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New Cosmic Crisp apple stays fresh for a year

New Cosmic Crisp apple stays fresh for a year

Yet another type of apple at the grocery store? While you may think you have everything you want while snacking on your Granny Smith or Honeycrisp—or any of the other hundreds of varieties available around the country—a new variety might soon become the apple of your eye. A new Honeycrisp and Enterprise hybrid claims to strike the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, juiciness, and crunch, along with an impressive year-long shelf life, making it an ideal apple for just about anything. According to the Cosmic Crisp website, the apple “has a remarkably firm and crisp texture” and “provides ample sweetness and tartness.” It sounds too good to be true, but growers and industry experts shot for the moon when they created the new Cosmic Crisp. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxk6P0VFtkP/ Why is it called the Cosmic Crisp? It has to do with the lenticels. If you’re not an apple grower, you may never have…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Sugar frosted cranberries

Sugar frosted cranberries_2

‘Tis the season for sparkles! These cranberries are so festive decked out in their sugar-coated crunchy goodness. They’re like little edible jewels. They’re the perfect sparkling garnish to a just about any holiday dish. Try them skewered on top of a glass of champagne, or place them on top of your holiday apple pie. But you’ll enjoy them all on their own, too! If you’re thinking that cranberries are too tart to snack on, you would ordinarily be right. But that classic cranberry mouth-pucker is made palatable with a short soak in some simple syrup. The cranberries retain their tartness, but they’re sweet and crunchy all at the same time. You’re basically left with fancy Sour Patch Kids for adults. Set a bowl of these out over the holidays, and you’ll start a new family holiday must-have recipe. Sugar frosted cranberries Makes 12 ounces of berries Ingredients 1/2 cup water…

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Seasonal

How to store apples so they last all winter

How to store apples so they last all winter

For many people, autumn means one thing: apples. Families love heading to the orchard and loading up on bags full of apples for making devious homemade applesauce, pies, and cobblers. But don’t let your enjoyment of those tasty fall treats end earlier than it needs to. Believe it or not, some varieties of apples can last you all the way through March. They just have to be stored the right way. Also see, the best apples for eating fresh. Apples are abundant in the fall, meaning you can buy them at cheaper prices and stock up. You’ll save money by buying in bulk, and you’ll also avoid grocery store apples which can be coated in unnatural waxes or doused with chemicals used to delay their ripening. Here’s everything you need to know about storing apples for winter: What type of apple should you buy Apples come to maturity between late July…

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News Bites

Tips and tricks to save your smoothie

How to save your smoothie tips

Smoothies are a fun way to get your daily fruits and veggies, but sometimes things can go a little awry. They can turn out too thick, too thin, or just plain “blah.” But there’s no reason to throw all of that goodness down the drain just because it doesn’t taste right the first time. Turn your smoothie into something delicious with just a few quick tips and tricks. Here are the best ways to save that smoothie: It tastes too watery: Perhaps the ice cubes got away from you and left you with a watery tasting smoothie. The fix Save it by adding more frozen fruit (or fresh fruit if that’s all you have). Then add something creamy (like almond butter or Greek yogurt) to help lessen the watery taste. Add a splash of flavorful fruit juice (whatever you have in your fridge) and a teaspoon of cinnamon, nutmeg, or…

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Seasonal

8 reasons you should eat more apples

8 reasons you should eat more apples

“An apple a day” isn’t just a cute saying. There are some real research-backed benefits of eating apples. Apples are grown in all 50 states, so you’re never very far from a freshly picked apple. And that’s a good thing because they can greatly improve your overall health and reduce your chance of disease. But let’s get down to the juicy details. Here are eight reasons you should incorporate an apple into your daily diet: 1. Apples are nutritious First and foremost, you should eat apples because they’re just generally good for you. One medium apple has just 95 calories, 4 grams of fiber, 14% of your daily vitamin C, and other beneficial amounts of potassium, vitamin K, manganese, copper, and vitamins A, E, B1, B2, and B6. A medium apple equals about 1.5 cups of fruit (two cups of fruit daily are recommended for a 2,000 calorie diet), so you’re…

