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Celebrate the best of the season

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(Family Features) If it seems like your grocery store’s apple section is more abundant than it has been in the past, you’d be correct. With new apple varieties coming onto the scene every few years, gone are the days of choosing between simply red or green.

Instead, choosing the right apple is similar to selecting the perfect wine. Apples can range from tart to sugary sweet, so finding the right balance for your palate is key. Scent can also influence taste, especially when you have a balanced sweetness with an uplifting, fresh aroma.

When it comes to apples, a satisfying texture is as important as taste. Consider an option like the Envy apple, which has been referred to as “the ultimate apple experience” for its consistently balanced, delightful sweetness coupled with a crisp, elegant crunch. They are an easy snack when eaten fresh out of hand and are perfect for pairing with cheese, charcuterie boards, chocolate and nut butters.

Easy to spot with their crimson red skin over a golden background that practically glows, Envy apples are naturally descended from Braeburn and Royal Gala apple varieties, bred by farmers who use time-honored plant-breeding methods. Plus, the apples’ bright white flesh is naturally slow to brown when sliced, so they stay fresher longer.

Creating the Ultimate Charcuterie Board

Stick to the basics this holiday season to create a perfect charcuterie board:

  • The board: Select a board big enough for your gathering but not too big as you want there to be overlap and crowding.
  • The cheeses: Select three different cheeses that complement the other items. Brie is a solid soft cheese choice while blue fills the need for a stronger, more pungent cheese. Try an aged cheddar or smoky gouda to round out the trio.
  • The meats: Something salty with a little fat, like prosciutto or speck, provides a flavorful addition to the board.
  • The produce: Choose fruits that not only taste great, but are also beautiful to display such as Envy apple slices, which stay whiter longer, making them ideal for any entertaining occasion. Plus their balanced sweetness pairs well with any item on the board.
  • The crackers: Variety is key with crackers, and like the cheeses, three types is typically the magic formula. Think water crackers, multi-grain wafers and breadsticks.
  • The snacks: Sweet and salty are king when it comes to snacks, so a mix of chocolate and nuts works for many charcuterie boards.

Home for the Holidays

Traveling to visit friends and loved ones will likely be limited this year, so make this holiday season a time for cherishing traditions in new, different ways. Consider these ways to make apples part of the celebration:

  • Break out the webcam and challenge your siblings to a cross-country apple pie bake off.
  • Give a relish tray an upgrade with a sophisticated charcuterie board stacked with creamy gorgonzola cheese, salty caramel sauce, crunchy mixed nuts and crisp apple slices. Entertaining tip: Envy apples are a perfect addition to any holiday spread as their white flesh stays naturally whiter longer and resists the browning that sometimes shows with other apples.
  • Visit Alaska, Austria or nearly any other location from the comfort of your couch by watching one of Hallmark Channel’s 40 new holiday movies, munching on apples as your movietime snack.
  • Share the scents of the holidays with neighbors by crafting pomanders, which are fresh apples studded with whole cloves.
  • Fill decorative bowls with festive Envy apples, enclose in cellophane and gift them to friends and family member.

For more information, including recipes and entertaining tips, visit EnvyApple.com.

SOURCE:
Envy Apple

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EDIBLES

Green onions welcome the spring season

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By Suzanne Storey

Do you have an abundance of green onions this time of year? If you’re fortunate enough to experience this, consider yourself lucky! First, let’s clarify a few terms.
Essentially, green onions and scallions refer to the same vegetable; however, the terminology often depends on cultural context. I often call them spring onions, and my parents referred to them the same way. On the other hand, fancy chefs and culinary experts typically use the term “scallions.”
I wasn’t even aware of what a scallion was until about 10 years ago, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re in the same boat.

Read the full story on spring onions, along with definitions of onions and the efforts to grow a community garden in Nocona in your Thursday Bowie News.

Onions from the Nocona Community Garden. (Photos by Suzanne Storey)
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EDIBLES

Celebrate Easter with creative cakes

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(Family Features) Sweet, delicious treats make Easter celebrations magical, putting the final touch on brunch, lunch or dinner gatherings. Whether your crowd enjoys the sweet-tart combination of fruit-infused cakes, mini bundts with personalized decorations or rich, creamy cheesecake, the dessert table is sure to be popular.

