Ancient Grains: What's Old—Is New Again

So-called "ancient grains" have become featured ingredients in more new products during the past few years.

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In the Event of a Zombie Apocalypse, Drink This ‘Walking Dead’-Inspired Wine

It’s always fun to hypothetically guess what we’d end up doing in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Most of us think we’d survive, bravely fighting off the undead with the swing of a bat. But some of us (cough, me) are ready to surrender at the first sight of danger. I’ll be kicking back on the couch nursing a nice bottle of wine, or two or five, enjoying the last moments of my humanity in a naively drunken haze. And now, finally, a new collection of alcoholic beverages taps into the festivities of my dystopian nightmares. Lot18, in conjunction with AMC, is releasing a line of “Walking Dead”-inspired wine.

The insanely popular TV series follows a rag-tag group of survivors in the wake of a devastating zombie outbreak, so unsurprisingly over the course of the show’s eight seasons there hasn’t been much time for a leisurely drink of wine here or there. I guess my coping mechanism of choice doesn’t make for exciting television. But now you can enjoy a glass, while watching and hoping your favorite characters don’t get torn to shreds by villainous, flesh-eating walkers.

The three flavors were developed around three of the show’s most popular characters.The 2016 California Petite Sirah is analogous to Rick Grimes. Like the show’s leader, this one tastes bold and balanced. Another reliable offering is the 2016 California Cabernet Sauvignon, akin to the show’s mysterious loner Daryl Dixon. It’s dark, flavored with black fruits, coffee beans and dried herbs. And then there’s the California Bourbon Barrel Red Blend, which is likened to the show’s true villain, Negan. With flavors extracted from vanilla, dark chocolate and caramel, it sure sounds a lot sweeter than the character it’s based on. But that won’t stop us from drinking it when the zombies are knocking down our doors.

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Sweater Weather Punch (Scotch and Cranberry Cocktail)

This punch smacks you with tartness, with the drying tannins of cranberry. This punch whirls with spices: It's gingery and cinnamon-y, with hidden herbs and a cleansing bitter edge. This is a real cocktail, dressed up in festive garb. Get Recipe!

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Après Plant-Based Protein Drink

Unlike many existing protein brands, Après is not directly targeting the traditional sports nutrition consumer.

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You Can Smell Like Fried Chicken with These KFC Bath Bombs

KFC is no stranger to novelty products. In recent years they’ve released chicken-scented sunscreen, lip balm, and even edible nail polish (it’s literally finger lickin’ good!), but this time they’ve created the ultimate lifestyle crossover item: a bath bomb. So if you’ve ever wanted your entire body to reek of greasy chicken and 11 secret herbs and spices, now’s your chance.

KFC has partnered with Village Vanguard, a Japanese retailer, to create a drumstick-shaped lump composed of what loosely translates to”Chicken Smell Bathing Powder.” Just imagine soaking your weary body into a hot tub after a long day at work. What could make the situation even more relaxing? A fizzy explosion of faux fried chicken! That’s how we imagined the pitch meeting went down, at least. Aren’t baths the only thing millennials love more than fast food?

If you’re one of the few people this marketing stunt actually appeals to and you happen to live in Japan, then you might be one of the few lucky people able to nab one. Only 100 of these foul, fowl bath-time accoutrements have been created (That’s still too many in our opinion.) In order to obtain one of these limited edition items, you have to enter a Twitter-based contest and hope you’re one the select few chosen to turn yourself into human soup. Winners will also receive coupons for the restaurant’s “Secret Combination Pack” of chicken that’s actually not made of soap. All you need to do is retweet the message below before November 15 to enter:

激レアグッズ完成
11月１日（水）から始まる #秘伝のコンビパック 発売記念キャンペーンのが完成しました
なんと、今回は #ヴィレッジヴァンガード さんとコラボレーション❤
チキン型のこれいったいなーんだ❓#分かった人はRT　#KFC http://pic.twitter.com/pmmBH4q2t9

— ケンタッキーフライドチキン (@KFC_jp) October 30, 2017

If you do happen to win, well congrats(?) in advance, and let us know how long it takes to get that deep-fried stench off of you.

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Five Dairy Alternative Beverage Trends

Spurring the segment’s growth will be plant-based dairy alternatives, which are expected to come to represent 40% of the combined total of dairy and dairy alternative beverages, up from 25% in 2016 when dairy alternative beverages alone accounted for barely $6 billion in retail sales.

