recipes
Warm Up Winter with Watermelon Fun
Warming up with family-friendly activities starts with a versatile (and delicious) option like watermelon, which can be your sweet superstar all year long. As a centerpiece for evenings at home or gatherings and get-togethers, its versatility creates zero food waste with endless creative uses in the kitchen, from rind-smile snowmen to handheld snacks.
Last Updated on July 14, 2024 by Daily News Staff
(Family Features) The cold chill of winter may have you feeling trapped indoors with nothing to do and nowhere to go, but fun activities fit for the whole family can add excitement and chase away those wintertime blues. Paired with an appetizing snack, at-home crafting provides a relaxing way to keep your mind and body moving.
Warming up with family-friendly activities starts with a versatile (and delicious) option like watermelon, which can be your sweet superstar all year long. As a centerpiece for evenings at home or gatherings and get-togethers, its versatility creates zero food waste with endless creative uses in the kitchen, from rind-smile snowmen to handheld snacks.
When this year’s first snowfall offers a canvas for creativity and entertainment, gather your loved ones to make this Watermelon Snowman. Fresh-cut and personal-sized watermelons are the predominant options in wintertime, and they’re perfect for putting together this festive work of art. All you’ll need is a collection of kitchen knives, an ice cream scoop, melon ballers, skewers, some decorative “clothing” and blueberries for a fruit salad served right out of the snowman.
While you’re hard at work, ease your appetite with a quick and easy snack like Watermelon Glazed Meatballs. Start with a homemade watermelon puree mixed with barbecue sauce then saute frozen meatballs and top with the sweet glaze for a perfect wintertime treat. Along with delicious taste, watermelon is also a nutritious hydration source, which is just as important in winter as during warmer months, and provides an excellent source of vitamin C with 25% of the daily recommended value in each 2-cup serving to support immunity.
These tasty morsels also make for a simple, shareable appetizer while hosting throughout the season. Just lay them out on a serving tray and pop toothpicks into each meatball so guests can grab and go while mingling.
To find more family-friendly crafts and sweet snack ideas, visit Watermelon.org.
Watermelon Snowman
- Kitchen knives
- 1 round seedless watermelon
- 2 personal-sized watermelons, one larger than other
- ice cream scoop or large spoon
- melon baller
- mini melon baller or paring knife
- blueberries
- large wooden skewers
- y-shaped sticks
- scarf
- hat
- Using knife, cut 1/4-inch slice off bottom of round seedless watermelon and both personal watermelons to provide stable bases. Use smallest melon for head, second largest for torso and largest for lower body. Set aside smallest watermelon.
- Cut tops off large and medium watermelons to create bowls. Using ice cream scoop or large spoon, scoop out flesh.
- Using melon baller, scoop eyes out of smallest watermelon. Invert melon balls and reinsert.
- Using mini melon baller or paring knife, scoop out holes for nose and mouth. Carve one piece of watermelon into triangle for nose and fill mouth holes with blueberries.
- On platter, using large wooden skewers, connect all three watermelons.
- Insert y-shaped sticks in middle watermelon for arms.
- Fill bottom sections with fruit salad of melon balls and blueberries. Decorate with scarf and hat.

Watermelon Glazed Meatballs
Servings: 8
Watermelon Puree:
- 1 fresh watermelon
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 24-36 frozen prepared mini meatballs
- 1 cup prepared barbecue sauce
- 1 cup watermelon puree
- To make watermelon puree: Remove seeds from watermelon and cut into large chunks. In blender, process until smooth.
- In large, heavy saute pan over medium-high heat or electric skillet set to 325 F, heat oil.
- Saute mini meatballs until browned and hot. Reduce heat to low.
- Mix barbecue sauce and watermelon puree. Pour over meatballs and simmer 2-3 minutes. Serve hot.
SOURCE:
National Watermelon Promotion Board
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Food and Beverage
Make Summer Pop with a Super Snack

Make Summer Pop with a Super Snack
(Family Features) When it comes to summer snacking, it’s hard to top the combination of favorite seasonal flavors.
You can enjoy both the sweetness of freeze-dried strawberries and popped popcorn, a whole grain that’s 100% unprocessed with no additives, hidden ingredients or GMOs, in this three-ingredient Strawberries and Cream Popcorn recipe.
Just drizzle white chocolate over popped popcorn then sprinkle with ground freeze-dried strawberries for a perfectly delicious way to meld all your favorite flavors of summer into one easy, convenient snack.
Find more summer snacking solutions by visiting Popcorn.org.

Strawberries and Cream Popcorn
Recipe courtesy of The Popcorn Board
Servings: 4-6
- 1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries
- 6 cups popped popcorn
- 1 cup white chocolate chips, melted
- In small food processor or spice grinder, pulse freeze-dried strawberries until finely ground. Place popped popcorn in large bowl. Drizzle melted chocolate over top; toss until well coated. Sprinkle evenly with ground freeze-dried strawberries; toss until well coated.
- Scrape onto large parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spreading into even layer.
- Let stand at room temperature 30-60 minutes, or until chocolate is set and hardened. To serve, break into pieces.
- Tips: To melt chocolate, place chocolate chips in heatproof bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring 3-5 minutes, or until smooth.
- To melt chocolate in microwave, place chocolate chips in microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup. Microwave on medium, stirring every 30 seconds, for 1-2 minutes, or until smooth and melted.
SOURCE:
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recipes
Host a Hall of Fame Homegate

