Food and Beverage
A Hearty Meal in Miniature Form
Hearty Meal: Mini Beef Wellingtons are perfect for gatherings, served with mashed potatoes and green beans. This recipe features a creamy mushroom sauce and is easy to prepare.

Hearty Meal
(Family Features) Perfect for any occasion – from family dinners to football watch parties – these Mini Beef Wellingtons pair nicely with mashed potatoes and green beans or can be served as an easy appetizer before the big game. It’s a downsized version of a hearty favorite that’ll leave everyone asking for more. Visit Culinary.net to find more recipes from “Cookin’ Savvy” and sign up for a weekly recipe newsletter.
Mini Beef Wellingtons
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Mushroom Sauce:
- 1 can (14 ounces) mushrooms
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces beef tenderloin steaks, cubed
- 1 package (17 ounces, 2 sheets) puff pastry
- water
- garlic and herb spreadable cheese
- 1 package (2 1/2 ounces) real bacon pieces
- mashed potatoes, for serving
- To make mushroom sauce: In blender, blend mushrooms and chicken broth; set aside.
- In skillet over medium heat, melt butter and mix in flour. Slowly add mushroom broth while stirring. It should start to thicken; if it doesn’t, add 1 tablespoon flour and stir well.
- Add garlic powder and salt and pepper, to taste. Mix in heavy cream while continuing to stir. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Heat oven to 400 F.
- Cube steaks and place in bowl then cover and mix well with 1 cup mushroom sauce.
- Cut each puff pastry into six squares for 12 total. Use water to moisten each corner of squares and bring them together, forming small box shape. Place 1 heaping tablespoon meat mixture into each pastry square.
- Place squares on parchment paper-covered cookie sheets and bake 15 minutes.
- Spoon spreadable cheese over hot squares and top with bacon pieces.
- Serve with mashed potatoes and use leftover mushroom sauce as gravy.
SOURCE:
Culinary.net
Food and Beverage
Decadent Sticky Rice Recipes for Dessert
Last Updated on July 9, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Decadent Sticky Rice Recipes for Dessert
(Feature Impact) Although many people associate rice with savory dishes, this staple grain can actually level up your dessert game too. Cultures from around the world have invented a variety of creative ways to turn the sticky rice in your pantry into treats you can whip up when you’re on the prowl for something sweet.
Sticky rice, also known as sweet rice, is a specific type of short- or medium-grain rice that, as the name implies, becomes sticky when cooked. With Success Boil-in-Bag Sticky Rice, it’s simple to make sweet, soft, perfectly cooked rice for desserts without extra steps, equipment or hassle. In only 12 minutes, you’ll have an ideal base to use for your favorite recipes.
A rice-based take on a quintessential British dessert, this Sticky Toffee Pudding is decadent and full of mouthwatering flavor. With the rich sweetness of brown sugar and vanilla imbued in every bite, it’s a warm, comforting dessert you might find yourself craving on a rainy day or cold night. Take it to the next level by adding caramelized banana and toasted coconut toppings.
For a more refreshing, summery option, transport your kitchen to the tropics with this Thai-inspired Sticky Rice with Mango and Coconut. Creamy coconut-infused rice contrasts with juicy ripe mango slices, nutty black sesame seeds and cooling mint-leaf garnishes for a fun, fresh blend of textures and flavors that might have you picturing palm trees. If you’re not a mango fan, feel free to swap in a different tropical fruit of your choice.
The versatility of rice makes it an excellent mainstay to keep on hand in your kitchen, adding ease and flexibility to your daily meal routine. For more ideas on how to use rice for dessert – or for breakfast, lunch and dinner – visit SuccessRice.com.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2-4
- 1 bag Success Sticky Rice
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3/8 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- toasted coconut, for garnish
Caramelized Banana:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 banana, sliced into coins
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Prepare rice according to package directions.
- Remove rice from bag. Return to pot and stir in milk, brown sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Simmer 5 minutes.
- In small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in sugar 2 minutes, or until dissolved. Whisk in cream and bring to simmer. Cook 5 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and remaining salt.
- To make caramelized banana: In medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar until syrupy. Add banana coins in single layer and cook 2 minutes per side until golden brown. Drizzle vanilla on top.
- Add rice to bowl. Pour toffee sauce on top. Garnish with caramelized bananas and coconut. Serve warm or chilled.

Sticky Rice with Mango and Coconut
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes
Servings: 2-4
- 1 bag Success Sticky Rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/4 cups coconut milk, divided
- 3 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar, divided
- 2 mangoes, sliced
- 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
- fresh mint leaves, for garnish
- Prepare rice according to package directions using 1 1/2 cups water, 1 cup coconut milk and 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar rather than 4 cups water.
- In separate small saucepan over medium heat, bring remaining coconut milk and brown sugar to boil. Cook, stirring often, 8-10 minutes, or until thickened and syrupy.
- Divide rice among four serving bowls. Arrange mango slices over top; drizzle with coconut milk syrup. Garnish with black sesame seeds and mint.
Substitution: Use pineapple, guava or papaya for mango, if desired.
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Food and Beverage
Knock Out Summer Meal-Planning with a Nutritious, Make-Ahead Solution

