Sweet Pickled Beets

I love picked beets.  Mom always kept a jar in the fridge when we were growing up and I had forgotten how much I loved them.  You can use whole beets or sliced beets in this recipe.  I like to add the sliced beets to a garden salad.  Hope you enjoy!

SWEET PICKLED BEETS

2 cans beets (16 oz)

4 cups apple cider vinegar

1 cup brown sugar

Drain liquid from beets into a sauce pan.  Add vinegar and sugar.  Stir well to dissolve the sugar and bring to a boil.  Add beets and bring mixture to a boil again.  Boil rapidly for five minutes.  Drop beets into a clean mason jar and cover with the liquid.  Cover tightly with a lid and ring.  Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve - at least 24 hours.  You're not actually 'canning' the beets so be sure to keep them refrigerated.

Foodie News: NEW WEB SERIES

ELECTUS FOOD-CENTRIC YOUTUBE CHANNEL HUNGRY, AND CITYSEARCH

LAUNCH PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE NEW WEB SERIES HUNGRY IN….

NEW YORK–(September 20th)- Ben Silverman's multimedia studio Electus and Citysearch, both operating businesses of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI), today announced a joint partnership between HUNGRY, Electus’ food-centric YouTube™ channel, and leading online local guide Citysearch, to launch a new original web series based on Citysearch’s popular expert scout recommendations. The new series, Hungry In…, will premiere Friday, September 21^st on the HUNGRYChannel.

Throughout the series, Hungry In…viewers get an insider look at some of America’s most delectable and scrumptious eateries. From New York’s Hamburger Alley to San Francisco’s Mission, and from Echo Park in Los Angeles to Hyde Park in Austin, Texas, our Citysearch expert scouts will take you on a guided tour of the coolest and most interesting neighborhoods, discovering our hippest cities and cultures through the lens of the best restaurants.Hungry In…premieres a new episode on HUNGRY every Friday beginning September 21^st.

Hungry In…. will feature Citysearch’s all-star scouts lineup including:

New York– Josh Ozersky (Ozersky.TV)

Los Angeles –Adriana Adarme (A Cozy Kitchen)

San Francisco – Marcia Gagliardi (Tablehopper)

Austin –Tolly Moseley (Austin Eavesdropper)

“For over 16 years, Citysearch has provided their users with the most trusted information on how and where to experience the best of everything in their city from food to fashion and fun,” said Bruce Seidel, CEO of HUNGRY. “HUNGRY is proud to partner with Citysearch and tap into their incredible local resources to create Hungry In… allowing YouTube audiences to discover mouthwatering places they never knew existed in their own backyards.”

“We recruited the best and most connected tastemakers from across America to become our Citysearch expert scouts. Our scouts have been eating their way through their cities for years and know their neighborhoods like nobody else in town. Hungry In… is a great vehicle to highlight their go-to local restaurant recommendations,” said David Israel, Director of Content and Community, Citysearch. “Working with Electus has given us a great platform to bring our invaluable local insight to life and give our loyal audience a chance to meet our fabulous new team.”

To view the sizzle reel of Hungry In...., please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc6NIMLYmag

or visit Citysearch (www.citysearch.com/hungryin) to watch the show and read additional content on the restaurants and scouts featured in each episode.

Hungry In… joins additional HUNGRY series’ starring celebrity Chef Duff Goldman, Chris Cosentino, Alex Thomopoulos, Casserole Queens, Greenfield Brothers, Fung Brothers, Laura Vitale, The Beer Chicks, Chef Nathan Lippy, and renowned mixologists Steve Livigni and Daniel K. Nelson.

Viewers can subscribe to The HUNGRY Channel for trailers and show updates at: www.youtube.com/hungry.

For additional information or to connect with Hungry's social media platforms, please visit: Twitter: https://twitter.com/HungryYouTube; Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HungryYouTube; Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/100071664812864525751/posts

About Electus

Electus is the first integrated multimedia entertainment studio to unite producers, creators, advertisers and distributors under one roof and produce all forms of content for distribution across a variety of platforms around the world. Headed by Ben Silverman in partnership with IAC [NASDAQ: IACI], the company connects advertisers, distributors and content creators early on in the development process, enabling marketers and advertisers to be a true partner in campaigns and content creation. Electus International, the global distribution arm of Electus, is responsible for all international sales and distribution for Electus' programming and its studio partners as well as programs and formats from other well-known 3rd party providers. For more information on Electus, visit www.electus.com.

About Citysearch

Citysearch is the leading online local guide that enables consumers to stay connected with access to neighborhood restaurants, bars, shopping, beauty and professional services across every zipcode in the US. When you are on the road, Citysearch offers mobile applications for iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Android and Palm. Citysearch is an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IACI). For more information, visit www.citysearch.com

Sarah Smiled

Sunflower Sue encouraged me to enter a short story contest at FamilyFiction.com, probably in hopes of prompting me to finish the book I've been writing forever. The hardest part was keeping the story under 1000 words.  There was so much more that I wanted to say about Sarah.  So, eventually, I'll expand on the story and see where her future leads.
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I would love for you to visit the website, read my story and vote for it.
http://www.familyfiction.com/short-stories/create-romance-2012/sarah-smiled/
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Of course, I'm partial to my story, but there are dozens of great stories that have been submitted.  If you like inspirational romance, you'll like these stories.
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Happy Reading!

