Food and Beverage
5 Time-Saving Cooking Tips for Busy Families
(Family Features) When it comes to sit-down family meals, one thing is for certain: It feels like you never have enough time. With your hectic schedule – full days at school and work, afternoon sports practices for the kiddos and plans with friends on the weekends – preparing a home cooked meal everyone will love can be daunting.
Busy Families
However, that time together in the kitchen and at the table is valuable. It offers an opportunity to bond through shared meals and gives kids a chance to learn life skills, such as measuring ingredients, simple cooking methods and properly seasoning favorite dishes. Dining at home also promotes healthier eating habits like portion control.
By rethinking your approach to home cooking, you can bring back family meals for those special moments together. Call your loved ones together and plan for fresh, homemade recipes with these easy steps.
Plan the Menu in Advance
Thinking about the week (or two) ahead can help avoid last-minute decisions to hit the drive thru. Pick a day – many families opt for Sunday evenings – you can sit down together and schedule meals for the upcoming week. If you can, try and plan dishes little ones can help with so the whole family can get involved. Make sure everyone feels included by allowing each member of the family to pick a recipe for the week. Be flexible and keep in mind plans may change. Try to plan at least one recipe you can make in 30 minutes or less so you can be prepared for the unexpected, and remember to take advantage of hands-off cooking methods like the slow cooker.
Use Ready-to-Cook Ingredients
With fresh, flavorful ingredients from The Little Potato Company, busy families have more options to choose from for meals the whole family will love. For easy and delicious oven-roasted or grilled potatoes, A Little Garlic & Parmesan Oven or Grill Ready Little Potatoes deliver a classic garlic and cheese flavor. Perfect for those seeking plant-based options, they’re an easy side to serve with your favorite main courses.
Grocery Shop Online
If the thought of hunting the store aisles for that one missing ingredient keeps you awake at night, online grocery shopping can save you the time and hassle. While meal planning for the week, jot down a list of each ingredient you’ll need for those recipes then add everything to your digital cart in minutes. Some stores and services even offer delivery so you can collect groceries right off your front porch. An added bonus: Shopping online means you can mindfully plan your shopping list with groceries you actually need.
Take Advantage of Quick Cooking Methods
On those hectic evenings when you don’t even have time to let the oven preheat, look to the microwave for salvation. Combining the sweetness of honey with a little heat from chili, A Little Hot Honey Microwave Ready Little Potatoes provide a pop of flavor that’s ready in minutes. Simply heat the potatoes in the microwavable tray for 5 minutes, sprinkle on the hot honey seasoning pack and enjoy. Because they come pre-washed, require no peeling and are small enough they don’t need to be cut, you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time around the table.
Ask for Help in the Kitchen
Even the simplest of recipes is bound to require a little work in the kitchen. Make cooking at home a family affair by asking loved ones to help set the table, put away leftovers and wash dishes so you can focus on conversation instead of cleanup.
Visit littlepotatoes.com to find a store near you and more quick, convenient family meal solutions.
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
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The Little Potato Company
Food and Beverage
Purely Elizabeth Launches Purely Glow Granola, Its First Beauty-Inspired Limited Edition
Purely Elizabeth debuts Purely Glow Salted Vanilla Pistachio Granola, a limited-edition, beauty-inspired blend with collagen peptides and biotin, timed to New York Fashion Week.
Last Updated on April 1, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Purely Elizabeth is stepping beyond the breakfast bowl and into the “glow-from-within” conversation.
The Boulder-based natural foods brand announced the launch of Purely Glow Salted Vanilla Pistachio Granola, a limited-edition flavor that blends its signature crunchy clusters with beauty-inspired functional ingredients—including collagen peptides and biotin. The drop is timed to New York Fashion Week, signaling how quickly wellness brands are borrowing cues from beauty culture: trend-driven, ritual-focused, and built for social.
Why a “beauty granola” now?
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you’ve seen the shift: wellness content is increasingly framed like skincare—daily routines, “non-negotiables,” and ingredients people swear by.
