YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Blog Posts by RachaelRaymag.com

    • Thanksgiving Make-Ahead Recipes

      Start With The Basics:

      Brined Dijon Turkey with Pan Gravy
      - Carve the turkey, and plate with the gravy up to two days before for the moistest meat ever! Before sitting down to eat, just reheat. Get the recipe here!

      Layer on The Side:

      Sweet Potato & Apple Gratin
      - Thinly sliced sweet potatoes and apples get even more flavorful when stacked together with onion sauce up to two days ahead. Get the recipe here!

      Fancy The Finger Foods:

      Cornmeal Stuffing Muffins
      - Get your stuffing fix in muffin form: These light and fluffy treats can be baked in advance, then bagged and frozen. Let thaw and reheat. Get the recipe here!

      Mix Up The Salad:

      Walnut & Cranberry Broccoli Salad -
      Blanch the florets in advance, then toss and serve this easy salad at room temperature. Get the recipe here!

      Sweet Dessert:

      Caramel-Pear Trifle
      - This sweet and fruity confection can be made two days in advance and dusted withconfectioners' sugar. Bonus: letting this trifle refrigerate for two

      Read More »from Thanksgiving Make-Ahead Recipes
    • 5 Great Brunch Ideas

      brunch ideasbrunch ideas

      Brunch seems to be everyone's favorite weekend activity, but why go out when you can make it just as well at home? Here are our best brunch tips and ideas that will have your guests at your doorstep every Saturday.

      1. Grow Some Fun

      Create a centerpiece that's delicious: Stud a small planter of wheatgrass with lollipops in bright colors. You can even write a guest's name on each wrapper for easy grabbing.

      Centerpiece ideas from the kitchen


      2. Plan Your Prep Time

      For a dinner party, you theoretically have all day to prepare, but brunch can start as early as 9 a.m. (or as late as 2 p.m.). The trick? A little planning. Gale Gand, author of Gale Gand's Brunch!, recommends shopping two days before the party and prepping the day before. Also, lighten the day-of load by serving dishes that can be cooked in advance: Two of Gand's favorites are strata and baked apple french toast.

      Get the recipe for Ham-and-Cheese Strata


      3. Pick Easy Apps

      Save time with store-bought

      Read More »from 5 Great Brunch Ideas
    • 10 Desserts, Grilled on a Skewer

      You know grilling is great for meat, veggies and seafood, but those char marks look just as great on desserts! We're not just talking about fruit, either; whether you're in the mood for pie, dumplings or blintzes, we've got your grilled sweet tooth covered.

      black forest skewersblack forest skewers BLACK FOREST SKEWERS

      Fresh cherries + kirsh or chambord + semisweet chocolate + chocolate donut holes + heavy cream

      Get the recipe for Black Forest Skewers




      lemon meringue pielemon meringue pie LEMON MERINGUE "PIE"

      Store-bought sponge cake desserts shells + prepared lemon curd + mini marshmallows

      Get the recipe for Lemon Meringue "Pie"





      plumplingsplumplings PLUMPLINGS (PLUM DUMPLINGS)

      Plums + brown sugar + lemon + butter + fresh breadcrumbs + egg roll wrappers + egg + confectioners' sugar

      Get the recipe for Plumplings (Plum Dumplings)




      sweet and hot sugared melonsweet and hot sugared melon SWEET AND HOT SUGARED MELON

      Sugar + cayenne pepper + honeydew melon

      Get the recipe for Sweet and Hot Sugared Melon





      blackberry blintzesblackberry blintzes BLACKBERRY BLINTZES

      Blackberries + sugar + farmer's cheese + prepared crêpes

      Get the recipe for Read More »from 10 Desserts, Grilled on a Skewer
    • 7 Beers that Taste like Food

      Ever wonder what your favorite foods would taste like in beer form? We found seven great beers that will do the trick!

      beers that taste like foodbeers that taste like food

      Spicy Chile
      A perfect pairing for tacos or chips and guac, Six Rivers Brewery Chili Pepper Ale ($6) has a cooling effect -- at first. After a few seconds, the back-of-the-throat heat kicks in. The ale's infused with charcoal-roasted jalapeño, habanero, serrano and anaheim chiles, which are no joke: Brewmaster Carlos Sanchez wears a protective mask while creating!
      1300 Central Ave., McKinleyville, CA

      sixriversbrewery.com


      PB&J

      Made with roasted peanuts and jammy fruits (think grapes and raspberries), Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery's No Crusts ale ($5) tastes like a nostalgic bite of the actual white-bread sandwich!
      2621 N. Federal Hwy., Boca Raton, FL

      thefunkybuddha.com


      Gingerbread

      Bison Brewing's nutmeg-and-cinnamon Gingerbread Ale ($8) has the flavor of just-baked cookies without being too sugary: It ends with the spicy, slightly bitter

      Read More »from 7 Beers that Taste like Food
    • How to Pack the Ultimate Picnic

      Summer PicnicSummer PicnicWe swear by these picnic tips:


      Pack resealable plastic bags:
      That'll let you eat now--and later.

      Light is easy: Why haul a huge, hard cooler halfway around the park? A soft fabric version is just as roomy--and easier on the arm.

      Serving sandwiches? Pumpernickel bread is sturdier than white and won't get soggy.

      Avoid leftovers: They don't stand a chance under the relentless sun. For easy portion control, pack your picnic in pre-slotted containers.


