Last Updated on September 11, 2026 by Daily News Staff

Add a Splash of Summer to Fall
Meals

(Family Features) This year, when
it’s time to dust off your fall recipe cookbook, mix it up with a splash of
summer veggies in this Zucchini Chicken Bake. Ready in less than an hour, it’s
perfect for those warm fall days that transition into chilly evenings when
sharing a meal with loved ones is what’s truly on the menu. Prepare your
family’s recipe rotation for fall with more ideas available at Culinary.net.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Zucchini Chicken Bake
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6

• 2 medium
  zucchinis
• 2-3 tomatoes
• 2 chicken
  breasts
• 1 tablespoon
  minced onion
• 2 teaspoons
  Italian seasoning
• 2 teaspoons
  smoked paprika
• avocado oil
• 1-1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup
  shredded Parmesan cheese

1. Heat oven to 375 F.
2. Cut zucchinis, tomatoes and chicken
   into bite-sized pieces. Place in 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
3. Sprinkle with minced onion, Italian
   seasoning and paprika then drizzle with avocado oil. Mix well with spoon.
4. Cover with mozzarella and Parmesan
   cheese. Cover with foil and bake 40 minutes.

SOURCE:

Culinary.net

Add 2 Key Nutrients You Might Be Overlooking with an Easy Avocado Recipe

(Feature Impact) While everyone is talking about protein these days whether watching their weight or managing type 2 diabetes, fiber and healthy fats are nutrients many people are overlooking.



The latest reports show most Americans already meet or exceed recommendations for protein while nearly all (about 95%) do not eat enough fiber, and many people consume too much saturated fat versus unsaturated fat, according to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Prioritizing ways to get more fiber and healthy fats on your plate could be key to managing weight and type 2 diabetes goals this summer.



One food that makes it easier to invest in your health, according to nutrition experts: avocados.



A growing body of research and materials from Avocados – Love One Today, a science-based resource, suggests fresh avocados offer weight management benefits, help with type 2 diabetes management and are good for blood sugar management. Avocados uniquely contain fiber and healthy fats in each nutrient-dense bite, which slows digestion, helping you feel satisfied and fuller longer.

 

To explore evidence-based avocado nutrition information, along with practical tips and easy recipes, visit Avocados – Love One Today, a leading resource for avocado nutrition information. Try this recipe for Avocado and Blueberry Chia Pudding for your next breakfast or snack.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Avocado and Blueberry Chia Pudding

• 1 1/2 cups plain, unsweetened soy milk (or milk of choice) 
• 1 ripe, fresh avocado, halved, pitted and peeled 
• 3/4 cup frozen blueberries 
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla Greek yogurt 
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup 
• 1/3 cup chia seeds 

To Serve: 

• 1/3 cup granola 
• 1/3 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 kiwi, chopped 
• 1/2 fresh, ripe avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and chopped

1. In blender, puree soy milk, avocado, blueberries, yogurt and maple syrup until smooth. Pour mixture into storage container or bowl and add chia seeds. Whisk well to combine. Cover with lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight, until thickened.
2. To serve, divide into bowls and top with granola, fresh blueberries, kiwi and avocado.  

Notes: Use any milk (dairy or non-dairy) that you prefer in pudding. Use fresh blueberries or conventional frozen blueberries. Other topping options include: nuts, seeds, hemp hearts, sliced banana or strawberries, or nut butter. 

SOURCE:

Avocados – Love One Today

Looking for more bites, sips, and local dining news? Head over to STM Daily News’ Food & Drink page for more food and beverage stories: https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink-3/

Pack Pasta Salad in a Jar for a Taste of Summer in School Lunches

(Feature Impact) When students open up their lunchboxes in the cafeteria, it’s fun to be greeted with something bright, colorful and fresh. Pasta salad is a summer picnic staple, but once the weather starts to cool and kids head back to school, there’s nothing to say you can’t send a taste of summer with them.

The beauty of pasta salad is it’s totally customizable, ideal for eating cold and easy to make ahead of time. That means you can spend the evening before school dishing up jars then pop them in the fridge for a quick morning grab-and-go lunchbox filler. Adults in the household can take one to work while kids have their own at school – and if anyone wants a different dressing or no olives, it’s an easy accommodation.

If you’re making this Pasta Salad in a Jar recipe as the main course instead of a lunchtime side, up the protein by adding beans, chicken or cubed cheese to keep kids energized for the second half of the day. Choose whole-grain or high-protein pasta for an extra nutritional boost, and pack in vitamins and fiber with plenty of crunchy fresh produce, from cucumbers and carrots to tomatoes and olives.

Find more school-day recipes at Culinary.net.

Pasta Salad in a Jar

Recipe adapted from Best of This Life
Prep time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1

Dressing:

• 2          tablespoons olive oil
  
• 2          tablespoons red wine vinegar
  
• 1/8       teaspoon dried basil
  
• 1/8       teaspoon oregano
  
• 1/8       teaspoon parsley
  
• salt, to taste
  
• freshly ground pepper, to taste

• 1/4       cup canned chickpeas, rinsed
  
• 1/2       cup halved grape tomatoes
  
• 1/2       cup diced cucumber
  
• 2          tablespoons sliced Kalamata olives
  
• 1          cup cooked pasta of choice, cooled
  
• 1          cup chopped spinach

1. To make dressing: In canning jar, combine olive oil, vinegar, basil, oregano, parsley and salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in chickpeas.
2. Layer tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, cooked pasta and spinach over dressing.
3. Refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve, flip jar over and lightly shake to combine dressing with other ingredients. 

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

SOURCE:

Culinary.net

🍴 What’s your favorite food, recipe, or dining spot? Tell us in the comments! Then subscribe to the STM Daily News newsletter for fresh recipes, restaurant news, food trends, and delicious stories delivered straight to your inbox. Join our growing community of food lovers today!