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Stunning Centerpieces

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Pork Crown Roast with Garlic Herb Rub
Pork Crown Roast with Garlic Herb Rub

Holiday main dishes to make your meal merry

 

As family gathers around the table, a fragrant, beautifully plated main dish is the focal point of any holiday meal. A richly flavored pork or beef dish that looks as good as it tastes will have guests passing their plates for more.
 
Whether your tastes lean toward a succulent pork crown roast seasoned to perfection, a prime rib so tender it melts in your mouth or a juicy ham drizzled with a sweet glaze, you can find premium meats to get you started at Omaha Steaks, a leading provider of premium beef and gourmet foods.
 
Flash-frozen to capture freshness and flavor at their peak, you can select the right cut of meat from the comfort of your home and have it delivered directly to your door. All that’s left is finding the right recipe to complement your main dish.
 
If preparing an elegant meal from scratch isn’t your idea of a happy holiday, look to Omaha Steaks for gourmet side dishes, appetizers and desserts, as well as complete holiday meal packages to fit any size gathering. Get inspired to create a special centerpiece for your holiday table at omahasteaks.com.

Pork Crown Roast with Garlic Herb Rub

Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup fresh garlic, peeled and finely diced
  • 1/4 cup thyme, leaves removed from stem and coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup rosemary, leaves removed from stem and coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons sage, leaves removed from stem and coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 pounds baby red potatoes, halved
  • 1 pound fresh pearl onions, peeled and halved
  • 1 Omaha Steaks Pork Crown Roast
Preparation
  1. Thaw roast completely and remove plastic packaging.
  2. Heat oven to 350 F.
  3. Prepare rub by combining salt, pepper, garlic, herbs and 1/2 cup of olive oil.
  4. Mix 2 tablespoons of rub with remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and toss with potatoes and onions.
  5. Liberally rub all sides of roast with remaining rub, including in between bones. Put any excess rub on top.
  6. Place roast on foil lined sheet pan and spread potatoes and onions around sides of roast. Cook on center rack of oven for approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes to 2 hours and 35 minutes for a 9-pound roast, or until internal temperature reaches 145 F in the middle.
  7. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before cutting away string and slicing between bones for 16 even portions. Serve with roasted red potatoes and pearl onions in natural au jus.
Serves

12-16

Go Bold with Liquid Gold

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Beefy Nacho Shells and Cheese
Beefy Nacho Shells and Cheese

A spicy new take on cheesy pasta

 
If cooler days have you wishing for savory dishes, give your menu a boost this fall with a bold, spicy twist on your favorite comfort foods. Rich, creamy dishes featuring pasta and a kick of spicy heat will warm you up from the inside out.
 
A traditional pasta and cheese is the perfect foundation for a delicious skillet dish, one-pot pleaser or casserole that blends familiar flavors with new ones to make an easy and complete weeknight dinner. Packaged options such as Velveeta Shells & Cheese can help shave preparation time, and with new bold Jalapeño and Chipotle flavors, you can bring the heat to a whole new level.
 
No cheesy pasta is complete unless it’s perfectly prepared. Follow these tips to get your pasta just right:
  • Use 4 to 6 quarts of water per pound of pasta to allow the pasta enough room to cook without sticking together.
  • Stir pasta when you first add it to the water to prevent sticking.
  • Use the cooking time on the package as a guide, then try a piece to see if it’s the right texture.
  • Don’t rinse cooked pasta; you’ll rinse away the starch, which actually helps the sauce stick. Only rinse pasta if it will be used cold, such as in a salad.
These recipes show how easy it is to combine simple proteins, such as chicken or beef, in addition to your favorite cheesy pasta and spices for a cozy dish in minutes. Find more recipes at Velveeta.com.

