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A USDA food safety reminder for summer outings

A USDA food safety reminder for summer outings

Don’t let pathogens crash your summer picnic. With summer officially underway, people are gearing up their picnic baskets and grills for a long summer of outdoor dining. But remember that excess heat and humidity combined with outdoor activities make for the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply and spoil your food and your fun. If your idea of summer is indulgent whipped cream fruit salads, deviled eggs, and grilled chicken and burgers, you should take a few steps to make sure your meal won’t make you sick. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers a few tips that will help keep summer fun and food handling safe: Lather up. If running water might not be present, bring soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer or moist towelettes. It’s good to wash hands before eating, but it’s extra important if you’re handling raw meat or poultry. Bring plenty of plates and utensils. Don’t place cooked…

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Restaurants open on Memorial Day 2019

Restaurants open on Memorial Day 2019

Believe it or not, Memorial Day is almost here. It felt like winter would never leave, but here we are at the end of May, getting ready for the unofficial kick-off to summer. It’s important to remember that Memorial Day isn’t just about soaking up the sunshine and gorging on grilled meats — it’s so much more than that. It’s a day to honor those who selflessly gave their lives servings our country. Of course, the annual Monday federal holiday does give just about everyone a long three-day weekend, but while many will choose to cookout at home and finish their meal with patriotic desserts, many others want to enjoy a stress-free. Thankfully, a handful of restaurants will be open to cater to those not wanting to cook — but also those whose backyard barbecue didn’t go according to plan. Here are some eating establishments ready for your business on…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Patriotic Rice Krispie Treats Flags are perfect for summer holidays

Patriotic Rice Krispie Treats are perfect for summer holidays

Serve these Patriotic Rice Krispie Treats Flags this summer and you’ll be waving goodbye to them in no time! You’re never too old for Rice Krispie Treats — especially when they’re this fun! Try these red, white, and blue beauties at your patriotic summer party. These Flags aren’t difficult to make, but they do require three separate batches of Krispies — one for each color. You’ll also need to wait for them to harden a bit before cutting. But the results are worth it. Aren’t they too irresistible not to make this summer? I found the little edible star decorations at my everyday grocery store, so you might have some luck at yours, too. White or silver would have been nice. I only found gold, but figured that I think that works, too! Star-spangled Rice Krispie Treats Ingredients 1 large box Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal 3 10-ounce bags of mini marshmallows…

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12 easy, healthy snacks for your road trip

12 easy, healthy snacks for your road trip_3_adobe

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the U.S. summer travel season. Nearly 43 million Americans will use the long weekend to travel — about 37.6 million of those by car, according to automobile association AAA. While you can’t avoid the inevitable dirty gas station bathrooms and frustrating traffic jams, you can pack some snacks to make sure that you don’t get hangry and reach for unhealthy fast food. I know, I know. “Road trip food is half the fun,” you say. But is it? Do you arrive to your destination feeling satisfied and refreshed, or do you skid in sideways with a greasy chicken sandwich upset stomach ready for a 12-hour nap? The food options on the road are quite bad, but without something to satiate us, we’ll tell ourselves, “what other options are there?” Well, there are tons of options! Stop yourself from spiraling down the dark rabbit…

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Capri sun swimsuits are here for a splash of ’90s nostalgia

Capri sun swimsuits are here for a splash of '90s nostalgiaPublic Space

While you were debating whether or not you were going to get a new swimsuit this year or just squeeze back into last year’s faded threads, one L.A. based clothing company made that decision for you. That squeezable, shiny drink pouch you loved to sip as a middle school student is now coming to you as a swimsuit — and you won’t be able to resist. Feast your eyes on the colorful recreations of Capri Sun, Arizona Iced Tea, Fiji water, and Hi-C as swimwear. They’re sure to blast you right back to childhood. https://www.instagram.com/p/BwcG5Iggmmj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Following the success of last year’s La Croix bathing suits, Public Space is back with a new drink-inspired line of spandex suits, continuing to cash in on the Millennial love of all things ’90s. While LaCroix suits won’t be making a comeback, the new designs are just as fun. https://www.instagram.com/p/BiXEq8FlaMe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Each design comes in either…