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Functional Cold Brew Coffee

Available in 10-ounce glass bottles (12 per case), Coffee Blenders' line of RTD cold brew blends 100% Arabica dark roast Honduran coffee with clinically supported nutraceuticals designed to provide health benefits.

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Easy French Lentils With Garlic and Herbs

With the right technique, these simple, earthy lentils shine bright with layers of complex flavor. The secret is using the right aromatics and herbs, and then enriching it all with butter and vinegar. Get Recipe!

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Pressure Cooker Cheesecake + Instant Pot GIVEAWAY!

For those of us who have been cooking for a long time, it can be a very good thing to sometimes step outside our comfort zones and be a complete beginner again. Humbling, to be sure, but good for our characters.

This is how I’ve felt over the past few months with my Instant Pot. Everything about it was new, from figuring out how to put the lid on and which buttons to push to getting used to the fact that I couldn’t just lift the lid to check on my food whenever I wanted to.

There was a lot of anxiety and a few oopsies, as well as a surprising number of successes, even in the early days.

Continue reading "Pressure Cooker Cheesecake + Instant Pot GIVEAWAY!" »

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Perfect Coffee Drinks for After Thanksgiving Dinner

Push that plate away after you polish off that third helping of stuffing and take a few deep breaths to prep before the pie—but don’t let the tryptophan put the sleepy kibosh on your enjoyment of dessert by dozing you face-down into your à la mode. Brew up an easy and delicious jolt of caffeine that’s not just an afterthought after dinner, but a complement to the meal and a perfect pair for the last sweet bites. (Though of course you can swap in decaf for any of the recipes here; remember poor Aunt Millie can’t sleep a wink if she takes coffee after 3 PM.  Bless her.)

The Roast and Toast Bourbon-Coffee Cocktail

Gastronom Blog

Serious dinner and serious coffee drinkers might crave a serious, caffeinated cocktail, and this brilliant boozy brew is as simple as it is strong. Use cold-brewed coffee for a make-ahead prep, and you can even mix up a batch a few hours before dinner to ensure easy serving (and easy sipping): Just be sure to torch the marshmallow right before serving, to capture that crackling goodness—not to mention the drama. Why should cousin Kate get all the drama, anyway? Get the recipe. 

Mint Chocolate Iced Coffee

Buy This, Cook That

The coffee equivalent of a cool and refreshing after-dinner mint, this chilled drink makes a nice change of pace from the hot and heavy coffee brews we’re used to after a heavy meal. When served between the end of dinner and before the treats get dished out, it gets everybody’s tongue ready for something sweet and special, without being overpowering or cloying in its own flavors. Get the recipe. 

Vanilla Bean Horchata Iced Coffee

Nutmeg Nanny

Another deceptively simple iced coffee recipe, this horchata-inspired drink blends creamy-cool rice milk with warm cinnamon spice, and a little sweet vanilla for a somewhat unusual but very cozy flavor. Skip one step (the coffee-making) and use a store-bought cold brew in the recipe. Why not? You know sometimes Grandma was defrosting Sara Lee pies on Thanksgiving without any shame. Get the recipe.  

Irish Affogato

Bake, Love, Give

What if coffee was dessert? (Ok, maybe with a little adult libation thrown in, too.) What if coffee-dessert was exactly three ingredients, and you were three steps away from finishing your kitchen responsibilities and just parking yourself on the couch in front of football for the rest of the day? What if you could eat your coffee with a spoon, and get a buzz in the process? This Bailey’s-spiked gelato life-saver has your name written all over it. Get the recipe. 

Homemade Pumpkin Coffee Creamer

Sally’s Baking Addiction

If you love the pumpkin spice latte thing but hate the idea of going to all the trouble of making individual scratch versions, take the easy route and whip up a jug of pumpkin creamer for your guests to add to their regular ol’ no-fuss cup of joe. The warm spice and subtle sweetness will be a perfect partner-in-crime for your pumpkin pie, and it’s a great way to use up any extra purée you have laying around after cooking. Get the recipe. 

Coffee Punch 

What Marty Sees

Go big or go home—wait, you are home, you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year. In that case, just go big with this deliciously decadent (and decaf) coffee punch, which your guests can serve themselves. It’s kid-friendly, if you don’t mind getting the young ones hooked on the taste of your morning vice early in life, and for the grown-ups, a bottle of dark rum or whiskey nearby makes it easy to add a dash of liquid pleasure to their cup. Get the recipe. 

