Serve Up Some Love This Fourth of July

Grill with your children for an exciting shared experience

(Family Features) Many of today’s families have something in the kitchen that previous generations didn’t – more men involved in meal preparation. On the Fourth of July, that trend will likely continue as men, especially fathers, take to the grill to prepare popular summer fare for the family.

As millennials shatter stereotypes and share household tasks, fathers are using cooking as a way of bonding with their children by making their favorite family meals together. According to a study conducted by Men’s Health, more men are helping out in the kitchen than ever. Not only are they becoming primary grocery shoppers, but 92 percent of men surveyed said they are preparing meals for themselves and 77 percent are preparing meals for others.

Men are also among the ranks of the top food bloggers, often writing about their cooking adventures with their children. Among them is Derek Campanile of “Dad with a Pan,” whose passion for cooking and sharing recipes grew even stronger with the birth of his son.

“I’ve always enjoyed cooking for people and mixing different ingredients to come up with something everyone enjoys, but it wasn’t until I became a dad that it truly began to sink in,” Campanile said. “When I cook with my son, food is so much more than food – it’s pure love. Cooking together makes it fun to come to the table and enjoy great food.”

Many times, fatherly chefs include meat in all kinds of recipes, but swapping in an ingredient like Jennie-O turkey for beef makes it easy to modify their favorites into more nutritious choices for the entire family without sacrificing flavor. Give it a try with this Easy Cheesy Burgers recipe that makes it simple for parents to cook with their kids this Fourth of July.

Find more ways to involve the whole family in the kitchen at jennieo.com.

Easy Cheesy Burgers

Servings: 8

• 2          packages (16 ounces each) Jennie-O Lean Ground Turkey
• 1          teaspoon kosher salt
• 1          cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1          cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 8          sesame seeds buns, warmed
• ketchup (optional)
• yellow mustard (optional)

1. Heat grill or griddle to medium heat.
2. In large bowl, gently combine ground turkey and salt. Shape ground turkey into eight balls. Cover with plastic.
3. Mix mozzarella and cheddar to create eight piles of shredded cheese, each between 1/4-1/3 cup.
4. Grill patties 12-15 minutes, or until cooked through. Always cook to well-done (165 F) as measured by a meat thermometer.
5. Once patties are cooked through, place on aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Top patties with shredded cheese and place under broiler 3-5 minutes; cook until cheese is bubbly.
6. Place patties on warmed buns. Add ketchup and mustard, if desired.

SOURCE:
Jennie-O

A Friendsgiving Feast

Sides, drinks and leftovers perfect for sharing with friends

(Family Features) Friendsgiving is the perfect opportunity to celebrate your second family with festive, fun recipes that stray a bit away from traditional fare.

“Friendsgiving is often held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving,” said Chef Kevan Vetter of the McCormick Kitchens. “It’s more of a potluck party than a traditional Thanksgiving – everyone is usually assigned a dish. Instead of stuffing or a green bean casserole, bring a dish that’s a little more fun, like corn pudding with a dash of smoky heat from chipotle chili pepper.”

These recipes for a caramelized Brie and a chocolatey red wine from the McCormick kitchens are also sure to please. If your party falls after the big day, put those turkey leftovers to good use with a cheesy turkey crescent ring perfect for feeding a group of friends.

Find more recipes to share with friends this season at McCormick.com.

Chipotle Corn Pudding

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
Servings: 8

• 1/4       cup cornstarch
• 1/4       cup sugar
• 2          teaspoons McCormick Minced Onions
• 1 1/2    teaspoons McCormick Ground Mustard
• 1          teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea Salt
• 1/4       teaspoon McCormick Chipotle Chili Pepper
• 4          eggs
• 1/2       cup milk
• 1/4       cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
• 2          cans (14 3/4 ounces each) creamed corn
• 1          can (15 1/4 ounces) whole- kernel corn, drained
• nonstick cooking spray

1. Heat oven to 400° F. In small bowl, mix cornstarch, sugar, onions, mustard, sea salt and chili pepper until well blended; set aside.
2. In large bowl, lightly beat eggs. Stir in milk, butter and all corn. Gently stir in cornstarch mixture until well blended. Pour into 2 1/2-quart baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Bake 1 hour, or until set, stirring halfway through cooking. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Slow Cooker Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
Servings: 14

• 1          bottle (750 milliliters) red wine
• 8          cups whole milk
• 1          can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 1          package (12 ounces) dark chocolate chips
• 1          teaspoon McCormick Ground Nutmeg
• 4          McCormick Cinnamon Sticks

1. Place all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover.
2. Cook 60-70 minutes on high, or until chocolate is melted and mixture is heated through, stirring every 15 minutes.
3. Reduce heat to low. Serve from slow cooker.

