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Food and Beverage

Take Family Favorites Al Fresco: Advice for enjoying easy meals outdoors

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Al Fresco

(Family Features) Bright sunshine, warm patios and fresh foods go hand in hand. As warm weather and sunny days call you outdoors, bring the whole family along with favorite meals that blend perfectly with a soft breeze and the subtle sounds of nature.

Al fresco dining doesn’t have to be difficult. Just gather a few supplies, whip up a favorite recipe or two and ask for a hand in heading outside. Take these tips into account to help ensure your backyard dining goes off without a hitch.

Create a Cozy Spot
Dinner in the backyard means convenience and the comfort of your own patio furniture, but you can always enhance the experience with an umbrella to add a touch of shade or a small fan on those still, steamy evenings. If a busy day means a later dinner, hanging strings of soft lighting can help illuminate the table.

Make It Fresh
Salad season means fresh ingredients from lettuce and veggies to favorite toppings and beyond. Add a crisp bite to your next al fresco occasion with this Southwest Ranch Taco Salad featuring Newman’s Own’s Southwest Ranch Dressing. The dressing is creamy and smoky with a kick of spice and features no artificial flavors, no colors from artificial sources and no MSG, making it a perfect companion for salads and dips. In fact, you can enjoy this seasonal salad even more knowing that 100% of profits from the sale of the dressing goes toward helping nourish and transform the lives of children facing adversity.

Don’t Forget the Essentials
No outdoor meal is complete without a few must-have utensils. Avoid trips back and forth from the house by writing a list of everything you need so you don’t head to the deck without forks to share a salad or napkins to help clean up the mess. Bring the basics like plates, cups, utensils, napkins and a cloth to rest food on. Don’t leave behind serving spoons, trash bags and other convenience items that make al fresco dining a breeze.

Serve a Perfect Salad Partner
While a hearty salad alone is enough for a filling al fresco meal, you can take your backyard dining to the next level with the perfect partner for satisfying salads: crudites. Arranged neatly on a platter or board, a seasonal variety of sliced or whole raw vegetables such as snap peas, celery, carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, mini bell peppers, broccoli and more can make for a perfect accompaniment to nearly any outdoor meal. Serve with a dip or two, such as Newman’s Own’s Southwest Ranch Dressing, to complete your al fresco appetizer.

To find more al fresco food options that give back, visit NewmansOwn.com.

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Southwest Ranch Taco Salad

Total time: 25 minutes

  • 1/2 head romaine lettuce
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 2 small avocados
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 ground chuck)
  • 2 teaspoons Newman’s Own Mild Taco Seasoning
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 can (15 1/2 ounces) black beans
  • 1 1/2 cups canned corn
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus additional for serving (optional), divided
  • 1 cup Newman’s Own Southwest Ranch Dressing
  • 6 ounces tortilla chips
  1. Coarsely chop lettuce, halve cherry tomatoes and pit, peel and slice avocados. Set aside.
  2. In large frying pan over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Brown ground beef, stirring occasionally, 4-5 minutes. Add taco seasoning and water; cook according to package directions, 5-8 minutes, or until meat is thoroughly cooked.
  3. Drain and rinse black beans. Set aside.
  4. Divide lettuce among serving bowls or plates. Top with ground beef, tomatoes, avocados, black beans, corn, cheese and 2 tablespoons cilantro. Tuck in tortilla chips.
  5. Drizzle with southwest ranch dressing and sprinkle with additional cilantro, if desired.

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SOURCE:
Newman’s Own

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.

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Food and Beverage

Punch Up Your Holiday Beverage Menu

This holiday season, enhance your gatherings with a refreshing Christmas Cranberry Punch recipe featuring cranberries, pineapple, assorted juices, and a hint of rosemary for a tart twist.

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Christmas Cranberry Punch

(Culinary.net) This time of year is all about food and sweet desserts, but don’t forget to quench guests’ thirst with a seasonal sip. This Christmas Cranberry Punch offers a slightly less sweet take on traditional punch so you can add a touch of tart to the beverage cart. Visit Culinary.net to find more delicious holiday recipe ideas.

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Christmas Cranberry Punch

  • 1 package fresh cranberries
  • 1 can pineapple chunks
  • 3-4 rosemary twigs
  • 6 cans lemon-lime soda, divided
  • 64 ounces cranberry juice
  • 20 ounces orange pineapple juice
  • 1 orange
  1. The night before, place four cranberries, two pineapple chunks and a few rosemary sprigs in each hole of silicone muffin pan or ice tray. Cover with 1 can lemon-lime soda and freeze.
  2. Chill remaining soda, cranberry juice and orange pineapple juice overnight.
  3. In punch bowl, mix remaining soda, cranberry juice and orange pineapple juice. Slice orange into 5-6 slices. Add lemon-lime soda ice cubes, handful of cranberries and orange slices. Serve.

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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.

https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/


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Food and Beverage

A Sweet, Savory, Simple Holiday Side Dish

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17304 cranberry asparagus detail intro image

(Culinary.net) No matter what your main course looks like at the holidays, this Asparagus with Cranberry Sauce offers a sweet yet savory complement. Plus, the surprise pop of flavor and color are perfect for a festive tablescape. Find more easy holiday recipes at Culinary.net.

holiday

Asparagus with Cranberry Sauce

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 6

  • 1/2 pound bacon
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1 bunch fresh asparagus
  • 1 can (14 ounces) whole cranberry sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  1. Using kitchen shears, cut bacon into pieces then fry in skillet. Drain and set aside.
  2. In same skillet, add butter and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Saute asparagus then add bacon back to pan.
  3. In saucepan over medium heat, heat cranberry sauce, brown sugar and balsamic vinegar.
  4. Place asparagus on platter and pour sauce on top.

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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.

https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/


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Food and Beverage

Classic Desserts That Combine Christmases Past and Present

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desserts

(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.

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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.
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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.
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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.

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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.

https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/

Discover more from Daily News

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