View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Natasha Kravchuk (@natashaskitchen)

Ingredients:

• 20 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 large cucumbers, halved and sliced
• 20 Kalamata olives, halved
• 15-ounce can of chickpeas, drained
• 1 large red pepper, sliced
• 4 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil
• 3 ounces feta cheese

Instructions:

1. Combine the chickpeas, tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, and red pepper in a bowl and mix well.
2. Separate into two portions.
3. Right before serving add 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar and 1 teaspoon of olive oil to each portion.
4. Top with 1.5 ounces of feta cheese.
5. Mix everything together and enjoy!

The post What’s For Lunch? How About This Mediterranean Chickpea Salad appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Costco

Costco has everything and the same can be said about the free samples—there is tons of variety. What’s even better is they’re unlimited, so you can go back for seconds and thirds!

Trader Joe’s

In addition to the sampling station at most Trader Joe’s, which has coffee and small bites, you can try anything in the store.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Trader Joe’s (@traderjoes)

Whole Foods

If you’re lucky you’ll come across free samples at the store, but if there is something you’ve been dying to try, the store policy is you can sample almost anything.

Publix

Publix and Public GreenWise Market has samples of tons of specialty items like sheet cake and guacamole and kids get a free cookie from the bakery.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Publix Super Markets (@publix)

Sam’s Club

For almost 40 years, Sam’s Club has been offering a sampling and demo program with free food and beverages. Members can also write reviews of what they’ve tasted.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sam’s Club (@samsclub)

The post Top 5 Supermarkets for Free Samples appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ice Cream’s Surroundings

Dairy products absorb smells really easily, so if you have fish or other foods with strong odors in the freezer, keep them away from your ice cream.

Store Ice Cream Upside Down

Alright so this sounds a bit weird, but go ahead and try it. Before you put your ice cream back in the freezer, flip it upside down. Just make sure that the lid is on tight because you don’t want to open your freezer to find that your ice cream has spilled everywhere.

Cover Ice Cream With Parchment Paper

When you open your ice cream, the air that comes in contact with it causes the surface to refreeze which makes the ice particles appear. You can slow this process down by placing a piece of parchment paper on the surface of the ice cream to create a new seal.

The post Here’s How You Should Store Ice Cream appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients

• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cups powdered milk or instant non-fat dry milk
• Mini marshmallows, optional

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix the confectioners’ sugar with the unsweetened cocoa, making sure to get rid of any lumps that might be created.
2. Stir in the powdered milk and then whisk until all of the ingredients are combined.
3. This is the time to add in some mini marshmallows, if it takes your fancy.
4. You’re done! When you make the hot cocoa, make sure you combine equal parts hot cocoa mix and hot water, stir thoroughly and enjoy!

The post This Hot Chocolate Mix Comes Together With 3 Ingredients! appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes
• 1/3 cup uncooked millet or quinoa
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 small red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup lightly packed fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• 2 teaspoons cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon chipotle powder or smoked hot paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• high-quality vegetable oil for cooking burgers
• 8 whole-wheat hamburger buns
• burger toppings (avocado, guacamole, tomato, pico de Gallo, sprouts, ketchup, mustard, pickles, cheese)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Slice the sweet potatoes down the center lengthwise and place them cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast them for 30 to 40 minutes. When they are cool enough to touch, remove the skin, and chop the insides. Set them aside.
2. In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to boil and stir in the millet. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until tender, for about 25 minutes. Drain the liquid and set aside to cool. For quinoa, rinse it in a colander and combine with 2/3 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil and cover and reduce the heat to keep a gentle simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes and remove from heat, letting the quinoa steam with the lid on for 5 minutes. Drain any excess water and let it cool.
3. Grind the oats in a food processor until the flakes are broken up.
4. In a large bowl, combine the cooled sweet potato and millet, black beans, onion, cilantro, cumin, chili powder, chipotle, paprika, cayenne, and salt. With a potato masher or big spoon, mash the mix well.
5. Sprinkle in the ground oats over the mixture and mix with a spoon until the mixture holds together to shape into a patty. Cover and refrigerate the mixture.
6. With a measuring cup, measure out 1/2 cup of the mixture and shape it into pattys about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Flatten the burgers with your hands.
7. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large cast iron or non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once it’s hot enough, place burgers in plan leaving enough room to flip them. Cook each patty for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until browned and heated through. For each set of burgers you add to the skillet, add 1 tablespoon on oil.
8. Toast the buns if desired, cut side up until lightly toasted, about 2 to 3 minutes.

