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Preserve the Tastes of Summer With These Easy Canning Recipes

July 5, 2016 by

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.

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Interesting Facts About Chocolate You Might Not Already Know

January 5, 2016 by

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]

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

September 9, 2015 by

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.

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7 Funky Food Facts You’ll Find Hard to Believe

April 7, 2015 by

How much do you really know about that cold cereal and ice cream stocking your fridge? Here are seven funky food facts guaranteed to throw you for a loop.

1) Peeps candy has its own brand of lip balm. Presented in a twist-up tube, flavors include vanilla marshmallow cream and cotton candy marshmallow cream.

2) Eat that ice cream too fast? There's a medical term for that: sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia.

3) Artificial vanilla flavoring is sometimes created using an ingredient in beaver urine.

4) Even though McDonalds is synonymous with hamburgers, the fast food giant got its start as a hot dog stand.

5) Mull this over before your next bite: Every "loop" in Froot Loops cereal tastes the same, no matter their color.

6) A powerful antioxidant, cinnamon can help stabilize blood sugar and reduce the likelihood of blood clots.

7) Your fish dinner likely hails from the state of Alaska. The state is responsible for more than half of the seafood caught in the U.S.

For more food facts, check out these sites:
57 Fascinating Business Facts That Will Blow Your Mind [Buzzfeed]
65 Amazing Facts That Will Blow Your Mind [Buzzfeed]
Interesting and funny facts that will blow your mind! [Science & Nature]
47 Shocking Food & Nutrition Facts That’ll Blow Rainbow Confetti Out Of Your Noggin [Lean It Up]
17 Shocking Food Facts That Will Make You Question Everything [Buzzfeed]

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Learn to Cook with Kale with These Recipes

December 2, 2014 by

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.

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Easy Ways to Incorporate More Folic Acid Into Your Diet

November 4, 2014 by

When you think of the necessary vitamins and minerals that you should be getting from the foods that you eat, folic acid likely isn’t one of the first things that come to mind. It is a very important element in everyone’s diet, however, especially women who are pregnant and those who are susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease. Here are some of the best ways to incorporate more folic acid into your diet.

  1. Broccoli. You already know that you should eat your vegetables to get the proper nutrients, but broccoli contains a great deal of folic acid as well. Just half of a cup of broccoli contains 52 micrograms of folic acid, which equals approximately 13% of the average person’s recommended daily value. Steaming broccoli or eating it raw is one of the healthiest ways to consume this veggie, but you can also add it to salads or stir fries for a more flavorful taste.
  2. Sunflower seeds. These tiny, toasted snacks are not only tasty, they’re also a very impressive source of folic acid. Just one ounce of sunflower seeds provide 20% of your recommended daily intake, and they also provide Vitamin E, beneficial fats, and other essential nutrients.

Surprising Sources of Folic Acid [Yahoo! Shine]
Foods High in Folic Acid [Prenatal Vitamin HQ]
15 Foods High in Folic Acid [Global Healing Center]
18 Foods High in Folic Acid to Prevent Cancer & Birth Defects [Bembu]

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Three Unique Ways to Enjoy Iced Tea

September 3, 2014 by

From Southern-style sweet teas to berry-infused varieties, there is a seemingly endless number of ways to enjoy iced tea. This cool, refreshing beverage is as versatile as it is delicious, and it’s usually very simple to make. Here are three creative ways to enjoy iced tea.

Smooth Sweet Tea [AllRecipes]
Timeless and traditional, this recipe for Smooth Sweet Tea shows you just how to properly prepare the Southern favorite. Steeping black tea bags in boiling water creates a rich, aromatic base, while white sugar gives it that wonderfully sweet flavor.

Pomegranate and Lime Iced Tea [Real Simple]
Hot summer days call for a drink that will really quench your thirst, and this tart, fruity recipe does just that. Pomegranate juice gives the tea a real fruit flavor, while thinly sliced limes add a zesty taste that really complements the sweetness.

Green Jasmine-Mint Iced Tea with Lemon [Eating Well]
A wide assortment of flavors go into this simple tea recipe, but they all work together seamlessly. The jasmine green tea is light and mild, while the mint adds a cool flavor that will help you to unwind after a long day. Lemon juice and honey also provide a bit of added sweetness and tart flavor that’s more typical of green tea.

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Cooking 101: Fail-Proof Recipes for Pasta Sauce

August 5, 2014 by

Making your own pasta sauce may seem like something reserved for only the most skilled chefs, but you’d be surprised to know how simple it really is. Forgoing the store-bought sauces in favor of making your own is also beneficial to your health, as it eliminates the added sugars and preservatives that are often found in jarred pasta sauces. If you want to try your hand at preparing a zesty, flavorful sauce at home, here are three fail-proof recipes.

World’s Best Pasta Sauce!
This traditional pasta sauce is a versatile option that you can use for years to come. It includes the staple ingredients like tomato paste and a variety of Italian meats, plus flavorful spices ranging from dried basil to fennel seed. Once the ingredients are blended together, everything gets cooked slowly in a large Dutch oven.

Great Grandma’s Pasta Sauce
If your own grandmother wasn’t much of a sauce maker, feel free to adopt this tasty recipe as your own. It uses simple ground beef, tomatoes, and Italian spices to give it a hearty texture that tastes straight out of the old country.

Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce
If you want to create a sauce that tastes like gourmet without the gourmet cooking skills, this recipe is the one to use. Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse shares his unique recipe that includes unexpected ingredients like hot sauce, balsamic vinegar, and an impressive amount of garlic.

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4 Banana Muffin Recipes for Tomorrow’s Breakfast

June 3, 2014 by

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.

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Learn to Bake Great Scones from These Three Sites

March 4, 2014 by

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.

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