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Safety First! How to Safely Handle and Store Food During Your Outdoor Vacation

August 21, 2014 by

The summertime is filled with fun outdoor activities, and many people like to take their meals outdoors as well. If you want to bring a picnic along on a vacation or day trip, here are a few safety tips to make sure it doesn’t go bad.

  1. Keep cool. Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when traveling with food is that the hot sun can cause it to thaw and, in turn, make you sick. Be sure to pack all foods in coolers or on ice, and store drinks in a separate cooler to avoid opening the food cooler too frequently.
  2. Pack meat while it’s still frozen. If you plan on cooking hamburgers or hot dogs once you arrive at your destination, pack it in the cooler while it’s still frozen to keep it cold for longer.
  3. Pack lots of bottled water. If you’re hiking or camping where you won’t have access to fresh water, stock up on bottled water. Avoid drinking from streams or rivers, as they may be contaminated with bacteria.
  4. Avoid leftovers. Try to pack only enough food for the day, and throw out any leftovers. Food starts to go bad as soon as it sits in the sun, so it definitely won’t be safe to eat the next day.

Food Safety While Hiking, Camping & Boating [USDA]
Handling Food Safely on the Road [USDA]
Food Safety While Boating, Camping and Hiking [MDH]

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Witness American History First-Hand at These National Parks Near Austin, Texas

July 24, 2014 by

Two of the most popular national parks near Austin, Texas, span hundreds of years of Texan pride. Marvel at ancient architecture right in the city before venturing out of the metropolitan area to explore the grounds of the home of a beloved U.S. President.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is an all-encompassing look at the life of our 36th president. In one of the two divisions of the park, you can visit his birthplace and stop by his first school. Fourteen miles away is the notable LBJ Ranch, the home where he spent a significant portion of his presidency. Visitors can explore this “Texas White House” on a self-guided tour any day of the week.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Right in the heart of Austin lies San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. History buffs will love to take a tour of the Mission Concepcion, a battleground from the Texas Revolution. Also located in the park is the Espada Acequia, a 270-year-old irrigation system built by Franciscan friars.

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Creative Fruit Salad Recipes!

June 19, 2014 by

When you go to a social gathering and you’re met with a plethora of tasty covered dishes and desserts, it can be hard to restrain yourself from going overboard. Fruit salads are some of the only dinner party offerings that you can actually feel good about overindulging in, and they come in a wide variety of styles that just about everyone will love. Here are three creative fruit salads that will make you want to go back for more!

Melon and Mozzarella Salad
Fruits and cheeses are a truly perfect pairing, and this light, juicy combination of melon and mozzarella is a wonderful summer treat. Simply fill a large serving bowl with layers of cubed fruits and mozzarella cheese wedges, then toss it all in a tangy lemon poppy seed dressing to finish it off.

Ginger and Lemon Fruit Salad
If you prefer to add a bit of spice to your side dishes, you’ll just love this gingery lemon fruit salad. Pears, pineapple, mango, and other fruits take on a whole new life when they meet the zesty flavor of grated fresh ginger.

Mojito Fruit Salad
Just like a refreshing mojito cocktail, this creative fruit salad gets its signature flavor from the addition of a few sprigs of fresh mint. Basic fruits like watermelon, grapes, and cantaloupe are sweetened even more with white sugar, and then tossed around in tart lime juice to extract their flavors. Finish it off with the cool mint leaves for an unexpected taste that your guests won’t soon forget.

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4 Unique Dishes to Take to Your Next Potluck

May 14, 2014 by

A potluck dinner is a fun way to experience a wide variety of different cooking styles, inviting every guest to bring a covered dish to contribute to the meal. Whether you’re tired of your usual potluck recipes or you’ve never brought a dish to a party before, don’t sweat it. If you’re invited to an upcoming potluck but don’t know what to bring, these four recipes will help make your dish a hit.

Caramelized Onion and Bacon Tart [Oprah.com]

Best Broccoli Salad [Mr. Food Test Kitchen]

Make-and-Take Potluck Dishes [Chow]

Old Fashioned Pineapple Upside-Down Cake [All Recipes]

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How to Find Farmers’ Markets Near You

April 17, 2014 by

If you’re frustrated with the lackluster produce and crowded aisles at your usual grocery store, maybe it’s time you take your food shopping outdoors. Farmers' markets are popping up in just about every town around the country, and shoppers love them for their local goods and enjoyable atmospheres. Here’s how you can find farmers' markets in your area.

The PBS Website
The Public Broadcasting System website isn’t just for finding educational programming, it’s also a great resource for finding farmers markets nearby. A detailed map offers red dots for the location of each major farmers' market to help you visualize where they’re located, while a list of both local and national resources will help you to narrow down your specific area.