(Family Features) From kickoff to the final whistle, taking your game day party to the next level starts with serving an all-star lineup of menu items. From starting-caliber appetizers to MVP-level main courses and a supporting cast of side dishes, dips like salsa and hummus can play the role of superstar when it comes to serving up game day grub.
One of the benefits of cheering on your favorite teams from the couch and bringing the tailgate to your literal home field is the availability of appliances you may not otherwise have access to at the stadium like the oven or air fryer. However, that doesn’t mean missing out on the action and being sidelined in the kitchen all game or that these recipes won’t travel to a tailgate.
With a flavor-packed, vibrant recipe, the lineup of Fresh Cravings Salsa offers a homemade-tasting alternative to softer, duller blends of jarred salsa. Made with high-quality ingredients like vine-ripened tomatoes, crisp vegetables, zesty peppers and spices, the salsas make a perfect addition to these recipes from celebrity chef and entertainer George Duran, author of “Take This Dish and Twist It” and host of Food Network’s “Ham on the Street” and TLC’s “Ultimate Cake Off.”
Kickoff your menu with an app like these Jalapeno Bacon and Salsa Biscuit Bites that meld together traditional tailgate tastes. Then put a Tex-Mex twist on a traditional favorite with this Enchilada Lasagna, perfect for feeding a crowd of hungry fans.
To round out the playbook, this Layered Mediterranean Hummus Salad can make for an accompaniment to a variety of main courses. The cucumbers, olives, cherry tomatoes and other veggies are balanced by the savory taste of Fresh Cravings Hummus. Made with a short list of high-quality ingredients like chickpeas, tahini and Chilean extra-virgin olive oil, it has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel.
Find more game-winning recipes made for homegating and tailgating at FreshCravings.com.
Layered Mediterranean Hummus Salad
Recipe courtesy of chef George Duran
Servings: 4-6
- 2 containers (10 ounces each) Fresh Cravings Hummus, any flavor
- 1 cup sliced cucumbers
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, seeded and roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup canned garbanzo beans, drained
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 lemon, juice only
- extra-virgin olive oil
- zaatar, for sprinkling (optional)
- pita bread or tortilla chips
- On bottom of large, flat serving dish or platter, use spoon to evenly spread hummus.
- Layer cucumbers, olives, garbanzo beans, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, red onion and parsley throughout hummus. Squeeze lemon juice over top.
- Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Zaatar, if desired. Serve immediately with pita bread or tortilla chips.

Enchilada Lasagna
Recipe courtesy of chef George Duran
Servings: 4-6
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
- 1 deli roasted chicken, skin and bones removed, shredded
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 cup chicken stock or broth
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 cups shredded Tex-Mex cheese blend
- 16 ounces Fresh Cravings Chunky Salsa, plus additional for serving
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- nonstick cooking spray
- 6 flour tortillas (9 inches each)
- 1 cup tortilla chips, crushed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- In large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Add onions and cook until soft and translucent, 4-5 minutes.
- Add shredded chicken and stir in taco seasoning. Add chicken broth and bring to simmer, about 5 minutes.
- Add cream cheese, Tex-Mex cheese, salsa and cilantro. Stir until cream cheese is melted and simmer 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Spray square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place two tortillas in bottom of pan, folding over or trimming sides of tortillas to fit.
- Spoon half chicken mixture over tortillas. Repeat then place remaining tortillas over top. Mix crushed tortilla chips with cheddar cheese and sprinkle over top. Bake 30 minutes, or until lasagna is bubbling and lightly browned.
- Let stand 10 minutes then top with additional salsa before serving.

Jalapeno Bacon and Salsa Biscuit Bites
Recipe courtesy of chef George Duran
Yield: 16 biscuit bites
- 1 tube biscuit dough (8 biscuits total)
- 7 ounces grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup jarred jalapenos, chopped
- 8 slices cooked bacon, chopped
- 1 cup Fresh Cravings Restaurant Style Salsa
- nonstick cooking spray
- Preheat air fryer to 350-360 F.
- Divide each biscuit in half by pulling apart in centers. Use hands to flatten each biscuit into circles. Set aside.
- In bowl, mix mozzarella cheese with chopped jalapenos, bacon and salsa.
- Add heaping spoonful into each flattened biscuit and pinch each together tightly to form balls. Top each with small amount of salsa mixture.
- Spray nonstick cooking spray in air fryer and, working in batches, cook biscuit bites 6-9 minutes until golden brown.
- Serve warm.
- Note: If air fryer access is unavailable, biscuit bites can be baked 8-10 minutes at 400 F in oven, or until golden brown.
SOURCE:
Fresh Cravings
Food and Beverage
Solve Your Cookout Crunch

(Family Features) If you’re in a tight spot for a last-minute potluck barbecue, don’t just throw together any salad. This Queso Cheese Corn Salad features a zesty homemade dressing and a salad base with a bit of heat (if you dare). Discover more cookout recipes by visiting Culinary.net.

Queso Cheese Corn Salad
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6
Dressing:
- 2 limes, juice only
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 cans whole corn, drained
- 1 cup chopped bell pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion (optional)
- 1 hot pepper (optional)
- 1 cup shredded queso cheese
- freshly chopped cilantro, for garnish
- To make dressing: In bowl, mix lime juice, mayo, salt and sugar.
- In separate large bowl, mix corn; bell pepper; onion, if desired; hot pepper, if desired; and queso cheese.
- Pour dressing over corn mixture and mix well. Top with cilantro.
SOURCE:
Culinary.net
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