Category Archives: Food
Make favorites less fattening
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
You can cut some fat out of foods you really like without ruining the flavor.
And believe or not, the following recipes cut down on butter and starchy vegetables by replacing them with ingredients you might think are unlikely.
But don’t take my word for it. You have to try these out for yourselves and decide whether you want to add any to your collection of favorite recipes.
The chocolate beet cake is very moist and smooth. The muffins using
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Options abound for getting your greens
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
There are many varieties of greens available to us all, and almost everyone is familiar with them.
And there are just as many ways to cook them as there are varieties, but this week I thought it would be good to not automatically think of turnip greens as being the first and last word in greens.
Here are some of my favorites, and I hope you’ll find some of these recipes pleasing to the taste buds.
Happy New Year.
Sweet treats for the New Year
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
If you like sweets, these recipes are for you. Just remember, moderation is the key to healthy teeth.
These traditional recipes are still around because they’re just so good. Yes, they are sweet. But on special occasions, a little sweet goes a long way.
Whether you’re planning a party, reunion, relaxing family evening or just an afternoon drop-in with friends, you can’t go wrong with these candies.
Now, I’m not saying you should serve them all at the same time, but try them all and pick your own favorites.
New Year’s dishes bring good fortune
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
All over the world, people believe that serving certain dishes on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day will bring a prosperous New Year.
Greens of almost any kind are chosen to represent folding money, pork is considered a prosperous meat and peas and beans represent coins in many cultures.
In the South, especially the Carolinas, collard greens, black-eyed peas and rice are universally thought to be most important for New Year’s dishes.
This tradition can be traced to several other regions, primarily Africa, France and the Caribbean.
The pork roast and saurkraut tradition is favored in states with strong German and Dutch heritages, and the orange brandy cake is a Greek Island tradition.
They’re all good. And I hope prosperity will come to you immediately after eating at least one of these dishes.
Easy entertaining with one-bite appetizers
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
There’s nothing quite like a holiday get-together, but if you’re the host, you think twice before committing to the project.
If you have the house relatively clean and your guest list drawn up, the only matter of concern is the food. If gguests plan to bring a dish, that’s one thing. But if you plan to provide the entire spread, be careful not to overextend yourself. You don’t want to be exhausted for your party.
Easy and simple appetizers can be just as delicious as complicated recipes that are time-consuming to prepare.
Try some of these quick and easy recipes to make the party fun for everybody, including you.
Holiday compotes to serve with cheeses
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
No party is complete without a cheese platter, and when I think of cheese my mind goes to compotes, especially during the holidays.
Compotes are flavorful and compliment many varieties of cheeses. Not only are they good as an appetizer, but also make a great snack for winter afternoon football games on TV, watched with friends.
You may not like all of these, but odds are you will, so enjoy.
Enjoy the new crop of apples
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
Nothing says fall like biting into an apple straight from the tree. The crisp and juicy flesh is unlike any other fruit.
We are fortunate to live in a region that allows us to pick our own apples from any number of orchards. And the many varieties available should satisfy the pickiest apple eater.
Although they’re delicious as they are, apples are easily transformed into a multitude of dishes.
My family loves the fried apple rings for breakfast in the fall and winter.
I hope you’ll find a favorite apple dish from among those featured this week.
Snacks for the great outdoors
By Olivia Fowler
For The Courier
The calendar says fall is here, and temperatures finally seem to be dropping.
The season offers a chance to enjoy the outdoors without collapsing from the heat. It’s a perfect time to hit the trail with friends or tour botanical gardens.
But you will get hungry, and you may not be within easy distance of a snack bar. So, it’s a good idea to pack some snacks that are satisfying and good for you. Also, make sure you take some water. We forget how quickly we can become dehydrated outside, so drink before you get thirsty.
These granola bar recipes are all a little different and you can experiment with a variety of ingredients if you like. Feel free to substitute other dried fruits for those listed here and change up the nuts if these aren’t your favorites.
Have a great time in the great outdoors, and never go hungry.
Go sweet or tart
Cherries offer a treat that’s nutritious and delicious
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
Cherries are making an appearance in local grocery stores now. They are a beautiful fruit, glossy and dark red. When ripe, they’re sweet with a faint tartness and are delicious to snack on.
If you use fresh cherries, they must be pitted before eaten. Just pop off the stems, slice the cherries in half and remove the pits. It isn’t difficult to do, just a little time
consuming. Also, it’s hard to resist eating them as they are being pitted.
This week’s recipes include one salad, one dessert and two main dishes.
Some take more time than others, but I think you’ll like any one you try.
Cucumbers — crisp and light, just right
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
Fresh garden cucumbers only come around in summer. If you enjoy them straight from the garden, you know that there’s nothing like a fresh cucumber for the best flavor and texture.
Cucumbers need water, and hot dry weather can make them bitter. We’re lucky this year to have gotten enough rain to make them thrive.
Now, I know restaurants don’t peel their cucumbers. But I believe that’s the lazy man’s way. The peelings are bitter and tough, and I see no reason to leave them on.
In addition, hogs won’t eat cucumber peelings, so that’s all the proof needed to pass them by.
All these recipes star cucumbers, and they’re relatively easy to prepare.
I hope you enjoy them.