Food and Beverage

Bring Holiday Happiness to the Table with Easy, Festive Sides

Published

2 years ago

November 10, 2024

Daily News Staff

(Family Features) Many people would agree the holidays are one of the happiest times of the year – but also one of the most stressful. Replace the stress with smiles by cooking easy, delicious dinners that can help make the season a breeze and bring a little holiday happiness to mealtime.

Spend less time in the kitchen and more time with family by turning to easy-to-prepare potato recipes that can make the whole family happy.

For example, when you’re busy trying to cook multiple things at once, free up precious oven real estate while saving time with these Herby Holiday Air Fryer Little Potatoes. For a busy weeknight during the holiday season, potato dishes like this one can be made in an air fryer and customized with a few of your favorite pantry staples. If you don’t have fresh herbs on hand, dried will do the trick.

This recipe and many others can be streamlined with Little Potatoes, which come pre-washed, are small enough they don’t need to be cut and are a fresh, whole food grown on family farms so you can feel good about serving them to your loved ones.

Remember, easy can still be fabulous and festive. This Warm Winter Potato Salad with Cranberries offers the best of both worlds as it comes together in around 7 minutes with seasonal pops of red and green.

This family-friendly side features A Little Roasted Garlic, Rosemary & Thyme Microwave Ready Little Potatoes that simply need to be steamed in the microwave for 5 minutes then tossed with the included seasoning pack – no boiling or peeling required. It’s truly a holiday shortcut, and you can make the recipe even easier by using store-bought honey mustard vinaigrette if you’re short on time to make it from scratch.

Visit littlepotatoes.com to find more ways to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with family.

Herby Holiday Air Fryer Little Potatoes

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6

1 1/2 pounds Little Potatoes
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons fresh or dried herbs, such as parsley, rosemary, sage or oregano, chopped

In large bowl, toss potatoes with oil or melted butter. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Place in air fryer basket.
Air fry potatoes at 390 F for 25 minutes.
Once air-fried, sprinkle potatoes with herbs and serve.

Warm Winter Potato Salad with Cranberries

Prep time: 2-5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4

1 package A Little Roasted Garlic, Rosemary & Thyme Microwave Ready Little Potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 small apple, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or other nuts (optional)
fresh parsley (optional)
green onions (optional)

Prepare potatoes according to package instructions, about 5 minutes, tossing with olive oil and included seasoning pack once cooked.
In small bowl, whisk Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar and honey or maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
In large bowl, toss warm potatoes with cranberries, thinly sliced apple and walnuts, if using.
Drizzle mustard dressing over top and gently mix until well-coated.
Top with fresh parsley or green onions, if desired, for pop of color. Serve warm.

Tips: If you like more texture, toast walnuts for extra crunch. For added creaminess, mix 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt or mayonnaise into dressing. To save time or reduce ingredients needed, use storebought honey mustard vinaigrette.

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SOURCE:
The Little Potato Company

At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.

Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience.

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Foodie News

Prioritize Brain Health with a Peanut-Packed Menu

Published

4 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Daily News Staff

Prioritize Brain Health with a Peanut-Packed Menu

(Feature Impact) A healthy brain goes beyond reading exercises and completing puzzles – it extends to the kitchen, too. Emerging nutritional science is clear that what people eat doesn’t just fuel the body; it shapes memory, mood and cognitive health.

Among the foods you can include in your diet to give your brain a boost are peanuts and peanut butter, staples valued not only for their convenience but also for their cognitive benefits. In fact, a study published in the “Journal of the Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease” found adults 60-80 years old who did not eat peanuts and peanut butter regularly were 30-50% more likely to perform poorly on tests measuring learning, memory, language, processing motor speed and attentiveness compared to those who did consumer peanuts and peanut butter.

It’s not just the older generation that can benefit. According to research published in “Clinical Nutrition,” a study of college students ages 18-33 showed consumption of peanuts and peanut butter was associated with improved memory function and decreased anxiety, depression and stress.

Consider this key information from the Georgia Peanut Commission before your next meal planning session.

Nutrients that Give the Brain a Boost

Despite their small stature, peanuts pack a nutrition punch. Their unique blend of various vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds includes:

Niacin, which can slow cognitive decline and reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, according to the “Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry”
Vitamin E, found to promote healthy brain aging and delay cognitive decline
Resveratrol, believed to be beneficial in fighting against Alzheimer’s disease and other nerve degenerating diseases, per the “Journal of Biological Chemistry”
P-coumaric acid, an antioxidant that appears to target the neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate mood, stress and anxiety

Peace of MIND

Peanuts are included in the MIND diet, a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, which specifically includes foods shown to benefit the brain.

Adding peanuts to your menu can be a breeze. Look no further than a powerful main course like Crunchy and Creamy Cold Green Pea and Peanut Salad, a perfect accompaniment at potlucks and cookouts as an easy side or light main course. Make breakfast-on-the-go part of your daily commute with Flourless Blueberry Muffins that require just five ingredients, including creamy peanut butter, or add a pinch of protein to snack time with Protein Balls that can be refrigerated until hunger strikes.

Brain Food for Thought

Supporting your brain starts with the right nutrition, and evidence makes clear peanuts and peanut butter should be top-of-mind as you head to the grocery store. For help getting started, find more recipes and nutritional information by visiting GAPeanuts.com.

Flourless Blueberry Muffins

Recipe courtesy of The Peanut Institute
Servings: 12

2 bananas
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease muffin pan.
In blender or food processor, combine bananas, peanut butter, eggs and baking powder; blend until smooth. Fold in blueberries by hand.
Pour mixture into muffin tin. Bake 12-15 minutes.
Store in airtight container up to 3 days.

Nutritional information per serving: 155 calories, 10 g carbohydrates, 31 mg cholesterol, 2 g saturated fat, 9 g unsaturated fat, 2 g fiber, 6 g protein, 98 mg sodium, 5 g sugar.

Crunchy and Creamy Cold Green Pea and Peanut Salad

Recipe courtesy of The Peanut Institute
Servings: 8

Dressing:

1/3 cup sour cream
1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar

Salad:

1 package (20 ounces) green peas, frozen
1 cup celery, chopped
1/3 cup red onions, chopped
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
6 slices thick cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 pinch salt, or to taste
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

To make dressing: In small mixing bowl, whisk sour cream, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar and sugar.
To make salad: In large mixing bowl, combine frozen green peas, celery and onion. Pour dressing over salad and toss to combine. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Before serving, stir in roasted peanuts and crumbled bacon. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Nutritional information per serving: 230 calories, 17 g carbohydrates, 12 mg cholesterol, 3 g saturated fat, 9 g unsaturated fat, 5 g fiber, 11 g protein, 249 mg sodium, 6 g sugar, 1 g added sugar.

Protein Balls

Recipe courtesy of The Peanut Institute
Servings: 24

1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/4 cup honey
2 cups quick oats
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup dried, chopped cranberries
1/8 teaspoon iodized salt
1/4 cup water

Using stand mixer, combine peanut butter, vanilla, honey, quick oats, flaxseed, coconut, cranberries, salt and water; mix until well combined.
Form dough into 1-ounce portions and refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.

Nutritional information per serving: 130 calories, 7 g fat, 14 g carbohydrates, 3 g protein, 2 g fiber, 60 mg sodium. track

SOURCE:

Georgia Peanut Commission

STM Daily News’ Food and Drink section highlights the stories, trends, flavors, and events shaping today’s food culture. From recipes to restaurant news, it keeps readers connected to what’s fresh and worth tasting.

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