recipes

Show Your Love with a Naturally Sweet, Delicious Gift

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, saying “I love you” to a faraway relative or offering a kind gesture to a friend or neighbor, sending a gift is a thoughtful way to share your appreciation. A handwritten note goes a long way, and you can take that token of gratitude one step further by pairing it with an authentic fruit basket.

Published

3 months ago

November 3, 2022

Rebecca Bigham

(Family Features) Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, saying “I love you” to a faraway relative or offering a kind gesture to a friend or neighbor, sending a gift is a thoughtful way to share your appreciation. A handwritten note goes a long way, and you can take that token of gratitude one step further by pairing it with an authentic fruit basket.

When it’s time to give a gift to a friend or loved one, consider sending fresh Florida Citrus boxes, which contain premium citrus hand-selected at the peak of ripeness. Available in a variety of sizes to fit your budget and filled with your choice of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and unique jams, jellies and candies, the baskets arrive fresh at the door of your recipient.

With naturally sweet taste from the Sunshine State, the unique climate with subtropical temperatures, abundant sunshine, distinctive sandy soil and ample rainfall help grow juicy citrus. Plus, the delicious fruits are equally nutritious as they’re loaded with vitamin C and provide a combination of nutrients to support overall health to help adults and children alike meet intake recommendations for certain key nutrients.

On top of their taste as appetizing snacks, they’re perfect for cooking in recipes like Citrus Marinated Flatiron Steak Salad or Citrus Cherry Cobbler that take advantage of their natural sweetness and allow for mouthwatering meals, sides, desserts and more.

To choose a premium, hand-selected basket and send to your friends, neighbors, coworkers and loved ones, visit gifts.floridacitrus.org.

Citrus Marinated Flatiron Steak Salad

Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette:

1/4 cup Florida Orange Juice
1/4 cup Florida Tangerine Juice
2 teaspoons Florida Orange zest
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups olive oil

Flatiron Steak Salad:

1 1/2 pounds flatiron steak
2 cups Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette, divided
1/2 cup Florida Orange segments
1/2 cup Florida Grapefruit segments
2 quarts baby spinach
1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup radish, thinly sliced
1/2 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese

To make citrus balsamic vinaigrette: Combine orange juice, tangerine juice, orange zest, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, Dijon mustard and salt and pepper, to taste. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking vigorously. Set dressing aside.
To make flatiron steak salad: Place flatiron steak in container and add 1 cup citrus balsamic vinaigrette. Marinate in refrigerator at least 30 minutes, or up to 3 hours.
Heat grill to medium-high heat.
Grill steak to desired doneness. Remove from heat and rest 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
In large mixing bowl, combine orange segments, grapefruit segments, baby spinach, red onion, cherry tomatoes, radish and cucumber. Add remaining citrus balsamic vinaigrette, as desired, and toss well to combine.
To serve, divide salad and sliced steak among four plates and top with crumbled goat cheese.

Citrus Cherry Cobbler

Cobbler:

4 cups cherries, pitted, juice reserved
1/2 cup Florida Orange Juice
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups Florida Orange segments, seeded
1/2 cup Florida Grapefruit segments, seeded

Topping:

1 cup all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large egg, beaten
3 tablespoons milk

To make cobbler: In medium saucepan, combine cherries and reserved juice, orange juice, sugar, lemon juice and cornstarch. Bring to simmer, stirring constantly. Cook 1 minute and remove from heat. Add butter and stir until melted. Cool and add orange segments and grapefruit segments. Pour filling into baking dish or pie pan.
To make topping: Heat oven to 350 F.
In food processor, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder and cinnamon. Add butter and pulse until butter is cut into small, pea-sized pieces. Remove flour mixture from food processor and place in mixing bowl. Add egg and milk; stir until just combined. Drop topping mixture by tablespoon over filling until almost covered.
Bake until topping is browned and filling is bubbling and hot. Remove from oven and cool slightly before serving.

SOURCE:
Florida Department of Citrus

Food and Beverage

Valentine’s Recipes You’ll Love to Share

Published

1 day ago

January 27, 2023

Rebecca Bigham and Rod Washington

(Family Features) If the way to your loved one’s heart is through the stomach, there’s no better way to start off this Valentine’s Day than with a homemade breakfast prepared with love.

Whether you’re whipping up a breakfast for a spouse with a sophisticated palate or trying to tempt the taste buds of your littlest loves, explore these ideas to get inspired.

