National Coffee Day, celebrate with a coffee infused cocktail

To celebrate National Coffee Day, coffee lovers can toast the day morning, noon and night with a variety of drinks. From a latte in the morning to a cocktail after dinner, coffee can be a great beverage to enjoy throughout the day.

Here are a few facts to think about coffee on National Coffee Day on September 29.
Lattes before Love: 42% of coffee drinkers say that their last cup of coffee was more satisfying than their last “intimate experience”
The Real McSteamy: 59% of coffee drinkers agree that coffee drinkers are more attractive than non-coffee drinkers
Our Beverage BFF: 57% of coffee drinkers can’t imagine getting through at least one life experience without coffee – like starting a new job (34%), moving (25%), college (22%), having a child (15%) and getting married (15%).
Cup O’Smarts: On average, coffee drinkers think they gain 25 IQ points after they have a cup of coffee – and 14% of drinkers think they gain 55 to 99 points.
Armed with this coffee knowledge, it is time to raise a glass to National Coffee Day. Nescafe Gusto is a lovely way to enjoy a coffee beverage any time of day. From a bold espresso to a delicate latte, the Nescafe Gusto can create coffee house beverages at home.
Set up your Nescafe Gusto, brew a delicious cup of coffee and unwind with these beverages.

Carajillo 43

• 1-1/2 oz Licor 43
• 3 oz Espresso, chilled

Directions:

• Pour ingredients in a glass over ice and serve. Pretend it was harder to make.

Orange You Glad It's Got Tequila?

• 1-1/2 oz. Reposado tequila
• 3/4 oz. Orange liqueur
• 3/4 oz. Espresso, chilled (we used NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto)

Directions:

• Add all the ingredients to a tall glass or a cocktail shaker. Add ice. Stir with a long spoon (don't shake) for 30 seconds to a minute, and strain into an up glass.
• Garnish with a strip of orange peel, spiraled inside the glass.

Spicy Chai Affogato
Ingredients

• 1 NESCAFE Dolce Gusto Chai Latte
• ½ cup scoop French vanilla ice cream
• 1.5 oz spiced rum
• Dash cayenne pepper
• Crack of fresh black pepper

Directions

• Add ice cream and spiced rum into glass and pull one NESCAFE Dolce Gusto Chai Latte over it.
• Top with a dash of cayenne pepper and a crack of fresh black pepper.

Weeknight dinners are quick and easy with Cuisinart

For many families, weeknight dinners can be chaotic. From the moment the kids get off the bus, everyone is running at full speed to get out the door for sports practices, music lessons or a variety of other activities. The hectic moments at home can be a nightmare for the parents trying to get a quick, healthy dinner on the table. Luckily Cuisinart has two kitchen items that can make those dinners easy and tasty.

Cuisinart’s Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven allows the home chef to cook foods 20% faster. Any family would want to get dinner on the table just a little faster. The speed convection setting means that the frozen pizza can be finished before the 20 minutes of reading homework is completed.

Another time saving feature of the Chef’s Convection Toaster Over is the dual-function convection cooking. This feature allows foods to be prepared using different cooking methods in the same unit. For the busy parent, this feature means that the muffins can be cooked with chicken breasts.

Cuisinart’s new Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven offers 1875 watts and a .95-cubic-foot capacity. Incredibly powerful, it can accommodate a 13" pizza or up to nine slices of bread. The Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven has 14 programmable functions, including dual-cook, sandwich, and speed convection, and includes a 13" pizza stone, two cooking racks, a 9"x13" baking pan, and a broiling pan. Other features include a large LCD display with a clock, a two-hour timer with automatic shutoff, a door sensor activation feature, and much more. The Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven retails for approximately $259.

The Cuisinart Griddler offers the versatility in the kitchen that many families crave. With multiple cooking options, the Cuisinart Griddler can go from a vegetarian panini to a juicy hamburger in a matter of minutes. The reversible plates snap in and out for various functions. The family can customize the Griddler for multifunctional uses. From the countertop, the family can create a variety of dinner options in a fraction of the time. There is no need for microwaves or takeout. Fresh, easy and flavorful meals are just around the corner. The Cuisinart Griddler offers different sizes and options. Prices begin around $100.

Dinner time does not have to be overwhelming. With Cuisinart’s Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven and Cuisinart Griddler, a family’s dinner can be on the table in a matter of minutes. What will your family do with the extra time?