Foodie News: The Great Food Truck Race

Food trucks have come a long way since the first one I visited years ago.  I still remember the great sandwiches they served.  Have you seen The Great Food Truck Race on The Food Network?  Check it out the next time you're looking for something different to watch.

The Great Food Truck Race
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Premiering Sunday, September 2nd at 9pm- "Even Food Trucks Are Bigger in Texas" 
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The teams head to Amarillo, Texas and stop at the stadium of the Amarillo Sox, a minor league baseball team. Tyler announces this week's Truck Stop - the teams must add a ballpark-inspired special to their menu. Top ballpark concessionaire John Ciarrachi judges the dishes and awards the winner a mystery key. On Sunday, Tyler calls the teams with their Speed Bump - their trucks are all immobilized by a parking enforcement boot, but the team that won the Truck Stop realizes they've already won the key to unlock their vehicle - and get to sell food exclusively at tonight's ballgame!

Chicken Noodle Soup

I love Chicken Noodle Soup almost as much as I love Cream of Tomato Soup.  Pair it up with a grilled cheese sandwich, and I'm in heaven.  I ran across this vintage recipe in an old cookbook and thought you would enjoy it.  There is a lot of time involved in making it from scratch.  I've actually skipped the first steps and made this with canned chicken and chicken broth.  While the long version is wonderful, I don't always have the time.

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

• 4 lb. chicken
• 2½ qts. water
• 2½ tsp. salt
• 3 cups cooked noodles

Cut a young stewing chicken into serving pieces, bring to a boil and simmer for 2½ hours, adding water as needed. Skim off the fat and add:

• 1 tsp. peppercorns
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tblsp. parsley, chopped
• salt and pepper

Bring to boil again and add noodles, preferably home made noodles. Cook for 20 minutes longer.

Pimiento Cheese Sandwiches

Most pimiento cheese sandwiches are just made with pimento, cheese and mayonnaise.  I like this recipe because it adds green peppers and onions.  Add your own favorite ingredients.  This recipe is very forgiving, so don't be afraid to experiment.  I recommending tasting it before adding the salt.  Then just add the amount you think it needs so that you don't over salt the dish.  Add bacon bits to make this a great dip!
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Ever thought of making a grilled pimiento cheese sandwich?  YUMMY!  Just use the filling in place of cheese slices.

PIMIENTO CHEESE SANDWICHES

Place in a bowl

One-half cup of grated cheddar cheese, and then add

One tablespoon of grated onion,

Two tablespoons of finely minced green peppers,

One jar Dromedary Diced Pimientos, 2-Ounce Jar , drained*

One-half teaspoon of salt, (or desired amount)

One teaspoon of paprika,

One-half teaspoon of mustard,

Six tablespoons of mayonnaise 

Mix thoroughly and refrigerate 2 hours before serving.  Spread on bread, toast, crackers.  Or, use as a dip.

*These little jars are so cute that I can't throw them away.  You can use them to store everything from screws to home-made hand scrubs.  They're also perfect for home-made candles.

HAND SCRUB - Mix 1/4 cup sugar with a tablespoon of olive oil and store in jar.  When ready to use, take a teaspoon out and scrub on your hands.  Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Dump Cake

Have you ever made a Dump Cake?  Basically you take a couple of cans of fruit, a boxed cake mix, butter, dump it all together and bake it.  This makes a quick and easy cobbler-like cake.  The recipe link I'm sharing uses cherry pie filling.  I've made this with peaches and also with apples.  I like to add just a bit of cinnamon to the cake mix to just bring out the flavors.  I even made a chocolate-cherry version once using chocolate cake mix along with cherry pie filling and chocolate chips.

Check out this link to the Pioneer Woman Cooks - Dump Cake.  Be sure to check out the great comments to her post.  There are some wonderful ideas for different versions of this cake.

Coleslaw with Green Peppers

This is a quick and easy slaw recipe with green peppers.  Perfect for Summer - Enjoy!

COLESLAW with GREEN PEPPERS

Shred a head of cabbage fine and place in salted water for one-half hour. Drain well and then add

Two green peppers, chopped fine,

One cup of mayonnaise,

One tablespoon of salt,

One tablespoon of paprika,

One-quarter cup of vinegar.

Mix and refrigerate overnight before serving.

Polenta with Leeks

I love this recipe because it can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to cook.  Using chicken broth in place of some of the water adds a nice flavor, but you will want to reduce the amount of salt.  I usually reduce it to half a teaspoon anyway, but that's because I try to reduce sodium in all dishes I make.  

You can serve this with a nice tomato sauce.  I usually just use a jar of Prego.  You can top it with the sauce and a little cheese.  Then put it under the broiler until the cheese is melted.  Yummy!

POLENTA WITH LEEKS

Place in a saucepan

Two and one-half cups of boiling water,

One and one-half teaspoons of salt.

Now pour in very slowly

Three-quarters cup of yellow cornmeal.

Stir to prevent lumping and cook until very thick. Add

Three-quarters cup of shredded cheddar cheese

One onion, chopped fine,

One green pepper, chopped fine,

One leek, chopped fine,

One teaspoon of paprika.

Mix thoroughly and then pour into a large bowl to cool. Form into patties and then roll in flour and brown in hot oil. Serve with tomato sauce. 

Irish Pancakes

We used to have pancakes on Sunday mornings.  Mom was always finding a use for leftover mashed potatoes.  Have you ever used them in pancakes?  It gives them a delicious flavor.  Try this recipe the next time you're looking for something different.  