Red is the color of love, so build your menu around fresh strawberries or raspberries, which pair perfectly with French toast or crepes, and can even dress up a simple cereal.
For a more sensible menu, opt for a fruity berry smoothie or a parfait layered with fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt and granola. Add a hint of loving indulgence by sprinkling dark chocolate shavings on top.
Show your affection with a plate of these colorful Cocoa-Kissed Red Velvet Pancakes featuring rich 100 percent cocoa, buttermilk and fresh berries. Heart-shaped cookie cutters lend a special touch to these fluffy, flavorful pancakes. Add sweet garnishes like powdered sugar and berries for a sensational way to say “I love you.”

Find more recipes you’ll love to share with your nearest and dearest this Valentine’s Day at Culinary.net.

Cocoa-Kissed Red Velvet Pancakes
Recipe courtesy of Nestlé
Servings: 10 pancakes

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons Nestlé Toll House Baking Cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1 cup reduced-fat buttermilk or low-fat milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon red food coloring
heart-shaped pancake cutters or cookie cutters (optional)
butter, for garnish (optional)
powdered sugar, for garnish (optional)
maple syrup, for garnish (optional)
fresh berries, for garnish (optional)

In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir well.
In separate large bowl, whisk together egg, buttermilk, unsalted butter, vanilla extract and food coloring. Add to flour mixture; stir to combine. Allow mixture to sit 5 minutes.
Heat nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Brush with oil or butter. Add about 1/4 cup batter to skillet. Cook about 2 minutes, or until bubbles start to form on top. Flip and cook 1-2 minutes, or until bottom is lightly browned. Serve immediately with butter, powdered sugar, syrup and berries, if desired.

Tip: If using pancake or cookie cutters, be sure to coat with oil so pancakes don’t stick. Place cutters in skillet and pour batter into cutters. Remove cutters before flipping.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

Food and Beverage

A Recipe for National Pie Day

Published

5 days ago

January 23, 2023

Rod Washington and Rebecca Bigham

National Pie Day on January 23rd celebrates one of the Nations’ favorite desserts. No matter how you slice it, pie in just about any form makes a crowd happy. Fruit pies, berry pies, cream pies – they are mouthwatering servings of homemade goodness.

An apple pie is a fruit pie in which the principal filling ingredient is apples. The earliest printed recipe is from England. Apple pie is often served with whipped cream, ice cream (“apple pie à la mode“), or cheddar cheese. It is generally double-crusted, with pastry both above and below the filling; the upper crust may be solid or latticed (woven of crosswise strips). The bottom crust may be baked separately (“blind“) to prevent it from getting soggy. Deep-dish apple pie often has a top crust only. Tarte Tatin is baked with the crust on top, but served with it on the bottom.

Apple pie is an unofficial symbol of the United States and one of its signature comfort foods. (wikipedia)

Here’s a simple recipe from Pilsbury…

Ingredients

Crust

1box (14.1 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Pie Crusts (2 Count), softened as directed on box

Filling*

6cups thinly sliced, peeled apples (6 medium)
3/4cup sugar
2tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4teaspoon salt
1/8teaspoon ground nutmeg
1tablespoon lemon juice

https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/perfect-apple-pie/

Food and Beverage

Entertain in Style with a Savory Appetizer

Published

2 weeks ago

January 15, 2023

Rebecca Bigham and Daily News Staff

Entertain in Style with a Savory Appetizer

(Family Features) Welcoming friends, family and neighbors for celebrations of all kinds demands delicious hors d’oeuvres for making guests feel right at home. Next time you invite loved ones for a special get-together, you can beef up the menu with a tasty appetizer that’s as easy to make as it is to enjoy.

Loaded with savory flavor and perfect for feeding a crowd, these Beef and Blue Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms from Beef Loving Texans offer a simple yet mouthwatering way to entertain in style. Just prepare button mushrooms by removing the stems then fill the caps with a ground beef-based mixture of minced mushroom stems, blue cheese, breadcrumbs, green onions and steak seasoning for a party-worthy platter.

Visit BeefLovingTexans.com to find more recipes for home entertaining and beyond.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Beef and Blue Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms
Recipe courtesy of Beef Loving Texans
Total time: 50 minutes
Servings: 40

2 packages (8 ounces each) button mushrooms
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound ground beef
1/3 cup blue cheese
1/4 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs
3 tablespoons green onions
1/2 teaspoon steak seasoning blend
chives (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 F. Remove stems from mushrooms; reserve. Season mushroom caps with salt; set aside. Mince stems to yield 1/2 cup; discard remaining stems.
Combine ground beef, minced stems, blue cheese, breadcrumbs, green onions and steak seasoning. Spoon beef mixture evenly into mushrooms.
Place stuffed mushrooms on rack in broiler pan. Bake 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with chives, if desired.

SOURCE:
Beef Loving Texans