Pesto Makes Veggies Kid FriendlyPesto goes well with any kind of pasta. But when that pasta is mixed with green vegetables, it turns a kid no-no into a big kid yes!
Pasta is one of those great dinners that's quick and easy and always a crowd pleaser. It doesn't matter if you choose tomato, Alfredo or pesto sauce, everyone is always going to clean their plates. So since pasta's always a guarantee with little mouths, why not sneak some veggies in there while you're at it. The sauce that you use, no matter which type, will hide those icky green vegetables while thrilling big and small mouths alike.
Ziti with pesto and green beansIngredients:2 cups fresh basil leaves1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided1/2 cup olive oil3 garlic cloves, mincedSalt and pepper to taste3/4 pound penne pasta1/3 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into thirdsDirections:To make the pesto: Combine the basil and the garlic in the food processor and pulse a few times. Slowly pour in the olive oil while the processor is running. Add a 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan and pulse until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.Meanwhile cook the penne according to the package directions. Add the green beans to the boiling pasta water about five minutes before the pasta is done cooking. Drain the pasta and beans, reserving 1/3 cup of the cooking water.In a serving bowl, mix together a few tablespoons of the cooking water with the pesto. Add the pasta and beans and toss to combine. Top with remaining Parmesan cheese and serve.More Tonight's Dinner recipes >>Other Pesto Recipes
Fresh, Colorful And HeartyIf you're looking for a salad that's perfect for any meal, toss together a classic Israeli salad for a gluten-free Friday dish.
Does it get any fresher than this classic Israeli salad? We don't think so! This is a traditional breakfast dish, but it's great for any meal. Tossed with lots and lots of parsley, you'll also love the combination of flavors when you add tomato, bell pepper and cucumber.
The dressing is simple, but you could add a few other ingredients to the mix: olives, feta cheese, a side of hummus and any other favorite veggies. Not only fresh in taste, this salad is bright and beautiful!
Note: Gluten can be found in many different foods and products, from ketchup to soy sauce to candy and seasonings. While SheKnows.com tries to ensure these recipes are gluten-free, carefully read the ingredient labels of all food and food products you use for these recipes to ensure they are also gluten-free. Dig in to this recipe for flatbread with rosemary and sea salt >>Classic Israeli salad
Serves 4
Ingredients:2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half2/3 cup Italian parsley, chopped1/2 English cucumber (1-1/2 cups), diced1/2 orange bell pepper, seeded and diced2 green onions, chopped2 tablespoons olive oil2 tablespoons lemon juice1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon ground black pepperDirections:Toss all the vegetables in a medium-sized bowl.Add the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and mix well to coat.
Fresh and colorful makes for a great meal, any time of day!
More gluten-free Friday recipes
Artichoke-spinach frittata Breakfast bagels with mascarpone Chicken and curried quinoa salad
Who Said Pumpkins Were Just For Carving?When October rolls around, many people rush to their nearest pumpkin patch to pick the largest, most voluptuous fruit in all the land. Then, they rush home, giddy with excitement, with thoughts dancing in their head of exactly how they are going to carve it. However, pumpkins aren't just for carving anymore, friends. This big orange fruit can be used in all facets of cooking, baking and decorating. So put that knife down and get crazy with these fun (and delicious) uses for pumpkin!
The wonderful thing about pumpkins is that they come in all shapes, sizes and colors! Many only recognize pumpkins as being the large, orange, circular squashes they see on neighbor's stoops and in their windowsills. When you are using pumpkins to bake, cook or decorate, experiment with all of the different varieties and colors to add new flavors to your favorite fall dishes or exciting color to your dining room table!
Use in your tablescape
While picking pumpkins at your local orchard or patch, grab a few little ones to use in your fall tablescape! Smaller pumpkins and gourds are perfect to group around large candles, fruits and flowers in the center of your table! In addition, you can prop place cards in front or on top of them when you are hosting your next fall harvest dinner party! Another easy way to use this mini fruit is to pile them in a hurricane glass with fall leaves for an easy, elegant centerpiece.
