recipes
Warm Up Winter with Watermelon Fun
Warming up with family-friendly activities starts with a versatile (and delicious) option like watermelon, which can be your sweet superstar all year long. As a centerpiece for evenings at home or gatherings and get-togethers, its versatility creates zero food waste with endless creative uses in the kitchen, from rind-smile snowmen to handheld snacks.
Last Updated on July 14, 2024 by Daily News Staff
(Family Features) The cold chill of winter may have you feeling trapped indoors with nothing to do and nowhere to go, but fun activities fit for the whole family can add excitement and chase away those wintertime blues. Paired with an appetizing snack, at-home crafting provides a relaxing way to keep your mind and body moving.
Warming up with family-friendly activities starts with a versatile (and delicious) option like watermelon, which can be your sweet superstar all year long. As a centerpiece for evenings at home or gatherings and get-togethers, its versatility creates zero food waste with endless creative uses in the kitchen, from rind-smile snowmen to handheld snacks.
When this year’s first snowfall offers a canvas for creativity and entertainment, gather your loved ones to make this Watermelon Snowman. Fresh-cut and personal-sized watermelons are the predominant options in wintertime, and they’re perfect for putting together this festive work of art. All you’ll need is a collection of kitchen knives, an ice cream scoop, melon ballers, skewers, some decorative “clothing” and blueberries for a fruit salad served right out of the snowman.
While you’re hard at work, ease your appetite with a quick and easy snack like Watermelon Glazed Meatballs. Start with a homemade watermelon puree mixed with barbecue sauce then saute frozen meatballs and top with the sweet glaze for a perfect wintertime treat. Along with delicious taste, watermelon is also a nutritious hydration source, which is just as important in winter as during warmer months, and provides an excellent source of vitamin C with 25% of the daily recommended value in each 2-cup serving to support immunity.
These tasty morsels also make for a simple, shareable appetizer while hosting throughout the season. Just lay them out on a serving tray and pop toothpicks into each meatball so guests can grab and go while mingling.
To find more family-friendly crafts and sweet snack ideas, visit Watermelon.org.
Watermelon Snowman
- Kitchen knives
- 1 round seedless watermelon
- 2 personal-sized watermelons, one larger than other
- ice cream scoop or large spoon
- melon baller
- mini melon baller or paring knife
- blueberries
- large wooden skewers
- y-shaped sticks
- scarf
- hat
- Using knife, cut 1/4-inch slice off bottom of round seedless watermelon and both personal watermelons to provide stable bases. Use smallest melon for head, second largest for torso and largest for lower body. Set aside smallest watermelon.
- Cut tops off large and medium watermelons to create bowls. Using ice cream scoop or large spoon, scoop out flesh.
- Using melon baller, scoop eyes out of smallest watermelon. Invert melon balls and reinsert.
- Using mini melon baller or paring knife, scoop out holes for nose and mouth. Carve one piece of watermelon into triangle for nose and fill mouth holes with blueberries.
- On platter, using large wooden skewers, connect all three watermelons.
- Insert y-shaped sticks in middle watermelon for arms.
- Fill bottom sections with fruit salad of melon balls and blueberries. Decorate with scarf and hat.
Watermelon Glazed Meatballs
Servings: 8
Watermelon Puree:
- 1 fresh watermelon
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 24-36 frozen prepared mini meatballs
- 1 cup prepared barbecue sauce
- 1 cup watermelon puree
- To make watermelon puree: Remove seeds from watermelon and cut into large chunks. In blender, process until smooth.
- In large, heavy saute pan over medium-high heat or electric skillet set to 325 F, heat oil.
- Saute mini meatballs until browned and hot. Reduce heat to low.
- Mix barbecue sauce and watermelon puree. Pour over meatballs and simmer 2-3 minutes. Serve hot.
SOURCE:
National Watermelon Promotion Board
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/category/food-and-beverage
You can also find food and beverage-related videos on our YouTube channel, where we regularly post new content and share tips, recipes, and demonstrations. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEhXBupt8tVynuUhpQZMxQt4lvPmOiAtQ&si=InDwc7YaB0KIwmxy
Author
Discover more from Daily News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
recipes
Take Sweetness to New Heights In the New Year
Easy Lemon Blueberry Bars are a delightful dessert featuring lemon cake mix, fresh blueberries, and a white chocolate drizzle. Perfect for gatherings and celebrations.