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News Bites

10 Vegetables that are really fruits

10 Vegetables that are really fruits_pumpkin

Squeezing enough vegetables into your diet can be difficult enough — and that’s before you start considering that some of those veggies are actually fruits. Scientifically speaking, a fruit comes from a seed-bearing part of a plant that grows as the result of a fertilized flower. Another way to tell is that fruits usually have seeds on the inside. Vegetables on the other hand, come from just about any other part of a plant. Fruits and vegetables tend to get categorized in Western culture based off of how we use them — savory must mean it’s a vegetable, and sweet must mean it’s a fruit. But of course, in the botanical world, things are really more complicated than that. Here are 10 vegetables that really should count as part of your daily fruit intake: 1. Tomato You’ve likely heard this one before, but many people still get this wrong thanks…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Blueberry red grape popsicles with mint

Blueberry grape popsicles with mint

Popsicles aren’t rocket science. Of course you know they’re just frozen juice, but if you’re saving time and buying the store-bought version, that juice is loaded with extra sugars and artificial dyes. And that’s not even to mention the delicious flavor combinations you’re missing out on. This blueberry, red grape popsicle recipe makes a healthy summer treat. No unwanted ingredients — just blueberries, grapes, coconut milk, and mint. They’re so good for you, you could even eat one for breakfast! So grab a handful of fresh grapes and get started. You may never buy the boxed kind again! Blueberry Grape Mint popsicles Ingredients 1 1/2 cups fresh purple grapes 1 cup frozen blueberries 1/4 cup light coconut milk (from the carton) 6-7 fresh mint leaves (optional) Directions Add all of the ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Pour mixture into popsicle molds (or paper cups if you…

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7 reasons you should eat more cherries

7 reasons you should eat more cherriesPexels

When you eat cherries, you can enjoy so much more than just their delicious sweet taste. Yes, they’re the perfect quick snack — just rinse and go — but those tiny cherries are loaded with big health benefits too. Here are 7 good reasons to start snacking on this superfood today: 1. They’re a low-sugar sweet tooth fix Sweet cherries are delicious and sweet, but unlike that double scoop ice cream cone, they have zero added sugar. What’s more, they’re low on the glycemic index (22) compared to other fruits [grapes (46), peaches (42), plums (39)], which means their natural sugars will be released into your bloodstream more slowly, and you won’t feel that spike and crash of high-sugar snacks. All this makes them a go-to for folks with diabetes. 2. They’ll bring you better sleep If you’re tossing and turning all night long, try drinking cherry juice — or…

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Seasonal

What’s the difference between limes and key limes?

What's the difference between limes and key limes

It’s August and the celebration of summer foods continues, as we gorge on watermelon, all things caprese, and grilled goods every night. One more summer speciality we just can’t get enough of? Key Lime Pie. Of course, if you’ve ever made or eaten this tart and tasty pie, you might have asked yourself: What the heck is the difference between a regular, old lime and this fancy fruit called a “Key lime?”  Perhaps you’ve even gone to the grocery store, and wondered if you could substitute one for the other — particularly if your store doesn’t stock the teeny speciality Key limes. So what’s the difference between the two? Well, not really that much. The truth is that “regular” limes and Key limes can be used interchangeably in recipes without risking too much of a disaster. Though, without using Key limes, your Key lime pie is arguably just a “Lime pie.”…

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Seasonal

How to ripen peaches perfectly every time

How to ripen peaches perfectly every time

Few things are more delicious than a perfectly ripe and juicy summer peach. The first sweet and succulent bite that leaves peach juices dripping down your hand is something we dream about all year long. Sadly, it never seems like this classic summer fruit is ready when you want it to be. You get home and realize that the peaches you purchased at market are underripe, tasteless and hard — nothing like a good peach should be! But then you let them sit out to ripen, and soon you have too many to eat at once. With a little care and patience, you can control when your peaches are ready and exactly how firm or soft they are. Here are a few secrets on how to ripen peaches so they’re ready when you are: 1. Keep it sweet and simple If your peaches aren’t quite ready to eat, and you’re…

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