Plan a Warm-Weather Dinner Party With These Delicious Desserts

Now that the weather is warmer and the days are longer, you're likely planning more social events to add to your calendar. This also means that you're on the hunt for warn-weather recipes for all of those cook-outs and dinner parties. Here are just a few fresh desserts that are perfect for the spring and summer seasons.

Ina's Lemon Yogurt Cake [foodnetwork.com]
With its bright, zesty flavor and moist texture, Ina Garten's recipe for lemon yogurt cake is perfect for your spring and summer brunches and other occasions. It also features a light drizzle of glaze on top to add even more sweetness.

Ducle de Leche Crepe Cake [foodnetwork.com]
With layers upon layers of homemade crepes, this is one of the most unique desserts that you'll try this spring. The recipe also features a creamy icing and a gooey caramel topping that creates that recognizable dulce de leche flavor.

Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes With Buttercream Frosting [myrecipes.com]
While you likely already enjoy sherbet during the warm weather of springtime, you'll love it even more in this innovative cupcake recipe. These cupcakes feature the citrus flavor of sherbet in their base, while the buttercream frosting on top makes them taste rich and creamy.

6 Healthy Garlic Recipes With Big Flavor

Garlic is a superfood that’s full of healthful properties. Garlic adds robust flavor and dimension to any dish, and there’s scientific evidence that it helps to prevent many types of cancers. Whether you press your own fresh garlic or use canned, minced versions, it’s an important seasoning to keep on hand. Here are a few great recipes with savory, garlicky tastes.

Asparagus with Anchovies and Garlic
This one is a nutritious side dish with a similar flavor to a Caesar salad, and it perfectly complements grilled chicken or fish.

Brazilian Grilled Flank Steak
Grill up this steak recipe in just 30 minutes for a flavorful entrée with a bold garlic flavor.

Mashed Red Potatoes with Garlic and Parmesan
Garlic is a necessity in mashed potatoes, and this recipe adds even more flavor with the addition of zesty Parmesan cheese.

4 Minute Spicy Garlic Shrimp
Combine Jumbo shrimp with lemon, red pepper and garlic cloves for a fresh and healthy summer dish.

Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta
The creamy garlic and cheese sauce on this hearty pasta makes a perfect comfort food that the whole family will love.

Chicken Garlic Bites
These small chicken hors d’oeuvres have a big garlic flavor and can be accentuated with a variety of dipping sauces.

6 Out-of-the-Ordinary Carrot Recipes

Once you leave infancy, plain old cooked carrots likely aren’t one of your favorite dishes. While these veggies alone can be somewhat bland and boring, when they’re spiced up and cooked in interesting ways, carrots are a versatile vegetable that can be turned into some pretty great dishes. Here are six unique carrot recipes to try at home tonight.

Roasted Parsnips and Carrots [Food Network]
This roasted root vegetable side dish is flavored with simple herbs and seasonings.

Glazed Salmon With Spiced Carrots [Food Network]
Pair the light, flavorful fish with spicy coriander, cumin, and cinnamon for an explosive dish that’s exciting for your taste buds.

Carrot Soufflé [AllRecipes]
Sweetened with rich vanilla and two types of sugars, this fluffy carrot soufflé is sweet enough to be dessert.

Curried Carrot Soup [AllRecipes]
A bit of exotic spice goes a long way in this creamy soup with a carrot base.

Moist Carrot Cake [AllRecipes]
It may not be the healthiest recipe, but you can’t think of carrots without thinking of carrot cake. This one is moist, hearty, and topped with a decadently creamy icing.

Carrot Rice [AllRecipes]
Combine grated carrots with basmati rice, roasted peanuts, and fresh ginger for a unique side dish that tastes incredibly fresh.

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Pack a More Stylish Picnic With These Elegant Recipes

There’s nothing better than spreading a blanket on the grass and unpacking a fresh picnic lunch, whether you’re taking the kids outside for the day or planning a romantic afternoon with that special someone. If you want to make a more unique picnic lunch than your average options, you’ll love these top four picnic recipes from around the web.

Radish Tartines [Country Living]
They’re handheld, which is the main criteria for good picnic food, but aside from that these radish tartines are anything but your usual sandwich. You can prepare them in just minutes, but they still look elegant enough to complement a European-style spread.

Tomato-Cucumber Salad with Feta [Country Living]
This classic salad is crisp and juicy, and the rich feta adds a flavorful kick that your guests will love. Finish it off with a simple homemade dressing made using just a few common ingredients.

Pretzel-Crusted “Fried” Chicken [Country Living]
This one is ideal for anyone who loves the taste of classic picnic food, but doesn’t want the unhealthy side effects. This fried chicken is coated in crumbled pretzels and baked instead of fried to cut calories without sacrificing that satisfying crunch.

Grilled Vegetable Gazpacho [Food and Wine]
This soup is meant to be served cold, so it’s perfect for serving on an outdoor picnic. Raw veggies like tomatoes and onions are blended with red wine and vinegar for a fresh, zesty summer flavor.

Discover Delightful Pumpkin Recipes from These Cooking Sites

You’ve waited all year for pumpkin foods to return, and now that it’s finally winter you’ll need a great supply of recipes to keep your pumpkin cravings covered. These websites are full of delicious ideas for incorporating pumpkin into soups, desserts, and even lasagnas that your friends and family will love.

All Recipes
This online guide to cooking with pumpkin is full of everything you’ll need to know about everyone’s favorite cold-weather food. Here you’ll learn how to prepare pumpkin for cooking, types of pumpkin to use, and the health benefits of this delicious fruit. After brushing up your pumpkin knowledge, All Recipes provides recipes for soups and stews, main dishes, savory sides, and mouth-watering desserts with pumpkin as the main ingredient.

Joy of Baking
The Joy of Baking website is the perfect place to find pumpkin desserts and baked goods that you can make at home. This site utilizes video tutorials to show visitors the proper techniques to use while baking, easy-to-follow recipes for every occasion, and beautiful photographs of the finished products.

Epicurious
Epicurious offers over 300 different pumpkin recipes for everything from winter afternoon lunches to festive desserts, all offering unique, creative twists on this beloved flavor. From Pumpkin Flan with Pumpkin Seed Praline to Pumpkin, Feta and Cilantro Quesadillas, these recipes are fun ways to depart from your usual pumpkin pie.

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Big Patties: Five Unique Hamburger Ideas

The humble hamburger is a great go-to meal, especially when you don’t have a lot of time. But with a few simple ingredients, you can elevate the fast food staple into something truly special. Here are five ways to make your burger a little better.

Make a patty out of ground turkey and mix it with a little dill. Stuff the middle with a chunk of Brie cheese and grill until the meat is cooked and the cheese melts. Serve on a roll with pickles and lettuce.

Mix Chinese five-spice powder into your ground beef to give it a rich, complex flavor. Once the patty has cooked, glaze the top with a soy ginger sauce and serve with cilantro, cabbage and pickled carrots.

Make a Chicago-style hot dog burger by topping a traditional patty with sweet relish, chopped white onions and hot peppers. A little ketchup and mustard will bring this one over the top.

For a classic French bistro take on the hamburger, gently caramelize onions in a pan and ladle them generously over the cooked burger along with a slice of Gouda cheese and crisp, thick-cut bacon. Serve on a buttery brioche roll.

To give your burgers a special kick, mix in adobo seasoning, red onion and finely grated lime peels into your ground beef. Grill ears of corn until kernels are just cooked, strip the kernels off and mix them with queso fresco and a little bit of mayonnaise to top the burgers.

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