IRISH PANCAKES

One cup mashed potatoes,

Two cups flour,

One teaspoon salt,

Three teaspoons baking powder,

Two eggs,

One cup milk,

Four tablespoon maple syrup (or corn syrup),

One and one-half teaspoons nutmeg.

Beat to thoroughly mix and then bake on a griddle. Spread with butter and sugar.

I've made pancakes so many times, I don't really think about all the steps involved in cooking them.  If you're new to this and need more directions, check out busycooks.com for step by step directions.

Check this out for tips on making perfect pancakes.

Love free stuff?

Everyone loves a bargain.Have you checked out the free Kindle books on Amazon? They change on a routine basis, so keep checking back often for new treasures. Here are a few that are available today. Remember, you don't need a Kindle. You can download these directly to your computer.

Drink to Your Health

It can be so nice to relax at the end of a long day with a glass of wine. Not only can you buy it in your local grocery, but you can buy wine online. These days, everyone has an opinion on what is good for you and what is bad for you. It makes it all the more important to make your own informed decision. In that spirit, I thought you would enjoy this information.
Presented By ONEHOPE Wine Online Fifty Percent of Profits Go To Charity

Grilling out?

Grilling out for Independence Day?  Try these sites for some great recipes:

bushbeans.com - check out the Rolled Beef with Blue Cheese & Bacon

Knorr - check out the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Betty Crocker - check out the 'red, white and blue' recipes

Wine Tasting?

These days you can have just about anything, including the kitchen sink, delivered right to your front door. You can even have champagne delivered depending on the laws in your state. I love the idea of hosting a champagne brunch. It is a perfect time to gather together a group of friends and enjoy some great food.
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Have you ever thought about the history of wine? It always fascinates me to discover why certain vintages taste so much better than others. Years ago I went to a wine tasting at a vineyard while on vacation. Even to my unrefined taste buds, I was able to tell the differences between the wines offered. Wine tastings are a wonderful way to experience the different flavors out there. Why not consider hosting one in your home? With a little research on foodie websites, you can find out how to pair the perfect wine with whatever you are serving. Happy hosting!

Mexican Baked Macaroni

This is a little casserole you can make with ingredients you probably have on hand in the pantry.  It's not too spicy, so you could add some cayenne pepper to kick up the heat if you want.

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Mexican Baked Macaroni 

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2 cups elbow macaroni
1/4 cup olive oil
clove of garlic, minced
1/2 cup chipped dried beef
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
2 tablespoons green chiles
2 tablespoons pimiento
2 cups diced tomatoes
salt to taste
1 cup grated Mexican cheese
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Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.  Cook and drain macaroni according to package directions.  Heat olive oil, add clove of garlic and chipped dried beef in skillet.  Cook until beef curls, add tablespoon flour, brown, add chopped mushrooms, green chiles, pimiento chopped fine,  tomatoes.  Cook all together, salt to taste, mix with macaroni, put in baking dish, cover with grated Mexican cheese (Queso Mexicano), bake at 375 degrees till cheese is melted.

Foodie News - Cooking Channel in June

**COOKING CHANNEL JUNE 2012 HIGHLIGHTS**

COOKING CHANNEL KICKS OFF SUMMER WITH ‘THE CULINARY ADVENTURES OF BARON AMBROSIA’

PLUS ‘Easy Chinese’ Season Two Launch, All-New Episodes of ‘Roadtrip with G Garvin’& Food People Everywhere Can Visit CookingChannelTV.com for Summer’s Most Unique Dishes and Tips

NEW YORK – May 18, 2012 – Cooking Channel embarks on yet another exciting and unusual culinary journey this summer with a new series, a season premiere and countless episodes of fan-favorite shows. Beginning with, the one-of-a-kind summer odyssey, Baron Ambrosia, the Culinary Ambassador to the Bronx, takes viewers on a wild ride to discover America’s unsung heroes of culinary excellence in The Culinary Adventures of Baron Ambrosia on Friday, June 1^st at 10pmET/7pmPT. Ching-He Huang returns for a second season of Easy Chinese uncovering hidden gems in New York and Los Angeles and then putting her own twist on Chinese dishes beginning Saturday, June 2^nd at 8:30pmET/5:30pmPT. Continuing the cross-country trek, G. Garvin leaves no stones unturned in his quest to find the hottest, most delicious spots in the country in new episodes of Roadtrip with G. Garvin on Tuesdays at 9pmET/6pmPT. Staying in the summer spirit, Cooking Channel serves up themed episodes during Grilling Week Sunday, June 3^rd – Saturday June 9^th from 8-11pmET/5-8pmPT kicking off with BBQ Unwrapped on Sunday, June 3^rd at 8pmET/5pmPT. Viewers can also visit CookingChannelTV.com for unique takes on summer dishes and tips on how to throw a perfect outdoor bash. Join the Cooking Channel conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

SERIES PREMIERE

The Culinary Adventures of Baron Ambrosia: Premiering Friday, June 1^st at 10pmET/7pmPT

Baron Ambrosia, the self-proclaimed ‘Culinary Ambassador to the Bronx’, uses his eccentric cinematic persona to take culinary consciousness to a whole new level. His discerning palate and passion for flavor leads him beyond his backyard, discovering America’s unsung heroes of culinary excellence in cities-less-traveled. Along the way, the Baron finds himself tangled in stories of mystery, comedy and intrigue. Get recipes and behind-the-scenes photos from all The Baron’s travels at CookingChannelTV.com.

· Premiering Friday, June 1^st at 10pmET/7pmPT – SERIES PREMIERE!

