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Tip of the Week: Minty remedies?
Mint is commonly used in the form of tea as a home remedy to help alleviate stomach pain. Because of its strong, sharp flavor and scent, mint is sometimes used as a mild decongestant for illnesses such as the common cold. During the Middle Ages, powdered mint leaves were also used to whiten teeth. When cooking with mint, it’s best to use the leaves. Mint stems are tougher than leaves and not as flavorful.
-- www.bonnieplants.com
Easy recipe: Ranch, Bacon and Cheddar Cheese Mashed Potatoes
5 Russet potatoes baked, halved and scooped
1 (4-ounce pack) plain gourmet instant potatoes
1 cup chopped (crispy) cooked bacon
8 strips raw thin-sliced bacon (for Twice Baked Potato recipe)
1 cup heavy cream (heated to warm)
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 envelope of Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix
1/2 cup chopped fresh scallions
16 toothpicks
In large sauce pan with heated heavy cream, add dressing and stir on medium low heat. Add the potatoes (use both the scooped and instant potatoes) and stir into the cream mixture until smooth. Turn off heat and fold in cooked bacon, cheese and scallions. Serve.
-- ARA
Did You Know?
Leftover cooked meat and poultry can be refrigerated for about three to four days and frozen for about four months. – FoodSafety.gov
Food Quiz
Which fungus is traditionally added to a wine and cream mixture to make a sauce tournee?
A. Mushrooms
B. Lichen
C. Truffles
D. Morels
-- funtrivia.com
Answer is at bottom of column
Wise to the Word: kumquat
[KUHM-kwaht] This pigmy of the citrus family looks like a tiny oval or round orange. It's cultivated in China, Japan and the United States. The edible golden orange rind is sweet, while the rather dry flesh is very tart. The entire fruit — skin and flesh — is eaten, and very ripe fruit can be sliced and served raw in salads or as a garnish. The kumquat is more likely to be found cooked, however, either candied or pickled whole or in preserves or marmalades. Fresh kumquats are available from November to March.
-- epicurious.com
Number to Know
68: One slice of American cheese is 68 calories.
-- calorieking.com
The Dish On …
"The Glorious Pasta of Italy" by Domenica Marchetti
Celebrating pasta in all its glorious forms, author Domenica Marchetti draws from her Italian heritage to share 100 classic and modern recipes. Step-by-step instructions for making fresh pasta offer plenty of variations on the classic egg pasta, while a glossary of pasta shapes, a source list for unusual ingredients, and a handy guide for stocking the pantry with pasta essentials encourage the home cook to look beyond simple spaghetti.
-- Chronicle Books LLC
Food Quiz Answer
A. Mushrooms
