Whether you’re looking to offset your muffin’s heft or simply enjoying one of America’s favorite homegrown crops, blueberries let America pretend that even the most sugary, butter-laden breakfast can be vindicated by a generous handful of fruit. The native blueberry became a fast favorite in American muffin recipes, thanks to its sweetness, wide availability (it often could be found dried and preserved, even out of season), and the cheerful, unique violet color spread throughout each morsel. Even the healthiest home cook knows how a few cranks of salt, a dash of soy sauce or a dollop of glutamate-rich Maggi sauce can make the difference between health-food blandness and the clean-plate club. Cold lunchmeats cut into bite-sized pieces — like salami, ham or turkey — make a great addition to this salad. Picture portions. It’s hard to manage your food intake if you don’t have a clue what a 1/2 cup serving of pasta looks like or what a 6-ounce glass of juice is. Choose the white meat of turkey or honey jalapeno chicken over dark meat, red meat or pork (most of our fat intake comes from animal fat; white meat contains less fat).
Next comes the fun part: kneading. One of the earliest written histories or records comes from Homer’s reference to them as «Gifts from the Gods.» The first pears arrived in the United States by European settlers in the 1700s. Pears rank second to the apple as the most popular US fruit. Its practicality (enabling conscious consumers to use up nearly rotting fruit), simple recipe and comforting aroma are all important factors, but they nevertheless fail to really account for banana bread’s rising star. The first known published recipe is dated 1962; before artificial dyes and digital editing tweaked our visual expectations, the offbeat but natural hue was enough to spark imagination. Countless numbers of these recipe variations are documented, thanks to America’s love of cookbooks, so anyone can try his or her own personal take on a classic. Though it’s likely pretzels landed stateside on the Mayflower, the waves of Dutch immigrants heading to Pennsylvania in the 1800s cemented the state’s reputation as America’s pretzel capital, and the Amish have gained a reputation for baking the best around. The outer sections are dry, cakelike cookies cemented together with a thick layer of dense, heavy filling. Common variations include pumpkin, maple or red velvet cookies with cream cheese frosting, or the ever-popular chocolate and peanut butter combo.
Newer recipes include peanut butter or chocolate chips to capitalize on the kid-friendly appeal of such flavor combinations. A handful of New England-based whoopie pie bakeries compete for the most counter space at the general store and the most outrageous flavor selections. That might be why, according to the North American Blueberry Council, blueberry is the most popular muffin flavor in the country. It’s reputed to be Southern in origin (supported by its prominence on the rosters of Southern restaurants and bakeries all over the country), though foodie urban myths abound that give credit to New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel. After all, Americans are fiercely protective and passionate about beloved foods and recipes, and most of our fine fare is already rife with cloudy history and convoluted origin. After all, a day without coffee gives you headaches and energy slumps as well, so shouldn’t you stick with it? Change your high sugar, dinner replacements bars or energy bars with a strawberry.
No need to get as full as after a Thanksgiving dinner! Our bodies rely on the rest provided by a good night’s sleep to get through a busy day. Lake Travis and Lake Austin are the most popular for boating and fun in the sun, so get off the beaten path and explore the lakes in the Hill Country, including Lake Buchanan. Lake Buchanan is more than 23,000 acres and is the largest of the Highland Lakes. See more pictures of trees. See more apple pictures. The fat and protein in the cheese can actually help slow down the way your body processes the carbs, so you won’t see a big spike in blood sugar. The favoritism may come down to something as simple and undefinable as taste. Another healthy snack that rates great on the taste quotient is shakes. Few dispute the treat’s Pennsylvania Dutch roots — the state even boasts an annual whoopie pie eating contest held, of course, at the Whoopie Pie Festival. Even if you don’t feel like drinking cider, try using it instead of water in sauces, marinades and baked goods. Like most of the treats on our list, though, the formula just begs for tinkering.