(Family Features) After a busy season of groups and gatherings, sometimes a new year calls for easy, filling meals you can enjoy with your nearest and dearest. Warm, hearty Meatball Tortellini Soup can do just that as a delicious one-pot solution. Visit Culinary.net to find more warming winter recipes.

Meatball Tortellini Soup

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 6-8

• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 16 ounces frozen meatballs
• 19 ounces tortellini
• 6 ounces frozen spinach
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, plus additional for serving, divided
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• bread, for serving

1. In Dutch oven, pour in beef broth and diced tomatoes. Fill empty diced tomatoes can with water and add to pot. Stir in meatballs, tortellini and spinach. Cook over medium heat then add onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
2. Cook 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add heavy cream and cook 5 minutes.
3. Serve with bread and additional Parmesan cheese.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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(Family Features) For many, the hallmark of the holiday season is time with cherished loved ones, and there are few better places to spend those special moments together than gathered around a beautiful seasonal spread. By adding a little creative flair to the menu, and a signature ingredient like grapes, you can elevate any dish – from snacks and main courses to sides, desserts and even cocktails.

Compatible with an array of other foods, grapes can add flavor, texture and beauty to dishes and take hosting to the next level thanks to their delicate sweetness and juicy texture.

Available into January and perfect for the holiday season, fresh Grapes from California can add a crisp, juicy burst of flavor to salads like this Lemony Grapes and Greens Salad. Or take advantage of the versatility of grapes by roasting them to intensify the flavor of an appetizer such as Balsamic-Roasted Grape and Burrata Crostini or muddling into a sweet and savory Grape Basil Martini, which highlights their delicate sweetness in a festive manner.

Find more recipes and inspiration to elevate your holiday menu at grapesfromcalifornia.com.

Using Grapes as Holiday Decor

Clusters of colorful grapes are beautiful, tasty additions to many holiday tables. However, their use goes well beyond serving as an appealing addition to holiday recipes. Consider these ways you can utilize grapes when setting out your seasonal spread:

• Vase Filler: Use grapes instead of glass gems or foam to hold flowers in place in a vase. Grapes keep floral arrangements completely natural and extend color throughout the vase.
• Trim the Turkey: After placing the turkey on a large platter, decorate with a variety of fresh herbs and small bunches of grapes for friends and family to admire before it’s gobbled up.
• Set the Table: Grapes add color, texture and flavor to dining tables and work well with a wide variety of themes and color palettes.
• Floral Arrangements: Red, green and black grapes pair perfectly with a wide variety of flowers and greenery to add color, texture and depth to floral arrangements.
• Grape and Mint Ice Cubes: Grapes freeze well and make for a perfect replacement for ice cubes in cocktails. Simply freeze sliced grapes and mint in ice cube trays with a bit of water then add to favorite cocktails.
• Chocolate-Dipped Grapes: Dipped in white, milk or dark chocolate varieties, grapes can be paired with desserts like cheesecake or served on their own.
• Cake Decor: Red, green and black grapes are ideal decor for frosted cakes, serving as edible decorations that add color and elegance to each tier.

Balsamic-Roasted Grape and Burrata Crostini

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8

• 3 cups red or black Grapes from California
• 1/4 cup white or traditional balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 8 ounces burrata cheese
• 3 tablespoons roasted, salted pistachio kernels, coarsely chopped
• fresh basil, snipped
• 24 soft or toasted baguette slices

1. In mixing bowl, mix cake mix, flour, cocoa powder and sugar. Blend in milk, eggs and butter.
2. Grease bundt pan with butter and pour in batter. Bake according to package instructions for bundt cakes then add 10-15 minutes. Let cool before icing.
3. To make frosting: In bowl, mix butter, cream cheese and whipping cream. Slowly blend in powdered sugar.
4. Ice entire bundt cake or place frosting in piping bag and pipe with back and forth “drip” motion. Sprinkle sanding sugar for sparkly snow appearance, if desired.

Nutritional information per serving: 290 calories; 11 g protein; 35 g carbohydrates; 12 g fat (37% calories from fat); 5 g saturated fat (16% calories from saturated fat); 20 mg cholesterol; 390 mg sodium; 1 g fiber.

