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    Blog Posts by RachaelRaymag.com

    • Guide to finding the best American Barbecue

      Pit masters spilled the secrets to sniffing out the best barbecue in America: pulled pork sandwiches, racks of ribs and plates of brisket. Hope you're hungry!

      Quiz the big guys. When John Markus, executive producer of CBS's The Ultimate BBQ Showdown, is in search of barbecue, he doesn't ask just anyone. "I'll walk up to a guy who could stand to go on a diet," he says. "Even better if he has a toothpick in his mouth." And if nine out of 10 people suggest the same place, he'll go to the tenth. Most folks in Austin know Stubb's, but Markus likes lesser-known House Park Bar-B-Que (houseparkbbq.com) for brisket so tender, it explains their motto: "Need no teef to eat my beef."

      Don't get saucy. "It's not that those thick, syrupy liquids aren't delicious," says Bob Kantor, who makes formidable food at Memphis Minnie's (memphisminnies.com) in San Francisco, of all places. It's just that barbecue is about the meat, so why obscure it with a blanket of sauce? "A beautiful woman is a beautiful

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    • 16 clever recipes with a muffin pan (+ no muffins!)

    • Extreme Couponing: Tips you can actually use to save big

      The deal-obsessed stars of TLC's Extreme Couponing take extraordinary money-saving measures. Our experts translated their techniques for the average shopper.

      THE INSERT COLLECTOR:
      Nathan "Mr. Coupon" Engels dumpster-dives for up to 80 newspaper inserts a week! When a major sale strikes, he buys in bulk.

      The Faster Way for You: High-circulation newspapers have the best deals, and major discounts will be on the front page of the inserts, says savings expert Teri Gault of grocerygame.com. Pick up three newspapers to score three months' worth of savings (that's how often sale cycles repeat).


      THE VIRTUAL SAVER:

      Chrystie "Retail Hacker" Corns spends 20 hours a week (on two computers!) scouring the web for deals and downloading coupons.

      The Faster Way for You: Thanks to smartphones, you don't have to print digital coupons anymore, Gault says. Use Cellfire, an app that alerts you to the best coupons at nearby grocery stores and loads them directly onto your store savings card.


      THE STRATEGIC

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    • Move over, PB! 5 nut butters that do better

      For generations, we've loved PB with its cholesterol-regulating unsaturated fats, potassium and other important nutrients. Today, delectable new spreads with unique benefits are giving the creamy sandwich filling a tasty and health-boosting run for its money. Sales of these creative alternatives skyrocketed almost 17 percent last year, and you'll spy them on shelves everywhere just in time for back to school. Jelly, here they come.

      CASHEW
      Tastes: light and creamy
      A great source of: oleic acid, which reduces LDL cholesterol and decreases the risk of heart attack.
      Super sandwich: Make a panini special: Spread ricotta cheese and cashew butter on ciabatta, then add banana slices, a pinch of shredded coconut and a dash of cinnamon; grill on a panini press or in a cast-iron skillet.
      Also try it in: Pressed Elvis »





      SUNFLOWER SEED

      Tastes: earthy and rich
      A great source of: magnesium (twice the amount found in peanuts!), which can prevent migraines by relaxing blood vessels.
      Super sandwich:

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    • 5 Ingredients + 1 Skillet = 6 Quick-Cooking Meals

      Mediterranean Chicken Stacks

      Eggplant + country-style Italian bread + herbed goat cheese + skinless, boneless chicken breast + beefsteak tomato

      Get the recipe »

      Bread Buddy: Best with a country loaf.
      Salt Lick! When you season this dish at the end of the recipe, remember the eggplant and cheese are already salted, so go easy-just a pinch.


      Ruby Plum Chicken

      Radicchio + skinless, boneless chicken breast + fig balsamic vinegar + honey + ruby-fleshed plums

      Get the recipe »

      Bread Buddy: Best with a baguette.
      Cool Trade! Swap in quartered fresh figs or halved strawberries in season.



      Latin Steak with Pan-Roasted Corn and Salsa Verde

      New York strip steak + corn + salsa verde + Latin American cheese + lime

      Get the recipe »

      Bread Buddy: Best with warm flour tortillas.
      Introducing...Queso fresco is a Latin American soft cheese, available at the supermarket, that crumbles well and adds a touch of creamy saltiness.



      Italian Flag Halibut

      Broccolini + skinless halibut fillet + garlic + tomato +

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    • It's all about kale: How to enjoy it

      Packed with antioxidants-as are spinach, bok choy and other dark, leafy greens-this superfood tastes great mixed in your favorite pasta dishes, tossed with your favorite salad dressings or even served as a side for breakfast or dinner. Grab a bunch and dig in.



      MORE LIKE THIS:


      The best superfoods for your 20s »


      The best superfoods for your 30s »


      The best superfoods for your 40s »



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    • 67 healthy, easy, anytime snacks

      Whether you need a little something to get you going in the morning, have to feed "I'm starving!" kids for lunch or right after school or want a healthier treat after dinner, these healthy, easy, anytime snacks will hit the spot. If your kids (or you) don't like strong flavors, it's easy to tone them down or take them out.

      ...GOOD MORNING!

      Try: Pear-Granola Parfaits »

      MORE IDEAS:

      1. Make a cereal snack healthier by sprinkling your bowlful with dried goji berries and slivered almonds.

      2. Toast mini whole wheat waffles and top with a schmear of apple butter and a sprinkling of walnut pieces.

      3. Cut crosshatches into a pitted mango half and turn inside out to expose the fruit. Season with lime juice and cayenne and take a big, juicy bite.

      4. Frosty Melon Drink: Puree ripe honeydew with vanilla yogurt and ice.


      ...IS IT LUNCH YET?

      Try: Danish Lunch Box »

      MORE IDEAS:

      5. Smoked Turkey Pinwheels:
      Spread a layer of softened cream cheese on sliced smoked turkey breast and top with thinly

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    • 10 Who-Knew Uses for What Beer Can Do

      Take one down and pass it around, because these clever ideas of what beer can do are worth trying.

      1. Make Jewelry Sparkle
      Using a light ale and a clean towel, polish gold jewelry to remove dirt. The beer's natural acids help bring back the shine, says Timothy Dahl, editor of home improvement and green site Charles & Hudson. Try this on tarnished copper pots, too.
      More: 3 new ways to use produce to clean »

      2. Give Your Hair Shine
      Put life back into flat hair with flat beer. Mix 1 cup lager with 1 egg yolk and massage into strands. Leave on for a few minutes and wash with shampoo, says skin-care therapist Julia March, who grew up using beer as a hair rinse in eastern Europe.

      3. Loosen Rusty Bolts and Screws
      Stop fighting with stuck-in-place screws! Pour a few gulps of beer on the frozen hardware, wait a few seconds, then give it a turn. The carbonation helps break down the rust.

      4. Banish Brown Spots on the Lawn
      Your grass likes to kick back with a

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    • 7 new takes on tuna melts

      Take a basic tuna melt and give it zip! These 7 takes on the classic play with ingredients, flavors and more.



      MORE LIKE THIS:


      Fast recipes and recipe ideas »


      30-Minute Meals »


      Budget recipes for everyone »


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    • Taco Night! 7 ways to get your fix

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