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How to Quickly Soften Cream Cheese for Cheesecake

No matter how many times I make cheesecake, I always forget about setting out the cream cheese to soften before hand — an important detail if you like smooth, lump-free cheesecake. Which I think we can all agree, we very much do.

I’ve tried microwaving on half-power to warm it up and also tried dunking the sealed package in a bowl of warm water. But I often end up with a melted cheese puddle with the former method and worry about package leaks with the latter.

Here’s what I do instead.

Continue reading "How to Quickly Soften Cream Cheese for Cheesecake" »

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9 Creative Ways to Use Applesauce This Holiday Season

If you are anything like me, you blinked and it is November, right? Right and yikes! Time is flying, whether we want it to or not, but we can still savor the season’s blessings: pumpkin spice lattes, having an excuse to live out our flannel-lumberjack fantasies, Thanksgiving, and the trees sporting the most magnificent shades of crimson and burnt orange. It is also the time of year, where we need to start thinking about what we are going to do to wow friends and family during the holiday season.  After all, are you really celebrating if you don’t make something special?

If you are not in the know, it is a foodie fact that applesauce has become a game-changing ingredient when it comes to making healthier, vegan, gluten-free, low fat, versions of food we enjoy. To be frank, however, the sweet, juicy flavor that applesauce adds is so enjoyable that it doesn’t even need to be healthy.  Sometimes, you just use applesauce because it tastes great and that is reason enough. Applesauce is a catch-all ingredient that can act as a sweetener, oil, butter, egg or secret ingredient to supercharge a dish. Sound good? We did some searching and found nine creative ways to have fun with applesauce this year.  Please enjoy.

Raw Energy Bars

The Fitchen

During the lead up to a big celebration, it is really hard not to overeat. After all, you wake up early, cook and/or travel and have way too much time before you get to the big meal of the day. Thus, I have recently taken to eating something light but satisfying like granola or energy bars. Over-the-counter energy bars, however, can get expensive and they just aren’t natural, so it is always better to make them from scratch.  That sounds hard, right? Wrong. The Fitchen has these raw, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free bars that are the perfect snack for you and your family. The recipe is packed full of nutty pistachio, almond, cashew, as well as sunflower and flax seeds, so it is will be beyond satisfying and only a little sweet from the applesauce. Just be sure to store them in the freezer as raw bars need a little help staying stiff! Get the recipe.

Healthy Applesauce Granola

Two Healthy Kitchens

Didn’t we just talk about granola as a healthy pre-holiday snack? Well, Two Healthy Kitchens has an easy granola recipe that is low in oil and sugar thanks to—you guessed it—applesauce. For any of you out there struggling to get your kids safely away from processed food and sugar, this is an excellent transition food. You can make it with them to get them used to the look and ingredients and then get rid of sugary cereals all together. Get the recipe. 

Now, for a little savory.

Apple-Glazed Vegetable Edamame Stir-fry

Averie Cooks

Glaze anything and you are starting off with an excellent foundation for deliciousness. A stir-fry is also a great veggie option for any holiday table. However, many stir-fry recipes call for sugar. Um, no thank you! Averie Cooks has a great recipe that allows you to omit sugar altogether. So, yes, please. Just add more applesauce if you need more of a sweet fix. This 15-minute, tangy, refreshing stir-fry is a great vegetarian dish that is sweet enough for kids and tasty enough for the sophisticated aka adults. Get the recipe.

Now that we’ve been good, let’s be bad.

Applesauce Macaroni and Cheese with Apple Sausage

Adventures in Cooking

All holidays are incomplete without macaroni and cheese, right? Well, at least, it will be after you have tried this recipe. Just imagine this thick, creamy, salty, spiced, and just a bit sweet version. Using both gruyere and cheddar will make most taste buds weak in the knees,  not to mention highlighting the sweetness of the meat sausage cooked in applesauce. Get the recipe.

Ribs with BBQ Applesauce

PaleoLeap

Besides your traditional turkey and ham, your holiday table can definitely always use some ribs. However, a lot of BBQ sauce has a lot of unneeded sugar. Solution: Paleo Leap has a spicy-sweet marinade that uses applesauce instead of sugar and can double as a sauce to pour on top before serving. It is a juicy, savory, primal take on a family favorite that will surely be a huge hit. Get the recipe.

