Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Caprese Tomato Bites Recipe

Ingredients:
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved 
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream 
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 
6 fresh basil leaves 
1 garlic clove, minced 
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 

Directions:
– Scoop out and discard pulp of cherry tomatoes. Invert tomatoes onto paper towels to drain. 
– In a food processor, combine the cream, mozzarella cheese, basil and garlic; cover and process until blended. 
– Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Fill with cheese mixture. 
– Turn tomato halves over; drizzle with vinegar. Pipe cheese mixture into tomatoes. Refrigerate until serving.

Yield: about 3-1/2 dozen. 

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www.tasteofhome.com

Burger Cupcakes – A Fun Sunday Craft!

Ingredients:
1 batch Fun-da-middles cupcakes (12 cupcakes – sprinkle a few sesame seeds on top before baking or white sprinkles as sesame seeds)
3/4 cup sweetened chopped coconut
3 drops – 4 green food coloring
chocolate frosting, and red and yellow decorating frosting

Directions:
1. Remove the paper wrapped from the cupcakes and slice in half.
2. Place the coconut in a bowl. Add 3 to 4 drops green food coloring and mix well. Set aside.
3. Pipe a circle of chocolate frosting on each “bottom bun”.
4. Sprinkle the colored coconut on the chocolate frosting.
5. Top with red and yellow frosting to simulate ketchup and mustard.
6. Gently place cupcake tops on each frosted bottom half.
7. Refrigerate until about 20 minutes before serving time.

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http://www.tablespoon.com/

Basic Cooking Terms for Healthy Home Chefs

Are you the type of at-home cook who uses the same technique for “grilling” as you do for “sautéing”? Using the proper cooking techniques can make or break a nutritious dish, but many people don’t know the true meaning of most of these terms. This helpful list will ensure that you use the most effective cooking techniques for every healthy meal. Here are some of the highlights:

1. Grill. Ideal for chicken, firmer seafood and hearty vegetables, grilling is a common cooking method that can be done on a stovetop or an outdoor grill.

2. Broil. Broiling is a great technique for dishes that require a crispy surface. It can be used for chicken, salmon, tuna or other lean meats.

3. Sauté. This light stir-frying method is effective on thin cuts of chicken or most vegetables, from mushrooms to kale to zucchini. By using olive oil or another healthy oil, you can add robust flavor without adding fat to your dish.

4. Poach. Ideal for salmon, flounder, trout and other white fishes, poaching uses boiling water to gently cook and add moisture to fish.

5. Steam. Steaming vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, green beans or carrots is one of the healthiest ways to prepare them. By using boiling water in the bottom of a sauce pan, you’ll have tender vegetables in a matter of minutes.

Basic Cooking Instructions [NIH]

Public Domain/Public Domain

Explore in Style With Help From These Luxury Travel Sites

Is your idea of vacation something that involves a first class plane ticket, an exotic location, and plenty of fine dining? If you’re an avid traveler with expensive taste and a love of adventure, these high-end travel websites can show you where to visit, how to get there, and what to do once you arrive.

Travel and Leisure
Travel and Leisure magazine is a beloved resource for frequent explorers interested in dining in the best restaurants and sightseeing in the world’s most renowned places. The magazine’s website is full of luxury travel destinations from every corner of the world, from the beaches of Thailand to the royal palaces of England. Travel and Leisure also features trip ideas for family travel, outdoorsy adventures, cruise vacations, and romantic getaways at places that are off the beaten path but certainly not lacking in high class amenities.

Conde Nast Traveller
Traveller, Conde Nast’s travel magazine, is just what you would expect from the publisher of elegant and respected magazines that include Vogue and GQ. Combining the style of a fashion magazine with the adventurous spirit of a travel publication, this informative and beautifully curated magazine features trip guides for locations on every continent around the world. Traveller also features tips for the best times to book a winter beach vacation, itineraries for local weekend trips, and other helpful articles meant for the fashionable globetrotter.

