History You Can Sink Your Teeth Into

(NAPSI)-In 1902, America was a rapidly growing and changing nation. It was a time of invention, industrial innovation and accelerated immigration, blending cultures and cuisines. It was also a time when many favorite all--American foods-such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, animal crackers and banana splits--first became popular.

That year also marked the very first time light and dark corn syrups became available in tins. Karo Corn Syrup, founded that year, quickly became a favorite ingredient in desserts, breads, sweet rolls, sauces and fillings.

The syrup, now considered as American as apple pie, is an essential ingredient in a Stars and Stripes Cheesecake or a delicious Cran-Blueberry Pie:

Stars and Stripes Cheesecake

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Chill Time: 1 hour

Yield: 15 servings

Graham Cracker Crust:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

2 tablespoons sugar

Cheesecake:

3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, at room temperature

⅓ cup sugar

2 tablespoons Argo or Kingsford's Corn Starch

1 cup Karo Light Corn Syrup

3 eggs

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 pound strawberries, halved (about 3 cups)

1 cup heavy or whipping cream, whipped; or whipped topping

Preheat oven to 325ºF. To prepare graham cracker crust: Combine crumbs, butter and 2 Tbsp. sugar. Press into the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

To prepare cheesecake: Beat cream cheese, sugar and corn starch in a large bowl with mixer at medium speed until smooth. Beat in corn syrup, eggs and lemon juice until blended and smooth.

Pour into prepared baking dish. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or just until set.

Cool on wire rack. Refrigerate until well chilled. Arrange blueberries (about 30 to 40) in rows in upper left corner of cheesecake to form a rectangle, spacing rows about ½ inch apart (to leave room for whipped cream).

Arrange halved strawberries on top of remaining portion of cheesecake also in rows about ¾ inch apart, like a flag. Place whipped cream in a plastic bag and snip off the corner of the bag.

Use the bag to pipe whipped cream between the rows of blueberries and strawberries, completing the flag design. Keep refrigerated.

Cran-Blueberry Pie

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 to 45 minutes

Yield: 1 pie (8 servings)

1 package (12 ounces) frozen blueberries (about 2½ cups)

2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

¾ cup sugar

½ cup Karo Light Corn Syrup

¼ cup Argo or Kingsford's Corn Starch

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

⅛ teaspoon salt

2 (9-inch) unbaked pie crusts

Glaze:

¼ cup powdered sugar

1 to 1½ teaspoons milk

Preheat oven to 375°F. Combine blueberries, cranberries, sugar, corn syrup, corn starch, cinnamon and salt in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until cranberry skins begin to pop.

Assemble pie by placing one crust in pie plate. Pour in filling. Top with remaining crust. Flute edges and cut slits in top crust to vent. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

Prepare Glaze: Stir powdered sugar and milk together until smooth. Spread over hot crust. Cool pie on wire rack. (Let pie cool completely before cutting, or filling will be runny.)

You will find more recipes and tips at www.karosyrup.com, or call (866) 430-KARO (5276).


-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Delicious Quick-Fix Ideas

(NAPSI)--Maintaining healthy habits even as the weather gets colder and the days shorter can be simple, quick and delicious. No matter if you want a warm lunch in the office or need a fast meal in the evening, with Minute Ready to Serve Rice you can enjoy a hot dish in no time. Minute Ready to Serve Rice offers a portion-controlled, single serving of rice in a variety of flavors, including 100 percent whole-grain Brown Rice and Brown & Wild Rice. Research shows that a diet rich in whole grains reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Now you can be healthy and enjoy nutritious, hearty meals in just 60 seconds.

Keep your waistline from expanding and your fall cravings satisfied with the help of Minute Ready to Serve Rice. Here are a few quick dishes that can be enjoyed at work or without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

Chicken and Rice Burritos

Microwave two containers of Minute Ready to Serve Brown Rice on high for two minutes. Mix salsa and cooked, diced chicken breast and microwave on high for two more minutes. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and rice to salsa and chicken. Divide mixture onto whole-wheat tortillas and top with cilantro and sour cream, if desired.

Cheesy Turkey and Broccoli Rice

Combine one container of Minute Ready to Serve White Rice, cooked, chopped turkey, and broccoli florets (fresh or frozen). Microwave on high for two minutes. Stir in your favorite shredded cheese and two tablespoons water or milk. Microwave on high for one minute. Stir until well blended and creamy.

Cranberry Pecan Brown and Wild Rice

Microwave one container of Minute Ready to Serve Brown & Wild Rice on high for one minute. Add dried cranberries, toasted pecans and butter; blend well. Stir in a little orange juice. Enjoy!

Stay healthy through the holiday season while still enjoying tasty warm recipes with Minute Ready to Serve Rice.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Last-Minute Party-Planning Tips

(NAPSI)-The thought of planning a last-minute party may sound like an invite for stress, but it doesn't have to be. Try these tips for being ready to go at a moment's notice:

Party-Ready Pantries

• Keep your list of easy-to-prepare "go-to" recipes handy.

• Stock your pantry with all the necessary ingredients so you're ready to cook anytime.

• Presentation is everything-keep colorful plates, napkins, hors d'oeuvre picks and platter decorations at the ready.

• Customize your "go-tos" for different events and party themes. Dream up fun serving suggestions, such as fancy glassware and garnishes or small variations for each recipe.

You can find even more tips at UltimatePartyMeatballs.com. The site features just about everything you need for planning any kind of party such as a holiday party, birthday or a big game night.

