NOTE--To see an on-line version of this newsletter, copy this link and paste it into your web browser: http://www.tasteofhome.com/rd.asp?id=1176&firstname=$$firstname$$&emailaddress=$$email$$&refurl=$$refurl-link$$ Please do not reply to this email. If you have questions or wish to unsubscribe, see the instructions at the bottom of this email. Dear $$firstname$$, Greetings from the Taste of Home Test Kitchen! Whether you’re cooking for two or ten, you can always count on us for simple meal solutions. That’s the idea behind our newest magazine, Taste of Home’s Simple & Delicious. Learn more below. You’ll also find a savory Southwestern-flavored meal for two, some handy kitchen shortcuts, dandy doughnuts and more. Click on the name of any recipe below to view it in our online Recipe Finder, print it and save it to your own “recipe box.” In this issue: --> New Magazine Keeps it Simple --> Just the Two of Us --> Slow Down for Savory Meals --> Doughnuts Are Dandy --> Homemade Taste from the Pantry --> Mint Is Simple, Satisfying --> Looking for Lighter Fare? --> Please ’em With Pasta! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New Magazine Keeps it Simple ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A NEW magazine has joined our lineup! Taste of Home’s Simple & Delicious offers 90-plus family-friendly recipes and fun dinner ideas to take the hassle out of planning menus and preparing weeknight and weekend meals. Learn more about Taste of Home’s Simple & Delicious —and register to win some great prizes, including a Las Vegas Getaway from MGM MIRAGE Vacations, an Apple iPod nano from mygrocerydeals.com, or a KitchenAid Stand Mixer from Reiman Publications —at bestsimplerecipes.com. http://www.bestsimplerecipes.com/RD.asp?ID=250&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just the Two of Us ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IT’S SAID that good things come in twos…but finding recipes that serve just two isn’t easy. With that in mind, here’s a quick, fun menu perfect for a pair. A hearty entree with the warming zip of green chilies, Taco Plate for Two is suggested by field editor Sue R. of Casa Grande, Arizona. Vivian W. of Mountain Home, Arkansas recommends Simple Spanish Rice, a nicely seasoned side dish. Avocado Orange Salad is a refreshing favorite shared by Catherine S. of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Vanilla Custard Cups are a comforting dessert from Billie B. of Imperial, California. TACO PLATE FOR TWO http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1235&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ 1/2 pound ground beef 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/3 cup taco sauce 1/4 cup chopped green chilies 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup broken tortilla chips 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese In a skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the taco sauce, chilies and salt. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 6-8 minutes or until heated through. Spoon over chips; sprinkle with cheese. Yield: 2 servings. SIMPLE SPANISH RICE http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1236&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ 1/2 cup chopped green pepper 1 medium tomato, peeled, seeded and diced 1/4 cup finely chopped onion 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice 1 cup chicken broth 1/2 teaspoon salt, optional 1/4 teaspoon pepper In a saucepan, saute green pepper, tomato and onion in oil until tender. Add rice; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in broth, salt if desired and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 25 minutes or until rice is tender. Yield: 2 servings. Nutritional Analysis: One serving (prepared with low-sodium broth and without salt) equals 292 calories, 62 mg sodium, 2 mg cholesterol, 48 gm carbohydrate, 6 gm protein, 8 gm fat. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 1-1/2 fat. AVOCADO ORANGE SALAD http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1237&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ 2 cups torn salad greens 1 navel orange, peeled and sectioned 1 large ripe avocado, peeled and sliced 1 small onion, chopped CITRUS DRESSING: 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 tablespoons orange juice 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon celery seed On two salad plates, arrange greens, orange, avocado and onion. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine dressing ingredients; shake well. Drizzle over salads. Serve immediately. Yield: 2 servings. VANILLA CUSTARD CUPS http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1238&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ 1 egg 1 cup milk 3 tablespoons brown sugar 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon salt, optional 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg In a bowl, beat egg, milk, brown sugar, vanilla and salt if desired until blended. Pour into two ungreased 6-oz. custard cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Place cups in a 9-in. square baking pan. Fill pan with hot water to a depth of 1 in. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Yield: 2 servings. Nutritional Analysis: One serving (prepared with egg substitute equivalent to one egg, skim milk and without salt) equals 75 calories, 119 mg sodium, 3 mg cholesterol, 6 gm carbohydrate, 8 gm protein, 1 gm fat. Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 skim milk, 1/2 lean meat. For more 2-serving recipes, visit the Taste of Home Recipe Finder and use the advanced search option. http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1239&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Travel to Italy - Get a Free Gift ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Special Newsletter Subscriber Gift From Our Friends at World Wide Country Tours http://www.countrytours.com/rd.asp?id=1599&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ Full of captivating beauty and rich history, it’s no wonder Italy’s a popular travel destination for 2006. Now you can explore Italy’s many splendors with our friends at World Wide Country Tours! Imagine yourself… - Walking along the pathways of the Popes in Rome - Traveling the canals of Venice - Viewing the masterpieces by artists like DaVinci, Michelangelo and Bernini - Indulging in Italy’s delicious cuisine So, come along and join World Wide Country Tours and tour the “Best of Italy.” Visit: http://www.countrytours.com/rd.asp?id=1599&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ FREE Luggage with your reservation! And, as a valued subscriber of this newsletter, you’re entitled to a FREE Carry-On Bag! But you must hurry and reserve your spot by March 15, 2006. Visit our website for complete itineraries and to make your reservation today! Be sure to use Promotion Code TL22 to claim your special subscriber carry-on bag. http://www.countrytours.com/rd.asp?id=1599&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ FREE Luggage ends March 15, 2006. Exclusive Tour Operator of Taste of Home Magazine 1-800/344-6918 5939 Country Lane, Greendale WI 53129-1429 http://www.countrytours.com/rd.asp?id=1594&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Slow Down for Savory Meals ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SLOW COOKERS help you prepare from-scratch fare even on your most hurried days. Just fill your slow cooker early in the day, turn it on and head out the door. When you come home, you’ll be greeted with the wonderful aroma of a simmering dish. Plus you can fix less expensive or tough meats in the slow cooker. They become tenderized through the long cooking process. Using your slow cooker frees up your oven and stovetop for other uses, especially for large gatherings or holiday meals. Best of all, cleanup is a breeze. The slow cooker cooks foods slowly at a low temperature between 170° and 280°; and at a high temperature of 300° and above. To be considered safe, a slow cooker must be able to cook slow enough so that it can be left unattended, yet it must be fast enough to keep the food at a safe temperature. Here’s how to check: 1. Fill the slow cooker with 2 quarts of lukewarm water. 2. Heat on low with the lid on for 8 hours. 3. Using a thermometer, check the temperature of the water quickly, since the temperature can drop quite a bit once the lid is removed. 4. The temperature should be at 185°. If it’s too hot, your meal that cooked for 8 hours would likely be overdone. If the temperature is below 185°, the cooker may not heat food to an adequate temperature to avoid the growth of harmful bacteria. You’ll quickly be enjoying the benefits of slow cooking with Taste of Home’s Slow Cooker Classics. This big 192-page newsstand special cookbook, on sale now in your favorite retail outlets, is chock-full of tips and 252 great-tasting recipes. Serve up delicious slow-cooked entrees, soups, side dishes, appetizers…even desserts! You can make every dish with confidence because each one is a tried-and-true favorite of a fellow busy cook. Plus each recipe has been prepared and taste-tested by our own Test Kitchen staff. Look for Taste of Home’s Slow Cooker Classics at your favorite newsstand today and start cooking! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Doughnuts Are Dandy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DOUGHNUTS sweeten any morning menu and make an irresistible snack. These special from-scratch varieties suggested by field editors have been tempting taste buds for generations. They’re simple to prepare and fun to share! APPLESAUCE DROP DOUGHNUTS http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1240&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ “I made these tasty cake doughnuts often when our children were growing up,” says Frances P. of Wall, South Dakota. “They’re quick and easy.” 