RECIPE: Crunchy Fried (Or Baked) Tortilla Strips

What more crunch in your summer salads? Toasted croutons and chow mein noodles have long served that purpose. But in recent times, tortilla chip strips have become the modern touch. We have a recipe to make your own, below.     OTHER CRUNCHY OPTIONS You can also add slices of bell pepper, bok choy, carrot,…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Make A Summer Panzanella (Bread Salad)

Bread salad, like French toast and croutons, is one of those delicious foods invented by necessity: Poor people needed to get another meal from leftover bread that had gone stale. Large croutons are a main ingredient of the salad, rather than the small American-style croutons used as garnish. Panzanella, the Italian word for bread salad,…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Summer Cheeses

[1] Yellow tomato Caprese Salad (photo courtesy Elegant Affairs Caterers | FB. [2] Artistic Caprese Salad (photo courtesy Great Performances | FB). [3] Watermelon Caprese Salad. You can also use mango and other stone fruits (photo courtesy Watermelon.org).   On the hot days of summer, lighten up on your cheeses. Switch the heavier blues, cheddars…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Mix Up Some Coolers

[1] Blackberry cooler (photo courtesy FreidaFroo.Wordpress.com). [2] A peach wine cooler (here’s the recipe from TasteOfHome.com). [3] Watermelon cooler with green tea and white wine (photo courtesy Serendipitea.com). [4] Commercial wine coolers: the lowest common denominator (photo courtesy Majestic Brands).   WHAT’S A COOLER? Short for wine cooler, a cooler is a tall drink typically…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Watermelon Salad

Watermelon is one of the edible geniuses in the Cucurbitaceae family, also called the gourd family. The most important family members comprise five genuses: Citrullus: watermelon and some other melons. Cucurbita: squash (including pumpkin), summer squash (yellow squash, zucchini), some gourds. Cucumis: cucumber, some melons.   Non-edible members include: Lagenaria: inedible (decorative) gourds Luffa/loofah: a…
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