“The Just Desserts of P.T. Barnum”

After finding a treasure map hidden in a haunted carousel, Baron makes his way through Bridgeport, CT in search of P.T. Barnum’s tasty treasure. With circus ghosts close on his heels, Baron explores the world of Peruvian ceviche, enjoys some Haitian oxtail, and catches a ride on a food truck filled with Jamaican jerk chicken.

· Premiering Friday, June 8^th at 10pmET/7pmPT

“Scent of a Baron”

In order to woo the lovely Tsarina, Maiden of the Sea, Baron must gather all of the greatest fragrances that Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, has to offer. First stop is Pirosmani, where he captures the seductive scent of Georgian lamb stew. But just when he thinks he’s got it made, he finds his arch-nemesis Burgomiester Burger stealing recipes from all of the best local restaurants. With Uzbek noodle soup and Russian meat pie still on his list of fragrances to gather, Baron must figure out how to defeat Burgomiester Burger, save the restaurants and still have time to win the girl.

· Premiering Friday, June 15^th at 10pmET/7pmPT

“Oh, Little Witch of Bethlehem”

Something is amiss in Bethlehem, PA. After a long, foodless journey, Baron and his trusty camel find themselves in a town where the people are fearful and the restaurants are closed. A hungry Baron searches out El Salvadorian pupusas, only to learn that an evil witch, Dona Sofrito, has cursed the town; any restaurant unwilling to satisfy her endless appetite will get turned into a Radical Taco, a souless fast food joint. Baron gathers strength from a Syrian raw meat dish, and in the end, must face Dona in the ultimate showdown armed only with his wit, stew burgers, and a very powerful cheese.

· Premiering Friday, June 22^nd at 10pmET/7pmPT

“The Stomach Rumble of Baltimore, MD”

Ah, to be young and in love! Baron and his best girl, Shanaye, couldn’t be happier… until Shanaye’s jealous ex-boyfriend JW gets out of jail. Baron is oblivious to the threat, engrossed in Ethiopian specialties and Korean soup, but JW is out for blood and finally catches up to the lovebirds as they enjoy BBQ Bill’s infamous ribs. BBQ Bill sets up a game of crab roulette, with Baron and JW going head to head in a deadly crab-filled battle for the love of Shanaye.

Special guest-star John Waters!

SEASON PREMIERE

Easy Chinese

· Premiering Saturday, June 2^nd at 8:30pmET/5:30pmPT – Chinatown Unexpected”

Ching heads out to Flushing’s Chinatown where she explores mysterious food enclaves and creates some Flushing-inspired eats: Zhajiang Bao, Sichuan Tofu Gan and Warm Celery Salad.

· Premiering Saturday, June 9^th at 8:30pmET/5:30pmPT – “Use Your Noodle”

The almighty Chinese noodle gets red carpet treatment as Ching explores a variety of Chinese noodles and the ways they are eaten. On her list: Hot and Sour Fresh Noodles with Zucchini and Shiitake and Black Bean Ho Fun with Crisp Pastrami.

· Premiering Saturday, June 16^th at 8:30pmET/5:30pmPT – “Hollywood Cocktail Party”

Ching helps her friend, Phil Rosenthal, prepare Chinese-inspired finger foods for a party he’s throwing for his wife’s birthday. Her party menu includes Lemon Smash, Longevity Noodles, Seafood and Chive Dumplings, Mini Taiwanese Meatballs and a Spicy Lychee Tequila Gimlet to wash it all down.

· Premiering Saturday, June 23^rd at 8:30pmET/5:30pmPT – “LA’s Late Night Eats”

After Ching scours the City of Angels to find the best Chinese offerings in the vast Los Angeles late-night street eats scene, she shares her own nighttime munchies recipes including Formosa Sticky Ribs, Ching’s Midnight Dan Dan Noodles, and Spicy Oyster Omelet “Tacos”.

· Premiering Saturday, June 30^th at 8:30pmET/5:30pmPT – “Little Taiwan”

Ching discovers food from her youth at Monterey Park’s Little Taiwan and explores the differences between Taiwanese food and other forms of Chinese cuisine. She then gives a sweet taste of nostalgia with her Oat Congee with Fried Eggs and Scallions, Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup, and Railroad Pork Chop.

Get authentic Chinese recipes at www.CookingChannelTV.com/chinese.

FEATURED SERIES

Roadtrip with G. Garvin

· Premiering Sunday, June 3^rd at 9pmET/6pmPT – “Houston”

G heads to the largest city in Texas for a reminder of what true barbecue is. He makes pit stops at Tin Roof BBQ & Steaks, The Original Kolache Shoppe and Pitmaker.

· Premiering Tuesday, June 12^th at 9pmET/6pmPT – “Austin”

With a saying like "Keep Austin Weird," G. dives head first into the young and hip local food scene to see what makes it so special. G. visits one of Austin’s food trucks, Tenderland, makes stop at Hoover's Soular Food Trailer and whips up specialties at Frank Restaurant.

· Premiering Tuesday, June 19^th at 9pmET/6pmPT – “Asheville”

Rather than visiting multiple restaurants G. uses the local scene to get inspired. He picks up ingredients from the Chop Shop Butchery, Blue Water Seafood, a local farmers market, and even the local brewery Green Man before cooking up some of his very own recipes.

