Preserve the Tastes of Summer With These Easy Canning Recipes

July 5, 2016 by cwsapts

When the weather begins to heat up, it can only mean one thing: Berry season is upon us! Preserve the flavors of summer for a bit longer by canning your favorite warm-weather fruits. Here are a few easy summer canning recipes.

Peach Preserves [allrecipes.com]
Few fruits taste more like summer than juicy peaches, and this recipe for sweet peach preserves is just as delicious as an actual peach. Spread it on crusty bread, your morning bagel or even hearty biscuits once colder weather strikes.

Pineapple Chili Salsa [freshpreserving.com/]
Most people don’t live in the type of climate where pineapples grow, but these tropical fruits certainly do feel like summer even if they’re store-bought. Make a zesty pineapple salsa to last you all winter long using those whole pineapples from your local grocer.

Strawberry Refrigerator Jam [thekitchn.com]
Strawberries are just as delicate as they are delicious, so elongate their short lifespans by using them in a simple, basic jam. This easy recipe is perfect for even the most novice jam-makers, and it tastes much more special than name brand versions. Best of all, it only takes a surplus of strawberries and a bit of sugar to make.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Rob.Bertholf

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Canning, Cooking, food, Seasonal

Interesting Facts About Chocolate You Might Not Already Know

January 5, 2016 by cwsapts

You may consider yourself a bit of a chocoholic, but there’s a lot you might not know about rich, decadent chocolate. Before you grab that tasty square of dark chocolate or have a scoop of chocolate ice cream for dessert, read up on these interesting chocolate facts!

It takes many cocoa beans to make chocolate. Between 300 and 600 cocoa beans are needed to make just one kilogram of chocolate!
There are three different types of cocoa used in modern chocolate making. Forastero cocoa is harvested in the Amazon and used in 90% of the world’s chocolate; Criollo beans are grown in Central and South America and are the rarest types of beans; Trinitario beans are hybrids of the other two.
Cocoa beans must be roasted just like coffee beans to create chocolate.
Ever wondered what the percentage on a chocolate bar refers to? It describes how much of the bar’s weight comes from the cocoa bean, and it impacts the darkness of the bar.
Dark chocolate is good for you. It's packed with antioxidants and is believed to help reduce blood pressure and improve the cardiovascular system.
Eating dark chocolate every day can cut your risk of heart disease by one-third.
The ancient Aztecs and Mayans once used chocolate as currency. People used cocoa beans to buy food, tools and livestock.

11 Facts About Chocolate [Do Something]
10 Fascinating Facts About the World of Chocolate [Listverse]
Facts about Chocolate [Purdy’s]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr LabyrinthX-2

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Chocolate, Cooking, food, health

Did You Know You Can Cook These Recipes in the Microwave?

September 9, 2015 by cwsapts

If you think that the microwave is only good for re-heating leftovers and preparing microwave dinners, think again. This common kitchen appliance is actually a great tool for preparing scratch-made dinners, desserts, and even breakfast dishes! These three recipes will show you how it's done.

The Moistest Chocolate Mug Cake [tablefortwoblog.com]
By combining a few simple baking ingredients in your morning coffee mug, you can create a one-serving dessert that’s perfect when you’re craving a sweet treat. Best of all, this simple cake takes just two minutes to make in the microwave.

1-Minute Microwave Quiche [fullthymestudent.com]
Quiche certainly isn’t the easiest breakfast to make, but with this simplified recipe it becomes a whole lot easier. Simply blend eggs with fresh veggies, herbs, and bread and cook it all in a mug — in just one minute, no less.

Lemon Shrimp with Rice [marthastewart.com]
Ingredients like Sauvignon Blanc wine, chopped, fresh herbs, and fresh shrimp combine to make a meal with more gourmet flair than your usual microwave dinner. Prepare the other ingredients while the rice cooks, and then pop the whole thing in the microwave for an additional two minutes before serving.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr saaleha

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Cooking, food, Microwave Recipes, Recipes

Learn to Cook with Kale with These Recipes

December 2, 2014 by cwsapts

Kale is certainly having its moment in the spotlight, made popular because of its “superfood” status and its large amount of vitamins and nutrients. If you want to get on board with the kale trend but don’t know where to start, these healthy and delicious recipes will help.

