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Quick and Easy Potluck Recipes

June 16, 2016 by

So you were invited to your first of many summer potlucks this summer, and you’re totally stumped on what to bring. If you’re searching for the perfect recipe for a group, you’ll want something that’s easy to make and easy to serve, but still really delicious. Here are three unique summertime recipes that are also potluck-friendly.

Key Lime Bars [myrecipes.com]
If you’re in charge of bringing the dessert, these key lime bars are the perfect addition to any potluck. They’re the perfect blend of sweet and tart, and although they’re made entirely from scratch from crust to filling, they’re still simple to prepare.

Salsa for a Crowd [tasteofhome.com]
While salsa is a dish that feeds a lot of people at once, it’s still a really easy dish to throw together. This unique, summery salsa recipe combines corn and black beans with the usual tomatoes and spices to create the perfect topping for tortilla chips, pita wedges, or even tacos.

Sunny Broccoli Salad [midwestliving.com]
Bring a side dish that’s both delicious and healthy when you prepare this broccoli salad. It takes just 20 minutes to make, and unexpected ingredients like low-fat mayonnaise, bacon, and sweet raisins create a punch of flavor that will have all of the other guests asking for your recipe.

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Spring-Clean Your Meal Plan With These In-Season Fruits and Veggies

May 19, 2016 by

Everyone knows that the springtime is one of the best times of the year when it comes to produce. From ripe, juicy fruits to lush, green vegetables, lots of your favorite foods come back into season in the spring. Here are just a few of the fruits and vegetables that you have to look forward to.

  • Strawberries. Whether you choose fresh fruit salads or a decadent pie, you can use strawberries in lots of delicious recipes that are perfect for warm weather days.
  • Asparagus. Looking to add a side of greens to your dinner? Asparagus tastes its best from March through June.
  • Cherries. With a great deal of fiber and potassium, sweet cherries are some of the springtime's tastiest and healthiest fruits.
  • Radishes. If you're looking for a unique veggie to add some color to your salads, radishes are the perfect choice (and they're also packed with Vitamin C!).
  • Apricots. Add them to yogurt or simply bite right in, because apricots deliver a healthy dose of potassium, Vitamin C and fiber.
  • Artichokes. Once it's warm enough to fire up the grill, your guests will love a side of char-grilled artichokes with their main course.

Spring Produce Guide [Food Network]

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Bring Spring in Bloom with These Crepe Flower Tutorials

March 17, 2016 by

Whether you’re decorating for a bridal shower, a child’s birthday party, or you simply want to spruce up your home for the spring season, crafting crepe flowers is an easy project that really makes an impact. These blossoms look beautiful, but they last a lot longer than the real thing! Here are three great tutorials for creating crepe flowers at home.

Martha Stewart’s DIY Flowers [marthastewart.com]
Martha Stewart’s website includes a number of different ways to make various types of crepe flowers. The single-petal method produces lush, full blossoms, while the tulip version is great for creating a bouquet of life-like flowers to display in your home or give as a gift.

Crepe and Watercolor Flower Tutorial [craftberrybush.com]
If you’re interested in creating the most realistic crepe flowers possible, this is the tutorial for you. It involves first using crepe paper to form the petals themselves, then gently painting the petals with watercolor paints to create the gradation that you find on a real flower. By spritzing the petals with water, you can even get them to curl a bit in a truly realistic way.

DIY Crepe Paper Flowers [thebridescafe.com]
This simple tutorial is perfect when you don’t have a lot of time, but you still want to get beautiful results. All it takes is a bit of crepe paper, floral wire and tape and some microbeads to form the flower’s center.

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Hosting a Holiday Party? These Recipes Will End It on a Sweet Note

December 17, 2015 by

When it comes to the holidays, the desserts are the truly standout dishes. Everyone has their go-to pie recipe, their favorite seasonal cookies and that tasty twist on hot chocolate, but it’s always fun to experiment with creative new desserts. Here are three great dessert recipes that are sure to impress the guests at all of your holiday parties.

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies [myrecipes.com]
Combine two of the most popular seasonal flavors—chocolate and peppermint—into one delicious dessert with this gourmet brownie recipe. The rich, dense brownie portion is incredibly decadent, while the crunchy peppermint topping adds a festive flair that you won’t find from traditional versions.

Holiday Biscotti [foodnetwork.com]
Coffee lovers and dessert fans alike love the classic Italian biscotti cookie, but this unique recipe gives it a festive holiday spin. The biscotti itself has a slight lemon taste that is accented by chopped pistachios and dried cranberries, while the white chocolate coating features red and green sugar crystals for a festive flair.

Cream Puff Tower [realsimple.com]
Instead of the usual pie or cake, create a tower of cream puffs that looks just as elegant. This classic pastry is puffy on the outside with a sweet, creamy filling, and when you place each puff in a metallic wrapper, the tower looks even more shiny and festive.

