Innholdsfortegnelse for February - March 2016 i Taste of Home

When winter gears up, my slow cooker rarely gets a rest. Ask my family what our go-to slow cooker meal is, and their answer will be swift and declarative: Where’s the Beef. I first tried the dish—and got a kick out of its silly name—years ago during a summer adventure in Texas. I spent a couple of years experimenting until I finally landed on the right blend of ingredients that turns a simple beef chuck roast into tender, tangy sandwiches. Where’s the Beef (below) has since been my standard for gatherings year-round because, I’m proud to say, it’s pretty delicious. On one family vacation, my Army officer nephew, Patrick, ate it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Where’s the Beef is particularly irresistible during winter months, while cozying up for sporting…

FAST FIX Rainbow Spritzer This drink gets its bubbly goodness from ginger ale and puckery lemonade. —OLIVIA THOMPSON MILWAUKEE, WI TAKES: 20 MIN. • MAKES: 4 SERVINGS ½ cup fresh blueberries ½ cup chopped peeled kiwifruit ½ cup chopped fresh pineapple ½ cup sliced fresh strawberries or fresh raspberries 1 cup chilled ginger ale ½ cup chilled unsweetened pineapple juice ½ cup chilled lemonade In four tall glasses, layer blueberries, kiwi, pineapple and strawberries. Mix remaining ingredients; pour over fruit. Serve immediately. PER SERVING 91 cal., 0 g fat ( 0 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 8 mg sodium, 23 g carb., 2 g fiber, 1 g pro. Share snapshots and stories with us at editors@tasteofhome.com. Please write “Kids in the Kitchen” in the subject line. SEND YOUR PICS!…

EAT SMART FAST FIX Snappy Tuna Melts I lightened up a tuna melt by switching the mayo to creamy balsamic vinaigrette. Kids and adults both go for this quick meal hero. —CHRISTINE SCHENHER EXETER, CA TAKES: 15 MIN. • MAKES: 4 SERVINGS 1 pouch (11 oz.) light tuna in water 1 hard-cooked large egg, chopped 2 Tbsp. reduced-fat creamy balsamic vinaigrette 1 Tbsp. stone-ground mustard, optional 4 whole wheat hamburger buns, split 8 slices tomato 8 slices reduced-fat Swiss cheese 1. In a small bowl, mix tuna, egg, vinaigrette and, if desired, mustard. Place buns on an ungreased baking sheet, cut side up. Broil 4-6 in. from heat 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. 2. Spread tuna mixture over buns; top with the tomato and cheese. Broil 2-3 minutes or…

Replace some sugar with a dash of cinnamon in your morning coffee. A study of 49 women found that those who ate a small amount of cinnamon each day had fewer aches and pains after exercise. Combat a cold with ginger. Mince fresh ginger and add it to your tea to help fight off rhinovirus, which can cause upper respiratory infections. Whip up some homemade taco seasoning with ¼ cup each flour and chili powder, 3 Tbsp. dried minced onion, 1 Tbsp. garlic powder, 1½ tsp. each cayenne pepper and salt, 1 tsp. ground coriander and 2 tsp. each cumin and oregano. Don’t be shy with the cumin—a 2014 study of 88 women showed that a daily teaspoon of the spice helped burn fat and lower bad cholesterol. EAT SMART…

FOR WORD NERDS Bananagrams Take your favorite parts of Scrabble and crossword puzzles and combine them into one fast-paced, brain-busting game. FOR STRATEGISTS Blokus You’re always thinking two steps ahead in this abstract puzzle game that works your noggin. FOR ACTION LOVERS Time’s Up Use acting chops to help your team guess the name of a famous or historical figure. But get ready—every round of this game makes it a little tougher to perform. FOR CREATIVE SOULS Cranium Clue your team in on the secret subject by unscrambling letters, answering trivia, sculpting with clay, drawing a picture or acting out a scene. FOR ADVENTURERS Catan Collect, barter and build to develop a thriving civilization. It’s all a strategic fight for domination on an island inhabited by neighboring settlements. FOR THE…

