Friday, June 28, 2019

Eco-Friendly Straws That Don’t Suck

How to Smoke Meat Like the Pros

The Best Keto BBQ Sauce to Save You From Boring Food

How to Make Dessert Lasagna, the Ultimate Crowd Pleaser

How to Infuse Your Watermelon with Booze

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission.

Watermelon cocktails are perfect for summer—bright, light, sweet, and refreshing, they can go from juicy to slushy, and they’re all dangerously delicious. But if the idea of eating your alcohol sounds more amazing than terrifying, you’ve probably wondered how to achieve what seems like the impossible: a drunken watermelon.

Lucky for you, the impossible is possible with just a few supplies and a few easy steps. Soon enough, you’ll be well on your way to bringing the coolest item to a summer picnic (other than yourself, of course).

What You’ll Need: 

  • 1 large watermelon
  • 1 16 ounce bottle of alcohol (your choice, but typically vodka or tequila)
  • large bowl
  • cutting board
  • sharp knife
  • small spoon
  • funnel (optional)

1. Start by placing your watermelon on top of a cutting board and carefully cutting a circular hole at the top. You’ll want to ensure that the hole is slightly wider than the head of your alcohol bottle or funnel.

2. Tear off the rind and dig into the hole with your spoon. Remove at least four to five inches of flesh. Enjoy as an early treat.

3. Place the watermelon in a large bowl with the hole at the top.

4. Insert the bottle directly into the hole and allow the alcohol to drain into the watermelon. It may not drain entirely, in which case you can either leave your bottle in the hole or save the rest of the booze for the future. If you are using a funnel, pour the alcohol into it slowly until the contents of the bottle are empty (or the watermelon can’t handle more liquid).

5. Transfer the watermelon and bowl to the fridge. Store for at least 24 hours prior to serving. The longer the alcohol sits, the tastier it will be.

6. Once you’re ready to consume, simply slice your watermelon into half-inch thick segments or bite-sized pieces. Nosh responsibly.

Alternative Version: Hollow out the whole watermelon, fill it with a refreshing, batch-friendly cocktail (like a Watermelon Margarita, or a beer-and-watermelon Summer Hoedown, if you want to stay on theme), and add a tap for dispensing drinks.

Final Touch Watermelon Keg Tapping Kit, $21.99 on Amazon

As one reviewer says, what a time to be alive.
Buy Now

(Do note that the above model is marked “back in stock on July 2;” if that’s cutting it too close, you can pay a little more for the KeggerMelon tap.)

Related Reading: How & Why To Grill Watermelon This Summer



from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/31Yt5Rw
via IFTTT

Prime Day Shmime Day: This Entire Kitchen Line Just Dropped to Half Off

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission.
Looking for some deep discounts on kitchen and cooking tools? There’s a monster sale on cookware happening right now and you’ve made it just in time.
Amazon Prime Day kitchen deals may be right around the corner (mark your calendars for July 15 and 16, people) but it appears you don’t have to wait even that long for some insane deals on high quality kitchen tools, cookware, gadgets and more. Right now Walmart’s entire Tasty line is 50% off. Yes, all of it. Half off. Right now.
The limited time sale includes a quality 11-piece cookware set, a 5-quart nonstick Dutch oven, a set of glass nesting bowls for baking & mixing and a whole bunch more. See below for a few of our favorites to snatch up before they are G.O.N.E.

6 Piece Nonstick Bakeware Set, (was $42.88 now $21.44) on Walmart

Walmart

A great starter set for a new baker. Nonstick service with burn-free handles for picking up and out of the oven. It even comes with an egg timer, a sneaky useful kitchen tool.Buy Now

Walmart

This handsome small Dutch oven is good for braising, a Sunday sauce, or soups and stews. Ensures even cooking and good for all cooking surfaces.Buy Now 

12-Cup Muffin Pan (set of 2) was $16.99, now $8.50 on Walmart

Walmart

If muffins are the only thing you’re cooking in your muffin tins, well, have we got good news for you. Check out these recipes that prove your muffin tin is truly a cook’s best friend.Buy Now

Handheld Grater and Garlic Press (was $16.15) now $7.99 on Walmart

Walmart

A garlic press was one of the last kitchen items I held out on for some reason but once I had one, everything changed. Microplanes or hand held cheese graters are great, and go places upright cheese graters simply can’t.Buy Now

11-Piece Non-Stick Diamond Reinforced Cookware Set, (was $99) now $49.50

Walmart

We’re loving this powder blue cookware set which includes set which includes a 9.5-inch fry pan, 11-inch griddle pan, 1.5-quart. saucepan with glass lid, 2.5-quart. saucepan with lid, 4-quart deep cooker with lid and helper handle, and a 6-quart Dutch oven with glass lid.Buy Now


from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2ZYFFhN
via IFTTT

9 Ways to Get Your Pimm’s Cup Fix This Summer

How to Make the Perfect Pimm’s Cup

Amazon Snack Deals to Hold You Over Until Prime Day

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission.