Healthy eating while traveling has hidden pitfalls

Whether traveling to a large metropolitan city or to an exotic locale, healthy foods are important to enjoying the time away from home. While fresh ingredients are more easily found, some dishes pile on the calories with hidden extras. From heavy sauces to extra add-ones, the allegedly good choice becomes a diet buster.

Cardiologist, chef and martial artist Dr. Mike Fenster, author of ‘The Fallacy of the Calorie,’ lists 8 medically-based food facts to help you correct common dietary deceptions.

Diet salad dressings are equally, or more, detrimental. Opting for a salad even with “light” dressing when dining out may not be the healthiest choice. Whether it is low calorie, low fat, or regular salad dressing, it’s often loaded with omega-six polyunsaturated plant oils—too much of which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. In fact, consuming too much of these salad dressings can be even more harmful to your waistline and overall health than what you presume to be “less healthy” menu items you were trying to avoid with the best of intentions. When opting for salad, stick with just a little olive oil, vinegar, fresh lemon juice or nothing at all. 

Burgers beat deli meat. Despite conventional thinking, the consumption of fresh red meat that isn't over processed has not been associated with any increased risk of heart disease, cancer or mortality. Many restaurants today, outside of the fast food variety, offer freshly ground, quality burgers—some even use beef that’s organic, grass fed and pasture raised. In contrast to fresh red meat, the consumption of highly processed meat and meat products like that typically used in deli sandwiches often presumed to be a healthier option over burgers- are proven to be associated with an increased risk of heart disease, cancer and mortality. Piling on a few zombiefied vegetables that have marginal nutritional value won’t give the meal much more health merit. 

Diet drinks are tied to disease. The common misconception that you can avoid or compensate for poor food choices with diet drinks is a double edged exercise in futility. In fact, studies have shown women who drink more diet drinks are heavier and have an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Under-salted food may be a diet disservice. We season our food so it tastes good, and a properly seasoned meal leaves us more satisfied and less likely to binge and over-consume. What’s more, adding salt to fresh food only accounts for about 5% of the daily intake—well within bounds. But, “fresh” is the key word as over 75% of an average person’s daily sodium intake comes from eating highly processed and prepared foods. Seek out those restaurants that utilize fresh ingredients, from produce to proteins. In a worst case scenario stop into a market and grab some fresh fruit, optimally organically grown, to tide you over. 

Low cholesterol advertising is a fat trap. Most are surprised to learn the cholesterol consumed in one’s diet has little or nothing to do with your blood cholesterol levels. Foods and menu items promoted as a “healthy” because they are “low in cholesterol” are often loaded with fat, sugar or other additives that cause more harm than a three egg omelet ever could. 

Bars are bogus. Energy bars, protein bars, granola bars and other so-called healthy eating snacks are often marketed as an all-natural or otherwise nutritious choice. The fact is that many of these bars are highly processed and contain high levels of low-nutrient fillers and sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Diets high in added sugars, fructose in particular, has been associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease and other life-threatening medical conditions. Bars are also often loaded with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame that’s linked to a myriad of health ailments. The short term energy boost bars provide are often followed by a “crash” that can cause you to eat yet more unhealthy bars or other food to get revved back up.

Bagels are the “other” white bread. Many people are aware of the empty calories and the lack of any nutritional redemption in a slice of white bread. Commercial breads are the number one source of sodium in the average American diet. They also often contain significant amounts of refined sugar and fat in the form of detrimental omega-six polyunsaturated fatty acids. While many health-seekers do already avoid that slice of white bread for these many unappealing reasons, they may not know a seemingly benign plain bagel is equivalent to several slices of white bread…even before the addition of toppings or fillings.

Counting calories is a fallacy. A calorie is measured by turning food to ash and recording the amount of heat given off. The caloric content of a food or beverage item doesn't have much to do with how we actually metabolize our food. Additionally, calories alone do not accurately reflect a food’s nutritional value. For example, a 100 calorie soft drink is not the nutritional equivalent of a 100 calorie apple. Healthful eating isn't about focusing on the quantity of calories, but rather it is about the quality of the consumable. 

Whether you are at home or on-the-go, taking even these few considerations into account relative to the quality of the “healthy” food at hand can have a significantly positive impact on your diet and overall well-being. Indeed, the food and drink choices you make when traveling can put you on the road to good health or result in a figurative food fatality.

