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12 tips for makings the best pesto

12 tips for makings the best pesto

Pesto is a simple and delicious summer staple. Without it, think of all the basil that would go to waste! But the trouble with this sauce it doesn’t always go so well. Here are 12 tips for how you can make your most perfect pesto. 1. Clean your greens Always, always, always be sure your basil is washed really well before you begin. You don’t want any gritty dirt in your pesto. Wash your basil using cold water — never warm. Warm water wilts greens. Use a salad spinner to get your leaves really dry or gently pat them between layers of kitchen towels to remove all of the moisture. 2. Make it a mix Don’t think you have to stick to just basil. You can add other leafy greens to give your basil a distinct flavor. Replace some of your basil with parsley instead for a lighter flavor, or try arugula…

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Seasonal

Easy life preserver donuts will save you from hunger during Shark Week

Easy life preserver donuts will save you from hunger during Shark Week_3

What’s just as important as sunscreen at the beach? Snacks at a shark party! The 31st annual much-anticipated Shark Week begins this Sunday at 8 p.m.. The fintastic lineup is primed to deliver more than 20 hours of all-new shark stories and remarkable insights into the underwater world of these mysterious creatures. And as you come face to face with some of the most unique shark species in the world and learn about all-too-important shark conservation, don’t forget you’re going to work up an appetite! These cute life preserver donuts will save you from spending all of your time in the kitchen making overly detailed shark themed snacks. You can make the donuts, frost them yourself, then add the red striping, OR you can buy them already iced and just take one easy step! Most grocery stores sell white icing donuts without sprinkles. If you can’t find them, another easy…

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News Bites

These 10 U.S. cities have the most ice cream shops per capita

These 10 U.S. cities have the most ice cream shops per capita

If you love ice cream — and who doesn’t? — maybe you should consider moving to the Northeast. While the weather may not scream for ice cream, the people sure do! According to a recent analysis, many of the U.S. cities with the highest number of ice cream shops per capita, hail from colder cities in the Eastern Time Zone, heavily skewing toward the Northeast. The data to determine the “Top Ten U.S. Cities for Ice Cream” was compiled by Infogroup. They looked at over 15 million business records in metropolitan areas of more than 500,000 people to see which had the greatest concentration of ice cream parlors — both chain shops like Dairy Queen and Baskin Robbins and locally-owned shops. The results showed a clear geographical pattern, and it’s not in the warm, touristy locations with think of. This means that locals are more likely to take an ice cream…

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10 Signs you need to drink more water

10 Signs you need to drink more water

There are few things more refreshing than an ice cold glass of water. Despite this, many of us still fail to drink enough water on a daily basis.  By regularly coming up short, we can cause our organs serious damage, but our bodies want us to drink enough water, so they give us plenty of warning signs. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, a simple glass of H20 could improve your situation. 1. Your skin is dry Dry skin is one of the earliest signs of dehydration. Your skin is an organ, so if it feels dry, your other organs could be in trouble, too. Test your skin by pinching a small area on your hand or cheek. If you see it stay or linger in the pinched shape rather than bouncing back quickly, you need some water. 2. You feel like you need a drink Okay, this one…

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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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Crave-Worthy Recipes

The best blueberry pie recipe

Blueberry pie recipe

Fall has apple pie. The holidays have pumpkin pie. Spring screams for strawberry rhubarb, and summer? It’s all about the blueberries. Nothing says summer like a fresh and flaky homemade blueberry pie. Don’t let September set in before you get around to making this sweet summer staple. The blueberry filling is relatively easy to make. Blueberries are great because they don’t require any chopping and barely any prep work. Just take a few moments to weed out any bad blueberries, remove any stray stems, and give them a quick rinse and a good shake. You don’t even have to dry them! Toss them in sugar and flour, and you’re pretty much good-to-go. It’s true that the pie crust takes a certain level of practice, but follow these tips and you’ll master the craft in no time: 1. Keep your ingredients super cold.  Don’t remove anything from the fridge until you are…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Keto blueberry lemon popsicles

Keto blueberry lemon popsicles_2

Summer is heating up, but just because you’re on Keto doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite cool, sweet treats. Popsicles are a delicious, refreshing snack on a hot day, but if you’re on the Keto diet, you’re going to want to rethink the stand sugary popsicle. Try this low carb, high fat popsicle recipe and stay true to your diet even on scorching summer days. Blueberry Lemon Popsicles Makes about 6 popsicles Ingredients 2/3 cup blueberries, rinsed 1/2 lemon, juiced 1/24 cup coconut oil 1 cup coconut milk (from the carton) 1/4 cup sour cream 1/4 cup heavy cream 20 drops liquid Stevia Directions Add all ingredients to blender and blend on high for 20-30 seconds. Pour mixture into popsicle molds. Place stick in mold and set cover in place. Freeze for at lease 3-4 hours or until frozen. Run mold under hot water for easier…

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Seasonal

The best way to wash your strawberries

The best way to wash your strawberries

Is there anything more delicious than a bowl full of fresh strawberries? But hold up just one second! Before you bite into those ripe, red beauties, you should make sure you’re cleaning off any nasty residue that could make you or your family sick. You don’t want to bake bugs into your perfect strawberry rhubarb pie, and you definitely don’t want chemicals mixed into your strawberry sangria. Follow these trip to make sure you’re doing all you can to make your berries as wholesome as nature intended: Before you begin Don’t wash berries until you’re ready to cook or eat them. Strawberries are like little sponges, and they soak up moisture whenever present. This means premature rinsing can cause them to go bad much more quickly. Save time with organic If you’ve purchased organic strawberries from a local farmer or shop, you only need to wash them off under cool…

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News Bites

NASA Astronaut John Glenn and the first meal eaten in space

NASA Astronaut John Glenn and the first meal eaten in spaceNASA

John Glenn was a true American hero in more ways than we might recognize. The small-town Midwesterner grew up to marry his childhood sweetheart, Anna Margaret Castor. He flew more than 150 combat mission as a fighter pilot during World War II and the Korean War. He served as senator to Ohio for 24 years and later tried to parlay that experience into a presidential nomination. And, of course, in 1959, he was chosen as one of America’s first astronauts and went on to become the first American to orbit Earth (circling the plant three times in 4 hours and 56 minutes, traveling at speeds over 17,000 miles per hour). All of these things and more continue to make John Glenn a household name, even after his death in 2016. But what most people don’t remember about his illustrious career, was that John Glenn was also the first person to…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Strawberry oatmeal muffins

Strawberry oatmeal muffins_2

This time of year, I just can’t get enough fruit. I like eating it fresh most of all, but I also find it impossible to pass on delicious, fruity baked goods. Last week, I came across a killer deal on strawberries at the market, so I was inspired to use some of my stash to make this super summery strawberry muffin recipe. These strawberry oatmeal muffins have tons of texture thanks to the quick-cook oatmeal. And the brown sugar gives just enough sweetness. You’ll love these for breakfast, brunch, or an anytime snack. Since strawberries can sink to the bottom of batter, coating them in flour first will help them float throughout. It also helps distribute their moisture throughout the muffin leaving you with something tender and tasty. Strawberry Oatmeal Muffins Ingredients 1 cup quick-cooking oats, uncooked 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1 cup Greek yogurt 1/3 cup vegetable oil…

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