Pecan Pie Brie

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes
Servings: 12

• 1/2       cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2       teaspoon McCormick Ground Cinnamon
• 1/4       teaspoon salt
• 1/8       teaspoon McCormick Ground Nutmeg
• 3          tablespoons butter, divided
• 1          cup pecans, chopped
• 1/2       cup light corn syrup
• 2          tablespoons water
• 1          teaspoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/2       teaspoon McCormick Rum Extract
• 1          wheel Brie cheese, warmed

1. In small bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg until blended. Set aside.
2. In large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add pecans; toast 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low.
3. Stir remaining butter, corn syrup, water, vanilla extract, rum extract and brown sugar mixture into skillet. Cook and stir until butter is melted and mixture is heated through. Remove from heat. Mixture will thicken as it cools.
4. Spoon over warmed Brie.

Leftover Turkey Taco Crescent Ring

Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 10

• 1          package McCormick Original Taco Seasoning Mix, divided
• 2          tablespoons butter
• 1          cup finely chopped onion
• 2          cups shredded, cooked turkey
• 1          can (15 1/4 ounces) whole-kernel corn, drained
• 1          can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes and chilies, drained
• 1          garlic clove, minced
• 1          container (8 ounces) whipped cream cheese
• 2          cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 2          packages (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

1. Heat oven to 375° F. Reserve 1 teaspoon taco seasoning mix in small bowl; set aside.
2. In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion; cook and stir 3 minutes, or until tender. Add turkey, corn, tomatoes, garlic and remaining seasoning mix. Cook and stir 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cream cheese and 1 cup shredded cheese.
3. Unroll crescent roll dough on greased or parchment paper-lined baking pan. Separate into triangles. Arrange triangles to resemble sun with center open. Press dough where bottoms of triangles overlap. Spoon turkey mixture in ring where dough overlaps. Fold triangle points over filling, tucking into bottom layer to secure. Continue until entire ring is enclosed.
4. Bake 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
5. In bowl, stir remaining shredded cheese into reserved seasoning mix. Remove ring from oven. Sprinkle with cheese mixture. Bake 5 minutes longer, or until cheese is melted.
6. Serve with desired toppings, such as shredded lettuce, sour cream or guacamole.

SOURCE:
McCormick

Simple Ways to Produce Healthy Habits

(Family Features) If getting your kids to embrace healthy eating habits feels like a constant uphill battle, take heart in knowing you’re not alone. However, modeling smart choices in the kitchen and at the grocery store may be just the nudge your kids need.

One of the biggest hurdles many families face when it comes to healthier eating is getting started. These tips show how subtle changes can make it simple to introduce healthier choices the whole family can enjoy.

• Mornings are a busy time for families, and it can be difficult to make a nutritious breakfast and get out the door. Even so, skip the packaged breakfast foods that are loaded with sodium and calories. Instead, make and freeze your own healthy breakfast foods ahead of time. These breakfast burritos are easy for reheating and eating on the go.

• A common misperception is that eating healthfully takes too long. Set a good example for kids to follow by preparing healthy dinners at home. This one-pot turkey skillet is ready in less than 25 minutes to make dinner and cleanup a breeze.

• When kids are empowered to choose what they eat, they’re more likely to enjoy it. One easy way for kids to identify smart choices in the produce department is by looking for foods with the Produce for Kids logo. Not only are these items an important part of a balanced meal, shoppers who support the products are giving back to local organizations that help children and families.

To find additional tips to encourage your family’s healthy eating and more than 300 registered dietitian-approved recipes, visit produceforkids.com.

Make-Ahead Freezable Breakfast Burritos

Recipe courtesy of Produce for Kids
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 14

• 2          teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 16        ounces lean turkey breakfast sausage
• 1          medium red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1          small Vidalia onion, finely chopped
• 1          large tomato, finely chopped
• 12        large eggs
• 1/2       teaspoon pepper
• 1          cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
• 14        whole-wheat tortillas (8 inches each) 

1. In nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat 1 teaspoon oil. Add sausage and cook 5-8 minutes, or until cooked through. Transfer to plate and set aside.
2. In same skillet, add remaining oil, bell peppers, onions and tomatoes, and cook 3-5 minutes, or until softened. Add tomatoes and cook 2 minutes.
3. In large bowl, scramble eggs and pepper. Add to pan and cook, stirring regularly, 3-4 minutes, or until eggs are set. Remove from heat and mix in sausage and cheese. Let cool.
4. Fill tortillas with 1/2 cup egg mixture, roll into burrito and lay seam-side down on parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze 1 hour. Transfer to freezer-safe re-sealable bag and return to freezer.
5. To reheat burritos, remove from freezer, wrap in paper towel and microwave on high 1-2 minutes.

One-Pot Healthy Turkey Skillet

Recipe courtesy of Produce for Kids
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

• 1          tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1          pound ground turkey
• 1          medium green bell pepper
• 1          medium sweet onion
• 3          Roma tomatoes
• 8          ounces whole-wheat elbow macaroni, cooked according to package directions
• 1          can (15 1/2 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 2          teaspoons cumin
• 2          tablespoons chili powder
• 1/4       teaspoon salt

1. In nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add turkey and cook 10 minutes, or until no longer pink.
2. In food processor, pulse bell pepper, onion and tomatoes until chunky.
3. Add vegetable mixture, noodles, beans, cumin, chili powder and salt to skillet and let simmer 15 minutes.

SOURCE:
Produce for Kids