The post Grill Up These Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burgers appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Meatballs

Add some flavor and nutrients to meatballs with veggies like mushrooms, greens, onions, and carrots in the meatball base. You can even add cauliflower or butternut squash that’s been cooked and pureed.

Macaroni and Cheese

Next time you make this comfort food, blend butternut squash into the cheese sauce. The sauce will be extra creamy and flavorful. Or you can swap cauliflower for pasta and use it as the base of the dish.

Mashed Potatoes

Instead of only using potatoes, use a blend of potatoes and pureed cauliflower. If you’re feeling creative, blend veggies like cauliflower, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and broccoli together.

Chips and Dip

This classic game-day snack can feature a healthier dip like baba ghanoush (an eggplant dip), roasted red pepper hummus, or a yogurt spinach artichoke dip.

Lasagna

You’ve heard of veggie noodles, so why not try veggie pasta sheets? Zucchini, butternut squash, and eggplant can be thinly sliced to mimic lasagna pasta sheets. You can also keep the lasagna sheets and just add veggies to the dish.

The post Don’t Like Vegetables? Here’s How to Sneak Them Into Your Meals appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Brine Your Turkey

Maximize the flavor of your turkey and get juicier meat and crispier skin by brining it with herbs and two tablespoons of salt and putting it into a plastic bag before putting it in the fridge. You can season your turkey the night before or up to two days in advance.

Switch Up the Spices

In addition to salt, you can amp up the flavor of the turkey with Cajun-style turkey rub, which has smoked paprika, celery salt, and onion powder, or a red rub, which has paprika, ground coriander, and garlic powder.

Put Seasoning Everywhere

The seasoning needs to be on all parts of the turkey, not just on the surface. Stir your favorite spices and fresh herbs into softened butter and rub it all over the turkey and under the skin.

Add Glazes

Glazes give the bird a subtle sweetness and shine. Go for a combination of maple syrup, orange juice, and fresh sage. Brush most of the turkey with the glaze and save a bit for when it comes out of the oven.

The post The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey Starts with the Seasoning appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients

Buttered Rum Batter

• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Rum Drink

• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 cup rum

Instructions

1. For the batter: In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until it’s fluffy. Then beat in the ice cream and cinnamon. Put the mixture in a mason jar or another kind of resealable container. Store in the freezer until hardened, about 2 hours.
2. For the drinks: In a medium saucepan, heat cider until boiling, stirring occasionally. Then remove it from the heat and pour it into a pitcher.
3. Put about 2 tablespoons of buttered rum batter into four mugs. Fill about 1/3 of the way with rum, then top with the apple cider. Stir and enjoy!

The post Stay Warm With a Hot Buttered Rum Cocktail! appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 2 cups marshmallows
• 6 (1.5 ounces) chocolate bars, broken into squares
• 1 sleeve graham crackers, broken into rectangles
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F and prepare a greased baking dish.
2. Add half of the marshmallows, followed by half of the chocolate squares, and half of the graham crackers.
3. Repeat for the other half of the marshmallows, chocolate squares, and graham crackers.
4. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake until the marshmallows are golden and the chocolate has melted—about 10 minutes.
5. Drizzle with the melted chocolate chips and enjoy!

The post Love S’mores? This S’mores Bake Will Be Your New Favorite Dessert! appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Pecan Pie

While many of us only eat pecan pie on Thanksgiving, the rich sweet and nutty pie is a Southern staple, which makes total sense as San Saba, Texas is “The Pecan Capital of The World.”

Jambalaya

A signature dish in Louisiana, Jambalaya originates from the Cajuns and contains seafood like crab or shrimp, smoked sausage and smoked ham, veggies, and spices.

Gumbo

A New Orleans classic, gumbo is a soup that is based on seafood and okra with tomatoes or turkey and chicken with ham, poached oysters, and sausage.

Fried Chicken

No Southern barbecue is complete without a plate of juicy, crispy, and moist fried chicken. Fried chicken is often served with potato salad, mashed potatoes, gravy, or buttered biscuits.

Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is an American barbecue technique that cooks pork slowly over medium heat and results in tender meat that can be pulled into small pieces. It’s eaten on its own or in a sandwich with baked beans and fries as sides.

