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Party-worthy wine pairings perfect for easy entertaining

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(Family Features) Red or white, sweet or dry, wine lovers are often entertainers at heart. When inviting guests to share your personal favorites, nothing enhances a tasting get-together quite like complementary snack and wine pairings.

The next time you find a wine party on your schedule, consider these simple yet delicious recommendations from sommelier and founder of “The Lush Life,” Sarah Tracey, who partnered with Fresh Cravings to create “Dips and Sips.” Aimed at reinventing wine and cheese parties, the movement focuses on simplistic recipes, easy dip pairings and suggested wines.

“When I entertain at home, I’m always looking for ways to impress my friends with fresh, creative bites I can pair with wine,” Tracey said. “My favorite hack is finding great products with high-quality ingredients then creating simple, elevated ways to serve them. The less time I spend in the kitchen, the more time I get to spend with my guests.”

Tracey relies on the versatility of Fresh Cravings’ array of dip options and crowd-pleasing, bold flavors worth celebrating. With authentic-tasting chilled salsas offering a vibrant alternative to soft, dull blends of jarred salsa and flavor-filled hummus made with premium ingredients like Chilean Virgin Olive Oil, these dips elevate both traditional and reinvented recipes.

For example, Tracey’s recipes for Polenta Rounds with Pico de Gallo Salsa and Crab, Spiced Butternut Squash Naan Flatbreads, Cheesy Tortilla Cutouts with Salsa and Hummus-Stuffed Mushrooms offer flavorful, easy-to-make appetizers that can make entertaining easy and effortless. Plus, these crave-worthy morsels are just as tasty and approachable for guests choosing to skip the wine.

Find more recipe and pairing ideas perfect for enhancing your next party at FreshCravings.com.

Hummus-Stuffed Mushrooms

Recipe courtesy of Sarah Tracey
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6

  • Nonstick olive oil spray
  • 16 ounces cremini mushrooms, stems removed and gills scooped out
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1 container Fresh Cravings Classic Hummus
  • 1 jar manzanilla olives stuffed with pimientos, cut in half
  • 1 jar roasted red pepper strips
  • Oregon Pinot Noir
  1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Prepare sheet pan with nonstick olive oil spray.
  2. Place mushroom caps on sheet pan, spray with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. Roast 7-8 minutes then let mushrooms cool to room temperature.
  4. Fill each mushroom cap with hummus and top each with one olive slice.
  5. Thinly slice roasted red pepper strips and arrange around olive slices.
  6. Pair with lighter bodied pinot noir with cherry tones from Oregon.

Cheesy Tortilla Cutouts with Salsa

Recipe courtesy of Sarah Tracey
Total time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 6 large flour tortillas
  • 16 ounces pepper jack cheese, grated
  • 1 can (4 ounces) green chiles, drained
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1 container Fresh Cravings Restaurant Style Salsa, Medium
  • New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Place large flour tortilla on sheet pan. Top with handful of grated cheese.
  3. Sprinkle chiles on top of cheese layer. Add chopped cilantro. Sprinkle with additional cheese.
  4. Top with another tortilla. Bake until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Work in batches to make three sets of cheese-filled tortillas.
  5. Cut out desired shapes with cookie cutters.
  6. Serve with salsa and pair with sauvignon blanc from New Zealand with zest and zing.

Spiced Butternut Squash Naan Flatbreads

Recipe courtesy of Sarah Tracey
Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6

  • 1 1/2 pounds butternut squash
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1 container Fresh Cravings Roasted Garlic Hummus
  • 1 package mini naan dippers
  • 1 bunch fresh rosemary, minced
  • La Veielle Ferme Rosé
  1. Preheat oven to 425 F.
  2. Chop butternut squash into 1/2-inch chunks.
  3. Toss squash with olive oil, maple syrup, cumin and chili powder.
  4. Spread on sheet pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste, and roast until tender, about 20 minutes.
  5. Spread hummus on naan dippers and top each with squash and fresh rosemary.
  6. Pair with deeper, savory and earthy rosé.