Beefy Nacho Shells and Cheese

Ingredients
  • 1 package Velveeta Shells & Cheese Bold, Jalapeño
  • 1/2 pound lean ground beef
  • 2 teaspoons taco seasoning mix
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
Preparation
  1. Boil 6 cups water in saucepan. Stir in shell pasta and jalapeños; cook 8-10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta and jalapeños. Do not rinse. Return to pan. Add cheese sauce; mix well.
  2. Meanwhile, brown ground beef in skillet; drain. Add taco seasoning mix and water; simmer until most of the water is cooked off. Add meat mixture to cooked pasta with cheese sauce; mix well. Top with tortilla chips.
Serves

3

Smoke and Spice Chicken Shells and Cheese

Ingredients
  • 1 package Velveeta Shells & Cheese Bold, Chipotle
  • 3/4 pound chopped, cooked chicken
Preparation
  1. Boil 6 cups water in saucepan. Stir in shell pasta; cook 8-10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta. Do not rinse. Return to pan. Add cheese sauce and seasoning; mix well. Add chicken to prepared pasta.
Serves

3

Trends and Tips for Perfect Paint Patterns

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Trends and Tips for Perfect Paint Patterns
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for 3M and Zeus Jones.

No matter where you turn, pattern inspiration is all around you – from modern architecture and traditional flooring to animal furs, floral arrangements and fashion runways. As homeowners and designers look to personalize spaces and create impactful interiors, patterns are being replicated with paint on walls, floors, furniture and more.

ScotchBlue Brand partnered with Patternbank, experts in modern style and design, to analyze the world of pattern and forecast five up-and-coming trends that can help take your home from boring to beautiful by adding depth, color and personality.

  • Striking Linework – The once simple stripe has found new life with a bold, modern twist. Sharp angles and a fractured, abstract look bring dimension to the standard stripe, and add strong visual impact to even the most awkward spaces around the home. Consider using neutral paint colors for more traditional and elegant looks or brighter colors to infuse energy into the space.
  • Mod Optic – Bold geometric designs are making their way into home decor with subtle shifts in scale and color. These strong three-dimensional patterns create a clean, modern style that communicates sophistication and audacity. Infuse contrast and depth to create a clean, modern backdrop for existing decor.
  • Geo Elemental – From north and south to east and west, global influences can be seen in architecture, interior design and on the fashion runways. Merging traditional shapes such as zigzags and diamonds with various color treatments adds a modern feel to deep-rooted tradition, creating a meeting point for contemporary and universal. The lively repetition of eye-catching, sharp lines is ideal for spaces that draw attention in one direction and evoke a strong sense of place.
  • ’70s Revival – With retro trends making a comeback in both fashion and design, modernizing retro-themed patterns energizes the home and carries a whimsical accent throughout the space. Give a nod to the stylish looks of the ’70s by building on lavish shapes with modern styling and fresh forms. The combination of high-contrast colors and the big impact of the pattern help make the space feel dynamic and lively.
  • Found Fragments – Layering pattern on pattern gives you the creative license to have fun experimenting and showcasing your personal style. With clean lines or shapes juxtaposed against existing prints and designs, this pattern keeps your space down-to-earth while still being on trend.

Before incorporating these looks into your home, remember that proper prep work is the key to achieving professional-looking results. Reference these tips and tricks to get started:

  • Tape around baseboards, windows and tiles to protect them from drips and to ensure sharp paint lines.
  • Always clean surfaces before painting and only apply tape once the area is fully dry.
  • Choose the right tape for the surface you’re painting, such as Multi-Surface Tape for baseboards and trim, metal and glass, or Delicate Surfaces Tape for walls, cabinets, wood floors and freshly painted surfaces.
  • Use a pencil to sketch designs onto walls before applying the painter’s tape. Be sure to apply the tape just outside the lines so that you ultimately cover the drawn lines with paint.
  • Once the paint has fully dried, remove the tape slowly at a 45-degree angle to reveal the pattern.

For more inspiration and project ideas, or to download the forecast, visit www.ScotchBlue.com.

Kicking the Habit

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Steps to take to quit smoking

Steps to take to quit smoking

 

 

Quitting tobacco is hard, but it’s never too late to quit and begin reaping the health benefits of a tobacco-free lifestyle.

Whether you use cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chew or e-cigarettes, all forms of tobacco are harmful and can be addictive. Tobacco products contain several chemicals, as well as nicotine, which stimulates your nerves, increasing your blood pressure, respiration and heart rate.

