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The Healthy and Tasty Benefits of Growing Your Own Food

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From an herb garden in the windowsill to a backyard full of flourishing fruits and vegetables, there are many ways to create your favorite produce items right at home.

Growing your own food takes more time and effort than a trip to the grocery store, but the investment pays off. Homegrown fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and more make a flavorful and nutritious addition to any kitchen.

Learn all about the healthy and tasty benefits of growing your own food with this guide.

Stock the Kitchen With Nutritious Options

Many people have health in mind when they start their own vegetable garden or keep their own farm animals. Homegrown produce benefits any diet. With no long shelf life, chemical pesticides, or other commercial farming practices getting in the way, you can enjoy fresh, in-season products the second you harvest them.

Unlike with commercial produce, you have complete control over your own farming and gardening practices. This means you know exactly where your food comes from and what it contains. When you keep your own animals and grow your own food, you also reap the benefits of farm-fresh eggs and fresh, raw fruits and veggies—all of which are bursting with more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than their grocery store counterparts.

Enjoy Richer, Fresher Flavors

Why stop with just the health benefits? Homegrown foods also taste better than those you find in the grocery store. Stocking your kitchen with the products of your own garden keeps you eating seasonally, which means you’re always getting your fruits and vegetables when they’re at their prime.

You’ll get to enjoy products that are juicier, brighter, and all-around better tasting. Plus, you can eat your favorite fruits or vegetables straight from the garden without having to deal with the long transport time and shelf life of many grocery store products.

Related Read: The Most Unique Restaurants to Travel to in the United States

Make Gardening Your Favorite Pastime

Your diet isn’t the only thing that will benefit from homegrown foods. Gardening is an incredible hobby that comes with a range of perks. Enjoy the extra fresh air and sunshine as you spend a peaceful afternoon tending to your plants or animals. At the end of the day, you can revel in the satisfaction of helping something grow with your own two hands.

Gardening can also be a useful stress reliever. The physical exercise and time spent outdoors help improve your mood, boost your energy levels, and relieve built-up tension in your body.

Plenty To Go Around

You can create as much or as little as you want in your home garden, but one of the benefits of growing your own food is that you never have to worry about having too much. If you find yourself with more than you and your family can use, your friends and neighbors will always be delighted to try some of your extras.

You can even sign up at your local farmers market to make a little extra cash from the fruits of your labors. If you have enough to spare but don’t feel like giving it away, you can take the opportunity to try new recipes. Throw some fresh veggies on the grill or try a new fruity dessert recipe without having to make an extra stop at the store.

Related Read: 3 Major Ways You Can Use Raw Honey in the Kitchen

The Most Unique Restaurants to Travel to in the United States

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gourmet meal at unique restaurant in the US
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Extreme foodies know that sometimes the dining experience is just as important as the meal. From big cities such as Las Vegas to small-town Arizona, unique dining locations are all over the U.S., providing great food in one-of-a-kind settings.

While COVID-19 has greatly affected travel and dining experiences, there will come a day when we can experience these exceptional restaurants in their full glory again.

When that day comes, prepare to book your plane ticket, plan a road trip, or take a drive into the city to try out the most unique restaurants to travel to in the U.S.  

Cavern Grotto  

Located in Peach Springs, Arizona, Cavern Grotto is an underground restaurant that requires an elevator descent 21 stories beneath the Earth’s surface and that gives a full 360-degree view of Arizona’s Grand Canyon Caverns. Caverns Grotto accommodates only 16 guests at a time, making it a quaint experience where you can truly enjoy the views as you eat a traditional American-style meal. The restaurant is even located under Route 66, making it a historic location to visit as well.    

Dinner in the Sky  

Las Vegas is home to one of the most unique restaurants to travel to in the U.S., especially for thrill-seeking foodies. Dinner in the Sky features two 22-foot-long dinner tables, which are raised 180 feet in the air to make you feel like you’re flying above the city of Las Vegas. Professional staff will join you up above the skyline to provide an exquisite four-star meal.

Related ReadBest Road Trips for Foodies on the East Coast of the United States

Aquarium Restaurant  

There are multiple Aquarium Restaurants located around the U.S. Denver, Colorado; Nashville, Tennessee; and Houston and Kumah, Texas, all host Aquarium Restaurants, where dining tables are surrounded by aquarium tank walls filled with exotic fish. The floor-to-ceiling aquarium tanks make you feel like you’re floating in the ocean alongside the aquatic creatures. The menu heavily favors seafood, but don’t worry—your meal won’t be coming from inside the tanks.  

Dinner in the Dark  

Abigail’s Kitchen in New York City gives guests the chance to test their palates with a completely blindfolded dining experience. Guests will receive four-course meals after receiving a blindfold at the door with a completely secret menu that won’t be revealed until after the meal has concluded. Fearlessly try new flavors and dishes, and rely on your other senses to guess what each one might be.