Blueberry Lemon Bundt Cake and Carrot Cheesecake from “Cookin’ Savvy” are perfect desserts for sharing with loved ones, made with little effort and a lot of love. You can even let little ones help in the kitchen with Fun Mini Easter Bundts by allowing their creativity to run wild – just hand over the icing and chocolate toppers then watch the artistry unfold.

To ensure your feast goes off without a hitch, create these tempting cakes the day before for a no-hassle Easter.

Find more ways to elevate Easter celebrations with food by visiting Culinary.net.

Blueberry Lemon Bundt Cake

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy
Yield: 1 cake

  • 1 pint fresh blueberries, rinsed
  • 1 box lemon cake mix
  • 1 stick butter, melted
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup milk

Glaze:

  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  1. Heat oven to 350 F.
  2. Grease bundt pan and place rinsed blueberries in bottom. Mix cake mix, butter, eggs and milk; pour on top of blueberries. Bake 35 minutes. Let cool and remove from pan.
  3. To make glaze: Mix butter, sugar and milk then pour over cake.

Fun Mini Easter Bundts

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy
Yield: 24 mini bundts

  • 1 box confetti cake mix
  • 1 stick butter, melted
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup milk

Chocolate Toppers:

  • 1 cup each color melting chips of desired colors
  • silicone Easter candy molds of desired shapes
  • 1 pouch ready-made green icing
  1. Heat oven to 350 F.
  2. Mix cake mix, butter, eggs and milk. Pour into greased mini bundt pan and bake 20-25 minutes. Let cool and remove from pan.
  3. To make chocolate toppers: In bowl for each color, melt melting chips in 1-minute intervals in microwave until thoroughly melted. Pour into baggies and snip corner. Pipe melted chips into molds and freeze 15-20 minutes. Pipe green icing onto mini bundt cakes for “grass” then place chocolate mold pieces on top.

Substitution: Save time on toppers by replacing with store-bought chocolate bunnies, eggs, crosses or marshmallow bunnies.

Carrot Cheesecake

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy
Yield: 1 cake

Cake:

  • 1 box spice cake mix
  • 1 cup grated carrot
  • 1 cup coconut
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 stick butter, melted
  • 2/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt

Cheesecake:

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Topping:

  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup chopped white chocolate chips
  1. Heat oven to 350 F.
  2. To make cake: Mix cake mix with carrot and coconut. Using hand mixer, blend in eggs, butter and yogurt. Pour mixture into greased springform pan and bake 30 minutes. Let completely cool in pan.
  3. To make cheesecake: Using hand mixer, whip whipping cream and sugar to form whipped cream and set aside.
  4. Using hand mixer, whip cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar. Add in whipped cream and mix. Pour onto completely cooled carrot cake in springform pan. Let set in refrigerator at least 4 hours or overnight before unspringing pan.
  5. For topping: Sprinkle chopped nuts and chocolate chips on cake before serving.

Tip: For extra festive appearance, add desired Easter candy on top.


SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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EDIBLES

Street tacos from the slow cooker

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(Family Features) If your idea of street tacos includes standing over a hot skillet, wipe that sweat off your brow and give these Savory Street Tacos a try. They put the slow cooker and oven to work for you, providing that delicious street taco taste without the hassle. For more ways to simplify cooking at home, visit Culinary.net.

Savory Street Tacos

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy
Servings: 4-6

  • 1 chuck roast (2-3 pounds)
  • 1 package taco seasoning
  • 1 can (10 ounces) beef consommé
  • 16-20 street taco tortillas
  • 1 package (8 ounces) shredded cheese
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil
  • salsa, for serving
  • guacamole, for serving
  • queso, for serving
  1. Cover chuck roast with taco seasoning then place in slow cooker. Pour beef consommé over roast and cook on low 6 hours to braise.
  2. Heat oven to 425 F.
  3. Use fork to shred roast.
  4. Brush outside of tortillas with avocado oil and fill with meat and shredded cheese. Place in casserole dish and bake 10-15 minutes until tacos reach desired crispiness.
  5. Place on tray and serve with salsa, guacamole and queso.

Tip: Recipe can be doubled for large crowds.


SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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