Polenta Rounds with Pico de Gallo Salsa and Crab

Recipe courtesy of Sarah Tracey
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6

  • 1 tube (16 ounces) prepared polenta
  • nonstick cooking spray
  • salt, to taste
  • 8 ounces jumbo lump crabmeat
  • 1 container Fresh Cravings Pico de Gallo Salsa, Mild
  • 1 bunch fresh mint, finely chopped
  • Mateus Rosé
  1. Heat oven to 400 F.
  2. Slice polenta into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Arrange on baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle with salt, to taste, and let cool.
  3. Combine jumbo lump crabmeat with salsa.
  4. Top each polenta round with crab salsa mixture.
  5. Garnish with finely chopped fresh mint and pair with vibrant, fruity rosé.


SOURCE:
Fresh Cravings

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Create showstopping holiday meals with recipes featuring premium pork

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(Family Features) If you’re wondering what to serve for a delightful holiday meal, look no further than pork – a perfect match for festive menus as it’s easy to prepare, versatile, budget-friendly and pairs well with seasonal ingredients.

With flavorful, mouthwatering recipes like Apple Cider Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin and Stuffing-Filled Pork Chops, Coleman All Natural Meats offers trusted premium pork sourced from American farmers who humanely raise livestock with no antibiotics ever and no added hormones. All its pork is made of Heritage Breed Duroc, which is known for its tenderness, superior marbling, juiciness and flavor.

These elevated, seasonal pork recipes offer a delicious and unexpected twist your friends and family will love at your next holiday gathering.

For more recipe inspiration, visit ColemanNatural.com.

Apple Cider Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin

Prep time: 10-15 minutes
Cook time: 45-60 minutes
Servings: 6

  • 1 Coleman Pork Loin (4 pounds)
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Glaze:

  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar glaze
  • 6 tablespoons whole grain mustard
  • 4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon minced rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon minced sage
  • 1 teaspoon minced thyme
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4-6 sliced apples
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F and line sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. Remove pork from packaging and pat dry with paper towel. Season all sides with salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. To make glaze: In bowl, whisk apple cider vinegar glaze, mustard, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, sage, thyme and garlic. Add salt and pepper, to taste. In steady stream, slowly add olive oil to emulsify while whisking.
  4. In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Sear pork loin 2-3 minutes on each side.
  5. Move pork to lined baking sheet and brush on about half the glaze. Roast 30 minutes.
  6. Remove pork from oven and spread sliced apples around pork loin. Brush remaining glaze over pork and apples. Bake 20-30 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 150 F.
  7. Let pork loin rest at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Stuffing-Filled Pork Chops

Prep time: 10-15 minutes
Cook time: 30-45 minutes
Servings: 6

Stuffing:

  • 1 small box biscuit mix
  • 1 stick butter
  • 2-3 stalks finely diced celery
  • 1 finely diced onion
  • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • 1-2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 bag cornbread stuffing mix
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 6 Coleman Natural bone-in or boneless pork chops
  • oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced sage
  • 1 teaspoon minced thyme
  • 1 teaspoon minced rosemary
  1. To make stuffing: Bake biscuits according to package directions 1 day ahead. Dry biscuits will absorb more broth.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  3. In skillet, melt butter then add celery and onions. Saute until onions are translucent then add poultry seasoning and half the broth. Set aside to cool.
  4. In bowl, combine stuffing mix, crumbled biscuits and eggs.
  5. Add onion mix to bowl and mix well. Add leftover broth if mixture is too dry. Set aside.
  6. Slit each chop on rounded side, cutting almost through to bone, to create deep pockets for stuffing.
  7. Season chops with garlic, sage, thyme and rosemary. Fill each chop with stuffing mixture. Use toothpicks to keep chops closed.
  8. Preheat skillet with oil over medium-high heat and sear each chop 2-3 minutes on each side.
  9. Once chops are seared, add remaining stuffing to pan, cover with foil and bake 30-45 minutes until chops reach 140 F in center. Remove foil for last 10 minutes to brown top of stuffing, if desired.


SOURCE:
Coleman Natural Foods

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EDIBLES

Transform holiday leftovers into vibrant, flavorful meals

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(Family Features) Once your holiday feast comes to pass, you’re almost certain to find your refrigerator stuffed with leftovers. However, that doesn’t mean you want to eat the same meal again and again in the days that follow.

The star of many seasonal celebrations, turkey can be reused in a variety of post-holiday dishes to cut down on food waste and create fresh new meals your whole family can enjoy. Featuring a unique blend of 100% natural chili peppers, lime and sea salt, Tajín pairs perfectly with turkey, making it a go-to for creative leftovers.