Hugs and Ham for All Easter Sunday always means a huge table of food-love followed by the traditional egg hunt. Even the big “kids” grab a basket and search for the golden egg that always has a surprise (OK, cash) in it. My Easter tables are a buffet of internationally inspired dishes for everyone to try, along with the classic foods that family and friends expect as they sit down, give thanks and break bread in my kitchen. Before starting my food blog, allyskitchen.com, and publishing my cookbook, I was an educational therapist. Ultimately, my passion for food and cooking won out. All of my recipes reflect my love for eating close to the earth and bringing global spices to my table. I love to create a dining experience for…

ALABAMA Karen King Bessemer Deborah Pennington Decatur Denise Beadle Dothan Charlotte McDaniel Jacksonville Lisa Allen Joppa Jan Harrell Robertsdale ALASKA Cindi DeClue Anchorage Cari Molinaro Wasilla ARIZONA Cathy Orban Chandler Cori Cooper Flagstaff Paul Williams Fort Mohave Lee Mason Gilbert Brittany Allyn Mesa Kellie Cook Mesa Karen Keefe Phoenix Sherri Jerzyk Tucson Linda Lambert Wittmann ARKANSAS Jeannie Mullen Farmington CALIFORNIA Melissa Tenhet Bakersfield Helen Nelander Boulder Creek Dustin Anderson Camarillo Marina Castle Canyon Country Aparna Joshi Cupertino Kallee Krong-McCreery Escondido Jenn Tidwell Fair Oaks Emily Stanton Los Osos Hannah Williams Malibu Stephanie Lockwood Santa Clara Terri Adams Santa Cruz Lauren Brien-Wooster South Lake Tahoe Tiffany Mitchell Susanville Lynne German Woodland Hills COLORADO Ann Bush Colorado City Margaret Brott Colorado Springs Janie Ganyard Colorado Springs Rachel Garcia Colorado Springs Crystal Jo…

Get Social! 54,306 total shares Hot on Facebook: Cheesy Ham Chowder from Jennifer Trenhaile of Emerson, Nebraska, went over big with our friends online. Like us at facebook.com/tasteofhome for more recipes that’ll keep you toasty from now till springtime. Hey, Instagrammers! Follow @tasteofhome on Instagram for loads of recipe ideas to perk up your potluck, like these Chicks-on-the-Ranch Deviled Eggs. Get Pinspired Hop to our Easter Treats Pinterest board for gorgeous spring cakes, bunny-shaped goodies and plenty more. It’s at tasteofhome.com/eastertreats. You could be next! Here’s what we’re looking for: VALENTINE’S DAY TREATS What do you bake up to make Valentine’s Day even sweeter for your near and dear? Dish out those special desserts with a lovey-dovey twist. SLIMMED-DOWN CLASSICS Send us your favorite original recipes that are big on…

59% SPINACH-ARTICHOKE vs QUESO 41% LIFE OF THE PARTY Taste of Home Facebook fans gave us the scoop on their favorite dip— spinach-artichoke creamed its competition. I could eat spinach-artichoke dip for breakfast, lunch and dinner! —CATHY RAYE CHILDERS JOHNSTON HURRICANE, WV Spinach-artichoke dip! Because it’s spinach, and that’s healthy, so it’s like I’m eating a salad. Right? —LORI CURLEY STANLEY CENTERVILLE, OH I put spinach-artichoke dip on a baked potato with bacon, making it even better. —JEANNE ABBOTT COOS BAY, OR My oldest grandson and I share spinach-artichoke dip on his birthday every year. —BARB CATER BURLINGTON, ON Give me spinach-artichoke with some jalapeno thrown in and I’m a happy camper. —MELISA PHILLIPS MCNEELY PHOENIX, AZ SLOW COOKER Slow Cooker Spinach & Artichoke Dip With this cheesy dip, I…

Q Help! My doctor says my cholesterol is too high. Is there an easy way to reduce my numbers? Changing my diet sounds like a chore. A Great news: You can still eat your favorite foods sometimes. One trick is to add variety to your menu. A team at the Harvard School of Public Health found that replacing a daily serving of red meat with poultry, seafood, whole grains, nuts or other lean proteins reduces your risk of heart-related death by 19%. So, for example, trade in that roast beef sandwich for this Quinoa Tabbouleh (pronounced KEEN-wah tah-BOO-lee) for a light lunch. Second, the American Heart Association suggests creating healthy dietary patterns, such as eating breakfast every day, to bring down cholesterol. Mix and match whole grains with a little…