Hollow N' stuff
As you prepare your hearty fall stuffings and thick stews, think outside the box in terms of presentation. Instead of serving these comfort food favorites in a standard serving bowl, use a hollowed pumpkin to create a statement! All you do is hollow out your pumpkin as you would if you were carving! Pour soup, stew, stuffings, potatoes or polenta into the hollowed out pumpkin for an easy, organic way to serve! Trust me, it'll have your guests talking and praising your Martha Stewart ingenuity.
Chop and puree into soup
There's nothing better than a warm bowl of soup on a chilly, autumn evening. For an easy and delicious autumn soup, add pumpkin! All you need to do is chop the pumpkin into bite size chunks, roast and puree. If the pumpkin is too hard to chop to begin with, boil or roast for 10-15 minutes until softened. For an easy and delicious Thai pumpkin soup, check out this one!
Make pumpkin stock
You've heard of chicken stock, beef stock and vegetable stock, but what about pumpkin? Pumpkin stock is a great use for those slimy, icky guts you get when you clean out your pumpkin. For an easy, flavorful stock, just separate the seeds from the guts and then place the guts in a pot filled with water and boil. Add celery, carrots and a bay leaf for extra flavor. Then boil for about 30 minutes or until the water begins to change color. Strain and use in your favorite soups, stews or freeze for later!
Turn into candles
Looking for an easy, cheap, DIY fall project? Buy a few mini pumpkins, some small votive candle holders and matching votives. Place the votive holders over the top of the pumpkin and trace the circle. Carve with a sharp knife just deep enough to fit the candle holder and the votive. Then place around your dinner table, living room or in a bowl of water for a floating candle effect! It's an easy and decorative way to spruce up your kitchen for fall. Plus, did I mention cheap?
DIY mini pumpkin craft >>
However, if carving is more your thing, challenge yourself this year and replicate this incredibly intricate pumpkin design! For more fun designs, check out this collection!
Watch: Fun fall activities
The Daily Dish brings you affordable activities that will get everyone into the autumn season.
More fun with pumpkins
Pumpkin carving templates Pumpkin-inspired recipes Decorate your front porch for fall
Everything You Need To KnowImagine the worst migraine you’ve ever had. Now add achy muscles, a stiff neck, vomiting and a fever. While this sounds like a bad case of the flu, it could be more -- much more. Bacterial meningitis comes on quickly and fools most people into thinking they have the flu.
What is bacterial meningitis?
The brain and spinal cord are protected by several layers of tissue called the meninges. Bacterial meningitis occurs when bacteria infect the meninges. Three nasty bacteria that are transmitted via nose or throat secretion -- Haemophilus influenzae type B, Neisseria menintidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae -- are the leading causes of bacterial meningitis today.
A quick-acting enemy
When bacterial meningitis hits, it comes on strong, attacking the system at a rapid pace. Infected patients can experience flu-like symptoms that result in permanent brain damage, paralysis, blindness, hearing loss, shock or even death within a couple of hours of onset. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms and they appear to be getting worse, seek treatment immediately.
DIAGNOSING meningitis
Bacterial meningitis requires fast-acting medical attention and can be diagnosed for certain only by analyzing spinal fluid. Spinal fluid is acquired through a spinal tap, a painful but necessary procedure in which a hypodermic needle extracts fluid from the spinal column. The fluid is then sent to a lab for analysis.
Treatment
Once the frightening disease is diagnosed, an intense series of antibiotics is administered and normally stops the disease in its tracks. Some patients are left with whatever damage the bacteria managed to wreak before treatment -- such as memory loss or partial paralysis -- while others recover completely. Fast treatment, then, is crucial.
Prevention THROUGH VACCINATION
Before paranoia consumes you, know the facts. Bacterial meningitis can't be transmitted simply by breathing the same air as someone who's infected, nor can it be spread in swimming pools or by touch. It is far less contagious than the common cold and can be transmitted only via direct contact with an infected person's oral or respiratory secretions through, for example, kissing an infected person, or breathing near the person as he sneezes or coughs.
