Food and Beverage
Put a Plant-Based Twist on Holiday Baking
Flavorful desserts are a staple of the holidays and the exciting, appetizing allure of new plant-based recipes can help elevate seasonal gatherings and create sweet memories.
Last Updated on October 1, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Put a Plant-Based Twist on Holiday Baking
(Family Features) Flavorful desserts are a staple of the holidays and the exciting, appetizing allure of new recipes can help elevate seasonal gatherings and create sweet memories. With near-endless options for celebrating the season, putting a plant-based twist on traditional recipes offers everyone the opportunity to indulge with decadent treats.
In seasonal sweets like Brulee Pumpkin Pie and No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake, an option like Country Crock Plant Cream can be used as a dairy-free substitute for heavy whipping cream. With 29% less saturated fat than dairy heavy whipping cream, it’s an easy 1:1 swap and is also soy-free, certified plant-based and 100% vegan, making it ideal to have on hand during holiday baking season. It’s all of the deliciousness of heavy cream, with none of the heaviness of dairy.
Visit CountryCrock.com for more delectable holiday dessert ideas.
Brulee Pumpkin Pie
Prep time: 45 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
Servings: 8
Pie Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons Country Crock Plant Butter, cold and cut into cubes
- 2 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening, cut into pieces
- 4 tablespoons ice water
Pumpkin Filling:
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup coconut cream
- 1 cup Country Crock Plant Cream
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground clove
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons white granulated sugar
Whipped Topping:
- 2 cups Country Crock Plant Cream, chilled
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- To make pie crust: Preheat oven to 350 F.
- In bowl of food processor, add flour, sugar and salt; pulse to combine. Add cold plant butter and shortening. Process about 10 seconds until it looks like coarse meal.
- With food processor running, add ice water. Process until mixture clumps together.
- On lightly floured surface, roll dough into 14-inch circle. Transfer to 9-inch pie dish. Lift edges and allow dough to drape into dish. Trim, leaving 1-inch overhang. Fold excess dough under and crimp edges.
- To make pumpkin filling: In medium saucepan over medium heat, add syrup and vanilla; warm about 2 minutes then remove from heat and set aside.
- In large bowl, combine syrup mixture, pumpkin, coconut cream, plant cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, salt and cornstarch; blend with hand mixer until smooth. Pour mixture into pie crust.
- Bake 1 hour. If crust starts to burn, cover edges with aluminum foil. The middle will still be jiggly.
- Cool at room temperature 30 minutes then cover and transfer to refrigerator to chill at least 5 hours or overnight.
- Before serving, sprinkle pie with white sugar and, using kitchen torch, brelee until sugar is melted and dark brown.
- To make whipped topping: Using electric hand mixer or stand mixer, whisk plant cream, powdered sugar and vanilla on high until mixture thickens and stiff peaks form.
- Slice and serve with whipped topping.
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Prep time: 5-10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 6-7 hours
Servings: 8
- Country Crock Plant Butter, for greasing
Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup Country Crock Plant Butter, melted
Filling:
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) dairy-free cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Country Crock Plant Cream
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Chocolate Ganache:
- 1 stick Country Crock Plant Butter, cubed
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Grease 9-inch pie dish with plant butter; set aside.
- To make crust: In medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and melted plant butter; mix thoroughly.
- Add crust to greased pie dish and press firmly to bottom and sides; refrigerate.
- To make filling: In bowl of electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Add powdered sugar; beat until fully incorporated.
- Add peanut butter, vanilla extract and plant cream; beat until smooth and creamy.
- Pour filling into prepared crust and refrigerate 5-6 hours or overnight.
- To make chocolate ganache: In pan over medium heat, add plant butter cubes and chocolate; stir continuously.
- Spread chocolate ganache evenly on top of chilled cheesecake. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before slicing and serving.
SOURCE:
Country Crock Plant Cream
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Food and Beverage
No Plane Ticket Required: Italian-Inspired Beef Recipes for Watch Parties and Weeknights
The Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand teams with chef Marcia Smart to share Italian-inspired beef recipes like Beef Tagliata and a quick 30-minute Beef Ragù.
When Italy is on the world stage, the cravings tend to follow. And if you’re planning a watch party (or just trying to make a weeknight dinner feel like a small event), the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand is leaning into the moment with a simple message: you can bring those Italian flavors home—no airfare required.
In a new recipe push, the brand (funded by beef farmers and ranchers) partnered with chef and influencer Marcia Smart to spotlight Italian-inspired beef dishes that are designed to be big on flavor, easy to share, and quick enough for real-life schedules.
Why Italian flavors work so well for gatherings
Smart says cooking trends and pop culture are part of what keeps home cooking fun—especially when people are gathered around the TV.
“When people gather around the TV, food becomes part of the experience and leaning into trends and pop culture keeps cooking fun,” Smart said. She also notes that beef and Italian flavors are consistently two of the most popular topics in her cooking classes, in part because they deliver crowd-pleasing dishes that also bring high-quality protein and nutrients to the table.
Recipe spotlight: Beef Tagliata (restaurant vibes, minimal effort)
If you want something that feels like it came from an Italian restaurant but doesn’t require a long prep list, Beef Tagliata is the move.
The dish centers on a seared steak—either Strip Steak or Boneless Rib-Eye Steak—that’s sliced and served over fresh arugula, then finished with balsamic vinegar and shaved parmesan.
It’s quick, it plates beautifully, and it works family-style—which makes it a strong option for:
- Watch parties
- Date-night-at-home dinners
- Busy weeknights when you still want something “nice”
Recipe spotlight: Quick Beef Ragù (comfort food in 30 minutes)
For the comfort-food crowd, the brand also highlights a Quick Beef Ragù that aims to deliver classic Italian red-sauce flavor without the all-day simmer.
In this version, Ground Beef cooks with ingredients you’d expect in a traditional Italian red sauce, but the whole thing comes together in about 30 minutes.
The best part: it’s easy to customize and flexible on how you serve it. The release suggests pairing it with:
- Pasta
- Polenta
- Spaghetti squash (if you want a lighter base)
Where to find the recipes
These dishes—plus more Italian-inspired ideas—are available at BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.
If you’re building out a game-day spread or just want to keep weeknight cooking interesting, this is one of those recipe collections that hits the sweet spot: familiar flavors, approachable steps, and enough flexibility to make it your own.
Source: PRNewswire
Food & Drink on STM Daily News serves up quick, local-to-national bites on what to eat, what to try, and what’s trending—new restaurant openings, limited-time menus, product drops, and easy recipes you can actually make on a weeknight. If it’s worth a taste (or a watch-party spread), you’ll find it here. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/
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Food and Beverage
Fresh Thinking About Frozen: Bring Quality Meals to the Table While Cutting Food Waste and Stretching Your Budget
For many families, the freezer is for last-minute meal options. However, new federal nutrition guidance and growing scientific consensus reveal a different reality: frozen foods can be the starting point for healthy eating, not a backup plan.
Last Updated on February 21, 2026 by Daily News Staff
(Feature Impact) The key to easy preparation of high-quality meals, wasting less food and saving money may already be sitting in your kitchen.
For many families, the freezer is for last-minute meal options. However, new federal nutrition guidance and growing scientific consensus reveal a different reality: frozen foods can be the starting point for healthy eating, not a backup plan. That’s why the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) is launching “Fresh Thinking About Frozen,” a campaign to help families discover these benefits of frozen foods.
Making Nutrition Achievable
The recently released 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the nation’s top nutrition advice, emphasizes portion control and nutrient-dense foods. Frozen options deliver on both counts.
Families who keep frozen produce on hand tend to eat more fruits and vegetables overall. Pre-portioned frozen meals also help people eat what they need without overdoing it. Plus, the convenience factor matters: frozen berries are ready for a morning smoothie, pre-cut frozen vegetables can be added to tonight’s stir-fry and a balanced frozen meal can be quickly paired with a salad.
That isn’t cutting corners. It’s being smart on how best to feed a family well.
Freezing Hits the Pause Button on Fresh Foods
Freezing food only changes a food’s temperature, not its nutrition. Freezing keeps food close to its original state without requiring additives.
Produce begins to lose nutritional value right after it’s harvested. Freezing fruits and vegetables hours after harvest pauses nutrient degradation and locks in the vitamins and minerals, so the food remains farm fresh even as it travels across the country to your grocery store. Frozen meals are similarly made with real ingredients and turned into just-cooked recipes then frozen for families to eat when they’re ready.
The nutrition community understands this. A recent survey conducted by AFFI found 94% of registered dietitians agree frozen fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts. Another 92% said frozen foods offer a variety of nutritious meal offerings. These findings are central to the “Fresh Thinking About Frozen” message: Frozen is not second-best. It’s simply smart.
Solving the Food Waste Problem
Nearly 40% of food in the United States gets thrown away, according to the nonprofit ReFED. That translates to roughly $1,500 per year per household, straight into the trash along with unused produce and forgotten leftovers.
Frozen helps fix that problem. Eight in 10 consumers agree buying frozen helps reduce food waste at home, AFFI research finds. The reason is simple: You use what you need, when you need it and the rest stays perfectly preserved. No more dreading the refrigerator cleanouts and feeling guilty over the uneaten food going into the trashcan.
Time for Fresh Thinking
Families already making this shift aren’t settling for less. They’re strategic about nutrition, budget and time. They integrate the freezer into regular meal planning. They feel confident about providing quality foods that are simply frozen.
The freezer isn’t a place of last resort. It’s a tool for eating well in real life. Visit frozenadvantage.org/FTAF for tips, recipes and resources to make the most of your freezer.
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
American Frozen Food Institute
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. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/
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Community
Chick-fil-A Awards $6 Million in True Inspiration Awards Grants to 56 Nonprofits
Chick-fil-A is awarding $6 million in 2026 True Inspiration Awards grants to 56 nonprofits, including a $350,000 honoree grant to San Antonio’s Faith Kitchen.
Chick-fil-A, Inc. is awarding $6 million in grants to 56 nonprofit organizations as part of its 2026 True Inspiration Awards® program, spotlighting groups the company says are making measurable, community-level impact.
The Feb. 10 announcement also marks a global milestone for the brand: Chick-fil-A is expanding the program’s footprint to include its first-ever Singapore-based grant recipient.
The big picture: a decade of community grants
Chick-fil-A launched the True Inspiration Awards in 2015 to honor the legacy of its founder, S. Truett Cathy. Since then, the company says it has awarded more than 400 grants totaling nearly $40 million to nonprofits across the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.K. and now Singapore.
“Serving is at the heart of what we do, and the True Inspiration Awards reflect our belief that strong communities are built through consistent, caring action,” said Andrew T. Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A, Inc., in the release.
Faith Kitchen named 2026 S. Truett Cathy Honoree
This year’s S. Truett Cathy Honoree — the program’s top recognition and largest grant — went to Faith Kitchen, a San Antonio-based nonprofit focused on serving people experiencing homelessness.
Faith Kitchen received a $350,000 grant, which Chick-fil-A says will help:
- Support continued meal service
- Expand job training programs
- Increase operational capacity as demand rises
According to the release, Faith Kitchen serves more than 5,000 individuals each year and has operated with a mission of feeding those experiencing homelessness for 45 years, providing hot, nutritious meals three times per day.
Shared Table partnership: surplus food turned into meals
Chick-fil-A also highlighted its ongoing relationship with Faith Kitchen through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table®program, which donates surplus food from restaurants.
Since 2017, Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Antonio have partnered with Faith Kitchen to help create more than 200,000 meals, according to the company. The release also notes restaurants donate 500 boxed meals monthly to support Faith Kitchen clients.
Local Owner-Operator Greg Patterson said he nominated Faith Kitchen for the grant, citing the organization’s focus on dignity and dependable support.
Global expansion: first Singapore recipient
A notable headline for 2026 is the program’s first Singapore recipient: Fei Yue Community Services, which received $170,000 SGD.
Chick-fil-A says the organization supports socially withdrawn youth by connecting them with mental health resources and supportive relationships.
More nonprofits recognized across the U.S.
While Chick-fil-A’s full list of 2026 recipients is available through the company’s program page, the release highlights several additional grant recipients, including:
- Living and Learning Enrichment Center (Detroit, Michigan): $125,000 to support teens and young adults with disabilities transitioning to adulthood
- For Oak Cliff (North Texas): $200,000 to strengthen culturally responsive programs and expand access to education, workforce development, and community resources
- San Diego Rescue Mission (San Diego, California): $125,000 to provide trauma-informed support for individuals and families facing homelessness
- Capital City Youth Services (Tallahassee, Florida): selected to help expand emergency shelter and mental health support for at-risk youth
Chick-fil-A One members helped vote — nearly 700,000 ballots
Chick-fil-A says Chick-fil-A One® Members voted for Operator-nominated nonprofits in the Chick-fil-A App, and that voting plays a role in the final scoring. This year, the company reported a record nearly 700,000 votes cast.
2027 application window is open
Nonprofits interested in the next cycle can take note: Chick-fil-A says the 2027 True Inspiration Awards application period opens today and closes May 1.
For more information and the interactive release, visit: https://www.multivu.com/chick-fil-a/9376351-en-chick-fil-a-true-inspiration-awards-grants
Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
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