RECIPES BEGIN on page 42 QUICK PREP! Pull together this gorgeous melty treat with a tube of refrigerated crescent rolls. Mom’s Chocolate Bread My mom made this divine chocolaty bread only for holidays or special requests. The recipe suggests cooling the loaf completely, but I don’t know if we were ever able to wait that long. —RACHEL RHODES BEDFORD, PA PREP: 10 MIN. • BAKE: 30 MIN. + COOLING MAKES: 1 LOAF (12 SLICES) 4 Tbsp. sugar, divided 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 Tbsp. cold butter 3 Tbsp. ground cinnamon 1 tube (8 oz.) refrigerated crescent rolls ⅔ cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 Tbsp. butter, melted 1. Preheat oven to 375°. For streusel, in a bowl, mix 3 Tbsp. sugar and flour; cut in butter until crumbly. Reserve half of…

A Chat with the Grand Prize Winner LOW & SLOW CONTEST Q Mary, your winning recipe is brisket bliss. What inspired your rub-and-roast technique? A It’s been a treasured family recipe for generations. Although it takes a few days to pull together, there’s really not much work involved. The brown-sugar rub, spices and herbs transform an ordinary cut of beef into nothing short of amazing. My family traditionally makes it for special occasions, but I dream of this unique recipe all year long. It’s perfect to make ahead for a party. Enter Our Classics with a Twist Contest and Win $500 Cook what your mama gave you and show us how you make it your own. Do you throw cinnamon-raisin English muffins on the griddle for French toast? Maybe you get creative…

NEW THIS ISSUE! Dessert FIRST! SEE RECIPE page 10 Semisweet Chocolate Mousse Scatter a handful of raspberries on top just for fun. Then grab two spoons. —JUDY SPENCER SAN DIEGO, CA PREP: 20 MIN. + CHILLING MAKES: 2 SERVINGS ¼ cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips 1 Tbsp. water 1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten 1½ tsp. vanilla extract ½ to 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1 Tbsp. sugar 1. In a saucepan, melt chocolate with water; stir until smooth. Stir a small amount of hot chocolate mixture into egg yolk; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Cool, stirring often. 2. In a small bowl, beat ½ cup whipping cream until it begins…

FIND THEM! Le Souk Ceramique Qamara 4-piece Soup/Cereal Bowl Set $55 kohls.com and The Pioneer Woman Timeless Beauty 5-qt. Cast Iron Dutch Oven $49 walmart.com SEE RECIPE page 16 The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup My first Wisconsin winter was so cold, all I wanted to eat was soup. This recipe is in heavy rotation from November to April and has some devoted fans. —GINA NISTICO TASTE OF HOME FOOD EDITOR PREP: 15 MIN. COOK: 45 MIN. + STANDING MAKES: 10 SERVINGS (3½ QT.) 2½ lbs. bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 1¼ tsp. pepper, divided ½ tsp. salt 1 Tbsp. canola oil 1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups) 1 garlic clove, minced 10 cups chicken broth 4 celery ribs, chopped (about 2 cups) 4 medium carrots, chopped (about 2 cups) 2 bay leaves 1…

TENDER CORNED BEEF, THOUSAND ISLAND AND SWISS MOUNDED BETWEEN GRIDDLED SLICES OF RYE SOUNDS DIVINE and, well, calorie-packed. Wisconsin home cook Jenni Sharp ditches dressing, butter and the top slice of rye for a healthier open-faced sensation drizzled in savory cheese sauce. Top it with her homemade slaw for an awesomely fresh crunch. MAKEOVER 293 Calories 14g Fat 5g Saturated Fat 1,172mg Sodium TYPICAL 650 Calories 40g Fat 10g Saturated Fat 2,300mg Sodium SWISS WIZ With 80 calories in 3 Tbsp., Jenni’s skinny sauce stands in for the cheese and the Thousand Island. FAST FIX Makeover Reuben Melt My version of this classic sandwich keeps the corned beef and uses a sauce made with Swiss. Fresh slaw replaces salty sauerkraut, shaving off nearly 400 mg of sodium. —JENNI SHARP MILWAUKEE,…