Local Harvest
Local Harvest is an organization dedicated to connecting farmers both to one another and to consumers in order to create a more farm-to-table grocery shopping experience. The website contains a search tool that allows you to browse by farms, CSAs, farmers' markets, or co-ops, and it offers a helpful field to enter your specific location as well. This is especially handy when you’re traveling and you want to check out the farmers markets in an unfamiliar city.

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4 Cookie Recipes that Make the Perfect Little Treats

March 20, 2014 by

From chocolate chip to oatmeal raisin, there truly is no bad type of cookie. Cookies are fun to make and make great treats for special occasions, and just about everyone loves them. Here are just a few of the sweet, creative cookie recipes available online.

Raspberry and Almond Shortbread Thumbprints
These little, buttery cookies are full of flavor, and they look classy enough to serve at fancy dinner parties or celebrations. An almond drizzle adds a little something extra to the traditional shortbread, and the tart raspberry center is the perfect finish.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
The name says these are the best, and who are we to argue? Everyone’s favorite cookie is fast and easy to make, and the ooey, gooey chocolate chips taste even better when they’re warm out of the oven.

Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
With no baking involved, these cookies are perfect to make with your small children. Simply blend cocoa, peanut butter, oatmeal and a few other simple ingredients and you’ll have deliciously chewy cookies in a matter of minutes.

Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze
For those who prefer a more savory cookie, this lemon ricotta recipe is a perfect choice. The sweet lemon flavor offsets the rich ricotta to create a unique flavor that’s just as good as gourmet.

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Three Recipes for a Healthier You

February 20, 2014 by

Whether you have just a few minutes or a whole hour to spend, cooking at home can be just as delicious as eating out. Health.gov offers a list of more than 100 different recipes for heart-healthy dishes for every meal of the day, all with less sodium, saturated fat and calories than many foods.

Here are a few favorite recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner:

Applesauce Pancakes
Just because you’re trying to eat well doesn’t mean you have to give up pancakes. Including a whole serving of fruit and using low-fat ingredients, this healthy recipe for applesauce pancakes may just delight the whole family.

Tuna Salad
Traditional tuna salads are high in saturated fat, but this one uses only tuna and a few flavorful ingredients to create an equally delicious, stripped down version. Full of celery, onions and low-fat mayonnaise, this may just become your new favorite sandwich spread.

Chicken Marsala
The Italian food dish gets a healthy makeover in this delicious and nutritious dinner recipe. Using the savory flavors of chicken stock, Marsala wine and fresh lemons, this dish offers flavor without empty calories!

Find more healthy recipes by visiting Health.gov.

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Increase Your Physical Activity with These Motivational Tips

February 6, 2014 by

Exercise seems like a great idea, but it can be hard to break the inertia when your couch seems so comfortable and there’s that great movie marathon on television. It can be difficult to motivate yourself to get up and go work out, but these tips from the USDA can help you to stop making excuses and finally to go for a run or visit the gym:

  • Choose activities that you can do regularly and that you enjoy. It’s easier to stick to an exercise schedule when it’s convenient.
  • Even small activities start to add up over time. Take a brisk walk every day at lunch or commit to a gentle yoga class once a week to get into a workout routine.
  • Keep your exercise shoes and clothes in your car. If you have them with you, you’ll be ready when that burst of energy strikes.
  • Join (or start!) an office softball team or lunchtime workout class. You and your co-workers can motivate each other.

For more tips on how to stay active, visit the USDA website.

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Tips for Healthy Snacking

January 22, 2014 by

Your little ones love sugary cookies, while you just can’t resist a savory snack every now and then. If you’re looking for healthier snacks for the whole family that still tasty and satisfying, these tips from the NIH can help you find them.

  • Create healthier versions of your favorite snacks. Instead of your usual cheese and crackers, substitute low-fat cheese and whole-grain crackers. Instead of buttery, salty movie theater popcorn, make some fat-free or low-fat popcorn.
  • Make healthier dessert choices. Instead of your usual homemade milkshake, blend a banana, ice and low-fat chocolate milk for a chocolate smoothie that’s still delicious.
  • Choose smarter condiments. Sauces and other toppings can add fat and empty calories to an otherwise healthy snack. Instead of cheese, choose salsa, and instead of regular ranch dressing opt for a fat-free variety.

For more healthy snacking tips, visit the NIH website.

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Our New Facebook Sweepstakes Has Started! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

January 15, 2014 by

To enter the Sweepstakes, Like our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends February 28th, 2014.

For mobile users ONLY, like our Facebook Page, and then click here to enter!

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