Risky Business
Understanding how tobacco affects your body is the first step in quitting. Using tobacco can shorten your life expectancy by 10 years. When you smoke, tobacco’s harmful chemicals can damage your body, putting you at higher risk for health and bodily impact, such as:

  • Lungs: Respiratory infections and colds
  • Skin: Skin discoloration, wrinkles and premature aging
  • Nails: Yellow fingernails
  • Heart: Heartbeat irregularities
  • Mouth: Gum inflammation, gingivitis, infections and oral or throat cancers
  • Teeth: Brown-stained teeth, tooth decay, tooth loss and chronic bad breath
  • Reproductive System: Cervical cancer, pregnancy complications and infertility

Tobacco also affects your looks and social life. Because tobacco restricts blood flow in the body, smoking can cause erectile dysfunction or the inability to achieve orgasm. Another negative side effect is tobacco smoke, which sticks to your hair, vehicle, clothing and furniture, and lingers long after you finish smoking.

Conversely, quitting tobacco use has nearly immediate positive results. In an otherwise healthy person, after 72 smoke-free hours, your lungs begin to repair. Between two weeks and three months after your last cigarette, blood flow and circulation improve and lung function increases by about 30 percent. One year later, risk of heart disease is cut in half and 10 years after quitting, the risk of lung cancer is about half that of a person who smokes.

Getting Help
Although there are cases of people who successfully quit cold turkey, statistics show it is not the most reliable approach to quitting. Fortunately, there are several options to help you kick the habit, manage withdrawal symptoms and take back your health. Medication, counseling and support groups can all aid you in quitting tobacco while saving you money and lengthening your lifespan.

Patches and Medications
Tobacco cessation medication can double your chances of kicking the habit permanently. Talk to your health care professional to discuss the best treatment plan for you. Types of medication include:

  • Nicotine replacement therapies
  • Nicotine gums or lozenges
  • Nicotine patches, inhalers or nasal sprays
  • Quit-smoking pills

Counseling and Support Groups
If you want to take a non-medical route to quitting, a counselor or quitting coach can give you advice and support. The more often you meet, the more likely your decision to quit will be a permanent one. Your quitting coach can help you set a start date, learn coping skills, learn common smoking triggers, gain social support and tobacco-proof your life.

Other quitting support options include national help numbers and online chat rooms. Free phone, chat room and texting resources from UCanQuit2 can be a useful supplement to personal counseling and coaching. Learn more at ucanquit2.org or by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. In addition, you can find information about support programs in your state at map.naquitline.org.

Find more resources to help you kick tobacco from Guard Your Health, an Army National Guard health education campaign, at guardyourhealth.com.

Supporting Those Who Served

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Supporting Those Who Served

When Cpl. Matt Foster left Afghanistan after his tour of duty in 2013, he didn’t know whether he would ever see his K-9 partner again.

For nine months, Foster and Sgt. Mick, a black Labrador retriever, lived and worked together keeping the military compound at Camp Leatherneck and the surrounding area in Helmand Province safe from explosive attack.

After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, Foster did not give up in his quest to adopt Mick. The 7-year-old Lab had been discharged for medical reasons, and Foster said he lost count of the number of adoption forms he sent attempting to be reunited with his dog.

Ultimately, Foster’s quest to reconnect with Mick was successful, and they are together again living in Colorado.

“When I first got Mick back, I was worried that I might not be able to take care of him,” he recalled. “After what you go through with your dog in the service and then adopt them afterward, you wouldn’t want to say goodbye to your partner because you couldn’t afford to take care of him.”

Once military and police dogs retire, with no guaranteed pension for their medical care, the burden and cost of care often fall solely on their caregivers. Now an advocate for military dog adoption, Foster has joined The Sage Foundation for Dogs Who Serve and the RIMADYL K-9 Courage program to help other retired military dogs and handlers.

The RIMADYL K-9 Courage Program is a charitable healthcare donation program that, together with The Sage Foundation and National Police Dog Foundation, provides financial and in-kind product donations of $150,000 annually to support the veterinary needs for up to 500 retired police and military K-9s.

Officer without a pension
Despite being considered an officer of his county’s sheriff’s office, Dano is another retired working dog whose veterinary needs and expenses will mount after retirement.