In just three ingredients, hosts can score big with tasty game-day treats like the Ultimate Party Meatballs or Ultimate Party Wings. For an elegant girls' night in, Ultimate Baked Brie will do the trick!

Try this classic party favorite:

Ultimate Party Meatballs

1 16-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce

1 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce

1 2-pound bag frozen, precooked, cocktail-size meatballs

Combine sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Add meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally. Makes 30 appetizer servings.

Slow-cooker preparation: Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.

For more party ideas, visit www.ultimatepartymeatballs.com.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Bringing Delicious Ingenuity To Leftovers

CC Note: Don't know about you, but I'm still stuffed from all the wonderful Thanksgiving treats on my table. Here's a variation of my own Ultimate Leftover Turkey Sandwich. In mine, I use my homemade cranberry sauce along with a healthy dose of cranberry stuffing with my turkey. An added treat is a thick slice of Havardi cheese. I find it's the perfect snack as I overdose on the college football this weekend. Of course, I will serve this sandwich in wheel form for the annual Georgia- Georgia Tech game.

(NAPSI)-When it comes to preparing festive meals, it almost seems customary for the host to prepare much more food than can be eaten at one meal so friends and family can savor the flavors for several days to come. Cold turkey and its fixings can be as delicious as when they are first served if you bring a spark of ingenuity to your leftover recipe ideas.

Why settle for an ordinary turkey sandwich when you can have a deluxe offering that combines tastes from all corners of the table? The Ultimate Leftover Turkey Sandwich starts with slices of turkey breast that are complemented with a scoop of bread stuffing and tangy cranberry sauce. This leftover classic is dressed up with hearty multigrain bread that's been spread with Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil, which has all the taste of regular mayo but only half the fat and calories.

Roasted sweet potatoes combine in beautiful color and texture with celery, walnuts and red onions in a Roasted Sweet Potato Salad. This seasonal twist on a classic potato salad is also brightened up with the great taste of Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil that delightfully blends all of the recipe's flavors, while delivering only half the fat and calories of traditional mayonnaise.

For more recipes and tips on healthy living, visit www.kraftfoods.com.

The Ultimate Leftover Turkey Sandwich

Prep: 10 min.

Total: 10 min.

2 slices multigrain bread

1 Tbsp. KRAFT Mayo with Olive Oil Reduced Fat Mayonnaise

3 oz. oven-roasted turkey breast, sliced

½ cup prepared STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Turkey

2 Tbsp. cranberry sauce

Spread bread with Mayo; fill with remaining ingredients.

Makes 1 serving.

Serving Suggestion:

Serve with a mixed green salad tossed with your favorite KRAFT Dressing.

Creative Leftovers:

Substitute 1 leftover dinner roll, cut in half, for the 2 bread slices.

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Prep: 40 min.

plus cooling

1 lb. sweet potatoes (about 3), peeled, cubed

⅓ cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing, divided

3 Tbsp. KRAFT Mayo with Olive Oil Reduced Fat Mayonnaise

2 stalks celery, chopped

½ cup PLANTERS Walnut Pieces, toasted

¼ cup chopped red onions

Heat oven to 400° F. Toss potatoes with 3 Tbsp. Italian dressing; spread into shallow foil-lined baking pan.

Bake 25 to 30 min. or until potatoes are tender, stirring after 15 min. Cool completely.

Mix Mayo and remaining Italian dressing in large bowl. Add potatoes, celery, nuts and onions; toss lightly.

Makes 6 servings, about ½ cup each.

Substitute:

Substitute green onions for the red onions.

Make Ahead:

Salad can be made ahead of time. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Delicious Holiday Meatballs

(NAPSI)-It doesn't take a special gift to add a delicious twist to holiday gatherings--just a new take on some party classics.

For instance, meatballs are ideal because they are warm, enjoyable, bite-sized appetizers. But many holiday hosts don't know the Italian treats can be served in a number of tasty ways.

You can find recipes for serving meatballs--in virtually every form from soups and salads to stews--in a new cookbook called "101 Things to do with Meatballs" from The New York Times best-selling author Stephanie Ashcraft.

The book offers ideas for cooking with brands such as Casa Di Bertacchi meatballs, which are prepared with 100-percent boneless beef and seasoned with high-quality Italian ingredients, then seared and steamed in a traditional multigenerational Italian style. The cookbook is available for purchase online at www.gibbs-smith.com and is available for preorder on Amazon.com.

Try this unique twist on a classic favorite:

Holiday Meatballs

Ingredients

52 (2 lbs) frozen Casa Di Bertacchi fully cooked meatballs

1 can (16 oz) whole-berry cranberry sauce

1 cup barbecue sauce

Slow Cooker Directions:

• Place frozen meatballs in a 3½- to 5-quart slow cooker prepared with nonstick cooking spray.

• In a bowl, stir together cranberry sauce and barbecue sauce.

• Pour mixture over meatballs. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2½-3 hours.

• During a party, meatballs can be left in the slow cooker on warm or low setting.

• Serve as appetizers with toothpicks.

Stovetop Directions:

• Combine all ingredients in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan.

• Cover and simmer over medium-low heat on the stove for 55-60 minutes, stirring occasionally until meatballs are heated through.

• Serve immediately or place them in a chafing dish to keep them warm.

The meatballs are available at Sam's Club. For more recipes and ideas, visit www.casameatballs.com.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page