Shutterstock

Are you sitting at home, eagerly waiting for Amazon Prime Day deals to drop on July 15? Believe us, we are too, but we have an exciting Amazon deal to tell you about in the meantime. From now through July 14, Amazon is offering a 20% discount for Prime members on some of its best Amazon-exclusive snacks. 

We’ve rounded our favorites below that will keep you snacking all summer long. Choose from sweet, salty, or spicy options that are perfect to bring along on all of your upcoming beach days, road-trips, or picnics.

Related Reading: Amazon Prime Day 2019 Is Coming: Here Are the Deals We Can Expect

Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzels

These peanut butter pretzels are perfect for those who crave something both sweet and salty. Mess-free and easy to share, you’ll be the most popular one at the picnic if you show up with a tub of these.

Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzels, 44 Ounce Jar, $11.13 on Amazon

Buy Now

Happy Belly Deluxe Mixed Nuts

Crunch all summer long on this mix of five different nuts that have been roasted and salted to perfection. This deal includes two 16-ounce bags for a bargain price.

Happy Belly Deluxe Mixed Nuts, Pack of 2, $15.19 on Amazon

Buy Now

Cacao & Coconut Crunch Nut Blend

This fancier take on trail mix is a great way to get your chocolate fix without it becoming a melty mess in the sun. The almonds and cashews are glazed with coconut palm sugar and cacao, and mixed in the bag with raisins, coconut chips, and dried blueberries.

Wickedly Prime Organic Sprouted Nut Blend, Cacao & Coconut Crunch, $9.99 on Amazon

Buy Now

Simple & Slightly Sweet Plantain Chips

Not only are these individual-sized bags of plantain chips crunchy and delicious, they have no added sugar and would go very well with a party-friendly bowl of guacamole. This pack of 36 1-ounce bags will keep you munching all summer.

Wickedly Prime Plantain Chips, Simple & Slightly Sweet, $17.99

36 1-ounce bags
Buy Now

Read More: These Feel-Good Snacks Are Eco-Friendly and Delicious

Fiery Mango Organic Sprouted Trail Mix

This colorful trail mix is sweet with a spicy kick, combining almonds, dried mango, cashews, and goji berries.

Wickedly Prime Organic Sprouted Trail Mix in Fiery Mango, $12.69 on Amazon

Buy Now


from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2IX2dtV
via IFTTT

Sweet Potato Lasagna Is Trending Big for Summer, But What Is It?

As we move into full-on BBQ mode for the warmer months, certain grilling and BBQ trends emerge. The team at Pinterest took a look at some of these very trends, calculated by search terms from their community of more than 70 million pinners.

It turns out, no matter what region or state you live in—red or blue—BBQ and summer foods transcend cultural and political divides with 83% identical search terms across the country. Californians, Idahoans, folks from Connecticut and Alabama are all searching for (mostly) the same types of 4th of July food, and recipe inspiration.

Related: Grilling Innovations to Bring Your 4th of July BBQ Into the Future

Even more surprising is what people are searching for this summer! Among the list of trending BBQ-related recipes were some standards like Instant Pot BBQ pulled pork, and avocado corn salad. But a few oddballs caught our eye, too, like meatballs with grape jelly and barbecue sauce (?!) and the #1 trending BBQ-related food, trending up over 5000% was Sweet Potato Lasagna.

Sweet potato lasagna is clearly having a moment, but is it really lasagna? Yes and no. It’s actually a bit closer to potato au gratin; layers of thinly sliced sweet potatoes in place of the pasta, and a creamy bechamel where the red sauce would normally go. From there you can layer in any other vegetables, with popular additions including spinach, summer squash, mushroom or sausage. And finally, sweet potato lasagna is generally topped with mozzarella or another melty Italian cheese.

Related: These Vegan Cheeses Are (Almost) as Good as the Real Thing

Creamy and filling sweet potato lasagna makes the perfect BBQ side or starch, but can easily serve as the main course for a vegetarian crowd, too. And though it’s in no way keto-approved, it’s healthier than traditional lasagna with its heaps of pasta. See one of our favorite sweet potato lasagna recipes here.

The Top Trending BBQ-related Foods for Summer 2019 (according to Pinterest):

Regional Favorites Trending on Pinterest.

