Taste of Home April/May 2018

One year, as a surprise, the TOH offices closed early the Friday before Memorial Day. Our colleague Jami put out the invite: Meet for burgers on her patio. Jami was a new mom, and had to stop at the store on the way home, but even so, she made the burger bash seem effortless. She sizzled the patties while we played with her boys. She let us grab the paper plates. All that was left was opening a bag of chips. Entertaining is only as stressful as you let it be, especially when you realize it’s about the fun of connecting and not the silverware you use. Thanks for those burgers and the life advice, Jami! So this spring, just go for it. Do a Sunday brunch. Pack a picnic.…

Yes to Fresh As much as I love walking through fluffy blankets of snow all winter long, come spring, seeing flowers in full bloom is a sight to behold. Warmer temps also mean that local fresh fruits and veggies are just around the corner—and that offers opportunities to experiment with new dishes. This year, I’m having a spring (kitchen) awakening. Instead of going out to eat, I’ll be cooking in more often—and sharing my adventures with you, so look me up. tasteofhome.com A Kitchen Essential I admit—I’m still building my skills as a home cook. Which is why I’m thrilled with the debut of one of our new Taste of Home books, How Do I Make...? A Hands-On Guide to Cooking Anything (& Everything) You Love. This beautiful, 320-page how-to…

Let’s Celebrate ‘Nice’ Yes, the news can be a source of anxiety. But amid all the negative headlines there are amazing acts of kindness happening in the good old USA. We know this because Reader’s Digest, our sister brand, received hundreds of entries in its first annual “Nicest Place in America” program last year. And RD is taking nominations again for 2018. If you live in a city where people are demonstrating compassion in ways worth recognizing, tell us about it. To spark your thinking, I asked our volunteer Field Editors if they had any nice places to nominate. Here are a few: “My hometown, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is a beautiful place to live. The center of the city is composed of restored historic buildings dating back to the 18th century.…

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits The recipe for these easy biscuits has been handed down for many generations. You just can’t beat the fluffy center and butter-brushed tops. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, NC Takes: 30 min. Makes: 8 biscuits ½ cup cold butter, cubed2 cups self-rising flour¾ cup buttermilkMelted butter 1. In a large bowl, cut butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 3-4 times. Pat or lightly roll to ¾-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2½-in. biscuit cutter. 2. Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 425° until golden brown, 11-13 minutes. Brush tops with butter. Serve warm. Per biscuit: 197 cal., 11 g fat (7 g sat. fat), 28 mg chol., 451 mg sod., 22 g…

1 pound uncooked pasta + 1-3 cups dressing + 1-2 pounds of mix-ins + 1 cup or less of crunchers whole wheat spaghetti + sesame-ginger vinaigrette + cubed chicken, coleslaw mix, mandarin oranges + chow mein noodles tricolor rotini + ranch dressing + broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes + crumbled bacon cheese tortellini + red wine vinaigrette + broccoli, red peppers, black olives + pine nuts macaroni + mayo thinned with vinegar + ham, cheddar, peas + pickle relish orecchiette + 2-1 mix of plain yogurt and mayo + smoked turkey, apples, celery, strawberries + walnuts farfalle + balsamic vinaigrette + baby spinach, yellow pepper, dried apricots + sliced almonds Rhubarb Tart The rhubarb flavor in this tart balances nicely with honey and amaretto. And mascarpone cheese makes it rich and creamy.…

REFRIGERATOR To keep your fridge looking, well, clean enough to eat out of, wipe down the shelves and walls with a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water. Let it sit on soiled areas, then go back and wipe surfaces with a wet cloth. MICROWAVE To clean stubborn spatters, mix ½ cup each white vinegar and water in a glass bowl. Place in the microwave and heat on high until it boils, 2-3 minutes. Let it sit for a minute with the door closed, then wipe the interior with a sponge or soft cloth. CUTTING BOARD Germs and bacteria can quickly build up on porous wood surfaces. Spray cutting boards at least once a week with white vinegar, then rinse thoroughly with water and dry completely before using again.…