Purely Elizabeth points to that momentum in the announcement, noting that TikTok posts featuring collagen increased by 70% over the past year compared to the previous two years. At the same time, pistachio has had its own breakout moment, with 55,000 pistachio-related TikTok posts in the most recent year—a 104% increase over the prior 24 months.
Translation: consumers aren’t just shopping for flavor anymore. They’re shopping for function, aesthetic, and ritual.
What’s inside Purely Glow Salted Vanilla Pistachio Granola
On the flavor side, Purely Glow is positioned as an elevated, dessert-leaning blend built around a salty-sweet profile:
- Organic oats
- Roasted pistachios
- Real vanilla bean
- A hint of sea salt
From a nutrition and formulation standpoint, the granola is:
- Gluten-free
- Sweetened with coconut sugar
- Baked with coconut oil
- A good source of fiber
- Enriched with collagen peptides, coconut water powder, and biotin
Founder and CEO Elizabeth Stein says the concept comes from a personal place—bringing together “nourishing food and daily beauty rituals,” and leaning into the idea that what you eat can be part of how you care for yourself.
A collab that takes it beyond the grocery aisle
To push the launch into lifestyle territory, Purely Elizabeth is partnering with Cha Cha Matcha for a limited-time “Purely Glow” menu at all locations.
The menu includes:
- Pistachio Matcha Lattes (hot or iced)
- A Purely Glow Yogurt Parfait layered with coconut yogurt, matcha chia pudding, and topped with Purely Glow Granola
The brand is also hosting “Glow Up” pop-up events to bring the product to life:
- Cha Cha Matcha Flatiron (NYC): February 12, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., plus the weekend
- Cha Cha Matcha Beverly Hills: February 20–22
Availability and price
Purely Glow Granola launches February 12 for $7.99 and will be sold until it sells out. It’s available exclusively via:
- PurelyElizabeth.com
- TikTok Shop
- Cha Cha Matcha locations
A brand move that fits the moment
Purely Elizabeth has been around for 16 years and says it has remained the #1 granola brand in the natural channel for more than eight consecutive years—so this isn’t a reinvention as much as a strategic expansion.
The bigger takeaway: food brands are increasingly marketing like beauty brands. Limited editions. Ingredient storytelling. Collabs. Pop-ups. Social-first launches.
Purely Glow is a clean example of that playbook—built around a trending flavor (pistachio), a trending function (collagen/biotin), and a cultural moment (NYFW) that makes the product feel like more than breakfast.
For more details, visit purelyelizabeth.com.
Food and Beverage
Easy, Approachable Solutions for At-Home Lenten Meals
At-Home Lenten Meals: Lent is an opportunity for families to explore new seafood flavors, making mealtime enjoyable. Simple recipes, like One-Pot Creamy Shrimp Scampi, encourage kids to confidently try seafood, enhancing family meals.
Last Updated on April 1, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Easy, Approachable Solutions for At-Home Lenten Meals
(Feature Impact) Lent has long been a season of tradition and reflection, and it can also be an opportunity to introduce your family to exciting new flavors that may become staples in your kitchen.
If preparing seafood feels intimidating, try starting with dishes that are easy, familiar and approachable. For example, One-Pot Creamy Shrimp Scampi features a velvety sauce, earthy spinach and buttery, delicious shrimp – a recognizable and approachable recipe that can be a gateway to discovery.
Made with SeaPak frozen shrimp, you can help picky eaters in your home feel more confident in saying “yes” to something new. Frozen seafood is a perfect partner for familiar favorites like pasta, making it a playful, stress-free solution for encouraging exploration at mealtime.
“For many families, Lent often brings a shift at the dinner table – and this year, parents are turning it into an opportunity to try something new,” said Diana Rice, child nutritionist and registered dietitian. “When food feels approachable, it lowers stress for everyone. Familiar flavors help kids say ‘yes’ more often, and those positive moments can make seafood a feel-good part of family meals during Lent and beyond.”
When kids see foods that look and taste familiar – like the crunch of crispy fried shrimp – they may feel more comfortable giving it a try. That’s why discovery can extend beyond the dinner table to snack time, too.
