Taste Temptations
Taste, sip and help the library
This is your chance to sample the wares of some of the Rim Country’s best food professionals — and those aspiring to a career in the culinary arts. And while you enjoy yourself, you can also benefit the Payson Public Library. At the annual Taste of Rim Country, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, March 3, the Payson Public Library becomes sample central with food from 12 providers and students in the Payson High School culinary arts program. Plus there will be a selection of wines to try.
A savory springtime brunch
Warm breezes, blooming flowers, pretty pastels — spring has not arrived quite yet (the first official day of spring is March 20), but it has been unusually nice for this time of year, so bring family and friends together for a welcoming brunch to celebrate. When planning your menu, be sure to have plenty of savory dishes on hand to satisfy your guests. And rest easy — you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to prepare your feast. Using ingredients already full of flavor, such as Johnsonville Breakfast Sausage, lets you create memorable brunch dishes without a lot of work.
Budget-friendly family fun
These days, enjoying one another’s company on a budget is even more important for families. So take a break from the ordinary and settle into the comforts of the best playground around — the home. Remember that family time should be silly, lighthearted, and above all, about creating special bonding moments. Here are a few entertaining at-home activities the entire family can enjoy without dipping into savings.
A Taste of Rim Country returns on March 3
The always popular Payson Public Library benefit, A Taste of Rim Country, is planned for 5 p.m., Saturday, March 3. Up to 12 stations arranged around the library in Rumsey Park will feature some of the area’s best chefs showing off great taste treats. Guests will also have an opportunity to enjoy wine or sparkling cider with the food samples.
Dynamic dinner duo: smart and simple
After a long day, preparing a healthy and delicious meal doesn’t always come naturally. Busy schedules and unlimited recipe options can make cooking nutritious “from scratch” meals seem like a daunting task. Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN, author of “Read It Before You Eat It,” director and owner of BTD Nutrition Consultants and former spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, believes that cooking with simple and quality ingredients is critical to keeping your health in check. “Learning to prepare a few quick and healthy meals will help you eat better and motivate you to continue to stay on track,” says Taub-Dix. To help you prepare smart, quick and simple meals your family will enjoy, Taub-Dix offers these tips: • Use what you like — pick a few meals that you enjoy eating out and learn to make them at home using fresh vegetables, lean meats and reasonable portions.
Healthy Weight Week
Healthy Weight Week is Jan. 15 through Jan. 21. Do you know what your healthy weight is? For years our doctors and an occasional magazine article, based on data provided by the insurance industry, doled out that particular piece of information. With today’s boom in the health and diet business, you can get the information in a blink of an eye from the Internet, out of hundreds of books on the market, from gyms and weight loss programs.
Liven up game day festivities
As the 2011-2012 college and professional football seasons come to a close and you want to show off that new, big screen TV Santa left under the tree, it’s time to have a game day get together. When it comes to game time, what’s on the menu can be as important as who is on the field. Delight your fellow fans with a game time menu that’s sure to please everyone. Here’s a list of items to consider when preparing for your party: • 1-Step Buffalo Hummus - Simply combine a tub of classic hummus with one and a half tablespoons of Tabasco Buffalo Style Hot Sauce and serve with fresh veggies, crackers or pita bread.
A beautiful brunch for the holiday
Since Christmas is on Sunday this year, that means most likely there will be company on Saturday and possibly Monday, when many of us get our “holiday” and that means there will probably be an opportunity to serve a special brunch. “There’s something revitalizing about friends and family coming together in the late morning, enjoying great food, coffee and conversation. Brunches are good for the soul,” said chef and Hollywood caterer Paul McCullough. It doesn’t take a lot of time or money to host a fabulous brunch gathering. To get you started, McCullough shares some hosting tips, menu ideas and delicious recipes that will help you make your brunch memorable. Hosting tips and menu ideas
Host a holly, jolly party
If you’re in the mood to host a holiday party but think you don’t have the time — or the budget — think again. “You don’t need to spend a lot of money to throw a fabulous and memorable event. Keep it simple and special. You and your guests will enjoy it even more,” say Dawn Sandomeno and Elizabeth Mascali, founders of www.partybluprintsblog.com and authors of “Plan to Party” (Yorkshire Publishing 2010). Here are some tips that will help you throw a stylish, low-stress party that will make your guests merry without spending a bundle.
Countdown to a flavorful feast
Well worth the 364-day wait, the time-honored bounty of Thanksgiving dinner rouses eager anticipation for weeks in advance of the big day. Whether you’re a seasoned dinner host or an eager first-timer, treat your guests to an unforgettable feast — from the main attraction all the way through to dessert. To help simplify the planning process, McCormick is counting down to Feast Day, sharing inspiring recipes and helpful tips at www.Facebook.com/ McCormickSpice. In a series of themes, the Countdown will guide you through the meal’s most essential elements, from spectacular side dishes, turkey and gravy preparation to the pie.
Soup’s On!
There’s nothing quite like a bowl of hot, savory soup to warm things up on a chilly day. And while the Rim Country has not had too many soup weather days recently, we all know they are on the way, so make a note of the following recipes and stock up on the ingredients you will be needing.
Delicious recipes for using apples
I’ve always dreamed of having an apple tree in my back yard. You know the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for?” Now that I actually have my own apple tree, I stand in my yard watching the apples piling up around me thinking, “Oh no — What do I do with this mess now?”
Family taco night with a twist
special by putting a taco twist on some other family favorites to make an easy, fun meal the whole family will love? Whether it’s the crunch that brings them to the table, the craveable taste of tacos or the ability to make their taco, their way, it’s the one dinner the whole family loves.
Ayothaya brings authentic Thai to Payson
A fresh coconut filled to the brim with shrimp, chunks of coconut and a rich, creamy broth had been devoured. A tiny paper umbrella that had topped off this coconut paradise tossed aside by a hurricane of hunger. Drunken noodles would follow, then pad Thai, and something called a pink princess. A culinary dreamscape of rolls — spring, lollipop, and spicy tuna — they were all there.
Vampires and Werewolves — they won’t bite, but you will
It’s fright night! Vampire-themed goodies cast a spooky spell on ghoulish guests this Halloween. To charm your gathering long past dawn, entertaining experts from Wilton recommend serving an array of lip-smacking snacks and a sip of “blood red” Strawberry Cooler. These supernatural recipe sensations are sure to summon vampires of all ages to enjoy your devilishly delicious treats ... and maybe a few tricks.