Knock Out Summer Meal-Planning with a Nutritious, Make-Ahead Solution
(Feature Impact) If your summer schedule is already crammed with cross-country trips, social events and activities for the kids, the last thing you likely want to think about is meal-planning.
Fueling up for all those fun moments that summer can bring requires a little extra energy, making North Carolina Sweetpotatoes a family-friendly solution that can enhance both flavor and nutrition in sweet and savory dishes. While you might not be ready to think about next week’s meal plans, these Sweetpotato Meal Prep Jars offer an easy way to give your brain a break.
They’re perfect for grab-and-go lunches during busy workweeks or quick bites over hectic weekends. Packed with beta-carotene antioxidants the body converts to vitamin A for healthy vision, immune defense and skin, sweetpotatoes are a delicious base ingredient. Plus, the fiber in sweetpotatoes supports digestion and steady energy, pairing well with satisfying, protein-packed beef and black beans.
When it’s time to eat, just dump the contents of the jars onto a plate and enjoy complementary flavors without the hassle. This ready-to-eat recipe includes a refreshing pico de gallo dressing that makes it feel like you’re enjoying a fresh-cooked meal.
Find more nutrition-boosting summer solutions at ncsweetpotatoes.com.
Watch video to see how to make this recipe!
Sweetpotato Meal Prep Jars
Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 3
Dressing:
- 1/4 cup pico de gallo
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon taco seasoning
- 2 medium sweetpotatoes, chopped
- olive oil
- 2 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning, divided
- 1 pound ground grass-fed beef
- 1 can black beans, rinsed
- 1/2 cup cooked corn
- 1/2 cup pico de gallo
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
- 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- To make dressing: In medium glass, whisk pico de gallo, sour cream and taco seasoning.
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Toss sweetpotatoes with olive oil and 1 tablespoon taco seasoning. Spread in even layer on baking sheet and bake 20-25 minutes, tossing halfway.
- In skillet, brown beef with remaining taco seasoning.
- Assemble three meal prep jars with dressing on bottom followed by black beans, corn, pico de gallo, cooked beef, cheese, sweetpotatoes and romaine.
- To serve, dump from jars onto plates.

SOURCE:
North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission
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recipes
Easy, Restaurant-Worthy Meals for Busy Days
Restaurant-Worthy Meals: When life gets busy, your home should be a place of reprieve, not extra stress – and that includes your kitchen. In seasons like this, rather than waiting for a table at your favorite restaurant or standing in line for takeout, turn to quick, easy recipes like this Garlic Parmesan Rice and Shrimp Skillet or Egg Roll in a Bowl.
Last Updated on July 7, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Easy, Restaurant-Worthy Meals for Busy Days
(Feature Impact) When life gets busy, your home should be a place of reprieve, not extra stress – and that includes your kitchen. If you’re juggling work, chores, errands, hobbies, studies, a social life, caretaking or the other million-and-one things keeping your schedule full right now, the idea of spending an hour putting together a home-cooked meal might sound exhausting or downright impossible.
In seasons like this, rather than waiting for a table at your favorite restaurant or standing in line for takeout, turn to quick, easy recipes that offer nutritional balance and don’t skimp on flavor. By using pre-seasoned Minute Rice Cups – like the new, crave-worthy Garlic Parmesan to satisfy comfort cravings and Veggie Stir-Fry that lets you enjoy the flavor of takeout without the wait – you can have a flavorful base for your meals ready in 1 minute. You won’t even have to pull out the rice cooker or go scrounging in the spice cabinet.
If you’re craving a savory, cheesy dinner, this high-protein Garlic Parmesan Rice and Shrimp Skillet, ready in only 6 minutes, is an ideal choice for busy home chefs searching for that elusive balance between simple and sophisticated. Plus, the recipe can easily be adapted to your household’s tastes; try tossing some spinach or chickpeas into the skillet or swapping the shrimp for chicken or tofu.
To enjoy takeout flavors without the trip, opt for this restaurant-inspired Egg Roll in a Bowl recipe. Savor the umami notes of soy sauce and enjoy the convenience of tender onions, carrots and peas mixed into the stir-fry rice cup that forms the base of your meal. The toppings are what give this recipe its deconstructed egg roll vibe: flavorful sauteed cabbage joins crunchy wonton strips and a protein of choice for a bowl that comes together in just 20 minutes.
For more meal ideas to keep you going when life is moving quickly, visit MinuteRice.com.
Garlic Parmesan Rice and Shrimp Skillet
Prep time: 1 minute
Cook time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1-2
- 1 Minute Garlic Parmesan Rice Cup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- lemon wedges, for garnish (optional)
- Heat rice according to package directions.
- In medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add shrimp to skillet and cook until pink, about 3 minutes. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- In same skillet, add rice, lemon juice and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and heat through, 1 minute. Return shrimp and stir to combine.
- Garnish with parsley. Squeeze lemon wedge over top, if desired, and serve.
Substitution: Use sauteed mushrooms or crispy tofu to make vegetarian.
Egg Roll in a Bowl
Prep time: 2 minutes
Cook time: 18 minutes
Servings: 2
- 1 Minute Veggie Stir-Fry Rice Cup
- 1/2 pound ground turkey or pork
- 1 cup coleslaw mix
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ginger, freshly grated
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 cup fried wonton strips
- 2 tablespoons sweet and sour sauce
- Heat rice according to package directions.
- In large pan, cook meat over medium heat 10 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
- Add coleslaw, garlic, soy sauce, ginger and sesame oil to pan. Cook 8 minutes, or until coleslaw is softened. Add rice during final 4 minutes.
- Top with wonton strips, drizzle sweet and sour sauce and serve.
Tip: To add more vegetables, try mushrooms, bell peppers, snap peas or green onions. For extra spice, drizzle on sriracha or hot sauce of choice.
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