Related ReadThe Best Women-Owned Restaurants in New York City

Trinity Place  

Another New York City dining experience with a unique twist is Trinity Place. Trinity Place is located inside a Wall Street bank vault. History buffs can transport themselves back in time when they enter the vault, which was commissioned by Andrew Carnegie. Trinity Place’s elegant dining room offers traditional Irish dishes with modern twists.

The Rim at Volcano House  

If you’re looking for a tropical travel destination to experience fine dining like never before, try The Rim, located in the Volcano House hotel in Hawaii National Park. The hotel is Hawaii’s oldest and features the active volcano Kīlauea and the Halema’uma’u Crater in the background of The Rim’s dining room. The Rim also uses ingredients from local farms to curate fresh island dishes.

Related Read5 Best Vacation Destinations for Vegans From Toronto to Tel Aviv

The desire to travel the world for the best cuisine isn’t uncommon for food-lovers. The US is home to some of the most unique dining experiences worth venturing to, from the inside of a cave in Arizona to Hawaii’s volcanoes. 

4 Grilling Tips to Improve Your Skills This Summer

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summer grilling tips
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Summer brings a menu full of delicious, savory, and exciting meals to make on your grill.

However, like any cooking talent, grilling takes practice and care to make the most of every meal. While anyone can wield a spatula, expert grillers have a few tools and techniques up their sleeves to make every evening spent in front of the flames that much more rewarding.

From growing your confidence with the basics to testing new waters with unique ingredients, here are four grilling tips to improve your skills this summer.

Match Your Methods to Your Meal

Every time you put something new on the grill, you face a lot of choices. Do you flip your food once or multiple times? Should you keep the grill open or close it when you’re not actively handling the food? There are a lot of different opinions about the best grilling methods, but the truth is that it all depends on what you’re making.

For example, burgers do best with minimal handling, so you should only flip them once. Steaks, on the other hand, cook more evenly when you flip them frequently. When grilling thin-cut meats and other foods with shorter cooking times, leave the grill open. For larger foods like briskets or whole chickens, a closed grill works better. Be sure to read up on and experiment with different techniques so you can find the best way to cook each delicious dish.

Related Read: Best Road Trips for Foodies on the East Coast of the United States

Invest in the Right Gear

There are a lot of grilling accessories that might seem unnecessary for what you want to do this summer. However, even the most basic tools can be a huge help when crafting your grilling technique. While experts can tell when meat is done just by touching it, a meat thermometer always makes the process easier and more reliable.

Similarly, a chimney starter is an efficient way to light your charcoal grill, so it’s worth investing in. Not only will tools like these make your job so much easier, but they’ll also boost your confidence and help you on your way to becoming a grill master.

Related Read: The Best Women-Owned Restaurants in New York City

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Practice makes perfect, so let yourself try new things and learn from the experience. Different types and cuts of meat require different skills to cook, so step out of your comfort zone with something new. The same concept applies to other ingredients. Try new vegetables on skewers or even get creative by grilling fruits, tofu, and other fun alternatives.

Pay attention to what you put on your grilled foods as well. Why not try your hand at dry rubs this summer? Alternatively, you can experiment with different varieties of local honey to create a sweet and spicy glaze. There’s no end to the delicious meals you can make if you have the guts—and the appetite—to try something new.

Related Read: 5+ Super Easy, Super Helpful Organization Tips for Your Kitchen

Rest Meats Before and After You Grill

While there are ways to speed up the process, one of the best grilling tips to improve your skills this summer is to practice patience. Take your time when grilling meats and other products so you can ensure the best quality results.

Cold foods are less likely to cook evenly, so let your meats and veggies sit and adjust to room temperature before placing them on the grill. Similarly, letting the food sit for five to fifteen minutes between cooking and serving allows the juices to redistribute, giving the dish a better flavor when you finally dig in.

Related Read: Six of the Best Vacations for Foodies in the World

4 Drink Flavor Trends to Watch in 2020 & Beyond

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drink trends to watch out for
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There are plenty of different trends that sweep the nation every year. One of the trends that shifts often is the flavors in drinks.

There are so many interesting flavors to add to your drinks that trends start to shape how most people consume different drinks. From coffee concoctions to sodas and teas, there is no end to the types of drinks you can flavor.

Check out this compilation of the top drink flavor trends to watch in 2020. These drink trends are like nothing the industry has ever seen before as a new generation takes over the consumer market.

Lavender

Lavender is one of the most surprising drink trends to come on the scene in 2020. The flower adds a delicate and unique element to just about any drink. Lavender flavor often blends with lemon or another citrus flavor to create highly coveted soda drinks, delicious teas, and even some delicious cocktails. Lavender is truly an unsung hero in the 2020 drink scene.