The risk of bacterial meningitis can be reduced greatly by staying current on one of two preventative meningitis vaccines -- meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine or the more common meningococcal conjugate vaccine. As of 2005, most patients received the latter.
The scary truth is that anyone of any age can be infected with bacterial meningitis. Getting the meningitis vaccine and knowing the signs are the best steps you can take to ensure safety for yourself and your family.
More articles on meningitis
What is meningitis? Bacterial vs. viral meningitis Understanding the meningitis vaccine
Enjoy A Classic Treat!Do you dunk them in milk, enjoy them as s'mores or top them with peanut butter? No matter how you eat them, you're sure to enjoy this gluten-free cinnamon graham crackers recipe!
Everyone has a favorite way to enjoy graham crackers! What's yours? This Gluten-free Goodie of the Week cinnamon graham crackers recipe is easy to make, doesn't require too many ingredients (brown rice flour is the main ingredient) and yields a special treat! We've added cinnamon and sugar to the mix to give these favorites another pop of flavor. No matter what you pair with your cinnamon graham crackers, you'll enjoy these!
Gluten can be found in many different foods and products, from ketchup to soy sauce to candy and seasonings. While SheKnows.com tries to ensure these recipes are gluten-free, carefully read the ingredient labels of all food and food products you use for these recipes to ensure they are also gluten-free.
Gluten-free cinnamon graham crackers recipe
Adapted slightly from Gluten Free Baking
Yields about 1 dozen crackers
Ingredients:1-1/2 cups brown rice flour1/2 cup cornstarch1/3 cup brown sugar1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon5 tablespoons cold butter, cubed6 tablespoons milk3 tablespoons honey1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, for topping1 tablespoon sugar, for toppingParchment paperDirections:Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Mix the 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1 tablespoon sugar in a small bowl and set aside.In a large bowl, whisk together the brown rice flour, cornstarch, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.Add the cubed butter to the mixture. Use a pastry cutter to mix in the butter until the mixture is coarse. There should be no chunks of butter left behind.Add the milk and honey to the mixture, and stir it together to form a dough.Cut a piece of parchment paper, sized about 12 inches by 16 inches. Dust it lightly with a bit of brown rice flour.Place the dough onto the parchment paper and pat it into a rectangle.Cut another piece of parchment paper, also sized 12 x 16 inches, and put it on top of the dough. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough so it's about 1/8-inch thick.Remove the top piece of parchment paper and place the dough (along with the bottom piece of parchment paper) onto a baking sheet.Carefully score the dough into rectangles, about 6 inches by 3 inches in size, or smaller squares.Sprinkle the rectangles with the cinnamon-sugar mixture, then use a fork to prick the dough.Chill the dough for about 10 minutes, then bake for 15 minutes, or until the crackers are lightly browned.Cool the crackers on a wire rack (carefully slide the sheet of parchment, with the crackers remaining, off the baking sheet and onto the rack).When completely cool, carefully break the crackers apart and serve.
These goodies are a classic treat!
More Gluten-free Goodie recipes
Chocolate truffle cakes Citrus-sugar cookies Raspberry scones with lemon drizzle icing
Chicken Stock Makes Delicious PastaPasta's usually cooked in salted water. But cooking it in chicken or vegetable stock adds a whole new flavor that guarantees dinner will be a hit.
My whole family loves pasta. It doesn't matter if it's covered in sauce or just tossed with some fresh vegetables. If it's pasta, it's going to be devoured. But in all the times I've made spaghetti or penne or ravioli, I've never cooked it in stock. I always follow the directions on the box and cook it in salted, boiling water. But then Parents magazine suggested cooking the pasta in chicken or vegetable stock instead. It was a revelation. Not only did the noodles get cooked, they took on the flavor of the stock, making them even more delectable and bringing the dish to a whole new and unexpected height. I'm definitely doing it again and next time I'll try a beef or vegetable stock.