The post What are the Most Popular Foods in the South? appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Natasha Kravchuk (@natashaskitchen)

Ingredients:

• 20 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 large cucumbers, halved and sliced
• 20 Kalamata olives, halved
• 15-ounce can of chickpeas, drained
• 1 large red pepper, sliced
• 4 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil
• 3 ounces feta cheese

Instructions:

1. Combine the chickpeas, tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, and red pepper in a bowl and mix well.
2. Separate into two portions.
3. Right before serving add 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar and 1 teaspoon of olive oil to each portion.
4. Top with 1.5 ounces of feta cheese.
5. Mix everything together and enjoy!

The post What’s For Lunch? How About This Mediterranean Chickpea Salad appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Costco

Costco has everything and the same can be said about the free samples—there is tons of variety. What’s even better is they’re unlimited, so you can go back for seconds and thirds!

Trader Joe’s

In addition to the sampling station at most Trader Joe’s, which has coffee and small bites, you can try anything in the store.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Trader Joe’s (@traderjoes)

Whole Foods

If you’re lucky you’ll come across free samples at the store, but if there is something you’ve been dying to try, the store policy is you can sample almost anything.

Publix

Publix and Public GreenWise Market has samples of tons of specialty items like sheet cake and guacamole and kids get a free cookie from the bakery.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Publix Super Markets (@publix)

Sam’s Club

For almost 40 years, Sam’s Club has been offering a sampling and demo program with free food and beverages. Members can also write reviews of what they’ve tasted.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sam’s Club (@samsclub)

The post Top 5 Supermarkets for Free Samples appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ice Cream’s Surroundings

Dairy products absorb smells really easily, so if you have fish or other foods with strong odors in the freezer, keep them away from your ice cream.

Store Ice Cream Upside Down

Alright so this sounds a bit weird, but go ahead and try it. Before you put your ice cream back in the freezer, flip it upside down. Just make sure that the lid is on tight because you don’t want to open your freezer to find that your ice cream has spilled everywhere.

Cover Ice Cream With Parchment Paper

When you open your ice cream, the air that comes in contact with it causes the surface to refreeze which makes the ice particles appear. You can slow this process down by placing a piece of parchment paper on the surface of the ice cream to create a new seal.

The post Here’s How You Should Store Ice Cream appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients

• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cups powdered milk or instant non-fat dry milk
• Mini marshmallows, optional

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix the confectioners’ sugar with the unsweetened cocoa, making sure to get rid of any lumps that might be created.
2. Stir in the powdered milk and then whisk until all of the ingredients are combined.
3. This is the time to add in some mini marshmallows, if it takes your fancy.
4. You’re done! When you make the hot cocoa, make sure you combine equal parts hot cocoa mix and hot water, stir thoroughly and enjoy!

The post This Hot Chocolate Mix Comes Together With 3 Ingredients! appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes
• 1/3 cup uncooked millet or quinoa
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 small red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup lightly packed fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• 2 teaspoons cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon chipotle powder or smoked hot paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• high-quality vegetable oil for cooking burgers
• 8 whole-wheat hamburger buns
• burger toppings (avocado, guacamole, tomato, pico de Gallo, sprouts, ketchup, mustard, pickles, cheese)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Slice the sweet potatoes down the center lengthwise and place them cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast them for 30 to 40 minutes. When they are cool enough to touch, remove the skin, and chop the insides. Set them aside.
2. In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to boil and stir in the millet. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until tender, for about 25 minutes. Drain the liquid and set aside to cool. For quinoa, rinse it in a colander and combine with 2/3 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil and cover and reduce the heat to keep a gentle simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes and remove from heat, letting the quinoa steam with the lid on for 5 minutes. Drain any excess water and let it cool.
3. Grind the oats in a food processor until the flakes are broken up.
4. In a large bowl, combine the cooled sweet potato and millet, black beans, onion, cilantro, cumin, chili powder, chipotle, paprika, cayenne, and salt. With a potato masher or big spoon, mash the mix well.
5. Sprinkle in the ground oats over the mixture and mix with a spoon until the mixture holds together to shape into a patty. Cover and refrigerate the mixture.
6. With a measuring cup, measure out 1/2 cup of the mixture and shape it into pattys about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Flatten the burgers with your hands.
7. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large cast iron or non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once it’s hot enough, place burgers in plan leaving enough room to flip them. Cook each patty for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until browned and heated through. For each set of burgers you add to the skillet, add 1 tablespoon on oil.
8. Toast the buns if desired, cut side up until lightly toasted, about 2 to 3 minutes.

