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2020 Lent specials and deals at top chain restaurants

2020 Lent specials and deals at 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…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Lucky Licorice Rainbows

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…

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Seasonal

Whiskey vs. Whisky: What’s the difference?

Whiskey vs Whisky What's the difference

Whiskey or whisky? You may have found yourself, at one time, doing a double take at a liquor store. Yes, if you’re a whisk(e)y fan, you may have noticed some brands are spelled with an “e” while others skip the extra vowel. But why? In short, it has to do with a particular brand’s country of origin. Generally speaking, Irish whiskeys add the extra “e.” Likewise, the United States, with its heavy Irish heritage, typically spells whiskey with the extra letter, as well. Scottish distillers prefer “whisky”—without the “e”—as do other major distillers in Canada and Japan. A few notable exceptions to this rule include American brands Maker’s Mark and George Dickel, which refrain from using the “e.” In the case of Maker’s, this omission was a nod to the brand’s founding Samuels family’s Scottish ancestry, according to Scotchwhiskey.com. Another notable exception to this rule: legal usage. The Bureau of…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Crock pot Guinness pot roast recipe

Crock_pot_guinness_pot_roast_recipe_1

Get ready for the heartiest and richest pot roast you’ve ever made. The addition of Guinness to this traditional recipe makes for the perfect St. Patty’s Day dish—but it’s also just as delicious served on a cold winter day. Guinness’s dark, rich flavor adds great depth, but it also keeps everything super tender. Feel free to substitute your favorite stout beer instead. See 10 other recipes you need to make with beer this St. Patrick’s Day.  Crock Pot Guinness Pot Roast Serves 4. Double recipe to feed 8. Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil ~2.5 pounds boneless roast 2 tsp salt, divided 2 tsp black pepper, divided 1/2 yellow onion 1-2 carrots, peeled and diced 1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced 1 pound red potatoes, scrubbed and halved 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp fresh rosemary 2 tbsp tomato paste 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 cup Guinness 1 cup beef stock Directions In a…

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Seasonal

Is white chocolate actually chocolate?

Is white chocolate actually chocolate?

White chocolate is one of those polarizing foods like black licorice, Brussel sprouts and cilantro — you either love it or you hate it. But what actually is white chocolate, and can it really be considered chocolate? Let’s first look at chocolate in general Chocolate needs no introduction. You’ve had it. You love it in all its forms: bunnies, bars, brownies. But what makes chocolate, chocolate? Well, both the dark kind and the milk kind contain cocoa solids or cocoa powder — which give them their rich brown color — as well as the fatty cocoa butter — the fat that gives them their creamy mouthfeel. White chocolate just has cocoa butter — no cocoa. Both milk chocolate and white chocolate also typically include some amount of milk or cream powder, sugar, and sometimes vanilla or other add-ins. where does cocoa butter come from? Cocoa butter is the foundation of…

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Seasonal

Why do we eat chocolate bunnies on Easter?

Why do we eat chocolate bunnies on Easter?Pixabay

It’s hard to imagine what a chocolate rabbit has to do with anything in the religious realm. I mean, we’re not complaining — It’s a deliciously adorable Easter treat enjoyed by millions across the globe. But it’s just that, well, how did a milk chocolate mammal become the unofficial symbol of Christianity’s spring holiday? According to Time, the origins of Easter can be traced back to the pagans who celebrated Eostre, the goddess of fertility. Of course, reproduction is what rabbits do best, so it’s fitting that Eostre’s animal symbol was a bunny. Fast forward to the eighteenth century. Christian holidays had long since taken favor over pagan holidays, but some of the symbols and imagery were reappropriated. Part of the tradition of the Easter holiday in Germany included the folklore of an egg-laying rabbit named “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” As Germans immigrated to the United States in the 1700s, so too…

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Seasonal

Thick or thin? The skinny on asparagus size

Thick or thin? The skinny on asparagus size

‘Tis the season for asparagus. And whether we get it from the grocer or our garden, it would be hard not to notice the size difference in asparagus stalks. So which is better, thick or thin? For a while “thin was in.” Skinny stalks were thought to be more tender and were even marketed as “gourmet.” Thicker stalks were passed over at the market because they were thought of as woody and tough. (Admit it. You assumed this, too.) But larger doesn’t actually mean tougher, and our association of “young” and “tender,” when it comes to asparagus, is incorrect. In fact, according to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, young asparagus puts a lot of energy into producing spears that can stand upright, so the younger plant is more likely to have more crude fiber per square inch. Whereas, if thick asparagus got a reputation as woody, it’s because home cooks…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Creamy asparagus, mushroom casserole

Creamy asparagus, mushroom casserole

This creamy asparagus and mushroom casserole is the picture of spring side dishes. It uses up loads of that delicious, just-from-the-garden asparagus, fresh mushrooms, and leftover hard-boiled eggs. (Confession: My eggs had pretty pastel spots from getting dyed just days before, but this dish is a great way to make sure they don’t go to waste!) I’m a big fan of this casserole because it delivers such a big serving of vegetables, but it’s also so flavorful, I would eat it as a meal. The smoked paprika brings a lot of flavor to the white sauce, so take a few taste samples as you simmer the sauce and add more to your liking. Creamy asparagus, mushroom casserole Ingredients 2 bunches asparagus 8 ounces sliced mushrooms, with dirt brushed off 2 1/2 tbsp butter + 1/2 tbsp butter 1/4 cup onion, finely copped 2 tsp Dijon mustard 2 1/2 ounces shredded…

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Seasonal

10 Surprising facts about Jelly Beans

10 Surprising facts about Jelly Beans

Unless you’re an uber-fan, you probably don’t think about jelly beans a whole lot until Easter rolls around — then the little candies take center stage. But what do you really know about these sweet pops of flavor? Here are some juicy details. 1. It can take 7 to 14 days to make A jelly bean. Making jelly beans is no easy task. It requires many steps from liquifying sugar and flavors to pouring into tiny bean-shaped molds and letting dry overnight. The candies then undergo a process called “panning.” They’re transferred to a rotating drum where flavors and colors are added as they spin. Sugar is then added to create the bean’s hard exterior shell. Finally, a hot syrupy wax is applied to give them their shine. After all of that, the beans still need to go through packing and shipping. 2. the battle for favorite flavor. For two…

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Lucky Charms Bars

Lucky Charms Bars

Lucky Charms is probably one of those cereals you only spring for occasionally — like around St. Patrick’s Day when that devilish little leprechaun gets the best of your diet. But we must admit, the luck-themed sugary marshmallow shapes do add a fun flair to the holiday. This year, upgrade your classic Rice Krispie squares to these Lucky Charms bars. You basically just swap out the cereal in your favorite Rice Krispie recipe. Lucky Charms bars Makes 16 squares Ingredients 6 cups Lucky Charms 4 tbsp butter 1 (10-ounce) package of mini marshmallows Cooking spray Directions Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. (This will help you remove squares and cut them later.) On low heat, melt butter in a large saucepan. Add marshmallows and stir constantly until everything is melted. Pour in cereal and fold until cereal is completely coated with melted marshmallow. Transfer cereal…

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