  • Northeast: Broccoli salad
  • Midwest: Fruit pizza
  • South: Banana pudding
  • West: Rice Krispie treats

*Trends are calculated using normalized searches from May ‘18 to May ‘19. Top searches leading up to 4th of July, from June 24th ‘18 to July 4th ‘18. Top searches are leading up to July, from 6/28/18 – 7/3/18. Region 1 (Northeast): Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Region 2 (Midwest): Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri. Region 3 (South): Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana. Region 4 (West): Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii.



from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2XG4TnL
via IFTTT

How to Build the Ultimate Ice Cream Sundae Bar

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission.

If you’re stumped on which dessert to serve at your next summer party, consider setting up an ice cream sundae bar. Ice cream is exactly what most people want when temperatures are climbing, thus making it the perfect solution. Even picky eaters love a good bowl of vanilla with sprinkles on top. Perhaps the biggest draw is that building them requires little to no effort for the host. All you have to do is lay out the ice cream flavors, toppings, sauces, bowls, and cones, and let your guests do the work.

But how exactly do you host an ice cream sundae bar that will really blow people away? It’s actually much easier than you think. We got the full scoop on ice cream party hosting below.

1. Keep the flavors nice and simple.

chocolate and vanilla ice cream recipe

Chowhound

Your instinct might be to serve a ton of different flavors, but Mohan Kumar, co-owner of New York-based ice cream shop Oddfellows, tells Chowhound that when it comes to ice cream, less is always more.

“You don’t want to have more than two to three flavors,” he explains. “The flavors should be the base, but the toppings should be the highlight.”

Stick to the classics. Strawberry and chocolate are popular ice cream flavors that will always be hits. You might also want to serve a dairy-free option in addition to the basics, just in case you have any lactose-intolerant friends.

Related Reading: How to Make Dairy-Free Ice Cream | The Best Dairy-Free Ice Cream You Can Buy

Vanilla bean is a must,” says Kumar. “But in general, keep it simple.”

2. Having bowls and cones on hand is key.

potato chip ice cream sundae

Humphrey Slocombe’s Sweet & Salty 420 Sundae

“I believe a great ice cream sundae is the vessel we serve it in,” says Yolanda Diaz, head pastry chef at Geraldine’s in Austin. “It’s about the whole experience.”

Providing good serving “vessels” is the one step that’s going to require a bit more effort on your end. Sure, you could just set out a stack of red Solo cups and call it a day, but that’s going to impress no one. Instead, invest in a few nice bowls. They can be glass, but if you don’t want to spend too much money, there are plenty of stylish paper or plastic options you can find online or at party stores. Personally, we like these cone-inspired creations:

Greenco Ice Cream Dessert Bowls and Spoons (Set of 12), $11.13 on Amazon

I scream, you scream, we all scream for these adorable bowls.
Buy Now

Our experts were divided on whether or not to offer actual cones. Kumar advises against it if your intention is purely sundaes.

“Sundaes should be in a bowl,” he explains. “That way you can get all your ice cream, toppings, and sauces in one bite with a spoon.”

Diaz thinks having cones on hand is a good option, in case your guests don’t want to go the full sundae route. At the end of the day, it all comes down to preference. Decide which experience you want your party-goers to have and stick to it.

Great Value Waffle Cone Bowls, 10 for $1.92 at Walmart

Have the best of both worlds with edible waffle cone bowls!
Buy Now

3. Feel free to get crazy with your toppings—you can never have too many.

Carnival Ice Cream Sundae

Chowhound

When we asked Diaz which toppings we should serve, she was nervous to recommend anything.

“Everyone has their own palate,” she says.

If you have a wide array of sweet, salty, and spicy offerings, there will be something to please everyone. Need inspiration? Some of Diaz’s favorites include chocolate-covered gummy bears, corn nuts, potato chips, sprinkles, and fresh fruit.

Read More: Our Favorite Savory Ice Cream Toppings

4. Offer a mix of crunchy and chewy toppings. The more texture, the better.

“Texture is everything,” says Kumar, further explaining that every sundae should have four layers: Smooth ice cream, something crunchy, something gooey, and something fluffy.

A great example would be a base of vanilla ice cream, salty nuts, caramel sauce or fudge, all topped with whipped cream.

5. Whatever you do, don’t forget the sauces.

homemade chocolate Magic Shell ice cream shell topping

Chowhound’s Homemade Magic Shell

Sauces are the glue that brings an ice cream sundae bar together. Without them, your toppings and ice cream won’t meld the way they should. Kumar says you absolutely have to have at least one caramel offering, one chocolate offering, and whipped cream. From there, he recommends serving seasonal fruit compotes (a summertime peach or berry sauce would work perfectly).