The post Grill Up These Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burgers appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Meatballs

Add some flavor and nutrients to meatballs with veggies like mushrooms, greens, onions, and carrots in the meatball base. You can even add cauliflower or butternut squash that’s been cooked and pureed.

Macaroni and Cheese

Next time you make this comfort food, blend butternut squash into the cheese sauce. The sauce will be extra creamy and flavorful. Or you can swap cauliflower for pasta and use it as the base of the dish.

Mashed Potatoes

Instead of only using potatoes, use a blend of potatoes and pureed cauliflower. If you’re feeling creative, blend veggies like cauliflower, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and broccoli together.

Chips and Dip

This classic game-day snack can feature a healthier dip like baba ghanoush (an eggplant dip), roasted red pepper hummus, or a yogurt spinach artichoke dip.

Lasagna

You’ve heard of veggie noodles, so why not try veggie pasta sheets? Zucchini, butternut squash, and eggplant can be thinly sliced to mimic lasagna pasta sheets. You can also keep the lasagna sheets and just add veggies to the dish.

The post Don’t Like Vegetables? Here’s How to Sneak Them Into Your Meals appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Brine Your Turkey

Maximize the flavor of your turkey and get juicier meat and crispier skin by brining it with herbs and two tablespoons of salt and putting it into a plastic bag before putting it in the fridge. You can season your turkey the night before or up to two days in advance.

Switch Up the Spices

In addition to salt, you can amp up the flavor of the turkey with Cajun-style turkey rub, which has smoked paprika, celery salt, and onion powder, or a red rub, which has paprika, ground coriander, and garlic powder.

Put Seasoning Everywhere

The seasoning needs to be on all parts of the turkey, not just on the surface. Stir your favorite spices and fresh herbs into softened butter and rub it all over the turkey and under the skin.

Add Glazes

Glazes give the bird a subtle sweetness and shine. Go for a combination of maple syrup, orange juice, and fresh sage. Brush most of the turkey with the glaze and save a bit for when it comes out of the oven.

The post The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey Starts with the Seasoning appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients

Buttered Rum Batter

• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Rum Drink

• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 cup rum

Instructions

1. For the batter: In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until it’s fluffy. Then beat in the ice cream and cinnamon. Put the mixture in a mason jar or another kind of resealable container. Store in the freezer until hardened, about 2 hours.
2. For the drinks: In a medium saucepan, heat cider until boiling, stirring occasionally. Then remove it from the heat and pour it into a pitcher.
3. Put about 2 tablespoons of buttered rum batter into four mugs. Fill about 1/3 of the way with rum, then top with the apple cider. Stir and enjoy!

The post Stay Warm With a Hot Buttered Rum Cocktail! appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 2 cups marshmallows
• 6 (1.5 ounces) chocolate bars, broken into squares
• 1 sleeve graham crackers, broken into rectangles
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F and prepare a greased baking dish.
2. Add half of the marshmallows, followed by half of the chocolate squares, and half of the graham crackers.
3. Repeat for the other half of the marshmallows, chocolate squares, and graham crackers.
4. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake until the marshmallows are golden and the chocolate has melted—about 10 minutes.
5. Drizzle with the melted chocolate chips and enjoy!

The post Love S’mores? This S’mores Bake Will Be Your New Favorite Dessert! appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Pecan Pie

While many of us only eat pecan pie on Thanksgiving, the rich sweet and nutty pie is a Southern staple, which makes total sense as San Saba, Texas is “The Pecan Capital of The World.”

Jambalaya

A signature dish in Louisiana, Jambalaya originates from the Cajuns and contains seafood like crab or shrimp, smoked sausage and smoked ham, veggies, and spices.

Gumbo

A New Orleans classic, gumbo is a soup that is based on seafood and okra with tomatoes or turkey and chicken with ham, poached oysters, and sausage.

Fried Chicken

No Southern barbecue is complete without a plate of juicy, crispy, and moist fried chicken. Fried chicken is often served with potato salad, mashed potatoes, gravy, or buttered biscuits.

Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is an American barbecue technique that cooks pork slowly over medium heat and results in tender meat that can be pulled into small pieces. It’s eaten on its own or in a sandwich with baked beans and fries as sides.

The post What are the Most Popular Foods in the South? appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.