ON-AIR SPECIAL

Hidden Eats, USA

Premiering Sunday, June 24 at 8pmET/5pmPT

From a back-alley diner that serves up the most authentic Japanese bento box in Fargo, N.D. to the empanada gem hidden in the back of a laundry mat in Charleston, S.C., Hidden Eats, USA is the guide to the most unexpected and off-the-beaten-path eateries across America. Host Aarti Sequeira will find ethnic home cooking far away from home and help navigate menus that might otherwise take a six-month culinary course to figure out.

ON-AIR THEME WEEK

Grilling Week (Sunday, June 3^rd – Saturday June 9^th from 8-11pmET/5-8pmPT)

Premiere episodes include:

· BBQ Unwrapped: Premiering Sunday, June 3^rd at 8pmET/5pmPT

· Roadtrip with G. Garvin: Premiering Sunday, June 3^rd at 9pmET/6pmPT – “Houston”

· Throwdown: Rematch on the Grill: Premiering Monday, June 4^th at 9pmET/6pmPT

· Eat St.: Premiering Tuesday, June 5^th at 8pmET/5pmPT – “Monster Menus”

· The Culinary Adventures of Baron Ambrosia: Premiering Friday, June 8^th at 10pmET/7pmPT – “Scent of a Baron”

· Easy Chinese: Premiering Saturday, June 9^th at 8:30pmET/5:30pmPT – “Use Your Noodle”

PREMIERE EPISODES

A Cook’s Tour

Premiering Sunday, June 3^rd at 8am ET/ 5am PT – “Food Tastes Better with Sand between Your Toes”

Premiering Sunday, June 10^th at 8am ET/ 5am PT – “No Beads, No Babes, No Bourbon Street”

Premiering Sunday, June 17^th at 8am ET/ 5am PT – “A Mystical World”

Premiering Sunday, June 24^th at 8am ET/ 5am PT – “How to be a Carioca”

Eat St.

Premiering Tuesday, June 5^th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT – “Monster Menus”

Premiering Tuesday, June 12^th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT – “Nomadic Nosh”

Premiering Tuesday, June 19^th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT – “Fries & Dolls”

Premiering Tuesday, June 26^th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT – “Purple Carrots”

Food(ography)

Premiering Thursday, June 14^th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT – “Sandwiches”

Premiering Thursday, June 14^th at 8:30pm ET/ 5:30pm PT – “NYC”

Premiering Thursday, June 21^st at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT – “Las Vegas”

Premiering Thursday, June 21^st at 8:30pm ET/ 5:30pm PT – “Restaurants”

Premiering Thursday, June 28^th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT – “Cakes & Cookies”

Premiering Thursday, June 28^th at 8:30pm ET/ 5:30pm PT – “Pies”

French Food at Home

Premiering Saturday, June 2^nd at 12pm ET/ 9am PT – “Girls Dinner”

Premiering Saturday, June 9^th at 12pm ET/ 9am PT – “Reunion Food”

Premiering Saturday, June 16^th at 12pm ET/ 9am PT – “Around the Bordeaux Dinner Table”

Premiering Saturday, June 23^rd at 12pm ET/ 9am PT – “Dinner from the Potager”

Premiering Saturday, June 30^th at 12pm ET/ 9am PT – “Salt & Pepper”

The Perfect 3

Premiering Saturday, June 2^nd at 2:30pm ET/ 11:30am PT – “Indian”

Premiering Saturday, June 9^th at 2:30pm ET/ 11:30am PT – “Fish”

Premiering Saturday, June 16^th at 2:30pm ET/ 11:30am PT – “Lasagna”

Premiering Saturday, June 23^rd at 2:30pm ET/ 11:30am PT – “Brunch”

Premiering Saturday, June 30^th at 2:30pm ET/ 11:30am PT – “Cheesecake”

Unique Eats

Premiering Sunday, June 10^th at 10:00pm ET/ 7:00pm PT – “Nostalgic Noshes”

Premiering Sunday, June 17^th at 10:00pm ET/ 7:00pm PT – “Romantic Spots”

Premiering Sunday, June 24^th at 10:00pm ET/ 7:00pm PT – “Global”

DIGITAL CONTENT

Across the Country in 50 State Dishes

Travel across the country on CookingChannelTV.com and get a taste of each state’s most iconic dish. From spicy fish tacos in California to Rhode Island’s famous frozen lemonade, taste them all and find out what Cooking Channel fans in each state voted best state dish. Content available June 15 on CookingChannelTV.com.

10 Summer Desserts From Hedy Goldsmith

Hedy Goldsmith, 2012 James Beard award finalist and executive pastry chef at Michael's Genuine Food & Drink in Miami, brings her culinary genius to CookingChannelTV.com. Hedy focuses on simple, straightforward flavors, balancing sweet and savory in her dessert recipes. Get her recipes for Frozen Peanut Butter Pie Pops, Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches, Old School Double Crust Blueberry Pie and more at CookingChannelTV.com.

Gear Up for Grilling

Cooking Channel has the best recipes, tips, how-to's and inspiration to keep viewers satisfied all season long. Cooking Channel serves up all the classic dishes from fan-favorite chefs, including Giada’s easy grilled chicken, Kelsey’s perfect peach pie, Chuck’s finger-licking baby back ribs and more. We’re also serving up new twists on grilling favorites, like grilling recipes from around the world and mouthwatering mojito recipes. Viewers can try their hand at BBQ with the regional guide that guarantees authentic flavors, and also get healthy grilling recipes. Fire up the grill, mix up a margarita and get ready for warmer weather. Highlights include: Best Burgers and Grilled Main Dishes, Easy Summer Side Dishes, Top Dessert Recipes , Best Drinks and Cocktails and Healthy Seasonal Recipes.