Cuisinart SmarTrack Storage System, changing how food is stored

In today’s cost conscious environment, families hate the thought of throwing away food. Many people are guilty of putting left overs in a container and forgetting them in the back of the refrigerator. By the time everyone remembers the wonderful dinner from last week, the food is a science experiment. With the new Cuisinart SmarTrack Storage System, families can change how they store food.

Known as the intelligent storage solution, the Cuisinart SmarTrack Storage System offers a methodology to store and to organize items efficiently. Each container is labeled with a QR code. When scanned, the container is matched to category, like food, electronics, and more. All of this information is stored in an Cuisinart SmarTrack Storage app.

For containers with food, the Cuisinart SmarTrack Storage System can calculate the expiration dates of hundreds of items. Based on the food type, whether it is raw or cooked and storage location, the app can calculate the expiration date. The user will be alerted when the food will go bad. No more finding the container with a growing science experiment in the back of the refrigerator. The Cuisinart SmarTrack Storage System helps to prevent food waste and saves money.

Since consumers are becoming savvier about foods and recipes, the Cuisinart SmarTrack app is more than just a scheduler. The app offers access to the company’s recipe database, how-to videos and customer service. For the avid cook, the app can store personal recipes and sharing options as well.
The Cuisinart SmarTrack storage containers feature air and water tight technology and a spill proof secure seal. Each container is odor and stain resistant with an area for labeling. Additionally, the containers are freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe.

Cuisinart SmarTrack Storage System is available in sets and individually. Prices range from $3.99 for a 7-oz container to $29.99 for a 12-piece set.

Guacamole and Margaritas are perfectly paired for National Guacamole Day

September 16 is National Guacamole Day. Whether you scoop up some delicious guac on a chip or top a savory quesadilla, guacamole is a yummy treat. This classic Mexican inspired dish is easy to make at home. For your avocado craving, the experts at Dos Caminos are easy for even the novice chef to create. Of course, a delish guacamole needs a special drink to wash it down. Sauza Tequila has some sweet and spicy margaritas that can pair with the guacamole.
While classics never go out of style, traditional guacamole can stand up to some inventive twists. Chef Ivy Stark takes the classic and created some out of the box creations. Options like Lobster Guacamole, Chipotle Goat Cheese Guacamole and Artichoke Guacamole might make your next party even more interesting.
While snacking, don’t forget the margaritas. Below are a few guacamole and margarita pairings with all the recipes to make your favorites. When is the party starting?
Pairing 1
The sweet and fruity flavors of the Marvelous Mango Margarita provide the perfect complement to the smoky heat of the Chipotle-Goat Cheese Guacamole.
Pairing 2
Turn your cocktail up a notch this National Guacamole Day with the Spicy Sauza®-Rita. This spicy cocktail brings the heat with red and chili pepper flavors and pairs well with the mild flavors of the Artichoke Guacamole with Toasted Pine Nuts.
Pairing 3
Try the Strawberry Sparkler with the Lobster Guacamole for a fresh take on the traditional lobster/champagne pairing.
Recipes:
Pairing 1
Marvelous Mango Margarita

• 1 part Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
• ½ part JDK & Sons™ O3 Premium Orange Liqueur
• ½ large ripe mango
• 2 parts fresh orange juice
• ⅔ part lime juice
• ½ part simple syrup
• 4 parts ice

Preparation: Peel, seed and chop your mango. If you have time you can freeze your prepared mango at this point. Otherwise, put all ingredients except for the ice into your blender and blend until smooth. Then add the ice. Pour the margarita into a glass and enjoy!
Chipotle-Goat Cheese Guacamole

• 2 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro leaves
• 2 tsp. finely chopped white onion
• 2 tsp. minced jalapeño or Serrano chilies (Optional: remove seeds and membranes)
• ½ tsp. teaspoon Kosher salt
• 2 large ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
• 1 small plum tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
• 2 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice

• 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese
• 2 tbsp. chopped canned chipotle chilies

Preparation:

1. In a medium size bowl, use the back of a spoon to mash 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon onion, 1 teaspoon of minced chile, and ½ teaspoon salt together against the bottom of the bowl.
2. Add the avocados and gently mash them with a fork until chunky-smooth.
3. Add 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese and 2 tablespoons of chopped canned chipotle chilles.
4. Fold the remaining cilantro, onion, and chile into the mixture.
5. Stir in tomatoes and lime juice, taste to adjust the seasonings.
6. Serve with warm corn tortilla chips.

