Snow ice cream is the best use for snow

Updated: 10:33 AM EST Feb 1, 2022

Use snow at your own risk — shaved ice works just as well! Yields: 4 servingsPrep Time: 5 minutesTotal Time: 5 minutesIngredients1 cup (8 ounces) sweetened condensed milk1/3 cup sugar1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract4 cups snowSprinkles, for garnish if desiredDirectionsIn a medium bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, sugar and vanilla. Whisk until smooth.In a large bowl, pour condensed milk mixture over snow. Stir to combine. Freeze 30 minutes to one hour or until almost solid. Scoop into bowls and serve. Garnish with sprinkles if desired.

These peanut butter-stuffed cookies are gooey perfection

Happy National Peanut Butter Day!

Updated: 5:57 AM EST Jan 24, 2022

When it comes to a peanut butter cookie, getting the dough right is important -- but stuffing it with this delicious spread makes it all the more delectable.In order to get the perfect gooey center, mix peanut butter with powdered sugar, roll mixture into balls, then freeze them. This will prevent a peanut butter baking explosion.Check out the full recipe here.

Pecan pie cheesecake is your new favorite fall dessert

Delicious fall twist on cheesecake

Updated: 7:41 AM EDT Sep 30, 2021

Yields: 8 servingsPrep Time: 25 minutesTotal Time: 5 hours, 55 minutesIngredientsFor the cheesecakeCooking spray, for pan3 8-ounce bars cream cheese, softened1 cup brown sugar3 large eggs1/4 cup sour cream2 tablespoon all-purpose flour1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1/4 teaspoon kosher saltFor the crust1 sleeve graham crackers, finely crushed5 tablespoon melted butter1/4 cup brown sugarPinch of kosher saltFor the pecan topping 4 tablespoon butter1/2 cup brown sugar1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/4 cup heavy cream1 3/4 cup whole or chopped pecansPinch of kosher salt DirectionsPreheat oven to 325º and grease an 8-inch or 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Make cheesecake filling: In a large bowl using a hand mixer or in a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, then sour cream, flour, vanilla and salt.Make crust: In a large bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, brown sugar and salt. Press mixture into prepared pan.Pour filling over crust. Wrap bottom of pan in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet. (If you want to bake the cheesecake in a water bath, wrap bottom of pan and place in a deep baking pan. Pour in enough boiling water to come up halfway in the baking pan.) Bake until center of cheesecake only slightly jiggles, about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Turn off heat, prop open oven door and let cheesecake cool in oven, 1 hour, then remove aluminum foil and refrigerate cheesecake in pan until firm, at least 5 hours and up to overnight.Before serving, make pecan pie topping: In a nonstick skillet over low heat, melt butter and brown sugar until bubbly (keep heat low to avoid burning butter). Stir in cinnamon, heavy cream, pecans and salt until completely coated, then remove from heat and let cool and slightly thicken. You can make the topping up to an hour in advance and keep at room temperature; don't refrigerate as the butter will solidify.Release springform pan from cheesecake and spoon over cooled pecan pie topping. Serve.

7 kid-friendly grilling tips

Your kids may be too young to flip burgers, but there are plenty of ways they can pitch in