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COOKING CHANNEL (www.cookingchanneltv.com) is an entertainment brand dedicated to today’s passionate food lover. For food people, by food people, Cooking Channel is the answer to a growing hunger for more content devoted to food and cooking in every dimension from global cuisines to international travel, history and unconventional how-to’s. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com, Food Network (www.foodnetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com) and Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com), is the manager and general partner,

Green Wine???

I have to admit I wondered if green wine was something like green tea. At least I didn't think it was wine made from green grapes! While most everyone today is more aware of their carbon footprint, you may not have thought about how the wine industry is changing for the better. Here's some great information I thought you would enjoy.
Presented By Wine.com, Purveyors of fine green Wine

Beauty and the Feast

Do you like to read romantic comedies?  I love nothing better than to curl up with a good book.  Some novels involve a commitment of a couple weeks to finish, but some can be finished in a couple of afternoons.  I ran across Beauty and the Feast and loved the idea of the book.  It's a romantic comedy that tells the tale of a personal chef and her path to true love.  I loved the very descriptive details of the meals she prepares in the book.  If you aren't hungry when you start reading, you will be soon.  And, the story reveals that sometimes a way to a man's heart really is through his stomach. 
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Right now Beauty and the Feast is one Amazon's top 100 free kindle books.  The list changes hourly, so check the price before ordering if you want to try it.


And, the surprise at the end?  The author included recipes for most of the food in the book!  I can't wait to try the cream cheese brownies.  Happy Reading!

What are you throwing out?

I was talking with Sunflower Sue the other day about what to do with leftover baked sweet potatoes.  We would always throw a couple of extra potatoes in the oven in case someone dropped by for dinner or in case one of us was 'extra' hungry.  If the potato went uneaten, Mom would use it for breakfast the next morning.  She would slice it in thick slices, skin and all, and then fry it in a little butter.  As it browned, she would sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar.  Now that was some good eating!  If we had leftover regular potatoes, like Russets, they would be fried up with butter and green onions.  They were good either for breakfast or as a side dish for the next night's supper.
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It's the sort of thing you don't have a recipe for.  It's just something that you cook without thinking much about it.  I worry that, as a society, we are moving too far away from those traditions.  All you have to do is look around to realize we are living in a disposable society and it carries over into our food consumption.  When you pick up a fast-food meal or take-out from a restaurant, do you ever think about the waste involved?  All that packaging just so you can transport your dinner home?  I'm as guilty as the next person because sometimes I just don't want to cook.  Or, worse yet, I can't think of anything to cook.  It's easy to get stuck in a food 'rut'. 
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I was taught to cook by women that lived through the Great Depression.  And, let me tell you, nothing went to waste.  At the end of the meal, if there was a tablespoon of this or that, it dared not go into the garbage.  It was saved for someones lunch the next day.  Even if you only have a few tablespoons of beans or corn leftover, you can put them in the freezer for the next time you make soup.  The key is planning.  I cringe every time I find something at the back of the refrigerator that was forgotten.  And, I can see my Grandma shaking her head at me as if saying 'look at all that wasted food'. 
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I do see the wasted food, but I also think about the wasted money.  Groceries seem to be climbing higher every time I go to the store!  So, I don't just see beans and corn going in to the garbage; I see dollars too.  Every time I clean out the fridge, I vow to do better.  What have you thrown out lately?

Foodie News - "The Chew' week of April 16-20

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT "THE CHEW" NEXT WEEK

Tune in to your local ABC Network and you'll see:

ITALIAN CHEF LIDIA BASTIANICH

EMMY AWARD®-WINNING ACTRESS BLYTHE DANNER

GRAMMY AWARD®-WINNING COUNTRY SINGER & COOKBOOK AUTHOR TRISHA YEARWOOD

 “GOOD MORNING AMERICA’S” LARA SPENCER 

Guests for the week of April 16—20 (subject to change):

MONDAY, APRIL 16 – “ITALIA!” – Italian chef and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich; an hour of easy and affordable Italian dishes.

TUESDAY, APRIL 17 – “NO PLATE LIKE HOME”– Lara Spencer (“ABC’s “Good Morning America”) and author of (“I Break for Yard Sales”); homemade crafts and delicious dishes from scratch.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18 – “WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER” – Emmy Award-winning actress Blythe Danner (“The Lucky One”); mouthwatering chicken dishes; audience members put their chicken wing recipes to the test.

THURSDAY, APRIL 19 – “6 DEGREES OF BACON” – Comedian Jim Gaffigan and an hour of bacon-based recipes.

FRIDAY, APRIL 20 – “HAPPY EARTH DAY TO YOU” – Grammy Award-winning country singer and cookbook author, Trisha Yearwood (“Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood: Stories and Recipes to Share with your Family and Friends”); “The Chew” celebrates Earth Day.

Coming Out of Retirement

Thanks for the guest post by Donn Schroeder
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My husband and I have been retired for almost 2 years now, but it looks like he is going to go back out of retirement soon. He was offered a job with a bank in a town a couple of hours away. They are just starting up and know that my husband has a lot of experience, and is successful, with starting up new banks. I think he is feeling really proud that they asked him for help, and I think he likes the idea of feeling useful and needed again. Retirement is nice, but it can be boring at times. If he takes this job, we have decided to keep our home here, and just rent an apartment there for a year, or whatever the duration of the work ended up being. It would be spelled out in the contract, I’m sure. We talked about me staying here in the house, and him going there, but I just would not feel right about us not being together. I think we should get a home security sierra vista for the house, and just leave it unoccupied for awhile.

