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Enjoy a fruit-infused Fourth of July

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(Family Features) As patriotic parties roll on throughout the day and fireworks light up the night, Fourth of July fun calls for favorite snacks that complement the excitement. Whether you’re a pyro or prefer to leave the fiery entertainment to the experts, one thing you can take charge of is the dessert table.

Summer is a perfect time to make fruit the star of the show, and Fourth of July is no exception. These special occasions can be uplifted with the aroma and flavor of Envy Apples, a leading apple variety that offers an invitation to guests to savor memorable moments together.

Their versatility makes them ideal for sweet treats like these Apple and Berry Cream Cheese Tarts for a patriotic touch with red, white and blue pops of color. These tasty bites are shareable, handheld and festive, making them a savvy solution that keeps entertaining simple.

Just combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk, pipe onto baked tart shells and top with raspberries, blueberries and star-shaped apple cutouts. Better yet, you can even swap out raspberries for preferred red fruits like strawberries or cherries, if desired.

If all the planning and entertaining leaves you short on time, turn to these Patriotic Apple “Donuts” that swap out traditional dough for thick, round apple slices topped with cream cheese and sprinkles. With just a few ingredients, you can slice the apples then let little ones in on the fun by spreading the cream cheese and decorating with sprinkles.

The craveable texture and crunch of Envy Apples provides balanced sweetness for these favorite desserts and beyond, giving guests the ultimate apple experience for all your Fourth of July festivities. They’re an appealing backdrop for pops of red and white in patriotic recipes as their flesh remains whiter longer, even after cutting or slicing, so they look fresh and delicious throughout the holiday.

To find more Fourth of July salads, main courses, sides and desserts, visit EnvyApple.com.

Apple and Berry Cream Cheese Tarts

  • 1 cup diced raspberries
  • 4 tablespoons sugar, divided
  • 1 cup halved blueberries
  • 1 package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 12 frozen mini tart shells, approximately 2 inches in diameter
  • 3 Envy Apples, cut into 12 large slices (around cores)
  1. In bowl, stir raspberries and 2 tablespoons sugar. In separate bowl, stir blueberries and remaining sugar. Let sit 30-60 minutes.
  2. Beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Spoon into piping bag and cut off small part of tip.
  3. Bake tart shells according to package directions. Once baked and cooled, fill halfway with cream cheese mixture.
  4. Using small star cookie cutter, cut shapes from apple slices.
  5. Top half of each tart with spoonful of raspberries and other half with blueberries. Top each with apple star and repeat with remaining ingredients.

Patriotic Apple “Donuts”

Servings: 6

  • 2 Envy Apples
  • 2/3 cup whipped cream cheese
  • 6-10 tablespoons red, white and blue sprinkles
  1. Cut apples horizontally to create thick, round slices. Use round cookie cutter to remove apple cores.
  2. Spread cream cheese on “donuts.” Top with sprinkles.


SOURCE:
Envy Apple

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EDIBLES

Save time and money with this 2-for-1 family meal

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(Family Features) One of the easiest ways to save money in the kitchen is avoiding food waste. Save that leftover chicken for this quick, creamy Chicken Spaghetti that can feed the entire family with enough leftovers to freeze and enjoy next week.

Since you have to cook once, you might as well make enough to double dip to save money, time and trouble. Find more family meal inspiration by visiting Culinary.net.

Chicken Spaghetti

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4

  • 2 pounds spaghetti noodles
  • 1 box chicken broth
  • water
  • 3 cups chopped, cooked chicken
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 can (10 ounces) cream of celery
  • 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes and green chiles
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 block pasteurized cheese
  • shredded cheese or Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • French bread (optional)
  • salad (optional)
  1. In large Dutch oven, cook spaghetti noodles in chicken broth and water. While noodles are cooking, add chicken and let water reduce until almost gone and noodles are moist.
  2. Turn off heat and add garlic powder, onion powder, cream of celery and diced tomatoes with chiles; add salt and pepper, to taste. Cut cheese into chunks and add to Dutch oven. Mix well and cover Dutch oven with lid, about 5 minutes.
  3. Serve spaghetti with shredded cheese or Parmesan on top, if desired. Serve with French bread and salad, if desired.

Tip: Leftovers can be placed in disposable aluminum pan and covered with foil. Freeze up to 1 month. When ready to eat, heat oven to 350 F and bake 30 minutes with foil on then 5 minutes with foil removed. If dry, add 1/2 cup chicken broth during final 5 minutes.


SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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EDIBLES

3 smart ways to support brain health

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(Family Features) Staying healthy goes far beyond physical activity. If you’re laying out a path toward healthier living, keep your brain’s fitness top of mind. As the command center of the body, it influences every aspect of life and requires healthy stimulation, nourishment and adequate rest.

Consider a few key suggestions from the experts at the Mayo Clinic to keep your brain sharp:

Satisfy Cravings with Healthy Foods
You can establish a strong foundation for brain health by consuming healthy, whole foods such as whole grains, fish, legumes and healthy fats, plus an abundance of fruits and vegetables, including grapes and leafy greens. Research suggests grapes help maintain a healthy brain. In a human study of elderly subjects with mild cognitive decline, UCLA researchers found consuming 2 1/4 cups of grapes every day preserved healthy metabolic activity in regions of the brain associated with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. 

Combinations of these healthy foods can be made into tasty dishes that support brain health such as this Chicken and Grape Cauliflower Rice Bowl, which features fresh Grapes from California alongside grilled chicken, cauliflower, zucchini, garbanzo beans and healthy spices.

Sleep Well
Health experts recommend aiming for at least seven hours of sleep per night. As noted by the Mayo Clinic, adequate sleep may help boost overall memory and brain health by giving the brain time to effectively consolidate memories.

Sweat It Out
Physical activity provides well-known benefits for the entire body, including increasing blood flow to the brain. After breaking a sweat, make sure you refuel with a post-workout snack like Grapes from California for natural hydration and an energy boost.

For more information on grapes and brain health, visit GrapesfromCalifornia.com and find more tasty recipes that support brain health.

Chicken and Grape Cauliflower Rice Bowl

Servings: 4

Chicken:

  • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1 pound (3-4 pieces) small boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Zucchini:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 medium zucchini, trimmed and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
  • 1 1/3 cups halved red Grapes from California

Cauliflower Rice:

  • 1 bag (1 pound) thawed frozen riced cauliflower
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed well
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  1. To make chicken: In medium bowl, combine oil, garlic, ginger and cumin. Add turmeric, season lightly with salt and pepper, to taste, and whisk to blend. Lightly pound chicken pieces to even them out then turn to coat in oil-spice mixture. Let stand 20-30 minutes.
  2. Heat heavy, large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken, smooth side down, and cook until golden brown underneath, about 4 minutes. Flip with spatula, reduce heat to medium and cook about 4 minutes until just cooked through. Transfer chicken to plate and tent with foil. Do not clean pan.
  3. To make zucchini: In medium skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until hot. Add zucchini pieces and cook, stirring often until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
  4. To make cauliflower rice: In colander, drain cauliflower well. In same large skillet used for chicken, add oil, onion and water over medium heat; cook, stirring until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, cumin and turmeric; cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add drained cauliflower and garbanzo beans; cook until hot, about 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  5. Divide cauliflower rice among four large soup bowls. Slice chicken against grain and arrange on top of cauliflower rice along with grapes and cooked zucchini. Serve warm.

Nutritional information per serving: 420 calories; 34 g protein; 42 g carbohydrates; 14 g fat (30% calories from fat); 2.5 g saturated fat (5% calories from saturated fat); 65 mg cholesterol; 280 mg sodium; 10 g fiber.


SOURCE:
California Table Grape Commission

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EDIBLES

A comforting crumble for the final month of summer

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(Family Features) August brings the beginning of a new school year and the approaching end of summer in the sun. Don’t let hectic schedules and summer’s fade get you down; this warm Apple Crumble is perfect to put a smile back on your loved ones’ faces. Visit Culinary.net for more comforting treats all year long.

Apple Crumble

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”

  • 1 can (20 ounces) apple pie filling
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
  • 1 1/2 butter sticks, melted
  • vanilla ice cream or whipped cream topping (optional)
  1. Heat oven to 375 F.
  2. In baking dish, spread apple pie filling across bottom. Mix cake mix with pecans, if desired, then evenly cover apple pie filling.
  3. Cover cake mix with melted butter. Do not mix. If butter pools in one spot, pick dish up and move from side to side until covered evenly.
  4. Bake 30 minutes until crust is brown.
  5. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream topping, if desired.


SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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