Broccoli pasta with sausage
Serves 4
Ingredients:3 cups chicken stock2 cups water10 ounces penne1 (1 pound) bag frozen chopped broccoli1 tablespoon olive oil2 links sausage, sliced1 teaspoon lemon zestJuice of 1 lemonSalt and pepper to taste1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheeseDirections:Bring the chicken stock and water to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. About six minutes before the pasta is done, add the broccoli and continue cooking for another four or five minutes. Drain, reserving one-half cup of the cooking liquid and return the pasta and broccoli to the pot.While the pasta and broccoli cook, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage three to four minutes or until browned.Add the sausage and any oil from the pan to the pasta mixture. Stir in the zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper and reserved pasta liquid. Transfer the pasta mixture to a large baking dish, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.More Tonight's Dinner recipes >>Other broccoli recipes
Baked broccoli casserole Broccoli and ham strata Creamy broccoli soup
2012 is a Leap Year. What exactly does that mean, other than an extra day in February? Cocktails, of course! On Wednesday, Feb. 29, get your guy to say "I do" to drinks with one of these fantastic Leap Year-inspired cocktails.
When "Will you marry me?" is too extreme
Maybe it's because I just came back from Vegas and still have all of the scantily clad casino servers' voices ringing in my ears: "Cocktails? Cocktails?" (Yes, please.) Or maybe it's just because I love a good excuse for adult beverages, but it looks like Leap Year presents us with yet another occasion for cocktails.
(P.S. Thank you February for National Drink Wine Day, Mardi Gras, National Margarita Day and now Leap Day!)
Leap Year basics
Not that you need to know what Leap Year is all about to celebrate the occasion with drinks, but just in case you want a refresher, here's the quick version. Most years that are divisible by four are Leap Years. In those years, February has one additional day, so there are 29 days in the month versus 28.
However, it's not quite that simple. If the year is also divisible by 100, it's not a leap year -- unless the year is also divisible by 400, and then it is a Leap year. If all of this math is making you thirsty, you're not alone.
Leap Day for ladies
Tradition dictates that Leap Day is the time when women are supposed to switch it up and propose to their men, versus sitting around and waiting for the guys to pop the question.
Um, we can probably hold the "Will you marry me?" line, but we're happy to offer up a "Will you join me for a fabulous cocktail?" question. On Leap Day -- Wednesday, February 29th -- get your guy to say "I do" to adult beverages with one of these fantastic Leap Year-inspired cocktail recipes.
Leaptini recipeIngredients:2 ounces Blue Ice Vodka1/2 ounce agave nectar1/2 ounce lime juiceFresh basilDirections:Combine and muddle all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.Shake to blend and chill.Strain into a martini glass.Also try this lemon drop martini recipe >>Lovers Leap recipeIngredients:2 ounces Camarena Reposado Tequila1/4 ounce grenadine1/4 ounce lime juice1/2 ounce Tawny PortDirections:Place grenadine in bottom of large rocks glass and set aside.Place remaining liquids in cocktail shaker with ice.Shake to blend.Strain into rocks glass over grenadine and fresh ice.Garnish with a lime wheel.Old Fashioned No More recipeIngredients:2 ounces Camarena Reposado Tequila1/4 ounce spiced orange syrup*2 dashes Classic BittersOrange twist garnishDirections:Combine liquids in rocks glass over fresh ice.That's it! Enjoy!
* Spiced orange syrup
Ingredients:
Zest of 1 orange10 to 12 whole cloves1 heaping tablespoon whole allspice3/4 cup water1-1/2 cups cane sugarAlso try this maple syrup Old Fashioned recipe >>More on Leap Year
Recipes inspired by Leap Day Travel specials for Leap Year Leap Year cocktail recipe
Leap Day for ladies
Ingredients:2 ounces Blue Ice Vodka1/2 ounce agave nectar1/2 ounce lime juiceFresh basilDirections:
Ingredients:2 ounces Camarena Reposado Tequila1/4 ounce grenadine1/4 ounce lime juice1/2 ounce Tawny PortDirections:
ngredients:2 ounces Camarena Reposado Tequila1/4 ounce spiced orange syrup*2 dashes Classic BittersOrange twist garnishDirections: