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Blueberry Muffins Come blueberry season every year, I make dozens and dozens of blueberry muffins. I know, I know, I’m so disappointingly predictable. You want me to make come up with something more gourmet and exciting, and here I am, just bringing you another boring muffin recipe. Or…. are they?? No, this is not just another dull Blueberry Muffin recipe. These are the blueberry muffins of your dreams! They’re magically soft and moist on the inside with a sweet golden dome....

A note from my sister Susie: Since June, when I last wrote about books, I’ve read 21. A couple of those have been rather disappointing, but that’s unusual for me because I don’t believe in finishing a book if I’m not enjoying it. Therefore, I read a lot of great books. Below are some of my top picks from the last few months. I hope you’ll enjoy some of them just as much as I did....

In the summer when peppers are in season, stuffed bell peppers are a great and healthy snack, side dish, or even a full meal! There are so many ways to make your very own stuffed peppers whether it’s something meaty, cheesy, or packed with veggies. But because they’re not always in season, you might want to prepare a big batch for a later day. Read on to find out how long stuffed peppers last in the freezer, the best ways to store them, defrost them, and some extra tips and tricks for making them extra delish....

3½ lb roasting chicken, cut up, thoroughly washed 3 cups coconut milk 5 cups vegetable oil, for frying, or shortening Brine Base: 8 cups water, cold 1 tbsp salt 2 tsp MSG, or flavor enhancer of your choice, preferably accent seasoning Seasoned Flour ½ cup copycat KFC seasoning, recipe below 4 tsp cornstarch 1 tbsp ground black pepper, preferably tellicherry pepper 2 tsp MSG , or flavor enhancer of your choice, preferably Accent seasoning...

4 cups chicken, cooked, chopped 1 oz Ranch Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix, (1 package) 1½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded 1 cup bacon, chopped, cooked 1½ cups sour cream 10¾ oz cream of chicken soup, (1 can) 1½ cups Ritz crackers, crushed ¼ cup butter, melted Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Combine chicken, Ranch seasoning, cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup....

Preparation Eating specific foods, like leafy greens and walnuts, can be beneficial for your heart health, but they’re not the only items to add to your shopping list. According to a new study published in Hypertension, flavonoid-filled foods and drinks, such as red wine and berries, are worth consuming as they can improve your blood pressure. “Our gut microbiome plays a key role in metabolizing flavonoids to enhance their cardioprotective effects, and this study provides evidence to suggest these blood pressure-lowering effects are achievable with simple changes to the daily diet,” Aedín Cassidy, Ph....

Preparation If you’re a fan of spicy food, you’ve probably experienced a burning feeling on your hands after cutting a jalapeño or other chile pepper. That uncomfortable tingling is caused by capsaicin, which is the same oil-like substance that gives peppers their delightfully spicy flavor. But why does it burn, exactly? According to Olivia Roszkowski, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, capsaicin binds to receptors on your skin, creating a nervous system response that’s similar to the feeling of being exposed to high temperatures....

Preparation Sure, you can purchase lemon curd, but we say it’s better to make your own: the pasteurization process of the store-bought variation can mute its fresh lemon flavor. Our modernized recipe for lemon curd is light-years simpler than traditional versions: no double boiler or tempering necessary. Once it’s chilled, there are so many delicious ways to enjoy the wonderfully tangy cream: pipped into tartlets, spread on scones, in a bowl topped with granola, layered in ice cream sandwiches (recipes for all these delicious ideas ahead!...

Preparation Tulips are brightly-colored spring flowers that are known around the world for being one of the first in a series of perennials that signal the end of winter each year. Like most flowers, learning how (and when) to plant them is essential. Tulips are spring-blooming geophytes that use bulbs as storage organs according to Edwin Visser, director of merchandising, Breck’s Holland. “Tulips in the wild are found in a band stretching from Southern Europe to Central Asia....

Preparation Do you have unused or expired prescription medication in your medicine cabinet that needs to be tossed? Think twice before flushing those old painkillers or birth control pills. While this may seem like a safe option, it could directly impact wildlife. “Disposing of pharmaceuticals down a drain or toilet can result in the drugs seeping into groundwater, negatively impacting fish and animal populations in aquatic ecosystems,” says Tim Carroll, spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Agency....