Updated: 8:13 PM EDT Jul 3, 2021

There’s nothing better than a summer cookout and, for kids, there are assorted ways to help out. From shucking the corn to layering cheese on the burgers (we like Sargento® 100%, real natural cheese), the options are endless. Just consider them to be your super sous chefs helping out with meal prep, clean up, and everything in between.We reached out to chefs, writers, and bloggers around the country and asked them for their favorite ways to get kids excited about grilling. Read on for their seven kid-friendly ways to make grilling—and all the other dishes served at the barbecue—a fun group activity.Find age-appropriate ways for them to helpThe type of tasks your kids can take on near a grill depends entirely on their age. Elementary school-aged kids can help carry items out to the backyard or patio or they can wash up and then do some burger-shaping. “Little kids can trade the modeling clay for burger meat by helping form the burgers when it’s time for meal prep,” says Robert Vazquez, executive chef of Sanderling Resort in Duck, North Carolina. “This will give them the opportunity to practice their shapes!” Tweens and teens can take on bigger jobs. “They can carry the charcoal bag or bring the prep tools to the grill side,” says this dad of an 11-year-old. “Or they can clean the grill once it’s fully cooled down. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing the grease and char come off the grates!”Build a toppings trayOne surefire way to get kids excited about grilling is to have them help build a toppings and condiments tray using either a medium to large baking sheet or wood cutting board as the base, says Cindy Chou, a registered dietitian nutritionist who creates recipes at HealthyFeels. “Parents can put out different shapes and sizes of bowls, ramekins and cups, which work well for crudité and pickle spears, and let them get creative about filling each,” she says. “The baking sheet can even be lined with colorful construction paper for added color and fun.” Layer sliced cheese—Sargento® has plenty of options your kids will love, including sharp cheddar, pepper jack, Swiss, Colby-Jack and provolone—and have the kids write fun little cards denoting each type. Voila. Everyone will have fun picking their favorite burger topper!Teach the fundamentalsMatt Bolus, the chef at The 404 Kitchen in Nashville, considers his eight-year-old daughter to be his best assistant—with a few caveats. “It’s important to teach kids the respect for what we’re doing and show them which is the hot spot on the grill and which is the cool spot,” says Bolus who also has a two-year-old that isn’t old enough to stand near the grill. “She only began helping me on the grill after I explained how to carefully put a steak on the flame. Now that she knows how to stay safe near the grill, she loves brushing butter on corn or topping the burgers with her favorite cheese.”Let kids do the seasoningSalting the meat before it goes on the grill is a great way to get kids involved—and excited—about grilling, says Jay Cutler, co-creator of CUTS, a monthly meat box subscription service. “They can then throw pepper on it after the steak comes off the grill. Doing it this way means that the heat won’t affect the flavor of the pepper.”Prep the corn & the butterKids love to shuck corn (what’s a barbecue without it?) and Adrian Davila, owner of Davila’s Barbecue in Seguin, Texas, welcomes the help from his many nieces and nephews. “I always tell them that before you grill whole corn or put it in a barbecue pit, you need to get it ready by putting the shucked corn in cold water,” he says. “They love learning that this seals in the moisture.” Davila has found that kids also like making different flavored butters, such as honey butter or honey chipotle. “It’s super easy for them to make these and they really amp up the taste of grilled corn on the cob.”Help with grilled cheeseGrilled cheese—tossed on an actual grill—is a definite crowdpleaser, especially among kids. Davila loves making grilled cheese with his young relatives and he lets the older ones (10 and up, readiness permitting) lay out the bread, put the cheese in between, and butter it before it’s ready to be grilled. Keep Sargento® slices, made with 100% real, natural cheese, on hand so they can custom-create delicious sammies for the whole crowd. “Younger kids can prep all the ingredients and have them ready for whomever is manning the grill,” he says. “It’s fun to see which cheeses they like best.”Make DIY veggie pinwheelsWhile the burgers and hot dogs are sizzling, parents can set up a veggie roll-up station and invite kids to assemble their own, suggests Chou. All you need are tortillas, guacamole and pre-cut raw veggies. “Kids love spreading the guacamole on the tortillas with a small spatula and then layering on thinly sliced strips of cucumbers and carrots to add a nice crunch,” she says. “Next, you can help your kids roll up each tortilla tight and cut it. It’s a yummy side dish or appetizer that they will love making on their own.”

There’s nothing better than a summer cookout and, for kids, there are assorted ways to help out. From shucking the corn to layering cheese on the burgers (we like Sargento® 100%, real natural cheese), the options are endless. Just consider them to be your super sous chefs helping out with meal prep, clean up, and everything in between.

