chains are said to still be well in-tact, according to The New York Times, so there is no need for outright stockpiling food. In fact, shoppers rushing out and buying everything is sight is causing an inconvenient temporary and unnecessary shortage for other shoppers. Instead, stay calm and stock up on what you really need. Buying the right food, medicine, and cleaning supplies now can help you cut down on overall trips to the store, and less time in large public centers. But don’t just buy up anything and everything you see. You’ll put…

Is it safe to eat dyed Easter eggs?

You look forward to the tradition every year. You stock up on eggs, select your dyes, and pick a few patterns that will show off your creativity. Then for all of your efforts, you get to display your beautiful Easter handiwork on the table or as part of the big Easter egg hunt—but wait. Are those dyed eggs actually safe to eat? Well, it depends. It’s estimated that Americans dye more than 180 million eggs for Easter Sunday (read more incredible facts about eggs you never knew), so it would be a shame just to waste them. However, unless you set some parameters from the get-go, you’ll likely put yourself at risk for salmonella and eggs that end up in the trash. If you can answer “yes” to EVERY question on this list, your eggs are still safe to eat. If you answer “no” to one or more questions, it’s best…

2020 Lent specials and deals at top chain restaurants

It’s once again Lent and the season for seafood, and this year many chain restaurants are offering some serious specials and deals. In case you’re looking to grabs some grub between now and Easter, here’s a roundup of those national restaurants offering seafood specials. A&W The nation’s oldest fast food restaurant is offering new Pub-Style Baskets filled with either 16 crispy-fried shrimp, three pieces of crispy cod, or two Cod Sliders, served with fries and coleslaw. Find a location near you. Arby’s Arby’s is offering a new Fish ‘N Cheddar sandwich along with the return of their Crispy Fish Sandwich. Both are available for a limited time as part of the two for $6 fish sandwich deal. Bojangles’ The BoJangler dinner platter is back for the Lent season, while supplies last. The platter features a crispy-fried and seasoned Alaskan Pollock filet, with American cheese and tartar sauce served on a…

Lucky Licorice Rainbows

These licorice rainbows are easy to make and they just look so pretty! Twizzlers already come in rainbow colored assortments, so it’s really just all about assembly. These are perfect for spring, St. Patrick’s Day, or a rainbow themed party or shower. Kids will adore this cheerful snack. Put them in cellophane baggies for take-home bags or display them on the table for a tasty treat for your little leprechauns to enjoy  now. If you’re lucky, you might even sneak one for yourself! Looking for an adult treat? Try this Baileys Irish Fudge. Lucky Licorice Rainbows I ordered the licorice on Amazon Prime, but I’ve also seen it at Walmart. What you will need:  Parchment paper Rainbow Twizzlers 1-2 tbsp butter 1 bag of mini marshmallows, divided Shredded coconut (sweetened) Knife or scissors Cellophane bags and ribbon (if making goodie bags) Small saucepan Spatula Directions Cover a hard surface with…

Irish whiskey chocolate chip cookies

So, you say you like whiskey AND you like chocolate chip cookies? These might just be your new favorite cookies of all time. Chocolate and whiskey (or is it spelled whisky?), perhaps unsurprisingly, go together extremely well. A subtly smokey, nutty whiskey complements the creamy chocolate morsels quite nicely. You can go with any whiskey, normally I would choose Jack Daniels, but being that it’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, it was an easy choice—Jameson. While the alcohol evaporates when you cook them, you’re still left with an insanely delicious flavor combo in this whiskey chocolate chip cookie. Love boozy recipes this time of year? Try this Crock Pot Guinness Roast Beef recipe or this Easy White Chocolate Baileys Irish Fudge recipe. Whiskey chocolate chip cookies Makes about 12 cookies  Ingredients 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1/3 cup sugar 1 egg 2 tbsp whiskey 2 tbsp vanilla…

These are America’s favorite supermarkets

More and more consumers might be having groceries delivered curbside—or even right to their door—but that doesn’t mean we still don’t have strong preferences on where we shop. A new report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index, used data from more than 85,000 customers who compiled scores for different stores, ranking everything from cleanliness to product selection, store layout and more. So which stores came out on top? H-E-B, a privately owned supermarket chain based in Texas took top slot. Trader Joes, and Legman’s tied for second place.  ALDI, Costco, and Publix all received the same rating to tie for third. Also see, how to avoid being rude at the grocery store. The bottom of the list? Albertsons and Sav-A-Lot landed at the bottom—just above Walmart. Here is the full list of Customer Satisfaction Index scores for U.S. supermarkets: H-E-B — 84 Trader Joe’s — 84 Wegmans — 84 Aldi…