**Makes 4 Servings
Pairing 2
Spicy Sauza-Rita

• 1 part Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
• 2 parts beer
• 1 part frozen limeade concentrate
• 1 part water
• A dash of hot sauce
• Sugar (for garnish)
• Salt (for garnish)
• Red pepper (for garnish)
• Chili pepper (for garnish)

Preparation: In a glass, combine all ingredients. Chill and serve in glasses rimmed with sugar, salt and red pepper. Garnish with a chili. Enjoy!
Artichoke Guacamole with Toasted Pine Nuts

• 2 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro leaves
• 2 tsp. finely chopped white onion
• 2 tsp. minced jalapeño or Serrano chilies (Optional: remove seeds and membranes)
• ½ tsp. teaspoon Kosher salt
• 2 large ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
• 1 small plum tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
• 2 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice

• 1 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
• ¼ cup toasted pine nuts

Preparation:

1. In a medium size bowl, use the back of a spoon to mash 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon onion, 1 teaspoon of minced chile, and ½ teaspoon salt together against the bottom of the bowl.
2. Add the avocados and gently mash them with a fork until chunky-smooth.
3. Add 1 cup of marinated artichoke hearts chopped with ¼ cup of toasted pine nuts and stir.
4. Fold the remaining cilantro, onion, and chile into the mixture.
5. Stir in tomatoes and lime juice, taste to adjust the seasonings.
6. Serve with warm corn tortilla chips.

**Makes 4 Servings
Pairing 3
Strawberry Sparkler

• 1 part Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
• ½ part DeKuyper® Strawberry Liqueur
• ½ part (chilled) rose champagne
• ½ part limeade
• 3 strawberries
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1 lime wedge

Preparation: Wash, stem, quarter and freeze strawberries for at least 1 hour (can be done the day ahead). Run a wedge of lime around the rim of your champagne flute and dip in a plate of sugar to coat rim. Place 3 frozen strawberries in the bottom of the prepared flute. Pour champagne into the glass. In a shaker filled with ice, combine tequila, limeade, and strawberry liqueur. Shake and pour into glass. Add a squeeze of fresh lime if desired and serve immediately.
Lobster Guacamole

• 2 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro leaves
• 2 tsp. finely chopped white onion
• 2 tsp. minced jalapeño or Serrano chilies (Optional: remove seeds and membranes)
• ½ tsp. teaspoon Kosher salt
• 2 large ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
• 1 small plum tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
• 2 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice

• 1 lb. whole lobster or 4 oz. lobster meat, steamed, cleaned and rough chopped
• Japanese pickled ginger for garnish (Optional)

Preparation:

1. In a medium size bowl, use the back of a spoon to mash 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon onion, 1 teaspoon of minced chile, and ½ teaspoon salt together against the bottom of the bowl.
2. Steam, cool and pick meat from lobster and rough chop. Then add to bowl.
3. Add the avocados and gently mash them with a fork until chunky-smooth.
4. Fold the remaining cilantro, onion, and chile into the mixture.
5. Stir in tomatoes and lime juice, taste to adjust the seasonings.
6. Add Japanese pickled ginger for garnish (optional).
7. Serve with warm corn tortilla chips.

Stubbs, a legend of Texas barbecue in the home kitchen

Having spent many years in Texas, the smells and tastes of Texas barbecue brings ultimate comfort. From a slowly smoked brisket to a juicy sausage, the flavors of Texas barbecue are pure and delicious. Since authentic Texas barbecue isn't down the street, the goal is to find a similar experience at home. With Stubbs cooking sauces, the family can savor the flavor from the home kitchen.

Stubbs is a legend in Texas barbecue. For years C.B. Stubblefield served Texans, celebrities and even a few Presidents his slow smoked barbecue. Building on his success in his restaurant, the barbecue great began to bottle his famous sauces and flavors for those beyond the Lone Star state to enjoy. Today, Stubbs sells a full line of barbecue sauces, marinades, cooking sauces and frozen entrees throughout the country.

The flavor of slow smoked barbecue is enticing. For the home cook, the time and preparation can be outside her comfort level. With the Stubbs Cooking Sauces, the full flavors the family wants can be found in a skillet. The cooking sauces come in four varieties, Bar-B-Q Slider, Chili Fixins, Hatch Chili, and Smokehouse Bourbon. With all the spices in the mix, the home cook adds the protein and fixings.