Last Updated on January 31, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Take Sweetness to New Heights In the New Year
(Family Features) Whether you can’t quite give up on the holiday treats or the festivities are continuing into 2026, these Easy Lemon Blueberry Bars offer a light, fruity bite. The melted white chocolate drizzle is just what gatherings with loved ones call for. Visit Culinary.net for more delicious desserts to enjoy this year.
Easy Lemon Blueberry Bars
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 1 box lemon cake mix
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup fresh blueberries
- 2/3 cup white chocolate chips, divided
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
- Heat oven to 350 F.
- In bowl, combine butter, cake mix, eggs, blueberries, 1/3 cup white chocolate chips and pecans.
- Butter 7-by-11-inch pan and spread mixture evenly into pan. Bake 30-35 minutes.
- Let cool then melt remaining white chocolate chips and drizzle over bars.
- Tip: If melted white chocolate chips are too thick, add a little oil before drizzling.
SOURCE:
Culinary.net
https://stmdailynews.com/the-fate-of-lucky-supermarkets-in-socal/
Author
Discover more from Daily News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Food and Beverage
Win Your Watch Party with a Fan Favorite Dip
Game day hosts can elevate their celebrations with a 7-Layer Game Day Dip. This easy recipe combines refried beans, mashed avocados, seasoned sour cream, cheese, tomatoes, scallions, and olives for a delicious spread. Perfect with tortilla chips, it’s an ideal snack for enjoying during the big game. For more recipes, visit Culinary.net.
(Family Features) From the pregame party to kickoff and the final whistle, game day hosts know savory snacks are the key to victory. Celebrate the big game this season with a simple yet tasty spin on a football staple with this 7-Layer Game Day Dip. Featuring layers of refried beans, mashed avocados and seasoned sour cream topped with cheese, tomatoes, scallions and black olives, you can tackle a winning spread in next to no time.
Visit Culinary.net to find more strategies for serving victorious game day recipes.
7-Layer Game Day Dip
Recipe adapted from Love & Lemons
Prep time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12
- 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
- 3/4 cup salsa
- 2 avocados
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 16 ounces sour cream
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 bunch scallions, chopped (optional)
- 1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced black olives, drained (optional)
- tortilla chips, for serving
- In medium bowl, stir refried beans and 1/2 cup salsa. In separate medium bowl, mash avocados with remaining salsa. Add bell peppers and lime juice; stir to combine. In third medium bowl, stir sour cream and taco seasoning.
- To assemble, spread refried bean mixture in bottom of baking dish. Spread avocado mixture evenly on top then spread sour cream mixture. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese then top with diced tomatoes.
- Top dish with scallions and black olives, if desired. Serve with tortilla chips.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
Discover more from Daily News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Food and Beverage
A Convenient Homecooked Solution Without the Slow Cooker
For a quick and easy version of the comfort food classic, consider this Quick Homecooked Chili that’s made in a skillet and ready in half an hour. Just brown ground beef with a chopped onion, stir in beans, tomato sauce, cubed sweet potato and a few simple seasonings and you’re well on your way to a winter warmup.
Homecooked Chili
(Family Features) Walking in the door to the smell of homemade chili is sure to warm you up from the inside-out, but if you forgot to set up the slow cooker before heading out the door in the morning, don’t fret – a hearty bowl of beans, beef and stewed goodness can still await.
For a quick and easy version of the comfort food classic, consider this Quick Homecooked Chili that’s made in a skillet and ready in half an hour. Just brown ground beef with a chopped onion, stir in beans, tomato sauce, cubed sweet potato and a few simple seasonings and you’re well on your way to a winter warmup.
Find more easy ways to feed your family by visiting Culinary.net.
Quick Homecooked Chili
Recipe adapted from Allrecipes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans
- 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes
- 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 sweet potato, cubed
- water (optional)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 pinch garlic powder
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- sour cream (optional)
- sliced avocado (optional)
- In large saucepan over medium heat, cook ground beef and onion until meat is browned and onion is tender, 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in tomato sauce, kidney beans, stewed tomatoes with juices, diced tomatoes with green chilies and cubed sweet potato. Add water to reach desired consistency.
- Season with chili powder and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
- Bring to boil then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
- Serve with sour cream and sliced avocado, if desired.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
SOURCE:
Discover more from Daily News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
