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Winning Back Weeknight Cooking

  (Family Features) Moms pride themselves on serving their families with wholesome, homemade meals. But here’s the reality: 60 percent of moms think that coming up with dinner ideas is more difficult than getting their children to go to bed on time. Moreover, 61 percent of moms frequently order takeout or go out to eat because they don’t have the ingredients on-hand to make dinner. It’s time for a new strategy. When it comes to mealtime, a well-stocked pantry can be the difference between culinary success and a dinner failure. With a pantry full of canned foods, a delicious and …

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Good For You Meals with Grape Taste

  (Family Features) When it comes to balancing heart-healthy meals with appealing flavors, it’s important to lean on nutritious ingredients that pack mouthwatering taste. For example, grapes are a delicious yet subtle way to incorporate a little something extra into your diet while adding a juicy burst of flavor. Grapes of all colors – red, green and black – can be enjoyed as a ready-to-eat, on-the-go food anytime and anywhere. Grapes are also a healthy choice, as they’re a natural source of antioxidants and other polyphenols, and contain no fat and virtually no sodium. Because of their versatility, heart-healthy grapes …

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Smoke and Spice

  6 flavor pairings to amp up summer grilling (Family Features) The grill is often the star of summer gatherings, from weeknight meals to backyard barbecues and family reunions. Impress your guests and add an extra layer of smoky flavor to backyard favorites with the help of rich and aromatic woodchips. Add to your gas or charcoal grill and create big flavor. Adding wood chips to your favorite recipes can help highlight distinct flavors for your mains and sides in one simple step. For rich dishes like steak and beef, pair with an intense hickory flavored woodchip. For lighter meats …

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Serve Up Some Love This Fourth of July

Grill with your children for an exciting shared experience (Family Features) Many of today’s families have something in the kitchen that previous generations didn’t – more men involved in meal preparation. On the Fourth of July, that trend will likely continue as men, especially fathers, take to the grill to prepare popular summer fare for the family. As millennials shatter stereotypes and share household tasks, fathers are using cooking as a way of bonding with their children by making their favorite family meals together. According to a study conducted by Men’s Health, more men are helping out in the kitchen …

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Great grilling tips and tricks of the pros

(BPT) – Across the country, as the weather heats up, so do the grills. You don’t need to be a pitmaster to enjoy the fresh flavors that only come from grilling. A few simple tips and creative tricks will help you perfectly grill foods so juicy and delicious, you’ll impress even the pickiest of palates. Keep it closed: If you’re looking, it’s not cooking! When grilling, it’s tempting to constantly check your foods, but this mistake can cause items to cook unevenly. While some parts may be overdone, others could be dangerously underdone. A grill does its best work when closed, …

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Strawberry Spritzer

  When it’s summertime, you crave for something cold and fruity.  Combine frozen strawberries with frozen pink lemonade concentrate and you have a recipe for deliciousness.  This fizzy summertime strawberry treat will delight your taste buds and keep you quenched while basking in the sun. Find more drink recipes at culinary.net. Strawberry Spritzer 1 package (10 oz) frozen sliced strawberries, sweetened and thawed 2 liters lemon-lime soda, chilled (may substitute for ginger ale) 1 can (12oz) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed Pour strawberries in a blender and process until blended thoroughly. Pour strawberries into a large pitcher; stir in soda and …

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Easy Recipe hacks when you’ve run out of an ingredient

Recipe hacks when you’re out of an ingredient you can use these substitutes.                   1 cup of chopped onion will equal 1 large uncut onion in your recipe so when shopping for your recipe make a note of this.          2 1/2 cups cooked fresh tomatoes will equal 4 medium tomatoes or 1 lb. of tomatoes in your recipe. 2 cups canned tomatoes will equal  1 lb. can tomatoes in your recipe.         4 cups sliced apples will equal 4 medium apples in your recipe.     …

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Easy Entertaining

Easy Entertaining Whether you’re hosting a small weekend get-together, a large gathering, or anything in between, entertaining friends and family always provides an opportunity to create memories that last a lifetime. No host wants to miss the highlights because of an endless to-do list in the kitchen, but with the right recipes and refreshments, it’s easy to throw a successful, enjoyable dinner party for you and your guests. Courtesy www.EdnaValleyVineyard.com. Orzo with Lemon, Brie and Toasted Pine Nuts Serves: 8 1 lb. orzo pasta 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 tbsp., divided 1 tbsp. lemon zest 3 tbsp. lemon …

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Cooking: Superbowl

No matter what the score is, give Superbowl fans something to cheer about with great food, and plenty of it. These simple, delicious recipes are easy to make, which means you can sit back and enjoy the game with everybody else. For more recipe ideas to make your game day party a winner, visit www.johnsonville.com. Italian Sausage Lollipops Yield: 20 lollipops 1 pkg. (19 oz.) Johnsonville Hot Italian Sausage Links 20 10- to 12-inch bamboo skewers Oil for deep frying (vegetable, peanut, or canola) Corn Batter 1 cup cornmeal 1 cup flour 1/4 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. black pepper 1/4 …

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Cooking: Heart Healthy Recipes

Cooking: Heart Healthy Recipes While preparing marinades this summer, remember that not all cooking oils are created equal. But good-for-you grilling can be as easy as using a heart-healthy oil, such as Mazola® Corn Oil. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, corn oil can significantly reduce both total and so-called “bad” LDL cholesterol more than extra virgin olive oil. In fact, Mazola Corn Oil has four times more cholesterol-blocking plant sterols than olive oil and 40 percent more than canola oil. For more information visit www.Mazola.com. Southwest Style Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad with Creamy Chipotle …

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