“Dano is an extraordinary dog,” said Senior Deputy Sheriff Danielle Delpit of her K-9 partner. “He’s been injured, tazed and involved in two critical incidents.”

Recently, Delpit noticed that Dano, now 7 1/2 years old, was slowing down and she reluctantly decided it was time for him to retire. After Dano’s retirement, it became Delpit’s responsibility to care for him.

“While on active duty, Dano’s veterinary care was covered. But now that he is retired, it is up to me,” she explained. “Dano has injuries; he has a bad back and I know he will eventually have arthritis. The RIMADYL K-9 Courage Program will give me peace of mind to know I’ll have help to give him the healthcare he deserves.”

K-9s in service
An estimated 1,775 military dogs are actively working to protect military personnel. Each dog saves as many as 150-200 service men and women by detecting explosives and hidden weapons caches.

The Sage Foundation for Dogs Who Serve (www.sagefoundationfordogs.org) works to promote the welfare of dogs who have faithfully served in wars, police work, crime prevention and rescue. Their work includes education and public awareness, as well as making medical care available for these hero dogs.

Law enforcement dogs are used at the local, county, state and federal levels, and are considered full-fledged police officers. Unlike their human counterparts, however, these officers do not receive a pension.

With a mission of making K-9 teams mission-ready and self-sustaining, the National Police Dog Foundation (www.nationalpolicedogfoundation.org) provides funding for the purchase, training and medical needs for police dogs through retirement.

Learn how you can support retired police and military dogs at www.rimadylk9courage.com.

5 Tips to Conquer Your Travel Bucket List

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5 Tips to Conquer Your Travel Bucket List

Admiring the Statue of Liberty up close, hanging 10 in the Pacific Ocean or exploring Europe’s most charming cities are just some of the experiences that may rank high on your travel bucket list. Creating that list is just the beginning – the real fun begins when you start making your travel dreams a reality.

Inspiring people to make those getaways happen is the goal of a new effort by Hilton Garden Inn, which is helping plant the seed for travelers to embark on their next great adventure.

“Through the Garden Getaway Tour, we are reminding people of all the exciting possibilities available for their next trip,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president of global brand marketing, Hilton Garden Inn & Hampton by Hilton. “Trekking your way through a list of all your favorite places is a great way to feel peaceful and alive, whether you spend your time discovering new places or reconnecting with loved ones.”

Get on your way to creating the travel experience of your dreams with these tips:

    1. Chart your course. If you haven’t already, make a list of all the destinations you hope to see, and post it someplace prominent so you are reminded of your travel goals frequently. You may choose to prioritize your most desirable locations, or simply keep your ideas random so you can seize opportunities when they arise. For example, with its Garden Getaway Tour, Hilton Garden Inn is giving travelers the chance to win a getaway to Hawaii – a great way to check an island excursion off your list. Learn more at HGIGardenGetaway.com.

 

    1. Be sensitive to the seasons. Be aware that many destinations have peak seasons when the attractions they boast are in top demand. Crowds are heavier and prices are steeper, but on the flip side, there are more options for things to see and do. If avoiding the hustle is your ultimate goal, visiting out of season may be more your ticket.

 

    1. Check for special dates. Timing your travel to coincide with unique local events is a way to make your visit extra special. The jovial vibe of a fair or festival in your dream destination only adds to the excitement. Check the local calendars for events that are sure to deliver fun eats and lots of quirky, good times.

 

    1. Book accommodations wisely. Look for a hotel that you can count on to deliver amenities and services that make your experience enjoyable – but know that doing so can be affordable. Options such as Hilton Garden Inn (hgi.com), with nearly 640 hotels worldwide, offer a Satisfaction Promise, along with all the amenities you need to remain comfortable and connected while on-the-go: full service restaurants, free wireless internet access, fully-loaded fitness centers and more.

 

  1. Document the adventure. Take time to collect photos and mementos representing all the places you visit. If scrapbooking isn’t your thing, consider a wall collage in your home office, or devise another way to capture all the memories you create along the way.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (couple looking at map)

Enhance Your Home Decor with Natural Light

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Enhance Your Home Decor with Natural Light

Something about warmer weather inspires homeowners to lavish attention on their homes. While painting and decluttering are great ways to revitalize home decor, there’s no better way to breathe new life into interior spaces than decorating with light. 

