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Cream of mushroom soup is perfect dinner on a cold day

Cream of mushroom soup is for dinner on a cold day

The best recipe inspirations come from others. Not that I’ve never had a cream of mushroom soup, but it took a trip to Costa Rica for me to have a cream of mushroom soup that I couldn’t live without. I should explain. It’s not that cream of mushroom is a staple in the Costa Rican diet, but I spent a week SCUBA diving off of the western coast of one of their national parks called Cocos Island, on a live aboard (dive) boat with a staff that served us some pretty tasty food. Among them, were a handful of delicious, filling puréed soups — one of my favorites! This mushroom version was one I knew I had to make when I got home. It was so much lighter than any I had before and it actually tasted like mushrooms — not cream. I think I came pretty close to replicating the original,…

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News Bites

More millennials, teens turning to cooking at home, survey shows

More millennials, teens turning to cooking at homePixabay

Making dinner at home is making a comeback. After decades of consumer preferences leaning toward dining out, a new survey shows that American preferences are starting to shift. The new momentum is largely a cost-saving move by millennials, but also a result of an increased interest in health and family time. According to a recent survey, 73 percent of adults currently make dinner at home at least four nights a week, but millennials are pushing that trend even further. Fifty percent surveyed they have intentions to cook at home more often than that in 2018. And 79 percent of teens, or those in the temporarily dubbed post-millennial generation — surveyed that they wanted their parents to cook at home more in 2018. One in three teens expressed an interest in helping their parents cook at home more often as a way to help their family eat healthier. So what’s causing the shift? About…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Grapefruit, avocado, capers, a flavorful salad for all seasons

Grapefruit, avocado, capers, a flavorful salad for all seasons

Discounts can lead you to make some questionable choices. In one of those “I’m totally saving money” moments, I purchased an enormous jar of capers for two bucks at the market a few months ago. (It was 150 servings!) My love of the little briny flower buds is strong, but how many cups of capers can one person honestly eat? Since my excessive purchase, I’ve let them be my muse. You’d think a recipe like the one below would have started with the citrus at its center. But actually, it was the salty capers that lead me in. But no matter where you start in a recipe, it’s the final product that matters most. This recipe works all year round. Make it in the winter when citrus is in peak season. Or whip it up in summer when we have an endless appetite for all things fruity. The sour to semi-sweet grapefruit pairs perfectly with the smooth,…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

20 recipes you can make in a muffin pan

20 recipes you can make in a muffin panBuzzfeed

It should be a rule that all kitchen tools and appliances should have to do double duty. There’s just not enough space for a tool that can only slice strawberries or cut hotdogs. If your muffin pan has only ever met blueberries, it’s definitely being underused. So take it beyond the muffin, and try these 20 delicious recipes that will help you justify owning that specialty pan. Bacon & Avocado Hash Brown Egg Cups Start the morning with these bite sized cups. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/2744449756654183/ Garlic Knots An easy appetizer for the Big Game and beyond. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/277745502001222303/ Buffalo Chicken Cups Wonton wrappers make an crispy cup for delicious contents. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/257197828700485103/ Mini Potato Gratin Stacks Great as a party for or even a fancy dinner. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/535998793136688346/ Make-Ahead Egg Muffins An easy breakfast on-the-go. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/44613852535996935/ Spinach, Tomato, Eggwhite Breakfast Bites A bite-sized breakfast that will let you stick to your New Year’s resolution. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/123778689738894492/ Crunchy Taco Cups Fun to top…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Citrus, pistachio, pomegranate salad

This time of year, the citrus brought in from across the southern states is at its peak. And wow, is it good. It’s the perfect balance between tart and sweet, and it helps brings a bright pop of color and flavor to those of us living under grey winter skies. An orange at anytime is a pretty good snack, but sometimes you want something a little more special, or something fun you can share. This unique citrus salad checks both those boxes. Make it as a side dish to dinner or prepare a platter for your next party. Either way, it will be a big hit, and it will most certainly be something different. * Feel free to mix up the citrus. The salad works great with anything from tangerines, blood oranges or even limes. Citrus, pistachio, pomegranate salad Ingredients 2 grapefruits 2 oranges 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds (arils) 2 tbsp water 1…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Kale, Butternut Squash salad with sliced almonds