Matcha

Matcha is another flavor that entered many American hearts this year. Matcha flavoring is popular in just about every drink you can imagine, especially teas. Matcha comes with a gorgeous and appealing green coloring that even looks refreshing. Adding matcha flavoring to any tea, coffee, cocktail, or juice can instantly make that drink more appealing. Matcha is known for its delicious flavor and health benefits, making it one of the most popular flavors to watch this year.

Related Read: Perfect Pair: Best Wine and Cheese Pairings for Picnics

Ginger

Ginger is another flavor that gained popularity due to the current health and super-food crazes that have swept the nation. Ginger adds a bit of spice and a layer of health benefits to every drink it comes in. Ginger made its debut in the drink industry in sodas and cocktails. It’s quickly moved its way into the juice industry and even into teas and coffee creations. Ginger is a subtle flavor that enhances the taste of any beverage for a refreshing kick.

Coconut

Coconut flavors and coconut water, milk, and cream are all growing steadily in popularity within the beverage industry. Coconut is another healthy and dairy-free flavor that keeps things creamy and delicious. It’s most common in coffee, tea, and flavored water drinks. Coconut quickly rose to fame at the beginning of 2020 and shows no signs of slowing down. The more that younger generations learn about the health benefits and perfectly sweet yet subtle taste, the more they demand its inclusion in their daily beverages.

With the new health trends springing up around the nation, it’s important to factor functional flavors into your drinks. If you run a shop or restaurant that serves beverages of any sort, consider incorporating some of these on-trend flavors. People are moving away from the taste-only model of beverage consumption and toward a functional future. They want their drinks to taste delicious and satisfy their bodily needs. Sugar is out, and superfoods are in. This trend is at an upward projection and is most likely to continue in the years to come.

Related Read: Best Road Trips for Foodies on the East Coast of the United States

Perfect Pair: Best Wine and Cheese Pairings for Picnics

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Wine and Cheese Pairings for Picnics perfect pair
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We may not be able to head to our favorite wineries right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy our favorite wine and sunshine.

In fact, you can refine your tasting palette for wine from the comforts of your backyard! With a nice little backyard picnic, you can delve into the wines you find tastiest and figure out which varieties you can’t stand.

But of course, no picnic would be complete without cheese, so we’re helping you out on both ends of the spectrum. With this guide to the best wine and cheese pairings for picnics, you can take your backyard, socially distanced picnic to the next level.

Check it out!

Brie and Champagne

As your go-to summer cheese, brie is perfect for any picnic. Make it even better with Champagne! The creaminess of the cheese will pair beautifully with the bubbles. Your taste buds will dance with joy if you add some berries and jams into the mix. Pop a strawberry with some brie into your mouth and then take a sip of Champagne. You’ll never want to eat brie without Champagne again.

Gouda and Zinfandel

Learn more about the love people have for tannins when you sip on some Zinfandel. It’s not the super dry-mouth wine of other reds, as it’s lighter-bodied. You’ll still get the high ABV, but the easy mouth-feel makes it better to pair with picnic foods. Since tannins are compounds most-often found in red wines, you’ll want a cheese that can stand up to the test and not completely dry out your mouth. That’s where Gouda comes in! It’s flavorful and aromatic without being too much for your taste buds—the perfect complement to tannins and Zinfandel.

Related Read: Best Road Trips for Foodies on the East Coast of the United States

Havarti and Rosé

Warm weather and Rosé are basically a matched set, which means your picnic basket needs to have a bottle. No matter if you choose a fruit-forward Rosé like a Sangiovese Rosé or the savory Tempranillo Rosé, you’ll love the simple pair of sunshine and your chosen wine. Make it better by pairing it with some Havarti. The mellow flavor of the cheese will fit well with all the different Rosé varieties, so if you’re not confident in your pairing abilities, this is a safe bet.

Goat Cheese and Sauvignon Blanc

If you’re looking for a spring cheese, then goat cheese it is. The best part is, there are so many different goat cheese varieties, so you can purchase the kind that sparks your fancy the best. In the most basic sense of goat cheese, Sauvignon Blanc hits the mark for pairing. This is another sweet partnership that’s further improved with some berries.

Gruyère and Pinot Noir

Another one of our favorites wine and cheese pairings for picnics comes from Gruyère. The nutty, medium-firm cheese has the perfect aroma and complexity to pair nicely, no matter what other foods you bring to the picnic. When you pair the lovely cheese with a light Pinot Noir, you’re complementing complexity without overwhelming it. If you’re not the biggest fan of Pinot Noir, then you could also get a similar partnership with a Beaujolais.

Related Read: 5 Best Vacation Destinations for Vegans From Toronto to Tel Aviv

Make the most of the sunshine and see what tasty pairings you create in your backyard. Nobody said picnics have to be far from home! And the best part is, you can easily walk into the kitchen and pop open a different bottle. Happy picnicking!