Foodie News: Food Network Star Returns

FOOD NETWORK STAR RETURNS

FOR EIGHTH SEASON

WITH STAR-STUDDED CHALLENGES, BRAND-NEW FORMAT

AND A FRESH CAST OF HOPEFULS

BOBBY FLAY AND GIADA DE LAURENTIIS JOINED BY ALTON BROWN, EACH SERVING AS MENTOR/PRODUCER TO THEIR OWN HAND-SELECTED TEAM OF FINALISTS

Special Two-Hour Series Premiere Airs Sunday, May 13^th at 9pm ET/PT; Preceded by Casting Special on Saturday, May 12^th at 9pm ET/PT

Audience Vote Will Determine Winner, Announced in Season Finale Sunday, July 22^nd at 9pm ET/PT

NEW YORK – APRIL 2, 2012 – Food Network’s long-running hit primetime series Food Network Star returns to New York City this May with fifteen talented hopefuls and completely new twists for season eight – this year, returning stars Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis move from behind the judge’s table to square off with culinary favorite Alton Brown for a three-way team competition to find the next Food Network Star, beginning with a special two-hour premiere episode on Sunday, May 13^th at 9pm ET/PT. Bobby, Giada and Alton, all television producers in addition to being culinary superstars, lead the charge to find and develop the new talent by each hand-selecting a team of five finalists, who they will produce and mentor through the ‘Star’ experience to find one winner who possesses personality and kitchen chops. Viewers can also glance into the ‘Star’ finalist selection process, with a casting special airing on May 12^th and in another turn to the series plot, viewers will vote online before the July 22^nd finale to determine who will receive the ultimate prize: their own Food Network show, to be produced by their ‘Star’ team leader.

“Having Bobby, Giada and Alton compete against each other to discover and develop the next Food Network Star took this series to a whole new level,” said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Programming and Production, Food Network. “These three iconic star/producers are ideal mentors for the talented hopefuls they found – but it’s hard to say if the competition was more intense among the finalists or their three Star mentors.”

Season eight finalists are: Philip “Ippy” Aiona (Kamuela, HI), Judson Allen (Chicago), Martie Duncan (Birmingham, Ala.), Emily Ellyn (Orlando, Fla.), Martita Jara (San Diego), Eric Lee (Petaluma, Calif.), Yvan Lemoine (Maspeth, N.Y.), Josh Lyons (Jupiter, Fla.), Linkie Marais (North Attleborough, Mass.), Nikki Martin (West Hollywood, Calif.), Malcolm Mitchell (Washington, D.C.), Michele Ragussis (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Cristie Schoen (New Orleans), Kara Sigle (Chicago) and Justin Warner (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

In the premiere episode, the fifteen hopefuls arrive in the Food Network Star kitchen in New York City to meet Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis and Alton Brown - the culinary superstars who hand-selected them to compete on their teams. After meeting with their team leader, special guest Robert Irvine challenges the teams to their first “Star Challenge” - to create their own pop-up restaurant from the ground up, with an extremely limited budget and very little time. Each episode also features a “Producer’s Challenge,” where the contestants up for elimination each shoot a segment with their ‘Star’ mentor/producer to be presented to the selection committee in the “pitch room.” Returning judges Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson decide who stays and goes, along with a roster of guest judges scheduled to join.

Upcoming episodes feature amped-up challenges to see who has true Star quality, including a Chopped-style battle judged by Alex Guarnaschelli, Scott Conant and Marc Murphy; a Ted Allen-hosted New York Fashion Week food makeover challenge with a cash prize courtesy of Discover Card; holiday-themed specials hosted by Guy Fieri; and a Miami beachside competition where finalists shop at Target to style a VIP event for Paula Deen. Season guest stars also include Food Network’s Sunny Anderson, Anne Burrell, Melissa d’Arabian, Jeff Mauro, Aarón Sanchez and Geoffrey Zakarian, along with Entertainment Weekly’s Jess Cagle and Jill Bernstein, Entertainment Tonight’s Christina McLarty and Serious Eats’ Ed Levine.

For more Food Network Star, visit www.foodnetwork.com/star all season long for video recaps, exclusive interviews and blogs, behind-the-scenes footage, photo galleries, exclusive snapshots from the ‘Star’ house and the return of “Star Scrapbooks,” a look inside the pages of the finalists’ personal journals. Viewers can also join a season-long Food Network Star digital game, where players accumulate points and earn badges by predicting the outcome of each episode and participate in weekly fan votes. The series culminates with an unprecedented finale on Sunday, July 22^nd at 9pm ET/PT, when an audience online vote will determine which finalist will become the next Food Network Star.

Food Network Star is produced by CBS EYE Too Productions.

# # #

FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers’ best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring and empowering through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to more than 100 million U.S. households and averages more than 9.9 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine has tripled its rate base and delivers a circulation of 1.4 million. Headquartered in New York, Food Network has a growing international presence with programming in more than 150 countries, including 24 hour networks in Great Britain, India, Asia and Africa. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates Cooking Channel (www.cookingchanneltv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com), and Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com), is the manager and general partner.

Classic Bolognese Lasagna Recipe

This is a guest post by Graham Batstone.