Give kiddos the energy they need for homework assignments with Butterfly Shimp Bruschetta, a quick solution for after-school or weekend snacking. As your pickier loved ones dive in for something new, those small wins can build confidence to try new things – one bite at a time.
This Lent, swap “giving up” for “try this” with more approachable frozen seafood solutions and family-friendly recipes at SeaPak.com.
//www.youtube.com/embed/006rXnSXZGY
One-Pot Creamy Shrimp Scampi
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
- 1 package (12 ounces) SeaPak Shrimp Scampi
- 1 1/4 cups half-and-half or milk
- 1 1/4 cups chicken stock
- 8 ounces linguine noodles
- 6 cups fresh spinach
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 lemon wedges
- In large, high-sided saute pan, add shrimp and cook according to package directions. Remove shrimp to bowl and keep warm.
- In same pan with scampi sauce, stir in half-and-half and stock. Bring to low boil. Add pasta. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked al dente, 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in spinach and cook just until beginning to wilt. Stir reserved shrimp into pan.
- To serve, divide shrimp scampi between four bowls and top each with grated Parmesan. Serve with lemon wedges.
Butterfly Shrimp Bruschetta
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6
- 1 package (9 ounces) SeaPak Jumbo Butterfly Shrimp
- 1 baguette
- 3 garlic cloves, divided
- 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, seeded and finely diced
- 1/3 cup chopped basil, plus additional for garnish
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Bake shrimp according to package directions and keep warm.
- Slice baguette to match number of shrimp. Rub one garlic clove over one side of each slice of bread. Brush garlic-rubbed sides with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Set aside.
- Finely dice remaining garlic.
- In medium mixing bowl, stir tomatoes, remaining olive oil, diced garlic and 1/3 cup chopped basil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and set aside.
- In large, hot skillet, working in batches, add baguette slices oil sides down and cook until browned around edges. Remove from pan.
- Top each baguette slice with small spoonful of tomato mixture and one shrimp. Garnish with basil leaf.
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Food and Beverage
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse Turns April Fool’s Day Into a Real Menu Moment With Sweet Heat Pepperoni Pizookie
Last Updated on March 31, 2026 by Daily News Staff
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse is leaning into April Fool’s Day with a menu item that sounds made up but is very real. The casual dining chain has introduced the Sweet Heat Pepperoni Pizookie, a one-day-only dessert available April 1 for $4.01.
BJ’s Unveils Sweet Heat Pepperoni Pizookie in One-Day-Only April Fool’s Day Offer
The limited-time item remixes two of BJ’s best-known menu identities: its deep-dish pizza flavors and its signature Pizookie dessert. The Sweet Heat Pepperoni Pizookie starts with a warm Chocolate Chunk Pizookie base and is topped with Rich Vanilla Bean ice cream, crispy cup-and-char pepperoni, and a drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey.
According to the company, the idea builds on previous playful Pizookie launches, including the Pizickle Pizookie in 2024 and the Fryckle Pizookie in 2025. This year’s version pushes the concept further by combining sweet, savory, and spicy flavors into a single dessert designed to surprise guests.
“We’ve always believed that great ideas can come from unexpected places,” said Heidi Rogers, chief marketing officer at BJ’s Restaurants, Inc., in the announcement. She described the Sweet Heat Pepperoni Pizookie as a creative and intentional twist that made April Fool’s Day the right moment for the launch.
The dessert will be available for dine-in only on April 1. BJ’s says the item includes two scoops of vanilla bean ice cream and is finished with the same hot honey flavor profile that has appeared in its seasonal pizza offerings.
The promotion gives BJ’s a timely way to turn novelty into foot traffic, especially around a date when brands often compete for attention with joke announcements. In this case, BJ’s is using the holiday to offer something guests can actually order.
BJ’s Restaurants, Inc., founded in 1978, operates more than 200 restaurants across 31 states. The brand is known for its deep-dish pizzas, broad casual dining menu, and its long-running Pizookie dessert line.
Guests looking to try the Sweet Heat Pepperoni Pizookie will need to act quickly. The item is only available on April 1, making it one of the brand’s shortest limited-time offers of the year.
For more information, visit bjsrestaurants.com.
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