Kale, Butternut Squash salad with almonds

This filling, savory salad is just what you need to stick to your healthy diet. It’s loaded with flavor, but also packs a punch with tons of heart-healthy kale. One cup of kale contains contains a mere 33 calories, but 206 percent of your daily recommend vitamin A (healthy hair and skin), 134 percent of your vitamin C (immune system), and a whopping 680 percent of your vitamin K. Yes, that much! It’s one of the best foods around for fighting inflammation and maintaining healthy bone density. And kale is packed with fiber which will keep you fuller longer, while also aiding in lowering cholesterol. Enjoy kale in this salad and all your salads and feel your best. Kale, Butternut Squash salad with almonds Serves 2-3 Ingredients 1 1/2 cups cubed butternut squash 1 tbsp cinnamon 1 tsp light brown sugar 1 bunch kale, stems removed 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 3…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Blackberry, red onion, cheese tart recipe

Blackberry, red onion, cheese tart recipe

It’s always when you have a nearly empty fridge, that you come up with the most delicious recipes. This was one of those recipes for me. I usually keep a pasty puff on hand as an easy way to serve up an excess of veggies, but when I searched the fridge, I found only one single sad onion — nothing close to the colorful crop selection I’m used to working with. But from these unlikely beginnings came the most delicious tart. It’s unique flavor combination falls somewhere between light lunch and slightly sweet dessert. Whatever reason you have to serve it, it’s a must try. Blackberry, red onion, cheese tart Ingredients 1 pre-made puff pastry 1 medium red onion about 20 blackberries (fresh is best, but frozen works, too) 1 cup shredded aged white cheddar (Kerrygold was what I used) 1/2 cup shredded goats cheese fresh cracked pepper 1/4 cup sliced almonds 1-2 tbsp olive oil 3…

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News Bites

Here’s how much you can eat over the holidays to lose or maintain weight

Here's how much you can eat over the holidays to lose or maintain weightAdobe stock

You no surprise that you’re likely to pack on a few pounds over the holidays. The extra appetizers, cocktails with friends, side dishes, desserts and post-meal champagne can quickly add up to an average of 7,000 calories on a holiday — more than triple the daily recommendation. Shockingly, 29 percent of people estimated they would eat fewer than 3,000 calories over the course of Christmas Day. While it’s just one day — and who counts calories on Christmas anyway? — it’s worth taking a peek at MealKitt’s photo series on portion control. Julian Gaine, the CEO of the British company known for its portion control tool, released photos showing what Christmas Day plates should look like if you’re looking to lose, maintain or gain weight. While this might not be your exact meal, the images can serve as a guide which you use to gauge how full your plate should be. For those…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Italian roasted veggies make for simple vegetarian, vegan meal

Italian roasted tomatoes and veggies

I first had roasted tomatoes at a wedding where they served this veggie blend family style, surrounding a tender roasted chicken. The way the crinkled tomato skin slipped off and the insides burst made them oh-so craveable. I skipped most of the meat and loaded my plate with these flavorful veggies. Sure, they’re a great accompaniment to your favorite protein, but I like this dish all on its own. This combo is entirely too easy to prep for how delicious it is. Just wash the veggies to remove any dirt, and you’re almost done. I buy the bagged cauliflower to save time breaking off the florets myself. And it’s up to you if you slice the mushrooms or leave them whole. Onions are really great in this mix too. Just chop up one medium onion and add in with all the other veggies. (Baking time might need to be adjusted a few minutes longer.) Italian Roasted Veggies Ingredients…

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Seasonal

Proper dinner party Etiquette tips for our high-tech times

Proper-dinner-party-Etiquette-tips-for-our-high-tech-timesPixabay

When Emily Post wrote her first book, Etiquette, in 1922, she could have hardly imagined the types of dining-related topics we’d be disputing today. Selfies during dinner? Asking the hostess for wi-fi access? What would Ms. Post think of our table manners in the age of technology? Luckily, Lizzie Post, great-great granddaughter of Emily Post, author, and co-president of the Emily Post Institute, has carried on her famous ancestor’s etiquette empire. Lizzie offers a fresh perspective on whether our modern day dinner party habits are acceptable or faux-pax. Here’s how she recommends handling a few of the high-tech situations you’re likely to find yourself in this holiday season: Facebook RSVPS If you get a Facebook party invitation and either forget to respond or don’t see it until the last minute, don’t fret. Lizzie says that sending Facebook invites is definitely more for casual holiday parties anyway, and it’s common for guests to overlook…

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