If you really feel like getting adventurous, Diaz loves more exotic offerings like chocolate curry sauces, orange blossom whipped creams, and sesame caramels. As long as you have a few basics, you can get as kooky as you want. You can even try making your own Magic Shell style topping to impress your guests.

Related Video: A Short History of Frozen Desserts in America



from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2Jir7TQ
via IFTTT

Friday Food Finds: Snickers & Twix Milk, Sake-To-Go, New Ben & Jerry’s, and More!

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission.

You did it! The weekend has arrived, which can only mean one thing: Time to treat yo’self! Lucky for you, we have a hodgepodge of goodies, both edible and sippable, to kick off your Friday the right way. From ice cream and candy bar milk to canned sake and plantain chips, there is something for everyone from our Chub Chub Chowdown segment on the Taylor Strecker Show. Scroll down to get our official thoughts!

Twix and Snickers Milk

We really thought these were going to be amazing, but they both just tasted like chocolate milk to us. In fact, we may even prefer Hershey’s syrup or…wait for it…a powdered variety like Nesquik or Ovaltine. That being said, those who enjoy the sugary milk at the end of their cereal bowl will be in for a treat. These just weren’t for us. We’d rather eat our candy bars and leave the sipping to alcohol.

Morimoto Easy Cup Sake

We appreciate the concept of sake on the go, but weren’t too thrilled with the flavor profile. It’s a bit more tangy than other cold sakes (which are a bit smoother). This may be appealing to some folks, especially if you want something quick and portable for a picnic in the park, but it’s not something we’d rush to put in our shopping carts. The package design is amazing, though. We love how Morimoto appears from within the glass jar. Try it out and let us know what you think!

Amazi Plantain Chips (Cocoa) and Jackfruit Chews (Ginger + Turmeric)

We appreciate the overall vision of this brand and their commitment to quality ingredients. While the plantain chips were just okay, we really dug the jackfruit with turmeric and ginger. It may just take a bit for sensitive eaters to get used to the unfamiliar texture. Think of it as a weird dried fruit or tender, sweet beef jerky. There’s nothing to freak out about!

Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cake Co. Classic Crumb Cake

Holy moly. This crumb cake is absurd in the best way possible. We could seriously eat it by the pound. The topping is particularly delicious because you can actually taste spices like cinnamon and cloves, without them being overpowering. What’s also great is that you can easily freeze the product and thaw it when hunger strikes.  Dear dreams: I’d like to introduce you to your newest subject.

Ben & Jerry’s Pucker Upper Sorbet

I am a HUGE fan of the raspberry/lemon flavor profile, which is why this new Ben & Jerry’s sorbet was totally up my alley. In fact, I’d actually prefer that it have more of a tart flavor than what’s found in the lemonade swirl and sugar bites. Sean was obsessed with the texture, while it was a bit too sour for Taylor’s liking. You clearly can’t please everyone, but I was 100 percent here for it.

Jack Link’s Zero Sugar Beef Jerky

Good on Jack Link’s for getting in on the no-sugar jerky game. This was definitely delicious, but we’re not sure why black pepper isn’t listed under the ingredients—these guys are coated with it! And for someone who may be very sensitive to spice, these will take them by surprise. We did like them, though, so hooray for finding a new airport snack.

Michel et Augustin Shortbread Cookie Squares (Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt)

I’m not sure why Taylor and Sean have an aversion to shortbread, but I can’t find anything wrong with a butter, sugar, and flour cookie. We appreciated the fact that these treats were individually wrapped, but were a bit bored with the dark chocolate frosting on top. It definitely needed more sea salt, though we think these would be a perfect addition to a fancy tea party. They’re easily dunkable and neutral enough to pair with any kind of tea.



from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2JhR0mq
via IFTTT

Top 10 Tastes of Amsterdam

The Friday Buzz: All the S’mores, Coolest Drinks Around, and Good Reads

Here's our weekly round-up of all good things, good advice, good feelings. Up this week: All the S'mores, Coolest Drinks Around, and Good Reads

Continue reading "The Friday Buzz: All the S’mores, Coolest Drinks Around, and Good Reads" »



from Simply Recipes https://ift.tt/2FF4K9Z
via IFTTT

Strawberry-Basil Moscow Mule

This Strawberry-Basil Moscow Mule is a fruity twist on the classic! Mixed with vodka and spicy ginger beer, it's a perfect cocktail for a hot summer afternoon.

Continue reading "Strawberry-Basil Moscow Mule" »



from Simply Recipes https://ift.tt/2YlpIBY
via IFTTT

The $20 Kitchen Tool That Will Change Your Brunch Game