Incorporating light into interior design can go far beyond a few strategically placed, attractive lamps and some upgraded overhead lights. It’s possible to use both natural and artificial lighting to complement other decor and architectural elements.

Lighting types
Every home needs a little of each of the following types of lighting to meet your needs throughout the day:

  1. Task lighting focuses light into a specific area.
  2. Accent lighting shines a light on decorative elements.
  3. Ambient lighting provides general lighting for everyday activities.
  4. Natural lighting from above makes a home feel open and inviting, while also providing balanced light for everyday activities.

Natural beauty plus improved air quality
Enhance day lighting by lightening up window treatments to allow for as much sunshine as possible. Choose fresh paint colors that play well with the directional lighting and consider installing skylights in rooms where adding windows isn’t practical or where more balanced natural light can add drama and differentiate living spaces.

Adding skylights is a relatively low-cost, but high impact home improvement that can be accomplished by a professional in a day or two or over a single weekend. Fresh air skylights can also help reduce dependence on artificial lighting and mechanical ventilation, saving money on electricity.

Skylights can work in concert with vertical windows to provide improved passive ventilation that improves air quality and energy efficiency. For example, Energy Star-qualified fresh air skylights, such as those at veluxusa.com, let you circulate air in your home with flexible features to match your needs.

Manual and electric venting models are available, but top-of-the-line, solar-powered fresh air models offer all the features of modern, no-leak skylights. They feature a solar panel that charges a hidden internal battery, which operates the control system. These skylights require no wiring, making for easy and cost-effective installation. An integrated rain sensor automatically closes the units in case of inclement weather and all Velux skylights offer three layers of water protection backed by warranties.

A variety of light-filtering, light-blocking and light-controlling solar-powered blinds are also available in a mix of designer colors and patterns to enhance decor while improving skylight energy efficiency by as much as 45 percent. The skylights, as well as the blinds, are operated by a programmable remote control and are eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit, as are installation costs.

Lightening colors
Some hues absorb more light, making them appear darker and causing the room to look dark. Fresh paint brightens any room, but to amplify the effect choose lighter, less intense colors and remember colors appear truer when they are awash in natural light.

Continue the color upgrade through key decorating elements, such as upholstery fabric, accent rugs, window treatments and wall art.

Upgrading other light sources
While you take steps to maximize the amount of natural light that enters your home, artificial lighting is always necessary, whether at night or for a dreary day. Choose light fixtures – including floor and table lamps – that continue the bright, easy atmosphere you’ve already created with color and natural light.

Keep in mind the importance of layering light with a mix of sources throughout a room and choose lighting styles that fit the room’s purpose.

For more ideas on lightening up your home, and to view the available types of skylights, blinds and accessories, visit whyskylights.com.

A New Twist on a Traditional Holiday Recipe

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Pumpkin Tamales with Shredded Beef and California Raisins
Pumpkin Tamales with Shredded Beef and California Raisins

Everyone loves traditional holiday fare – mom’s stuffing, grandma’s sugar cookies, or that best-kept secret recipe that keeps friends and family coming back for more. But where does tradition end and boring begin?

This holiday season, if you’re looking for unique twists on traditional family recipes, or are looking for something entirely new to introduce into your holiday menu, you’re not alone.

In fact, many families are looking to wholesome ingredients as a way to add flavor and healthfulness to their holiday meals and baked goods. One way to steal the culinary spotlight is with California Raisins, which bring natural sweetness to a multitude of seasonal dishes, from indulgent confections to savory main courses.

“The versatility of raisins is endless,” said Larry Blagg, senior vice president of marketing for the California Raisin Marketing Board. “Because they are an all-natural, dried-by-the-sun fruit with no added sugar, California Raisins add nutritious sweetness to any holiday meal or favorite dessert.”

Try these recipes for a tasty and unique twist on classic holiday favorites:

In addition to their wide range of uses in holiday cooking, California raisins are also the most economical dried fruit, making them one purchase this season that won’t break the bank. For a fresh take on holiday staples that are sure to become new traditions in your household, try this delicious recipe, or look for other holiday recipe ideas at www.LoveYourRaisins.com.

