Hearty Meal

(Family Features) Perfect for any occasion – from family dinners to football watch parties – these Mini Beef Wellingtons pair nicely with mashed potatoes and green beans or can be served as an easy appetizer before the big game. It’s a downsized version of a hearty favorite that’ll leave everyone asking for more. Visit Culinary.net to find more recipes from “Cookin’ Savvy” and sign up for a weekly recipe newsletter.

Mini Beef Wellingtons

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”

Mushroom Sauce:

• 1 can (14 ounces) mushrooms
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 8 ounces beef tenderloin steaks, cubed
• 1 package (17 ounces, 2 sheets) puff pastry
• water
• garlic and herb spreadable cheese
• 1 package (2 1/2 ounces) real bacon pieces
• mashed potatoes, for serving

1. To make mushroom sauce: In blender, blend mushrooms and chicken broth; set aside.
2. In skillet over medium heat, melt butter and mix in flour. Slowly add mushroom broth while stirring. It should start to thicken; if it doesn’t, add 1 tablespoon flour and stir well.
3. Add garlic powder and salt and pepper, to taste. Mix in heavy cream while continuing to stir. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Heat oven to 400 F.
5. Cube steaks and place in bowl then cover and mix well with 1 cup mushroom sauce.
6. Cut each puff pastry into six squares for 12 total. Use water to moisten each corner of squares and bring them together, forming small box shape. Place 1 heaping tablespoon meat mixture into each pastry square.
7. Place squares on parchment paper-covered cookie sheets and bake 15 minutes.
8. Spoon spreadable cheese over hot squares and top with bacon pieces.
9. Serve with mashed potatoes and use leftover mushroom sauce as gravy.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that ice cream is a universal joy—and now, thanks to Kroger, that joy just became a whole lot more accessible! Southern Living recently reported that the much-loved Richmond-based Nightingale Ice Cream is gracing the freezer aisles of over 2,000 Kroger locations across the United States. That’s right, folks: you no longer have to journey to Richmond to get your hands on these incredible frozen treats!

For those unfamiliar with Nightingale Ice Cream, let me fill you in. This delightful company specializes in luscious ice cream sandwiches that are handcrafted with local ingredients and a good helping of love. Founded by married duo Xavier Meers and Hannah Pollack, Nightingale is the embodiment of Southern charm and culinary artistry. The couple’s story is as sweet as their ice cream—their love blossomed in a Richmond kitchen where they combined Xavier’s culinary expertise and Hannah’s ice cream prowess.

Starting this season, Kroger shoppers can now indulge in the delightful Chomp Size four-packs of Nightingale Ice Cream featuring five tantalizing flavors. Get ready to dive into decadent treats like Cookie Monster, Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Blackout, Banana Pudding, and Mocha Brownie. Each flavor is crafted from rich, 14% butterfat ice cream and paired with freshly baked cookies—because what’s better than ice cream between two warm, gooey cookies?

Nightingale’s ice cream is made in small batches, which ensures each bite is a rich and creamy experience you won’t soon forget. It’s not just ice cream; it’s a celebration of flavors that transports you to a sunny afternoon on the porch, relishing the sweet taste of summer, no matter the season.

As the temperatures rise and days get longer, having these delicious treats readily available at your local Kroger means you have the perfect excuse to gather your friends and family for ice cream socials or just to seek solace in a Chomp Size pack after a long day. Whether you’re a dark chocolate aficionado or a fruity lover, Nightingale Ice Cream has made it easier than ever to satisfy your sweet tooth without any hassle.

So, the next time you find yourself wandering through the frozen food section at Kroger, don’t forget to grab a box (or two!) of Nightingale Ice Cream. With flavors that capture the essence of Southern hospitality, your dessert game just got a major upgrade.

Happy scooping! 🍦✨

For the full scoop on this sweet news, check out the original article on Southern Living here.

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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.

THE CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGES FOOTBALL FANS TO DITCH MIDWEEK ROUTINE FOR UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ACTION

• Campaign features two films with Pepsi ambassador Vini Jr. The first, unveiled today, features him as a cowboy transported into a traditional Telenovela scene and the second will see him taking on the role of a martial artist within the Chinese fiction genre, Wuxia
• In a separate standalone film, we witness Jack Grealish taking on a traditional gameshow challenge in the jungle  
• Pepsi’s latest campaign – Football Always Wins – encourages fans to break their midweek monotony, that might include watching TV game shows, Telenovela serial dramas, or Wuxia martial arts shows and to instead choose football enjoyment over everyday sameness.