Gone are the days of simply reheating turkey and stuffing or making a turkey sandwich. Instead, reinvent your holiday extras through fresh takes on classic dishes like this comforting Leftover Holiday Biscuit Pot Pie or spicy Leftover Turkey Carnitas Tacos.

For more holiday recipe inspiration, visit tajin.com/us.

Leftover Holiday Biscuit Pot Pie

Total time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4

Biscuits:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Turkey Pot Pie Filling:

  • 1/2 cup turkey fat
  • 1 1/2 cups diced onion
  • 1 1/2 cups diced carrots
  • 1 1/2 cups diced celery
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon chopped thyme
  • 1 tablespoon diamond crystal coarse salt
  • 1 tablespoon coarse black pepper
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
  • 8 cups cold turkey stock
  • Tajín Clasico Seasoning, to taste (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 6 cups leftover cooked turkey, chopped
  1. To make biscuits: In mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cream of tartar.
  2. Grate butter and mix with dry ingredients.
  3. Carefully add buttermilk and mix until incorporated.
  4. Fold over 5-6 times, roll out and cut into 10-12 rounds.
  5. Place cut biscuits on floured surface.
  6. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
  7. To make turkey pot pie filling: Preheat oven to 375 F.
  8. Heat large pot over high heat and add turkey fat.
  9. Add onions, carrots, celery, bay leaf, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper; gently sweat.
  10. Add 1/2 cup flour and cook 2-3 minutes.
  11. Add turkey stock 2 cups at a time, allowing to thicken before adding more.
  12. In bowl, mix remaining flour with turkey.
  13. Add turkey pot, bring to simmer until thickened.
  14. Add seasoning, to taste.
  15. Add pot pie filling to casserole dish and gently place biscuits closely together on top.
  16. Brush biscuits with melted butter and bake 25-30 minutes.
  17. Remove from oven and cool 10-15 minutes before serving.

Leftover Turkey Carnitas Tacos

Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2 (2-3 tacos each)

  • 4-6 garlic cloves, peeled and separated
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 cup fresh bitter orange juice or fresh lime juice with fresh orange juice combo
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Tajín Clasico Seasoning
  • 1 cup leftover turkey, shredded
  • 1 cup duck fat, ghee or high smoke point oil of choice
  • 4-6 tortillas

Toppings (optional):

  • pico de gallo
  • pickled onions
  • cilantro
  • pomegranate seeds
  • avocado
  1. With mortar and pestle, crush together garlic cloves and salt, make paste and place in medium bowl.
  2. Stir in juice, olive oil and seasoning.
  3. Fold mojo into shredded turkey meat.
  4. In large, heavy-bottomed pot over high heat, melt duck fat and wait until it forms a wave. Add turkey, in batches, stirring often, until meat turns light golden brown, then lower heat to medium. Turn off heat.
  5. Heat up tortillas, place turkey carnitas on top and add pico de gallo, pickled onions, cilantro, pomegranate seeds or avocado as desired.

Note: Once browned in duck fat, carnitas can be stored in the fat overnight and reheated over low heat to melt fat and warm carnitas.


SOURCE:
Tajín

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Punch up your holiday beverage menu

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(Culinary.net) This time of year is all about food and sweet desserts, but don’t forget to quench guests’ thirst with a seasonal sip. This Christmas Cranberry Punch offers a slightly less sweet take on traditional punch so you can add a touch of tart to the beverage cart. Visit Culinary.net to find more delicious holiday recipe ideas.

Christmas Cranberry Punch

  • 1 package fresh cranberries
  • 1 can pineapple chunks
  • 3-4 rosemary twigs
  • 6 cans lemon-lime soda, divided
  • 64 ounces cranberry juice
  • 20 ounces orange pineapple juice
  • 1 orange
  1. The night before, place four cranberries, two pineapple chunks and a few rosemary sprigs in each hole of silicone muffin pan or ice tray. Cover with 1 can lemon-lime soda and freeze.
  2. Chill remaining soda, cranberry juice and orange pineapple juice overnight.
  3. In punch bowl, mix remaining soda, cranberry juice and orange pineapple juice. Slice orange into 5-6 slices. Add lemon-lime soda ice cubes, handful of cranberries and orange slices. Serve.


SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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