EAT SMART Roasted Carrots & Fennel This addictive combo is a fresh take on one of my mother’s standard wintertime dishes. I usually add even more carrots— as many as the pans will hold. —LILY JULOW LAWRENCEVILLE, GA field editor PREP: 15 MIN. • BAKE: 40 MIN. MAKES: 8 SERVINGS 2½ lbs. medium carrots, cut in half lengthwise 1 large fennel bulb, cut into ½-in. wedges 1 large red onion, cut into ½-in. wedges 1 medium lemon, thinly sliced ¼ cup olive oil 2 tsp. ground coriander 1 tsp. ground cumin ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. pepper Thinly sliced fresh basil leaves 1. Preheat oven to 375°. In a bowl, combine carrots, fennel, onion and lemon. Mix oil, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper. Drizzle over carrot mixture; toss to coat.…

BUY IT! Look for these housewarmers and more fun finds at rdstore.com/tasteofhome. BUY IT! 4-qt. Slow Cooker—Modern $30, blackanddeckerappliances.com MUGS UP! Fill a slow cooker with your favorite hot cocoa and let guests dress up their mugfuls. Cinnamon sticks, marshmallows, caramel sauce, peppermint sticks, whipped cream, shaved chocolate and rolled wafer cookies all make things fancier. And, psst…if you really want a warm-up, go ahead and add a splash of Irish cream or peppermint schnapps. INDOOR SNOWBALL FIGHT In this game, nobody gets left out in the cold. Fill a basket with white pompoms marked with a dot that matches a corresponding door prize. Then let ’em fly, play hot potato or take a whirl at juggling. See which snowball is in each guest’s hand when time’s up; everyone collects a…

1 My boys love bubble pizza. You cut up packaged biscuit dough and place in a lightly greased baking dish. Top with pizza sauce and your favorite fixings, then bake. It bubbles and breaks into bite-size pieces. MEGAN KOREN WESTFORD, NY 2 Pizza dip. Spread an 8-oz. block of sof tened cream cheese into a pie plate. Driz zle some pizza sauce on top. Sprinkle a little shredded mozzarella over that, and top with pepperoni and olives. Bake and serve warm with plent y of scoopshaped corn chips. ANNE ZECHEL RUBICON, WI 3 Take your favorite pizza ingredients and put them over tortilla chips in a large cast-iron skillet. Put it in the oven and bake till the nachos are warm and melty. Instead of salsa, you can put warmed…

Girl Scouts are always game for an adventure—especially if it’s a trip to Taste of Home HQ. And last spring, a handful of Milwaukee-area Scouts got the chance. To celebrate our first ever Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Contest, the girls got the grand tour, then teamed up with our Test Cooks to bake (and gobble up) entries from home cooks across the country. They even got to star on the morning news! Lemon Shortbread Cheesecake Friends and family call me the Mad Baker for my creative desserts. This frozen no-bake cheesecake has two types of cookies tucked inside. —ROSALIA ROGER LINCOLN, NE PREP: 30 MIN. + FREEZING MAKES: 12 SERVINGS 1 pkg. (9 oz.) Girl Scout Shortbread/Trefoils cookies 1/4 cup butter, melted FILLING 2 pkg. (81/2 oz. each) Girl Scout…

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NEW THIS ISSUE! Lemony Salmon Patties These little patties bake up golden brown and have a simple sauce to go with them. They’re impressive for company but easy enough that I can prepare them any time we like. —LORICE BRITT SEVERN, NC PREP: 20 MIN. • BAKE: 45 MIN. • MAKES: 4 SERVINGS 1 can (143/4 ounces) pink salmon, drained, skin and bones removed 3/4 cup milk 1 cup soft bread crumbs 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley 1 tsp. finely chopped onion 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/4 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper LEMON SAUCE 2 Tbsp. butter 4 tsp. all-purpose flour 3/4 cup whole milk 2 Tbsp. lemon juice 1/4 tsp. salt 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper 1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a…