Now, let’s get to the sweets. As a butter, sugar, and egg substitute, we would be crazy not to give your dessert ideas!

Vegan Brownies

Chowhound

Chocolate makes most things better in my book, so let’s venture over there. Ever try a vegan brownie and hate it? Well, usually it’s because they’re too dry or hard. However, this recipe promises to transform that and delivers.  The applesauce replaces the eggs, which helps to bind the brownies and the vegetable oil keeps the brownies nice and moist. Get our Vegan Brownies recipe.

Autumn Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cooking Classy

If fall had a flavor, a spice cake would be it. Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, clove, pecans, brown sugar, and applesauce give the cake a moist spiced caramel flavor that is balanced by the icing of the gods— cream cheese.. This savory option is perfect for people who like cakes that aren’t just sugar and icing. Get the recipe.

To Die For Carrot Cake

Mom on Timeout

Now, I will die for nothing, but I would do a scandalous thing or two for a couple slices of this cake. The key to carrot cake is keeping it moist, so adding applesauce to the batter achieves just that. Couple it with carrot, pecan, coconut and, of course, cream cheese icing. Be wise (or naughty) and make one for yourself and one for sharing. Get the recipe.

Apple Cheesecake Smoothie

The Healthy Foodie

When the holiday meal is just too much and you cannot imagine eating anything more, you can always have a sip of something, right? This guilty pleasure smoothie gives you all the creaminess of the cheesecake with notes of apple and cinnamon without overfilling you. Yay! You can indulge once more! Get the recipe. 

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An Ode to 5 Holiday Foods That Are Better from the Package

There’s something to be said for rolling up your sleeves and making a meal from scratch. All that hard work, patience, and attention to detail leading to the perfect mouthwatering meal? Amazing. On the other hand, getting to eat something drool-worthy without the hard work? Well, that’s even better. When it comes to the holidays in particular, there are certain foods that evoke homey memories (the good old days before butter was a curse word and kale was on every menu) that just taste delicious right out of the package. I’m not saying you have to throw away your cookbooks, but no judgment if you reach for the packaged stuff when it comes to these foods.

Stuffing

Sometimes it’s worth the extra work to create just the right unique blend of spices for your dish. This is not one of those times. I mean, is there anything that spells Thanksgiving more than a big old serving of Stove Top stuffing? I think not. (I mean, they even say it in their tagline.)  The fact that it takes a grand total of two additional ingredients and less than 10 minutes to make it means that your energy can be spent elsewhere, like making sure the turkey isn’t dry or that your relatives don’t start fighting over politics at the table.

Cranberry Sauce

You’ve probably already heard many of the reasons that this canned creation is better than its gussied up counterparts, but it bears repeating: If it doesn’t have ridges, get it off my table. The weird texture (is the Ocean Spray stuff a solid or a jelly?), and mix of sweet and tart somehow just…works. Especially on Thanksgiving, when savory foods dominate the menu, something sugary but not saccharine just balances out the main event. Just don’t forget the can opener!

Frosted Cookies

There has been tons of controversy over whether these cookies are good or gross, and I’m here to end the debate right here and now. They’re freaken’ delicious; I’ll take them all. Whether you go for the classics made by Create a Treat, or one of the knockoffs, finding them in your supermarket is sure to make you do an internal happy dance. The best part? They mix up their colors and sprinkles throughout the year to correspond with the nearest holiday, so you’re covered for everything from Flag Day to first Christmases.

Green Bean Casserole

Okay, so this one isn’t entirely packaged (hello, green beans!), but it just wouldn’t be the same without that creamy mushroom soup and fried onions on top. And getting some greens in in the midst of chowing down is enough to make up for skipping the turkey trot. Promise.

Biscuits

I grew up watching TV shows and commercials that basically told me it wasn’t a holiday meal if there weren’t biscuits on the table, and I hold strongly to that belief years later. But why bother slaving away to make your own when you can have golden biscuits in less time than it takes to watch a sitcom? It’s a no brainer. Plus, fighting with your sibling over who gets the last flaky, salty biscuit from a can means the holidays have officially started.

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Food Starter Video Series for Food Entrepreneurs

The “This is Food Starter” video gives an overview of operations and sets the stage for understanding what it takes to make it in the industry.

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Brooklyn Crafted Mini Ginger Beer

Varieties include Traditional Ginger Beer, Earl Grey Ginger Beer, Mango Ginger Beer, and Lemon & Lime Ginger Beer

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