Loaded Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3/4 cup (150g) dark brown sugar (or light brown)
1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon (20g) dark molasses
1 and 2/3 cups (140g) old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour, careful not to over measure
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/2 cups add-ins (I used butterscotch morsels, chopped peanut butter M&Ms, and chocolate chunks)

Directions:
1. Cream the softened butter and both sugars together on medium speed until smooth. Add the egg and mix on high until combined, about 1 minute
2. Add the vanilla and molasses and mix on high until combined
3. In a separate bowl, toss the oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt together
4. Add to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Fold in the add-ins. Dough will be thick. Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator
5. Preheat oven to 325F degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats
6. Roll balls of dough (about 1.5 tablespoons of dough per cookie) and place 2 inches apart on the baking sheets and bake for 10-11 minutes until very lightly browned on the sides

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www.sallysbakingaddiction.com

 

Noodles and Hotdogs

This is a fun idea to make for dinner and it is easy!

(You can use hotdogs or sausages)

Alma de Cuba: Cuban Fare in Philadelphia

Alma de Cuba serves up tasty Cuban fare in a modern, upscale setting near Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square. Go there to relax with one of their signature libations, like a Mojito with rum, mint & sugar, or a Caipirinha with rum, sugar and lime juice. Wine and beer are also served.

Alma de Cuba's appetizers include Lamb Neck Casabe with yucca flatbread, Rainbow Ceviche with tuna, salmon & bass, Octopus Escalivada with grilled Spanish octopus, olives & capers, and Royal Palm Dates wrapped in bacon & bleu cheese. Vaca Frita – fried cow – is a favorite among the entrees. Lechon Asado – crispy roasted pork, Peruvian Barbeque Chicken, and Rum Cured Duck Breast are also on the menu. Be sure to try the Chocolate Cigar – almond cake wrapped in chocolate mousse – for dessert.

Alma de Cuba
1623 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 988-1799
http://www.almadecubarestaurant.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/alma-de-cuba-philadelphia

Rotisseur: Seasonal & Delicious

Who says you can’t have a stellar meal artfully prepared from fresh, seasonal ingredients in a speedy, self-serve setting? Not the staff at Rotisseur, who regularly turn out tasty fare at this relaxed little eatery. Rotisserie-roasted Amish-raised chickens that are hormone and antibiotic free and raised outside of cages is what’s on the menu here. You can have yours whole, halved or in pieces, and team it up with flavorful sides like Mac & Cheese, Roasted Potatoes, Pickled Beets, Kale Chips, Green Salad and Corn Muffins. Thai-style sandwiches include a Chicken Banh Mi, Duck Confit Banh Mi, Barbeque Chicken, and Tofu Banh Mi. Salads are also on the menu as are some refreshing drinks. Open Monday through Saturday from 12p.m. until 9:30p.m.

Rotisseur
100 5 S 21st St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 496-9494
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rotisseur-philadelphia

 

Cookie Dough Brownies

Ingredients:

Brownie Batter:
1 Cup Butter, melted
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
4 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1/3 Cup Cocoa
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
2 Cups Flour

Cookie Dough Frosting:
1/2 Cup Butter, softened
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 and 1/4 Cup Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
5 Tablespoons Milk

Instructions:

Brownie Batter:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In your mixer add the butter and sugars. Mix until completely combined. Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add the dry ingredients and stir until fully incorporated. Spread the batter in a greased 9×13 inch pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or with just a few crumbs. Cool completely before frosting.

Cookie Dough Frosting:
1 Cup Chocolate Chips(mini or regular)
Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the vanilla and mix well. Add the flour and salt stir until combined. Stir in the milk and beat until the frosting is fluffy. Gently stir in the chocolate chips. Spread on cooled brownies and frost.

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www.gurutotheoutdoors.com

Breakfast Grilled Cheese

Ingredients:
1/3 cup whipped cream cheese
1/4 cup small-curd cottage cheese
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, plus more for topping
4 frozen waffles (untoasted)
1 to 2 tablespoons jam (any flavor)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus more if needed
Ground cinnamon, for topping

Directions:
-Mix the cream cheese, cottage cheese and confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl. Spread 2 waffles with the jam, then top with the cream cheese mixture; cover with the remaining 2 waffles.

-Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sandwiches and cook until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes per side, adding more butter to the pan if needed. (Adjust the heat if the waffles are browning too quickly.)

-Let the sandwiches rest 1 minute before serving. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and cinnamon.

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www.ziplist.com

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