The versatility of these cooking sauces is perfect for the busy family. The sauces can be used in a slow cooker or in a skillet. A family favorite is the Smokehouse Bourbon cooking sauce. This cooking sauce carefully blends the smokiness of a long cooked barbecue with a subtle heat from horseradish. When served over a simple noodle or with a side of cornbread, the depth of flavor shines. While chicken can be used with the sauce, beef stands up better to the stronger flavors. On a cool day or wanting a comforting dish, the Smokehouse Bourbon satisfies.

In addition to the cooking sauces, Stubbs offers a full line of barbecue sauces, marinades and even frozen entrees. Stubbs products are available in Walmart, online and Amazon.com. The tradition of Texas barbecue comes home with Stubbs cooking products.

Homemade coffee ice cream is a scoop above

For many, a morning cup of java is the only way to start the day. While this beverage may be a warm comfort on a busy day, drinking coffee isn't the only way to enjoy coffee. September 6 is National Coffee Ice Cream Day. Whether you enjoy a single scoop on a lazy afternoon or a big bowl after a stressful day, these homemade ice cream recipes will satisfy the coffee craving.

Making homemade ice cream is easy for any cook to master. One of the keys to these recipes is the Nescafé Dolce Gusto. The Nescafe Dolce Gusto is a single serve coffee machine that makes the perfect cup of coffee and milk froth every time. Brew a delicious cup and be on the way to making some homemade coffee ice cream today.

Cafe Au Lait Ice Cream
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 4 large egg yolks
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1 NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Café Au Lait capsule, brewed according to package directions (6.1 fl. oz.)
• 1/3 cup NESTLÉ Toll House Dark Chocolate Morsels, chopped (optional)

Directions:

• HEAT milk and heavy cream in medium saucepan over medium heat just until hot (do not boil). Remove from heat.
• BEAT egg yolks, sugar and salt in large mixer bowl until well combined. Very slowly beat in the milk mixture until combined.
• POUR mixture back into saucepan; heat over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture reaches 160° F. This should take about 12 minutes. Do not boil. Stir in coffee. Place mixture in refrigerator for 1 hour or until cool.
• POUR mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions. During the last few minutes of churning, add the chopped morsels.
• SERVE immediately for a soft-serve texture or transfer to a covered container and freeze for a firmer texture.

Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake
Ingredients

• Plastic wrap or parchment paper
• NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso capsules, brewed (1.7 fl. oz. each)
• 1/4 cup coffee liqueur, brandy or dark rum
• 1 package (3 to 3-1/2 oz.) soft ladyfingers
• 1 carton (1.5 quarts) Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, softened
• 3/4 cup NESTLÉ Toll House Dark Chocolate Morsels, chopped, divided
• 2 to 3 tablespoons NESTLÉ Toll House Baking Cocoa

Directions:

• LINE an 8-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap or parchment paper, leaving a 3-inch overhang.
• COMBINE espresso and liqueur in a shallow dish. Dip (don’t soak) one-third of ladyfingers into mixture and place in bottom of prepared pan. Layer one-third of ice cream over top; sprinkle with ¼ cup morsels. Repeat layers 2 more times.
• FOLD plastic wrap overhang over top of cake and freeze overnight. To serve, lift cake from pan using plastic wrap overhang. Remove plastic wrap. Dust top of cake with cocoa powder. Slice into 1-inch slices.

Chai Tea Latte Ice Cream
Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups whole milk
• 1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 4 large egg yolks
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1 NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Chai Tea Latte milk capsule, brewed according to package directions (4 fl. oz.)
• 1 NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Chai Tea Latte tea capsule, brewed according to package directions (3.4 fl. oz.)

Directions:

• HEAT milk and cream in medium saucepan over medium heat just until hot (do not boil). Remove from heat.
• BEAT egg yolks, sugar and salt in large mixer bowl until well combined. Very slowly beat in the milk mixture until combined.
• POUR mixture back into saucepan; heat over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture reaches 160° F. This should take about 12 minutes. Do not boil. Stir in chai tea latte. Place mixture in refrigerator for 1 hour or until cool.
• POUR mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions.
• SERVE immediately for a soft-serve texture or transfer to a covered container and freeze for a firmer texture.