LONDON /PRNewswire/ — Pepsi has launched its latest global football campaign, encouraging fans around the world to break their midweek routines to experience the enjoyment of UEFA Champions League football. Featuring ambassadors Jack Grealish and Vini Jr, the campaign sets out to show that “Football Always Wins” over other forms of entertainment.

n the set of films created for the campaign, Jack Grealish and Vini Jr. challenge fans to break with their midweek routines that might include watching TV Game Shows, Telenovela serial dramas, or Wuxia martial arts shows and to instead embrace the opportunity to watch more sport. The global campaign coincides with Pepsi partnership with the UEFA Champions League.

In the first two entertaining films, Vini Jr. is transported into the Telenovela format popular across Latin America, donning a cowboy outfit for his role. The player rides a horse towards a potential romantic partner but, just as the two lock eyes, Vini Jr. decides to choose football and instead controls a ball on his chest. The film closes with Vini Jr. standing on his horse’s saddle, demonstrating that football should always win in a choice between soap opera and a match.

Whilst this epic competition can turn a routine Tuesday or Wednesday into the best moment of the week, Pepsi’s latest campaign recognises that fans around the world encounter habits and routines which might stop them from watching and enjoying midweek games.

Vini Jr. said, “When I was younger and growing up in Brazil, I clearly remember sprinting back from school as fast as I could to catch the start of European matches. I remember being glued to the screen, dreaming of one day playing on those pitches. Now I’m there, my goals and ambitions are always about taking my game to the next level. I want to score more goals, provide more assists, and be a decisive player in every competition”.

The second film, due to be released next week, will feature Vini Jr. transported into the Chinese fiction genre, Wuxia. Two martial artists are shown preparing to fight each other but are dramatically interrupted by Vini Jr., armed only with a football. Once again, Football Always Wins. 

Vini Jr. continues, “Playing a martial artist in the new Pepsi campaign was amazing—it felt like stepping into a completely different world. But I have to say, the cowboy outfit was such an unexpected and fun look for me. As for what’s next? Who knows! Maybe I’ll get to be a superhero or even dive into the world of music”.

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In a standalone film featuring Jack Grealish, we find him taking on a traditional gameshow challenge based in the jungle. The film opens with a group of contestants crawling in the mud in an attempt to find a giant ball to slot into a hole in the wall. Having struggled to complete the challenge, Jack Grealish appears from nowhere and kicks a football straight through the hole, completing the challenge and once again demonstrating that Football Always Wins.

Jack Grealish said, “Those who know me know how much I love game shows. So, when Pepsi revealed I’d be taking on a series of jungle inspired challenges for its latest campaign, I couldn’t wait to get involved!”

In supporting content for the campaign Jack Grealish is dispatched to the “jungle” as he’s challenged to test himself with a series of mystery boxes to unlock the winning Pepsi and the enjoyment of mid-week football. The “Football Always Wins” campaign will later be extended with a series of social assets in which Jack and Vini Jr. encourage football fans to stop their scroll and tune-in to UEFA Champions League games. The three players will “hack” popular TikTok memes to present the match as more fulfilling entertainment.

Eric Melis, VP Global Brand Marketing at PepsiCo said: “Football has an unrivalled ability to entertain fans around the world, and nothing encapsulates this more than the UEFA Champions League. We know, however, that UEFA Champions League football alters the midweek routine and that fans around the world have weekly schedules which might keep them from experiencing the thrill of mid-week sport.

“Pepsi’s latest campaign – Football Always Wins – sets out to encourage football fans to break their midweek monotony, encouraging them to choose enjoyment over everyday sameness. Working with our incredible Global football ambassadors, Jack Grealish and Vini Jr, both of whom are known for challenging convention in the game, we’ve created a campaign which brings unrivalled entertainment to fans around the world and continues Pepsi’s philosophy to unlock pure enjoyment for those who are Thirsty For More.”

The campaign launches globally with the first of the two films released on 20 January 2025, across a range of channels. Fans can follow Pepsi channels to see more as the campaign unfolds: X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook

The Vini Jr. in Telenovela and Jack Grealish Jungle Game Show films are available here, with the final film to be released next week. 

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Jack Grealish imagery is available here and Vini Jr. imagery is available here.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complimentary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LiinkedIn @PepsiCo.