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25 tasty facts about ice cream you never knew

25 tasty facts about ice cream you never knew

In 1984 summers got a little sweeter. Then President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day. Reagan’s proclamation declared that all people of the United States observe the holiday with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.” Challenge accepted. This year National Ice Cream Day falls on July 21, and while we don’t really need a special reminder to eat loads of ice cream, it sure is nice to have an excuse. In celebration of this most important of food holidays, add an extra scoop to your cone and settle in for 25 tasty facts you never knew about ice cream. 1. About 87% of Americans have ice cream in their freezer right now On any given day, it’s estimated, nearly 9 out of 10 Americans have a tub of ice cream in their freezer. What can we say? When…

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Seasonal

10 benefits of drinking water

10 benefits of drinking water

Drinking more water lately? Even if you’re not trying, chances are the hot weather has you reaching for a few extra cups of something cool. And that’s great news for your body considering nearly all of our major organ systems rely on it. But how exactly do we benefit from from drinking water? Here are 10 ways water benefits our bodies: 1. It boosts skin health and beauty Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration, making the skin more vulnerable to premature wrinkling and even some skin disorders. If you don’t like the taste of water, try slicing up from strawberry or cucumber slices to give it a little flavor. 2. It regulates body temperature Water is stored in the middle layers of your skin. This water appears as sweat when your body heats up, and then evaporates to help keep you cool. Science suggests that without enough water…

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Seasonal

12 foods you should definitely not serve at your cookout

foods to avoid serving at cookouts

What’s a backyard cookout without burgers, dogs, and fresh fruit salad? While we welcome these summer staples, there are a few dishes that just don’t belong outside for long periods of time. If you’re planning an outdoor feast or the 4th or any other hot summer day, you should probably skip these 15 foods: Fried Foods Enjoy your burger and fry combo another day. Outdoor cookouts are no place for fried foods like French fries, onion rings, or mozzarella sticks. They’re all delicious finger foods, but they’re best eaten hot and fresh. Let them sit outside on the buffet table, and they’ll just get cold and soggy. Chocolate There is really no way around this one. Anything chocolate is going to melt and make a mess. Cheese plate Cheese plates are an elegant appetizer for a dinner party, so save it for that type of event. Your summer barbecue is…

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Seasonal

The very best way to freeze peaches

The very best way to freeze peaches

Is there anything as delicious as a fresh peach? Peaches on ice cream, peach sangria, peach barbecue sauce — my mouth is already watering. Some summers the crop is extra delicious, juicy and fragrant. It’s these flavors I want to capture and savor all year long. When you come across a crop like this, you’ll be tempted to buy the whole bushel, and that’s what I say go for it! Delicious fresh peaches make for delicious frozen peaches, too. What good are frozen peaches? Well, you can pretty much do just about anything with them that you would have done when they were fresh: savory dishes like peach topped pork chops, kebabs, cobblers, pies, jams, sangria, smoothies. Or use them as ice cubes in your iced tea or lemonade for a fruity treat when you reach the bottom of your glass. So what’s the best way to freeze peaches? The…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Watermelon feta guacamole

Watermelon feta guacamole_4

Watermelon makes a great substitute for tomatoes in this watermelon guacamole recipe — plus the rind is too cute not to use as a serving bowl. The sweetness of the watermelon tastes great with the spicy jalapeño and creamy avocado. It’s something a little different for your summertime party spread. Watermelon feta guacamole Ingredients 9 ripe avocados, pitted 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 3/4 cup chopped red onion 2-3 jalapeños, finely chopped (remove the seeds if you don’t like a lot of heat) 1/4 cup fresh squeeze lime juice 2 cups diced watermelon Salt Pepper 1 cup feta cheese crumbles (the jalapeño variety if you can find it), divided And don’t forget tortilla chips for serving! Directions Scoop out flesh from avocados into a large bowl. Smash with a fork until just slightly chunky. Add lime juice and mix until combined. Add cilantro, onion, jalapeño, watermelon, and 3/4 cup of…

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10 unusual fruits you’ve probably never tried before