Lemony Grapes and Greens Salad

Prep time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6

Lemon Vinaigrette:

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons spicy brown or stone-ground mustard
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Salad:

• 10 cups mixed torn greens (endive, watercress, frisee or butter lettuce)
• 1 1/2 cups halved Grapes from California
• 1/2 cup slivered red onion
• 1 large firm but ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
• 1/3 cup roasted, salted pistachio kernels

1. To make lemon vinaigrette: In small bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, honey, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper.
2. To make salad: In large bowl, mix greens, grapes and onion. Drizzle with dressing and toss well to coat. Add avocado and toss lightly. Sprinkle with pistachios.

Nutritional information per serving: 230 calories; 4 g protein; 19 g carbohydrates; 17 g fat (67% calories from fat); 2.5 g saturated fat (10% calories from saturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 130 mg sodium; 5 g fiber.

Grape Basil Martini

Servings: 1

• 3 basil leaves, torn, plus 1 full leaf for garnish
• 5 green Grapes from California, halved, plus 2 whole grapes for garnish
• 2 ounces gin
• 1/4 ounce sweet muscat wine
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• ice

1. In cocktail shaker, muddle basil and grapes with gin. Add sweet wine, lemon juice and simple syrup; shake gently.
2. Strain into rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with basil leaf and float two grapes on top.

Nutritional information per serving: 229 calories; 0 g protein; 24 g carbohydrates; 0 g fat (0% calories from fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 1 mg sodium; 0.3 g fiber.

SOURCE:
California Table Grape Commission

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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(Family Features) If holiday gatherings have started to feel more overwhelming than celebratory, it’s time to go back to the basics with seasonal desserts that are easy yet elegant.

Classic Desserts

Wow your crowd this year with a mouthwatering Hummingbird Cake or Coconut Cake that call to mind holidays past without requiring hours spent in the kitchen (like grandma used to do). Or for a classic take on an old favorite, these Christmas Cinnamon Cookies can even let the kiddos get involved – just make the dough then have your little helpers use their favorite cookie cutters to make festive shapes before the oven does the rest of the work.

Find these recipes and more from “Cookin’ Savvy” at Culinary.net.

Hummingbird Cake

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy“

• 1 spice cake mix
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup banana cream Greek yogurt
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup crushed pineapple
• 1 cup crushed pecans
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Frosting:

• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 1 package pecans (optional)

1. Heat oven to 350 F.
2. In mixing bowl, mix spice mix and sugar. Blend in yogurt, eggs and pineapple. In separate bowl, mix pecans, flour and butter then add to cake mixture.
3. Grease two 8-inch cake pans with butter. Pour half the mixture into each pan then bake 45 minutes. Cool on rack before icing.
4. To make frosting: In mixing bowl, mix butter, cream cheese and heavy whipping cream. Slowly blend in powdered sugar.
5. Ice cake then decorate with pecans, if desired.

Coconut Cake

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy“

• 1 vanilla or white cake mix
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup coconut Greek yogurt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 3 eggs

Frosting:

• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 5 cups powered sugar
• 2-4 cups shredded coconut

1. Heat oven to 350 F.
2. In mixing bowl, mix cake mix, flour and sugar. Blend in yogurt, milk, butter and eggs.
3. Grease two 8-inch cake pans with butter. Pour half the mixture into each pan and bake 45 minutes. Cool on rack before icing.
4. To make frosting: In mixing bowl, mix butter, cream cheese and heavy whipping cream. Slowly blend in powdered sugar.
5. Ice cake then pat shredded coconut gently into icing.

Christmas Cinnamon Cookies

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy“

• 1 2/3 cups self-rising flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons water (optional)
• 1 cup powered sugar (optional)

1. In mixing bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, sugar, brown sugar and egg to make dough. If dough is too dry to form into ball, add water. Form into log and wrap in parchment paper. Refrigerate 1 hour.
2. Heat oven to 350 F.
3. Roll dough out and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheet covered in parchment paper and bake 8-10 minutes. Let cool on rack then dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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.