We reached out to chefs, writers, and bloggers around the country and asked them for their favorite ways to get kids excited about grilling. Read on for their seven kid-friendly ways to make grilling—and all the other dishes served at the barbecue—a fun group activity.

Find age-appropriate ways for them to help

The type of tasks your kids can take on near a grill depends entirely on their age. Elementary school-aged kids can help carry items out to the backyard or patio or they can wash up and then do some burger-shaping. “Little kids can trade the modeling clay for burger meat by helping form the burgers when it’s time for meal prep,” says Robert Vazquez, executive chef of Sanderling Resort in Duck, North Carolina. “This will give them the opportunity to practice their shapes!” Tweens and teens can take on bigger jobs. “They can carry the charcoal bag or bring the prep tools to the grill side,” says this dad of an 11-year-old. “Or they can clean the grill once it’s fully cooled down. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing the grease and char come off the grates!”

Build a toppings tray

One surefire way to get kids excited about grilling is to have them help build a toppings and condiments tray using either a medium to large baking sheet or wood cutting board as the base, says Cindy Chou, a registered dietitian nutritionist who creates recipes at HealthyFeels. “Parents can put out different shapes and sizes of bowls, ramekins and cups, which work well for crudité and pickle spears, and let them get creative about filling each,” she says. “The baking sheet can even be lined with colorful construction paper for added color and fun.” Layer sliced cheese—Sargento® has plenty of options your kids will love, including sharp cheddar, pepper jack, Swiss, Colby-Jack and provolone—and have the kids write fun little cards denoting each type. Voila. Everyone will have fun picking their favorite burger topper!

Teach the fundamentals

Matt Bolus, the chef at The 404 Kitchen in Nashville, considers his eight-year-old daughter to be his best assistant—with a few caveats. “It’s important to teach kids the respect for what we’re doing and show them which is the hot spot on the grill and which is the cool spot,” says Bolus who also has a two-year-old that isn’t old enough to stand near the grill. “She only began helping me on the grill after I explained how to carefully put a steak on the flame. Now that she knows how to stay safe near the grill, she loves brushing butter on corn or topping the burgers with her favorite cheese.”

Let kids do the seasoning

Salting the meat before it goes on the grill is a great way to get kids involved—and excited—about grilling, says Jay Cutler, co-creator of CUTS, a monthly meat box subscription service. “They can then throw pepper on it after the steak comes off the grill. Doing it this way means that the heat won’t affect the flavor of the pepper.”

Prep the corn & the butter

Kids love to shuck corn (what’s a barbecue without it?) and Adrian Davila, owner of Davila’s Barbecue in Seguin, Texas, welcomes the help from his many nieces and nephews. “I always tell them that before you grill whole corn or put it in a barbecue pit, you need to get it ready by putting the shucked corn in cold water,” he says. “They love learning that this seals in the moisture.” Davila has found that kids also like making different flavored butters, such as honey butter or honey chipotle. “It’s super easy for them to make these and they really amp up the taste of grilled corn on the cob.”

Help with grilled cheese

Grilled cheese—tossed on an actual grill—is a definite crowdpleaser, especially among kids. Davila loves making grilled cheese with his young relatives and he lets the older ones (10 and up, readiness permitting) lay out the bread, put the cheese in between, and butter it before it’s ready to be grilled. Keep Sargento® slices, made with 100% real, natural cheese, on hand so they can custom-create delicious sammies for the whole crowd. “Younger kids can prep all the ingredients and have them ready for whomever is manning the grill,” he says. “It’s fun to see which cheeses they like best.”

Make DIY veggie pinwheels

While the burgers and hot dogs are sizzling, parents can set up a veggie roll-up station and invite kids to assemble their own, suggests Chou. All you need are tortillas, guacamole and pre-cut raw veggies. “Kids love spreading the guacamole on the tortillas with a small spatula and then layering on thinly sliced strips of cucumbers and carrots to add a nice crunch,” she says. “Next, you can help your kids roll up each tortilla tight and cut it. It’s a yummy side dish or appetizer that they will love making on their own.”