Pumpkin Tamales with Shredded Beef and California Raisins

Ingredients
Filling:
    • 2 pounds boneless beef chuck or shoulder
    • 1 onion, peeled
    • 1/4 cup olive oil
    • 1 cup finely chopped carrots
    • 1 cup finely chopped celery
    • 1 cup California raisins
    • Salt and pepper
    • Water
Tamales:
  • 3 cups masa harina
  • 1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons toasted ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1/2 cup whipped vegetable shortening
  • 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth, warmed
  • 16 dried corn husks, soaked in warm water
Preparation
  1. Filling
  2. Place roast in a large stockpot and add cold water to cover. Cut onion in half and add to pot. Heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for about 1 hour 30 minutes. Remove beef from broth and let rest for 10 minutes; reserve broth. Shred beef, discarding excess fat. In large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add carrots and celery; cook for 5 minutes. Stir in shredded beef and raisins along with 1 cup of reserved broth. Heat and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside and cool completely.
  3. Tamales
  4. Measure masa harina, baking powder, coriander and salt into mixing bowl; mix well. Beat in pumpkin and shortening. Slowly, add warm broth, stirring in 1/2 cup at a time until moist enough to form a ball that is wet but not too sticky. Cover with wet towel and set aside.
  5. When corn husks are soft and pliable, separate into individual pieces. Arrange 2 husks, slightly overlapping side by side, and alternating tips and stem ends to form rectangles about 9 x 7 inches. Spoon about 1/3 cup dough onto center of each corn husk; with wet fingers, spread to about 1/4-inch thick. Add about 1/4 cup shredded beef filling down center of dough. Fold long edges of husks over filling, lightly overlapping the edges. Fold ends under or twist and tie each end tightly with a narrow strip of corn husk to form a packet.
  6. Arrange the tamales in a large steamer with seam side facing up. Add water to bottom part of steamer and heat to boiling. Steam tamales for about 2 hours or until they are firm to the touch.
  7. To Serve: Arrange tamales on a platter and serve while still very hot.
Serves

16 tamales

Simple Strategies for Healthy Eating

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Barbecue Chicken Flatbread Pizza
Barbecue Chicken Flatbread Pizza

With so many social events that revolve around food, it’s not easy to get a fresh start on making healthy food choices. However, with a little thought and planning, you can prevent taking your body on a roller coaster ride – without having to choose between food deprivation and satisfaction.

“Whether you are hosting an event or attending someone else’s celebration, planning ahead can help you stay on track,” said Mitzi Dulan, a registered dietitian and nationally recognized nutrition and wellness expert. “Having quick and simple strategies and recipes on hand makes it easy to eat well and keep you feeling great.”

Put a winning plan in place to take a new look at your approach to eating smart with these tips from Dulan, who is the team nutritionist for the World Series champion Kansas City Royals.

Don’t skip meals. Although skipping breakfast may seem like a good way to cut calories, it’s a plan that can actually backfire, making you hungrier as the day wears on, and more likely to overeat or sneak unhealthy snacks. Start each day with a well-rounded breakfast to fuel your body. Apply a similar approach to events later in the day, as well. You may be tempted to skip a meal so you can enjoy the treats at a party, but chances are you’ll end up overdoing it with high-calorie indulgences, so make sure your fuel up ahead of time.

Love what you eat. Be mindful of the food you eat and make every bite count. Enjoying each delicious taste will make it easier to stick to a sensible eating plan. For the foods you do love, look for ways to make them better – better for you, that is. For example, if pizza is your weak spot, substitute a lower-calorie crust such as Flatout Flatbread. Then choose toppings wisely to amp up the flavor while managing added fat and calories.

Get your fill in healthy ways. Overeating often comes down to a very basic cause: hunger. Becoming more conscious of how you answer your hunger will help you stay on track. Drinking water before and during events will help to fill you up so you are less likely to consume excess calories. Snacking throughout the day can also help keep hunger at bay; several small, healthy snacks, such as a handful of nuts or trail mix, can help keep you feeling full. Also, remember to stop eating when you feel satisfied, but before you feel full.

