Food and Beverage
Find Comfort in Creamy, Hearty Family Meals
Hearty Family Meals: This content highlights quick, comforting family meals like Creamy Chicken Pearl Couscous Soup and Easy Beef Bulgogi Rice Bowl. Featuring easy-to-use ingredients, such as Success Pearl Couscous and Jasmine Rice, these recipes help save time while delivering delicious flavors.
Last Updated on October 20, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Find Comfort in Creamy, Hearty Family Meals
(Family Features) Simmering soups and comforting rice bowls offer easy, flavorful ways to warm up after a cold day – especially during busy weeknights when time is at a premium. Savor those precious seconds spent around the table rather than watching time escape in the kitchen with comfort food classics that don’t waste a moment.
With solutions like Success Boil-in-Bag Pearl Couscous, a Mediterranean-style pasta that cooks in under 7 minutes, you can turn tried-and-true meals into instant favorites. Made with high-quality semolina wheat, it provides a nutty flavor that absorbs the taste of soups and salads while retaining its density and chewy texture.
That firm consistency and flavor absorption makes pearl couscous a perfect base for a slow-simmered weeknight superhero like Creamy Chicken Pearl Couscous Soup. A complete meal in one bowl, it delivers veggies, chicken and bouncy pearl couscous in every warming bite.
Or for an even heartier meal, a simple garlic-spiked marinade turns beef sirloin into a saucy, flavorful family solution. It’s a straightforward dish, making it ideal for those hectic evenings after school and work. To save some extra time, let the beef marinate overnight so it’s ready to cook when you get home from the office.
It’s served over a bowl of aromatic, buttery Success Jasmine Rice, a long-grain rice ready in 10 minutes. It adds subtle yet unique flavor to an assortment of dishes as a certified gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified recipe base with no preservatives or additives. Plus, with no measure and no mess, the BPA-free Boil-in-Bag makes cooking easy.
To discover more comforting meal ideas fit for your family, visit SuccessRice.com.
Creamy Chicken Pearl Couscous Soup
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
- 1 bag Success Pearl Couscous
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon heavy cream (optional)
- Prepare pearl couscous according to package directions.
- In large pot, heat butter over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook 5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Slowly stir in chicken broth then add Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Bring to boil then reduce heat to simmer 10 minutes.
- Stir in chicken, milk and pearl couscous. Simmer 5 minutes until hot. Garnish with parsley.
- For creamier soup, stir in heavy cream just before serving.
Easy Beef Bulgogi Rice Bowl
Prep time: 10 minutes, plus 30 minutes for marinating
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2-4
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound beef sirloin, thinly sliced
- 1 bag (14 ounces) Success Jasmine Rice
- 1/4 cup carrots, julienned
- 1/4 cup cucumbers, julienned
- 1/4 cup onions, chopped
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- In bowl, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil and garlic. Add beef and mix well. Refrigerate marinated beef at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
- Prepare rice according to package directions.
- Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Cook beef 7 minutes, stirring often, until cooked through and caramelized. In last 3 minutes, add carrots, cucumbers and onions.
- Divide rice between bowls. Top with beef bulgogi. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
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Last Updated on January 30, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Each year on January 31st, National Hot Chocolate Day warms up people across the country by celebrating the timeless cold-weather beverage.
National Hot Chocolate Day
Hot chocolate, also known as hot cocoa or drinking chocolate, is a heated drink consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and usually a sweetener like whipped cream or marshmallows. Hot chocolate made with melted chocolate is sometimes called drinking chocolate, characterized by less sweetness and a thicker consistency.
The first chocolate drink is believed to have been created by the Maya around 2,500–3,000 years ago, and a cocoa drink was an essential part of Aztec culture by 1400 AD, by which they referred to as xocōlātl.[2] The drink became popular in Europe after being introduced from Mexico in the New World and has undergone multiple changes since then. Until the 19th century, hot chocolate was used medicinally to treat ailments such as liver and stomach diseases.
Hot chocolate is consumed throughout the world and comes in multiple variations, including the spiced chocolate para mesa of Latin America, the very thick cioccolata calda served in Italy and chocolate a la taza served in Spain, and the thinner hot cocoa consumed in the United States. Prepared hot chocolate can be purchased from a range of establishments, including cafeterias, fast food restaurants, coffeehouses and teahouses. Powdered hot chocolate mixes, which can be added to boiling water or hot milk to make the drink at home, are sold at grocery stores and online. (wikipedia)
Links:
National Day Calendar: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-hot-chocolate-day-january-31/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_chocolate
Visit our Food and Drink section: https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage/
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Food and Beverage
Win Your Watch Party with a Fan Favorite Dip
Game day hosts can elevate their celebrations with a 7-Layer Game Day Dip. This easy recipe combines refried beans, mashed avocados, seasoned sour cream, cheese, tomatoes, scallions, and olives for a delicious spread. Perfect with tortilla chips, it’s an ideal snack for enjoying during the big game. For more recipes, visit Culinary.net.