10 unusual fruits you've probably never tried before_mangosteen - mangosteen

You’ve been eating fruit since you were a kid. Strawberries, apples, grapes — you know the usual suspects. But you can go beyond the banana and find a whole new world of sweet, fibrous fruits out there. Because of their known health benefits — like reducing the risk of diabetes and some cancers — fruits are popular around the world. Many fruits are only available in certain regions of the world because their delicate skin can easily bruise or the product, once harvested, can quickly turn rotten. But that doesn’t have to stop us from admiring their exotic appearances. If you ever come across any of these fascinating fruits, you should definitely give them a try. Mangosteen Mangosteen are grown primarily in Southeast Asia and southwest India. The white, pulpy edible segments inside are tangy, cool, and slightly sweet, while the dark purple hard exterior needs to be pulled away.…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Watermelon and whipped feta bruschetta bites

Watermelon and whipped feta bruschetta bites_2

When it comes to summer snacks, watermelon is definitely my go-to ingredient. I use it in everything from sweet popsicles and smoothies to savory salads and spicy salsas. Here’s yet another watermelon recipe that’s bound to become a summertime staple. It’s sweet, salty, crunchy, creamy — you’ve really got to try it for yourself. The watermelon makes a deliciously unexpected substitute for tomatoes in this classic recipe. Watermelon and whipped feta bruschetta bites Ingredients 2.5 cups seedless watermelon, finely chopped 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled 1/4 cup ricotta cheese 7-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped 2 tbsp chives, chopped 1 baguette, cut into 3/4″-1″ slices Pepper Balsamic glaze 2 tbsp honey Directions Slice baguette and place slices on a baking sheet. Toast under a broiler for a few minutes, or until lightly crispy. In a food processor, combine feta crumbles and ricotta. Whip until the mixture is smooth. Spread the whipped…

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Seasonal

How to choose the best meat for burger patties

How to choose the best meat for burger pattiesPexels

Good burgers start with good beef, but your recipe is probably pretty vague, only calling for “ground beef.” So how do you know where to start making the best burger? When it comes time to choose the best ground meat for your burger patties there are a few factors to consider: Fat percentage Save your love of lean meat for another meal. Fat provides flavor and the necessary moisture when cooking over a hot grill. Without enough fat, your burgers will dry out quickly. Start with ground meat that is 80/20 or at least 85/15. You may even want to go as low as 70/30 for a really juicy burger. Choose a cut The high fat content requirement eliminate cuts like sirloin and round, which are far too lean to make a juicy burger. Beef chuck falls in the 15 to 20 percent (80/20) scale, and it has a rich flavor…

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Seasonal

How Arnold Palmer invented his namesake drink

How Arnold Palmer invented his namesake drink

How exactly did a mixed glass of iced tea and lemonade come to share a moniker with the late legendary golfer, Arnold Palmer? There are countless rumors, including the most common that it was a happy accident — like the Slinky or Penicillin. But a few years before his death in 2016 at age 87, Palmer set the record straight in an “ESPN 30 for 30” short documentary. “My wife made a lot of iced tea for lunch, and I said, ‘Hey, Babe, I’ve got an idea. You make the iced tea and make a big pitcher, and we’ll just put a little lemonade it in and see how that works.’ We mixed it up, and I got the solution about where I wanted it, and I put the lemonade in it. I had it for lunch after working on the golf course. I thought, ‘Boy, this is great, Babe.…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

15 fun ways to take S’mores beyond the campfire

Jamie Cooks it Up

S’mores are delicious. If you disagree, we’ll, we’re no longer digital food world friends. Now, if you say they’re a pain to eat, they’re messy, and they leave you wondering if your face is covered in melted chocolate, gooey marshmallow, graham cracker crumbs, or all three — now I can relate. S’mores are seriously one of the most perfect trio combinations. Give me tomato, basil, and mozzarella caprese salad for dinner and a s’more for dessert, and I’ll be in a sort of summertime seventh heaven. But I do agree they are a serious mess. Most of the time the whole s’more doesn’t even make it into my mouth. The chocolate will ooze out, or a giant piece of cracker will fall into the fire. Thankfully, s’mores ingredients are insanely versatile and you can get super creative with them. From milkshakes to cheesecakes, here are 15 fun ways to enjoy…

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