To find a Flatout Flatbread retailer near you, visit FlatoutFinder.com.

Barbecue Chicken Flatbread Pizza

Recipe created by Mitzi Dulan, RD

Ingredients
  • non-stick baking spray
  • 2 Flatout Flatbreads
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/3 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 6 ounces grilled chicken breast, torn into pieces
  • 1 tablespoon red onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
Preparation
  1. Heat oven to 400°F.
  2. Spray large baking sheet with non-stick baking spray. Place flatbreads on baking sheet. On each flatbread, evenly spread 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce.
  3. Sprinkle both cheeses over flatbreads. Mix remaining barbecue sauce with grilled chicken and place on pizzas. Top with diced onion. Bake 5 minutes. Sprinkle cilantro on top and serve.

Tasty Tricks for Personalized Party Treats

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Fruity Cereal Pinwheel Cookies
Fruity Cereal Pinwheel Cookies

Celebrations of every kind and size deserve a personalized touch to make the event memorable for every guest.

Add bursts of color
Color adds a pop of personality to any party. Kick it up a notch with a customized color palette that matches your unique party theme. Use the new Wilton Color Right Color System to take the guesswork out of coloring icing, fondant, cake batter and other treats. You can easily mix the colors you need to coordinate sweet treats to match your party decor.

Unlike traditional food coloring, the Wilton Color Right performance color system includes eight bottles of ultra-concentrated base color and precise QuickCount color formulas to make mixing and matching color a piece of cake.

QuickCount color formulas show you drop by drop how to whip up precise shades of color to match unique party decor, logos and themed character cakes. Plus, new color formulas are added to www.Wilton.com and you can create custom colors.

Another impressive, yet easy, decorating trick is a three color icing swirl, which is easy to achieve using the new Color Swirl Tri-Color Coupler. It’s quick, easy and looks professional.

Bake up beautiful treats
Just like color, you can mix and match flavor to bake delicious flavor-infused treats. The Wilton Treatology Flavor System makes it easy to infuse treats with unexpected yet perfectly-paired flavors, like these Fruity Cereal Pinwheel Cookies.

Follow easy drop-by-drop QuickCount flavor recipes to make unique flavor-infused desserts, like Horchata Cupcakes and Coconut Creme Brulee Cookies and 30 more unique recipes. Use individual flavor concentrates to infuse icing, filling and cake batter with unique tastes, or combine them to create your own unique flavor combinations.

Find more party-worthy recipes and decorating tricks at www.Wilton.com.

Fruity Cereal Pinwheel Cookies

Ingredients
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 teaspoon Wilton Treatology Sweet Meyer Lemon Flavor Concentrate
  • 1 drop Wilton Pink Color Right Performance Color
  • 1/4 teaspoon Wilton Treatology Fresh Basil Flavor Concentrate
  • 1 drop Wilton Blue Color Right Performance Color
  • 4 drops Wilton Yellow Color Right Performance Color
Preparation
  1. In large bowl, stir together flour, salt and baking powder.
  2. In separate large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg; beat well. Add flour mixture and beat on low until just combined.
  3. Divide dough in half. Return half of dough to mixing bowl. Beat in Sweet Meyer Lemon Flavor and Pink Color Right Color. Return remaining half of dough to clean mixing bowl; beat in Fresh Basil Flavor and Blue and Yellow Color Right Colors.
  4. On parchment paper, roll dough into two 14-by-12-inch rectangles, about 1/8-inch thick. Lightly brush basil dough with water. Place lemon dough onto basil dough; peel away parchment. Gently roll dough with rolling pin and trim uneven edges with sharp knife. Using parchment, roll dough into very tight log. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.
  5. Heat oven to 350°F.
  6. Slice logs into 1/4-inch slices. Space two inches apart on parchment-lined cookie sheet.
  7. Bake 14–16 minutes, or until edges of cookies are dry. Cool on pan 5 minutes on cooling grid. Remove from pan; cool completely on grid.
Serves

3 1/2 dozen cookies

Notes, Tips & Suggestions

You can vary food colors in dough for different cookie color combinations.

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Parents Helping Child with School Homework

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