Rich Italian Sausage and Potato Soup
Though many kale recipes seem like they’ll leave you feeling hungry, this rich and creamy soup certainly won’t. Its Italian seasonings give it a zesty taste, while the cream base makes it a warm comfort food for chilly days. Pieces of spicy sausage add protein without adding much fat, and the strips of kale become tender and soft when cooked in the hot broth.

Garlic-Roasted Kale
Because kale is so thick and hearty, it makes a great side dish all on its own. This recipe roasts the kale until it’s soft on the inside and crunchy on the edges, with a delicious garlic taste that just about anyone will love.

Chicken and Kale Casserole
This chicken casserole may taste indulgent, but its low-fat ingredients and coarsely chopped kale make it a healthy take on the classic dinner dish. Because it serves up to 8 people, you can even turn your friends and family into kale enthusiasts when you serve it at your next dinner party.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/jenny-pics

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Cooking, food, Kale, Recipes

4 Banana Muffin Recipes for Tomorrow’s Breakfast

June 3, 2014 by cwsapts

Banana muffins are warm, sweet, and always a breakfast favorite. From the healthy to the indulgent, there’s a banana muffin recipe for just about everyone. Here are a few of the best.

Banana-Cinnamon Muffins [Betty Crocker]
A healthy dose of spicy cinnamon gives these muffins a bit of a kick that’s perfect around the holidays.

Banana Crumb Muffins [All Recipes]
Crumb toppings on muffins makes them taste more like a strudel, which is exactly what makes this recipe so special.

Banana Muffins [Martha Stewart]
You can’t go wrong with Martha’s banana muffin recipe, which combines vanilla extract and sour cream for added flavor and moistness.

Skinny Peanut Butter Muffins [Sally’s Baking Addiction]
Enjoy the comforting taste of banana muffins even when you’re on a diet with this healthy, gooey recipe.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/24oranges.nl

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Baking, Cooking, food, Recipes

Learn to Bake Great Scones from These Three Sites

March 4, 2014 by cwsapts

Whether you pair them with tea or eat them for breakfast, scones are sweet, hearty treats that come in a variety of different flavors. Even amateur bakers will enjoy making delicious scones, and these recipe sites will give you some inspiration for your next foray into the wonderful world of pastries.

Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart’s beautiful websites provides endless inspiration for baking (and tasting!) scones. The site's list of Scone Recipes is unique and sophisticated, with both sweet and savory scones for just about any occasion. The Cream Scones with Currants are the perfect blend of creamy and tangy, while the Cheddar-Chive Scones offer a more filling, salty taste that makes a delicious lunch pairing.

Food Network
No one knows more about baking than your favorite Food Network hosts, and now you can bake scones straight from their own favorite recipes. Tyler Florence’s Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze are a traditional recipe with a lemony zest, perfect for breakfast or brunch. For a petite treat, The Pioneer Woman’s Mini Vanilla Scones will be a hit with the kids and the adults in your household.

Cooking Light
Who said scones have to be unhealthy? Though they taste warm and sweet, scones made from Cooking Light recipes are also nutritious and low in calories. This list of Healthy Scone Recipes will show you smarter ways to bake these breakfast breads.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Mike65444

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Cooking, food, Recipes, Scones

Plan a Beautiful Brunch with These 2 Websites

February 4, 2014 by cwsapts

If the in-between brunch is your favorite meal of the day, you’ll simply adore the sweet and savory recipes on these great websites.

Food Network
Your favorite Food Network show hosts offer their own favorite brunch recipes on the network’s website. They offer tips and tricks for how to plan a beautiful brunch, ideas for food themes, and, of course, detailed recipes for how to create dishes as good as the pros’. The Sausage Bread Brunch Sandwich from the Sandwich King Jeff Mauro is great for a causal weekend breakfast, while the Ted Allen’s Brunch Tart with Spinach, Olives and Leeks is a great main course for a more sophisticated meal. Whatever your brunch style, you’ll find something for everyone on the Food Network's website.

All Recipes
Browse by type of food, plan a breakfast buffet or search brunch foods by ingredient on the All Recipes Breakfast and Brunch section. Each of these simple recipes are rated and feature the complete nutritional information, so you can plan your brunch right down to the smallest detail.

Public Domain/Public Domain

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Brunch, Cooking, food, Recipes