      Recipes
      Chicken Salad with Roasted Potatoes and Corn
      Roast Turkey Sandwich with the Works
      Jalapeno-Mango Shrimp
      Steakhouse Salad


      More Picnic Menus
      Summer picnic party menu
      More outdoor menusRead More »from How to Pack the Ultimate Picnic
    • Easy Recipes: No-Bake Desserts

      Start with a Scoop no-bake dessertsno-bake desserts

      Coffee Cake Ice Cream:

      Tear up a store-bought crumb cake; stir into softened coffee-flavored ice cream along with chopped pecans; refreeze.

      Not Hot Bananas Foster:

      Mix sliced bananas with toasted slivered almonds, cinnamon and caramel sauce; use as topping on ice cream. Splash with brandy (optional).

      S'mores Ice Cream Sandwich:

      Spread marshmallow fluff on two graham crackers, then use to sandwich a scoop of chocolate ice cream. Drizzle with warm chocolate sauce.


      Cakes and More

      Instant Tiramisu:

      Whisk together equal parts mascarpone cheese and whipped topping with a little espresso powder and rum (optional); refrigerate for 30 minutes. Top each serving with a ladyfinger, pinch of espresso powder and chocolate shavings.

      PB&B Rice Pudding:

      Stir peanut butter and chopped banana into prepared rice pudding and top with whipped cream and a drizzle of honey.

      Unbaked Alaska:

      Top slices of sponge or angel food cake

      Read More »from Easy Recipes: No-Bake Desserts
    • 16 No-Cook Summer Side Dishes

      No one wants to feel the extra heat of a stove or oven during the summertime. Here are our favorite no-cook side dishes to keep you cool all summer long!

      zucchini linguine with almondszucchini linguine with almondsZUCCHINI LINGUINE WITH ALMONDS

      Parmesan cheese + lemons + clementine + basil + dijon mustard + EVOO + zucchini + almonds

      Get the recipe for Zucchini Linguine with Almonds





      antipasti bowlantipasti bowl

      ANTIPASTI BOWL

      White balsamic vinegar + garlic + oregano + EVOO + cremini mushrooms + broccoli + cauliflower + cherry tomatoes + soppressata + provolone cheese

      Get the recipe for Antipasti Bowl





      rainbow tomatoesrainbow tomatoes

      RAINBOW TOMATOES AND WHITE BEANS

      Parsley + capers + red wine vinegar + garlic + EVOO + multicolored tomatoes + cannellini beans + pine nuts

      Get the recipe for Rainbow Tomatoes and White Beans





      creamy corn succotash creamy corn succotash

      CREAMY CORN SUCCOTASH

      Basil + scallions + whole-milk yogurt + lemon juice + EVOO + corn + sugar snap peas + lima beans + red bell pepper + orange bell pepper

      Get the recipe for Creamy Corn Succotash





      celery salad with bleu cheesecelery salad with bleu cheeseCELERY SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE

      Apple cider vinegar

      Read More »from 16 No-Cook Summer Side Dishes
    • The Best Vacation Spots for Stargazing

      These stargazing locales vary from beach to desert, but all share a sky full of unforgettable views. Find out what spots made it on our list!

      mackinaw city, mimackinaw city, miMackinaw City, Michigan

      The Headlands was declared as one of only 10 official Dark Sky Parks in the world by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), an organization dedicated to preserving the nighttime environment. Get there at dusk to catch monthly sunset picnics led by resident star expert Mary Stewart Adams. These unique campfire meals are free and feature folk and fairy tales that she's tailored to each night's celestial makeup.

      Grab a Bite: Sample Great Lakes whitefish, the region's specialty, in the Chippewa Room at Audie's Restaurant in Mackinaw City. Delivered fresh daily, it's available broiled, planked, stuffed, encrusted, cajun or Asian-style ($22).

      Visit emmetcounty.org/headlands/ for more info.
      audies.com

      hilo, hawaiihilo, hawaiiHilo, Hawaii

      The Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station atop the 9,300-foot perch of Hawaii's

      Read More »from The Best Vacation Spots for Stargazing
    • 5 Cute Cupcake Decorating Ideas

      Use these cupcake decorating recipes and transform your sweet treats to look like savory favorites! Make them for your next party -- they're fun for both kids and adults!

      faux fast foodfaux fast food Faux Fast Food

      Give two drive-through favorites get a candy-aisle makeover! Cut a cupcake in half to create a "bun" then use sweet candies and cookies to create the full "meal." Too fun!

      Tip: For a surprise inside, add dollops of red and yellow frosting as condiments.
      Get the recipe!



      dessert for breakfastdessert for breakfastDessert for Breakfast
      Trick your family with a surprisingly sweet start to their day. These eggs with a mini marshmallow "yolk" center and taffy bacon will have your kids singing your praise.
      Get the recipe!






      sweet sandwichsweet sandwichSweet Sandwich
      When it comes to this sugary pseudo-sammy BLT stands for "better look twice!" Green fruit-leather "lettuce," taffy "bacon" and white frosting "mayo" makes the cupcake "sandwich" the perfect package!
      Get the recipe!






      bottoms up!bottoms up!Bottoms Up!
      Take a sip -- er, bite -- from a marshmallow-topped mug. No

      Read More »from 5 Cute Cupcake Decorating Ideas
    • Summer Olympics Backyard Bash

      Carry the torch in your very own backyard by throwing a summer Olympics-inspired party! With a few tricks, your get-together will be so action-packed it'll deserve its own opening ceremonies.



    Pagination

    (450 Stories)