Preparation Some of us grew up eating pasta with nearly every meal, while others will remember always having a side of rice. But if your family is of Irish (or Scottish, or English, or Welsh) origin, there’s a good chance it’s potatoes that always appeared on the plate at meal time. Whether mashed, roasted, or baked, potatoes are delicious, versatile, and cheap, and they last in the pantry (no refrigeration required)....

It’s southern baking at its best. If you don’t like sweet desserts, skip ahead because this pie isn’t for you. Made with corn syrup and sugar, it’s definitely for the sweet tooths out there. It’s not cloyingly sweet, though, because you’ve got the crunchy, earthy nuts to balance out the flavors. Best of all, the pie is so easy to make, anyone can pull it off. I’m looking at you, non-bakers!...

Preparation This Mother’s Day, focus on lunch not brunch for Mom. Using our marvelous mostly make-ahead menu, means you won’t spending all morning cooking and instead can just relax and focus on a few final touches like topping off a fruity punch with bubbly, putting out colorful dips with beautiful crudités, tossing the salmon-and-snap-pea salad you prepped ahead with a zippy vinaigrette, and slicing into a multi-layered no-bake, no-fuss strawberry-and cream-cake....

Preparation You don’t need to be a professional party planner to design a holiday party in red and green, white and black, or gold and silver. While the classics are beloved for a reason, choosing a nontraditional color scheme, like the five suggested here by our panel of experts, adds an unexpected dose of cheer to your annual celebration. “This year’s holiday parties are going to be extra special, because for the first time since the pandemic, families and friends will be able to come together more safely,” says Dani Blasena of HauteFêtes, who anticipates a season that focuses more on the warmth and joy of spending time with loved ones—and less on over-the-top excess....

Preparation A classic that’s also a crowd pleaser, deviled eggs are a favorite at holiday parties and summer potlucks. When it comes to this iconic appetizer, the devil is in the details: We cook the eggs for exactly eight minutes, then whir butter into the yolks for pillowy creaminess. Once you’ve cracked the technique with our Rich Deviled Eggs recipe, venture out of your shell by trying our three other please-pinch-me variations....

1 watermelon 1 cup raspberries 1 cup strawberries 1 cup blueberries red food coloring, for special effects Cut center of watermelon to form a basket and then cut triangles for shark teeth. Freeze basket overnight before filling with fruit and then serve the next day. It keeps the fruit cold all day. See picture for assembly details. Sugar: 77g : Calcium: 92mg Calories: 386kcal Carbohydrates: 97g Fat: 2g Fiber: 8g...

Served with a Peanut Coconut Sauce to really drive home the coconut flavour, this Thai Chicken is fantastic for the BBQ, stovetop or roasting. Serve this with a side of jasmine rice or Thai Fried Rice! Thai Coconut Chicken If you’re new to coconut marinades, you’re going to really love this Coconut Chicken recipe! Coconut milk is a brilliant marinade – it’s a flavour carrier, infusing the chicken with all the tasty flavours you’ve mixed into the marinade....

Preparation When visiting the grocery store or local market, there are a couple of questions that probably come to mind: “What do I want to buy?” and “How am I going to get this all home?” Keeping reusable grocery bags in your purse, backpack or stashed in your car can help you with the latter (and prevent waste). The material of the bag itself plays a big role in the one you’ll want to use....

Yes, hummus may be simple, but it makes a myriad of dishes taste even better. And, it is good for your health to boot! Hummus is packed with healthy fats, calcium, and protein. It can even aid in weight loss. What more can you ask for? So go ahead, add this nutritious and delicious dip to your daily regimen, and watch how it transforms your regular meals from good to great....

I love it when I can bake cookies and call them somewhat healthy 🙂 That’s what these are. They’re made with 100% whole wheat flour (you can also opt to use buckwheat flour). You may also choose to use coconut oil over the butter that is called for in the recipe- it’s up to you. The result is a fudgy brownie-type cookie with extra chocolate chips packed in. They’re perfect for chocolate lovers who like to bake with whole grains....