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7 steps to prep your grill for grilling season

7 steps to prep your grill for grilling season

You might have already packed away your sweaters and scarves, but before this summer can really heat up, you need to give your grill its annual checkup. It might not be the most exciting item on your upcoming schedule, but nothing can kill an outdoor dinner party faster than a broken grill. So for the sake of future fun, follow this advice to make sure your grill is ready for its Memorial Day debut and beyond. Also read, How to kick off grilling season with proper food safety. 1. Deep clean the grates. Little charred bits don’t add flavor — by now, it’s just dirt that can make you sick. Cleaning your grates regularly will prevent dangerous bacteria buildup, improve the taste of your food, and also reduce the risk of fire. Grill grates can be cleaned a variety of different ways, but to really start the season off right, consider…

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13 red, white and blue dishes you should make for the Fourth of July

fourth of july food

You can be the star of everybody’s Instagram accounts over the Fourth of July with these patriotic dishes. Here are 13 of our favorites: AMERICAN FLAG fruit kabobs Get the recipe here via Everybody Craves • • • mixed berry pretzel salad Get the recipe here via Everybody Craves • • • Red, white and blue boozy slush Get the recipe here via Totally The Bomb. • • • Flag cake Get the recipe here via Oh Sweet Basil • • • Coconut Water & Fresh Berry Popsicles Get the recipe here via Back to the Book Nutrition. • • • FIRECRACKER RICE KRISPIE TREATS Get the recipe here via Two Sisters • • • Fourth of July Deviled Eggs Get the recipe here via Singing Through The Rain • • • Red, white and blue layered flag cake Get the recipe here via Betty Crocker • • • Red,…

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Kick off grilling season with proper food safety

Kick off grilling season with proper food safety

For many Americans, the official kickoff to summer picnic and grilling season happens this weekend. With all of that food handling happening, it’s inevitable than many of us will end our fun afternoons with no-so-fun circumstances. An estimated 128,000 people nationwide will end up in the hospital with foodborne illnesses this year, but many of these can be prevented by properly cooking and storing foods when traveling and cooking out. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recommends that you refresh your memory on food safety before diving into summer festivities. Grilling basics: Keep perishable foods at or below 40ºF. Food should never sit out longer than 2 hours. If weather is hot, knock this down to 60 minutes. Pack separate coolers for perishable items and other items like drinks, if people will be reaching in and out. This will ensure your meats or poultry stay cold,…

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Festive fruit kabobs perfect for patriotic holidays

Festive fruit kabobs perfect for patriotic holidays

Some people can pull off elaborate cakes that look like perfect American flags. Those works of art are inspiring, but hardly practical. For the party host who wants to add patriotic flair to the table, without staying up too late the night before, here is a simple recipe solution. These fruit and pound cake kabobs make for a cute and tasty table-topper. Just wash some berries, cube your favorite white cake (vanilla cake, angel food cake, etc.) and skewer away! To make this even easier, I used a store-bought vanilla pound cake. You can also use blueberries and strawberries instead if you prefer. Happy summer holidays! American Flag fruit kabobs Makes 10 kabobs Ingredients Approx. 50 raspberries, washed and dried Approx. blackberries, washed and dried 10 long skewers 1 half loaf of poundcake or angel food cake, cut in 3/4″ cubes Directions Starting with a red raspberry, alternate red raspberries…

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Mediterranean tricolored rotini crab pasta salad

Tri-colored rotini and crab pasta salad

I make this recipe no less than 10 times a year. It’s always a hit at friend gatherings. It’s a must at Memorial Day. I never have leftovers when I bring it to work potlucks, and it’s perfect to have ready in the fridge anytime you think people might stop by. Plus, you can prepare it the night before, never worry about keeping it hot, and you can adapt the recipe to make as much as you like. When you have to feed a large number of people, try this pasta salad instead of your go-to lasagne. I made a huge bowl of this for my friends after they had their baby and they appreciated someone finally brought them something lighter and healthier! You can add anything to the mix from shredded mozzarella to sunflower seeds or blueberries. I like tossing in mandarin orange slices for a touch of sweetness and crushed croutons for some…

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