Category Archives: Food
Think light and mellow with pears
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
The most important thing to remember about pears is to allow them to
ripen before using.
Most of the pears in grocery stores are not ripe, but if left out of the refrigerator for a couple of days at home, they will ripen beautifully.
If you have access to a pear tree, you’ll know to pick the pears just before they’re ready and then let them ripen on the counter.
There’s nothing quite like a ripe pear. It’s mild in flavor, sweet and juicy. Please enjoy this week’s recipes.
Celery: not just a snack
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
Celery is a vegetable that is overlooked and often taken for granted. We’re used to seeing it in salads 
and paired with carrots as a vegetable to dip in various and sundry substances, but it’s time to regroup.
Don’t neglect celery as more than just a tired old snack food.
It has the advantage of being nutritious and a real plus as far as diets go, and it’s considered a negative-rated source of calories.
String it before eating, a task easily done with a
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Peppers bring flavor and color to meals
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
Bell peppers are a great source of nutrition and come in a number of beautiful bright colors.
Since we eat with our eyes as well as our taste buds, peppers can transform a dull, predictable meal into something to remember.
The recipes included this week are but a small sampling of the power of peppers.
Berry, Berry delicious dishes
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
Almost everybody likes blueberry pie, but this year’s
featured blueberry recipes are less well known.
The breakfast French bread casserole isn’t run of the mill. It is convenient, can be made ahead the day before and popped in the oven to fill up a crowd for breakfast.
The salad with cashews makes a light side dish, the blueberry lattice bars are a great snack and the blueberry lemon trifle satisfies the most persnickety taste buds.
So try something a little different and enjoy.
Do-it-yourself ice creams and sorbet
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
With more time at home, a lot of us are experimenting with new recipes and improving old ones.
This week’s recipes focus on homemade ice creams and sorbets to enjoy during this scorching July
weather. Any left over that isn’t eaten the day it is made can be saved in the freezer, just like “store bought.”
The only difference is the homemade version is far superior.
Families cooking together as they confront COVID-19
Families are spending more time at home than ever before. Stay-at-home guidelines have led many parents to expand their culinary horizons, and time in the kitchen can be made more enjoyable by getting the whole family involved.
As stay-at-home measures continued throughout spring, boredom was a common complaint among people of all ages. Families sticking out social distancing together can confront that boredom by working together to prepare delicious, homecooked meals. The following are some simple ways to get the whole family involved when the time comes to get dinner on the table.
• Include young children. Younger children may not be able to cut, dice or chop, but that does not
Follow these take-out tips when dining at home
Although takeout has long been a convenience enjoyed by people around the world, in recent months takeout became a key way for many restaurants to stay afloat when the novel coronavirus 
COVID-19 forced many to close their facilities to customers.
Restaurants have been allowed to remain open, though they have been forced to change their business models. In a matter of weeks, establishments that were not accustomed to offering takeout quickly reimagined their operations to offer curbside pickup or delivery options. In turn, many communities promoted movements to help keep restaurants afloat, with some encouraging residents to participate in Takeout Thursdays to patronize struggling bars,
Better-for-you family foods
If spending additional time in the comfort of your home has you rethinking the family menu and looking for new ways to enjoy nutritional meals, rest assured you can make better-for-you food choices without losing mouthwatering taste.
Easy, efficient at-home recipes like Thai Coconut Lime Freezer Chicken, Burrito Beef and Cauli Mac and Cheese can all be made in less than an hour while reducing the intake of carbs and unnecessary sugars. All are part of a balanced Atkins low-carb lifestyle, a long-term, healthy eating approach focused on high-fiber carbohydrates, optimal protein and healthy 
fats.
The eating approach, which is a more flexible version of the popular ketogenic diet, offers a balanced mix of foods containing fiber-rich and nutrient-dense carbohydrates while focusing on reduced levels of refined carbohydrates, added sugars and the “hidden sugar effect” – when carbohydrates convert to sugar when digested. You don’t see the sugar, but your body does.
Introducing your family to smarter food choices can also support your immunity. According to research published in “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” simply substituting whole grains for refined grains has a modest effect on gut microbiota and immunity. Refined grains have had most of the fiber milled out of them, leaving a refined carbohydrate that impacts your body the way sugar would. Opt for whole grains to get the fiber you need, along with protein and healthy fats.
To learn more and find additional ways to focus family meals on nutritious recipes, visit Atkins.com.
— Family Features
Cool as a cucumber summer salads
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
Take advantage of cucumbers that are really fresh. Buy local if
possible. Did you know that some cucumbers lie around in the grocery store for days and days before going home with consumers? So, when you buy them, get the freshest ones you can find.
Right from the garden is best. If a drought is going on, cut the stem end off about a half an inch, as dry weather will make that end of the cucumber bitter.
They say now that it is safe to eat cucumber peel. And that may be, but I always peel mine, because anything a hog won’t consume can’t be that good. It is a matter of personal preference.
These recipes are easy, cool and refreshing. I hope your family enjoys them as much as mine does.
Add seafood to your summer meals
Grilled meals provide a summer escape for many families by offering opportunities to spend moments together while enjoying flavorful dishes. As Americans face uncertainty in many aspects of life, one place they should be able to turn to for normalcy is food.
One option that checks boxes including comfort, fun, taste and
variety: seafood. As a nutritious protein available across the country, it is versatile and can be paired with a variety of cuisines and flavors. Options range from salmon and shrimp to crab, tuna and more.
To encourage hungry Americans to enjoy the many benefits of eating seafood, the “Eat Seafood America” campaign offers these reasons to add fish, shrimp and