If you’re craving a classic Italian dish, try this Lasagna recipe from northern Italy. This simple classic Bolognese Lasagna requires several ingredients including 1 lb. of ground veal or meatloaf mix which should contain ground pork, veal and beef, 1 cup of chopped onion, ½ cup of grated or finely chopped carrots, 1 jar (between 24 and 28 oz) of pasta sauce and 6 no-boil lasagna noodles (1/2 of an 8 oz. pkg.) or 6 long lasagna noodles, cooked and drained. You will also need two types of cheese, 2 cups (15 oz.) of Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese or Light Ricotta Cheese, divided, and 2 cups (8 oz.) of shredded Italian Pasta Cheese, divided . The Italian Pasta Cheese is a mix of mozzarella, aged provolone and parmesan for an authentic feel and taste.

To begin preparing your Lasagna, cook your meat in a large skillet with your onion and carrots until it is no longer pink. Make sure to stir frequently and drain. Add in your pasta sauce and let this simmer for 5 minutes. Next, spoon 1-1/2 cups of meat sauce onto the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish or pan. Then, layer 3 noodles, half the Ricotta cheese, 1 cup of meat sauce and ½ a cup of Italian Pasta Cheese. Repeat the layering process with 3 more noodles, the remaining Ricotta cheese, 1 cup of meat sauce and ½ a cup of Italian Pasta Cheese. Lastly, top your lasagna with the remaining meat sauce. Cover your lasagna with foil and bake in preheated 375°F oven for about 40 minutes. Uncover your meal and top it with the remaining Italian Pasta Cheese. Continue baking for about 10 minutes or until bubbly. The lasagna will be extremely hot so let it stand for 5 minutes before serving. The meal will give you all the calcium you need and plenty of vitamin A. You will also get a decent amount of protein and a serving is less than 500 calories. Delicious and nutritious, this lasagna should serve about eight people and is perfect for family get togethers.

Black Bean Casserole

I keep trying to find more ways of using black beans and this casserole turned out to be very tasty.  You could spice it up some by adding cayenne pepper, or use your favorite beans.
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Black Bean Casserole
1 can black beans, drained
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 cup cooked rice
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
salt & black pepper to taste
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Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook ground beef and onion in medium sauce pan until well done.  Combine all ingredients except bread crumbs in casserole dish.  Top with bread crumbs.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Bad Breakup

Guest post written by Derick Burks
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I just broke up with my boyfriend, and the breakup has been hard on me. Neither of us wanted to admit it, but we weren’t happy and we needed to move on. We were living together, so that just made everything more complicated. I decided to move out and let him stay in our apartment, so I have been very busy trying to get things together in my new place. Some nights when I come home from work I am so tired and sad that I don’t want to do anything, but I have to push through and at least try to organize things. I still have to research wireless internet providers and buy furniture so I have a full plate. My sister is going to come and visit me next week to give me a hand, so I am excited about that. I think while she is here she will help me keep my mind off of things and we will go out and do some fun things. I hope that soon I will be over this and things will go back to normal.

Corn Toast

I know you've probably heard of S.O.S.  No?  Well, it's a cream sauce made with dried beef or ground beef served on toast and topped with peas.  We had it a lot growing up and I have to say I didn't like it much.  That's probably because I really hated peas as a child.  Well, corn toast is a version Mom used to make me and I still have this every once in a while.  It's comfort food, and can't really be considered a recipe, but here goes.....  It's also a cheap dinner!
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Corn Toast
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4 slices of bread, toasted
1 can cream style corn
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Heat corn to a boil and let cool slightly.  Spoon over toast and serve immediately.

Inside the Crayon Box

Crayola wants every child to be creatively alive, so they´re inviting parents "Inside the Crayon Box," for a special live chat with celebrities and trusted parenting experts that will inspire and spark ideas to expand your child´s creative thinking. If you find yourself looking for new ways to inspire your children to express their ideas and build their creativity, you´ll want to join us to learn and share!

The first "Inside the Crayon Box" live chat is Wednesday, March 7 at 9 p.m. EST. Join Crayola and musician, children´s author and mom, Lisa Loeb for a 45-minute live streaming video chat on the Crayola Facebook Page. Lisa, best-known for her number one hit "Stay (I Missed You)," will share as personal stories, practical advice and ways she brings a little creative play into every day for her daughter. They want to hear from you- participants can ask Lisa questions during the event, too!

Topics covered during the chat will be:

Why Does Creativity Matter? Creativity is not about who´s the best artists or becoming an architect. It´s a way of thinking that encourages kids´ original ideas and develops their confidence.

Growing Up Creative. Lisa will share stories about growing up in a home where creativity was encouraged.

Simple Tips. Easy Ideas. Like most moms, Lisa juggles a lot. She´ll share simple, easy ways she sparks her daughter´s creativity as part of their daily routine.
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To learn more about the tools from Crayola that make it easy for parents to help children develop their creativity visit www.Crayola.com and like Crayola on Facebook!
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Also, be sure to check out Lisa´s book Lisa Loeb´s Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs (Sterling Children´s Books, 2011) available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Sing, laugh, and play with pop Lisa in this fabulous collection of ten of the silliest songs ever. Fun activities, games, and recipes accompany whimsical songs. Take Lisa's Silly Sing-Along with you wherever you go and get the high-spirited good times started. Includes a 10-song CD recorded by Lisa!
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Thanks to Crayola for providing information about about the Crayola "Inside the Crayon Box" live event through MyBlogSpark
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Check out these great videos from Crayola: "Creativity Matters" and "Inspire."


"Creativity Matters"