(Family Features) From the pregame party to kickoff and the final whistle, game day hosts know savory snacks are the key to victory. Celebrate the big game this season with a simple yet tasty spin on a football staple with this 7-Layer Game Day Dip. Featuring layers of refried beans, mashed avocados and seasoned sour cream topped with cheese, tomatoes, scallions and black olives, you can tackle a winning spread in next to no time.
Visit Culinary.net to find more strategies for serving victorious game day recipes.
7-Layer Game Day Dip
Recipe adapted from Love & Lemons
Prep time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12
- 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
- 3/4 cup salsa
- 2 avocados
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 16 ounces sour cream
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 bunch scallions, chopped (optional)
- 1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced black olives, drained (optional)
- tortilla chips, for serving
- In medium bowl, stir refried beans and 1/2 cup salsa. In separate medium bowl, mash avocados with remaining salsa. Add bell peppers and lime juice; stir to combine. In third medium bowl, stir sour cream and taco seasoning.
- To assemble, spread refried bean mixture in bottom of baking dish. Spread avocado mixture evenly on top then spread sour cream mixture. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese then top with diced tomatoes.
- Top dish with scallions and black olives, if desired. Serve with tortilla chips.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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Food and Beverage
Straw Hat Pizza: The Rise, Fall, and Nostalgic Legacy of a California Pizza Icon
Straw Hat Pizza was once a California pizza powerhouse. Explore the rise, decline, and nostalgic legacy of this beloved family pizza chain.
Long before pizza delivery apps, stuffed-crust gimmicks, and national chains on every corner, there was Straw Hat Pizza — a family-friendly, California-born pizza chain that helped define what “going out for pizza” meant for generations.
For many Californians, Straw Hat Pizza wasn’t just dinner. It was birthday parties, Little League celebrations, arcade games, salad bars, and the hum of a busy dining room packed with families. While the brand is far smaller today, its place in American food history is secure.
Humble Beginnings: A California Pizza Story
Straw Hat Pizza was founded in 1959 by Charlie Olson and Bill Henderlong. The first location opened in San Leandro, California, during a period when pizza was still becoming a mainstream American favorite.
The name came from the straw hats worn by pizza makers at early California pizzerias — a visual shortcut that told customers exactly what kind of place they were entering. Casual. Friendly. Pizza-focused.
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The Golden Years: 1960s Through the Early 1980s
Through the 1960s and 1970s, Straw Hat Pizza expanded rapidly across California and Nevada. By 1980, the chain reportedly operated more than 200 locations, becoming a staple in suburban shopping centers and family neighborhoods.
- Large dining rooms built for families and groups
- Arcade games and coin-operated attractions
- Salad bars — a defining feature of the era
- Party rooms for birthdays and team celebrations
The pizza leaned toward what we now call California-style: thin, layered crusts, generous toppings, and a menu designed for sharing. It was food meant to be eaten at a table, not rushed out the door.
Corporate Consolidation and Decline
In 1969, Straw Hat Pizza was sold to Saga Corporation, which later became part of Marriott Corporation. As restaurant consolidation accelerated in the 1980s, Straw Hat became caught in a wave of mergers and acquisitions.
By the late 1980s, many Straw Hat locations were sold to or converted by Pizza Hut. Franchise owners fought back, eventually retaining rights to the Straw Hat name and continuing operations independently — but the brand’s footprint was permanently reduced.
How Straw Hat Pizza Survived
Unlike many mid-century restaurant chains, Straw Hat Pizza never fully disappeared. Independent franchise owners reorganized, preserving the brand, recipes, and name. Today, a limited number of Straw Hat Pizza locations continue operating — primarily in California.
It is no longer a national competitor, but rather a regional legacy brand, sustained by nostalgia and loyal local customers.
Why Straw Hat Pizza Still Matters
Straw Hat Pizza represents an era when pizza parlors were community spaces — places to linger, celebrate, and connect. Its story mirrors the rise of suburban America and the transformation of pizza from novelty to cultural staple.
For many, the memory of Straw Hat Pizza is inseparable from childhood — the smell of baked dough, the sound of arcade machines, and the excitement of a shared pie arriving at the table.
The Nostalgia Revival
Vintage menus, matchbooks, and advertisements from Straw Hat Pizza frequently surface online, part of a broader resurgence of interest in retro restaurants. These artifacts remind us that regional chains once played a major role in shaping American food culture.
Straw Hat Pizza may no longer dominate California strip malls, but its legacy lives on — in memories, collectibles, and the handful of locations still serving slices under that iconic name.
Related Coverage on STM Daily News
External References & Further Reading
STM Daily News continues to explore the food history that shaped our communities — from vanished chains to local favorites that still define how we eat and gather.
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