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These Pumpkin Pie Recipes Will Have You Reaching for Seconds

November 19, 2015 by

Warm soups are great and Thanksgiving turkey is tasty, but when it comes to favorite fall foods, pumpkin pie is typically at the top of the list. There’s just nothing better than this rich, flavorful pie come autumn, whether you prefer to top it with whipped cream or to eat it warm out of the oven. Here are three of our favorite recipes for pumpkin pie.

Libby’s Famous Pumpkin Pie [verybestbaking.com]
Since it requires only 15 minutes of prep time, this pie will be emitting a delicious scent from the oven with plenty of time to spare before the arrival of your last-minute guests. Canned pumpkin, evaporated milk, and a pre-made pie crust make this one of the easiest pumpkin pie recipes you’ll find.

The Ultimate Pumpkin Pie [epicurious.com]
This elaborate recipe from Epicurious is ideal for the experienced baker who wants to add a bit more spice to the usual pumpkin pie. Whipping cream and sour cream make it extra thick and creamy, while the generous helpings of spices add major flavor in every bite.

Homemade Pumpkin Pie [pickyourown.org]
Pick Your Own’s homemade pumpkin pie uses real pumpkin instead of canned to offer the freshest taste possible in your seasonal dessert. Although it may seem intimidating, the results are more than worth it.

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Savor Fall Flavors With These Pumpkin Recipes

October 22, 2015 by

It’s not uncommon to want to stay inside once the weather starts to cool down, especially since there are so many tasty fall weather recipes to try out. If you start craving all things pumpkin as soon as the first day of autumn rolls around, you might want to add these brand new pumpkin recipes to your to-do list this weekend.

Pumpkin Butter [marthastewart.com]
Instead of buying store-bought pumpkin butter, try this recipe for an all-natural, wholesome alternative. It uses only four ingredients and a bit of blending, and once it’s complete you can spread it on breads, bagels, muffins, and all of your favorite baked goods.

Pumpkin Bread Rolls with Cinnamon Butter [handletheheat.com]
Can you think of two things that go together better than pumpkin and cinnamon? This recipe not only shows you how to make tasty and adorable rolls in the shape of real pumpkins, it also offers the perfect cinnamon butter to spread on top.

Spiced Butternut-Pumpkin Soup [myrecipes.com]
If you love pumpkin so much that you even want to eat it for lunch and dinner, this is the recipe for you. It’s equal parts sweet and savory, and it makes the perfect small appetizer for all of your autumn dinner parties.

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Cheers to Summer! Sip These Refreshing Summertime Mocktails

July 23, 2015 by

Mocktails are delicious and refreshing when relaxing by the pool, enjoying an alfresco lunch, or just winding down after work. Here are three great mocktail recipes for you to try this summer.

Non-Alcoholic Sangria [thekitchn.com]
Jazz up a Spanish-style lunch with a classic sangria made sans wine. This fresh, fruity beverage uses pomegranates and oranges to give it a tart flavor, while cinnamon sticks and black tea gives it the rich, complex taste that red wine sangria normally has.

Peach Cooler [eatingwell.com]
Just like a traditional wine cooler, this peach cooler mocktail is light, refreshing, and just a bit bubbly. Sparkling grape juice gives it a bit of carbonation, while peach juice and sliced peaches have a hint of sweetness that’s perfect for the summertime.

Coconut, Cucumber, Lime and Mint Cooler [townandcountrymag.com]
Have you ever heard of a more refreshing combination of flavors than coconut, cucumber, lime, and mint? This mocktail will quickly become your signature drink all summer long after you taste its hydrating blend of herbs and tropical fruit. Its coconut water base might even make your skin glow!

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Picking Apples? Take a Look at These Handy Comparison Guides to Apples!

September 18, 2014 by

If you’re heading out to an apple orchard this weekend, you’ll likely find a wide variety of different types of apples to choose from. Some apples are better for baking, while others have a crisp taste that’s perfect for eating as an on-the-go snack. These handy comparison guides will help you to choose the perfect apples, no matter what you want to use them for.

Comparing Apples to Apples [theyummylife.com]
This chart offers a number of different uses for the most common types of apples. It lists apples like McIntosh, Pink Lady and Red Delicious and also includes comments on how tart or sweet they each taste. The chart then provides a ranking for each apple for how well they can be used for things like baking, making apple juice or just eating raw.

Apple Varieties for Cooking, Baking and Cider [Washington State University]
Washington State University’s website offers a similar chart for apple uses, but it includes non-culinary uses as well. Whether you want to find the perfect type of apple for your fall pies or the best one to use to ferment for hard cider, this list is a great resource.

A Visual Guide to Apples [Epicurious]
If you’re more of a visual learner, this chart from Epicurious is perfect for you. It provides detailed photographs of each type of apple so that you can easily identify them at the orchard.

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