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened 3/4 cup sugar 3 eggs 1 cup applesauce 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 cup milk Oil for deep-fat frying Additional sugar In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in applesauce and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk (the batter will be thick). In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Drop teaspoonfuls of batter a few at a time into hot oil. Turn with a slotted spoon and fry until golden, about 1 minute on each side. Drain on paper towels; roll in sugar while warm. Yield: about 5 dozen. FROSTED PUMPKIN DOUGHNUTS http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1241&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ “Our three children grew pumpkins to sell,” explains Connie S. of Reed City, Michigan. “During harvest, it was time to make these scrumptious doughnuts. The orange frosting is super.” CAKE DOUGHNUTS http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1242&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ “I got the recipe for these yummy traditional treats from a camp cook who has prepared them for years, to the delight of campers,” shares Dawn F. of Warren, Minnesota. For more doughnut recipes, visit the Taste of Home Recipe Finder http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1243&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Homemade Taste from the Pantry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CREATIVE COOKS know how to perk up pantry items with extra touches that make them taste homemade…or use convenience foods in unexpected ways to speed up the preparation of a meal. Here are some family-tested suggestions from busy readers: Super Soups and Chili. “I mix about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of poultry seasoning into turkey vegetable soup to give it special flavor,” writes Pam W. of Centralia, Missouri. “You can also add it to vegetable beef soup.” Here’s a simple way to dress up a can of cream of mushroom soup shared by Chris T., Portland, Oregon: “Chop various salad fixings, such as green pepper, onion and broccoli, then microwave them until crisp-tender. Stir them into the soup to make a quick meal.” “For the best chili you’ve ever tasted, add a can of sloppy joe sauce to your favorite recipe,” suggests John K. of Escanaba, Michigan. “My family won’t eat chili without this easy addition!” Better Beverages. “To give homemade hot chocolate mix a richer taste and texture, I add a small package of instant pudding mix to the batch,” reveals Rena H. from Grandview, Missouri. “It’s wonderful! I use one package of pudding to the 3 cups of instant nonfat dry milk powder called for in the recipe.” “When I make fruit punch of any kind, I sprinkle in an envelope or two of unsweetened lemonade soft drink mix,” says Marybell S. of Delavan, Wisconsin. “It perks up the flavor, and I always get lots of compliments on it.” “While preparing a cup of instant coffee, I mixed in vanilla extract and vanilla-flavored nondairy creamer,” relates Anna R., Albuquerque, New Mexico. “I was amazed…it tasted like store-bought specialty coffee.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mint Is Simple, Satisfying ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MINT is especially rewarding and simple to grow. This perennial herb has square stems and bright green leaves with an invigorating aroma and flavor. Several varieties are available, including peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, apple mint, pineapple mint and ginger mint, reports field editor Sue G. of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. “Mint is so hardy it almost thrives on neglect,” Sue adds. “It will take over your garden if allowed to do so. To keep it under control, sink a barrier 10 inches deep. Bottomless 3-gallon plastic pots work well. The plants will need to be thinned and divided each year, but at least they’ll stay put.” Sue likes to make refreshing peppermint water in summer. “Tie a bunch of peppermint together, wash it, then place in a pitcher of cold water,” she advises. “Refrigerate. The next day, remove the mint and serve over ice.” Field editor Dorothy B. of Carver, Massachusetts notes that mint dries very well. She hangs washed bunches in her kitchen until they’re dry, then strips off the leaves and stores them in an airtight container. Writes Maria W. of Corte Madera, California, “My mother made wonderful mint omelets. To two eggs, she added chopped fresh mint, fresh minced garlic and a couple tablespoons of grated Romano cheese. Delicious!“ Monica W., field editor from Sturgis, Saskatchewan, notes, “There’s no better way to cook early potatoes than by boiling them with a sprig of fresh mint.” For some delicious mint recipes, visit the Taste of Home Recipe Finder http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1244&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Looking for Lighter Fare? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PRETTY slices of this refreshing salad are dotted with colorful cherries for a festive look. The flavor is pleasant and not overly sweet. Prepared in advance and frozen, it’s a treat that fits into many different menus throughout the year, says Gail S. of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. FROZEN CHERRY SALAD http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1245&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling 2 cans (11 ounces each) mandarin oranges, drained Maraschino cherries and orange wedges, optional In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and whipped topping. Stir in pie filling. Set aside 1/4 cup oranges for garnish. Fold remaining oranges into cream cheese mixture. Transfer to a 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan. Cover and freeze overnight. Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before cutting. Garnish with reserved mandarin oranges, and cherries and oranges if desired. Yield: 12 servings. Nutritional Analysis: One serving (prepared with fat-free cream cheese, light whipped topping and reduced-sugar pie filling and without maraschino cherries and oranges) equals 137 calories, 111 mg sodium, 2 mg cholesterol, 24 gm carbohydrate, 3 gm protein, 3 gm fat. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1/2 fruit, 1/2 fat. For more light recipes, visit the Taste of Home Recipe Finder and use the Nutritional Search option. http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1234&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please ’em With Pasta! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SATISFY your family with the delicious variations on spaghetti, fettuccini and lasagna in Taste of Home’s Pasta Cookbook. You can serve 179 main dishes and sides featuring these popular pasta noodles: angel hair, elbow macaroni, linguine, manicotti, rotini, jumbo shells and nine others. Everyone will enjoy such flavor-filled offerings as “Spaghetti Pork Chops,” “Tortellini Alfredo,” “Swiss Cheese Lasagna” and “Mushroom Pasta Pilaf.” 112 full-color pages. 8-3/8 inches by 11-1/8 inches. Order Taste of Home’s Pasta Cookbook from Country Store On-line. http://www.countrystorecatalog.com/RD.asp?ID=1991&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Featured Item from Country Store ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Taste of Home's Quick Fry Electric Skillet http://www.countrystorecatalog.com/RD.asp?ID=1990&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Woman Caught Putting Baking Soda In Husband's Chili ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Extraordinary Uses For Ordinary Things - Read the full Story: http://www.tasteofhome.com/rd.asp?id=1246&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This Newsletter is from the editors of some of your favorite magazines, including... TASTE OF HOME • 75+ mouth watering, home-tested recipes • Color photo with every recipe • Time-saving kitchen shortcuts • Complete, easy, family-pleasing meals • Clip-and-keep recipe cards To subscribe or give a gift on-line: http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1229&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ To visit our website: http://www.tasteofhome.com/RD.asp?ID=1230&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ LIGHT & TASTY • 75+ light-done-right recipes all dietitian-approved • Complete nutritional analysis with every slimmed-down recipe • Clip-and-keep recipe cards from our Light Recipe Contests To subscribe or give a gift on-line: http://www.lightandtasty.com/RD.asp?ID=262&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ To visit our website: http://www.lightandtasty.com/RD.asp?ID=263&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ COOKING FOR 2 • 70+ flavorful, favorite recipes pared down for two people • Easy, exciting entrees and one-pot meals • Nutrition counts and prep times with every recipe To subscribe or give a gift on-line: http://www.cookingfor2.com/RD.asp?ID=90&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ To visit our website: http://www.cookingfor2.com/RD.asp?ID=91&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ SIMPLE & DELICIOUS • 90+ speedy, easy, tasty recipes • Full-flavored, fast-to-fix 30-minute meals • Recipes made with everyday ingredients • All dishes test-kitchen approved To subscribe or give a gift on-line: http://www.bestsimplerecipes.com/RD.asp?ID=254&pmcode=$$refurl-link$$ To visit our website: http://www.bestsimplerecipes.com/RD.asp?ID=255&pmcode=$$refurl-link$ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This email was sent to: $$email$$ HAVE A FRIEND who enjoys good home cooking? 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