Summer flavors to savor

I have uncluttered my pantry leaving just the good stuff. Here’s some of what is in there:

Grill!

McCormick has been on top of the grilling scene for years with trends and flavors. I might as well keep the bottle of the new Chipotle & Roasted Garlic spice in my purse.

Packets you can grab in stores help you season your ground beef for burgers. Look for McCormick Grill Mates Steakhouse Burger Seasoning mixes in Smoky Applewood, Mushroom and Classic; McCormick Grill Mates Island Woodfire Grill Marinade; and Lawry’s Marinades in Cajun and Sweet Southern BBQ. Go ahead and make it easy in the kitchen, and spend more time with your guests. www.GrillingFlavorForecast.com has more temptations.

The bread thing

The amazing aroma of fresh bread is as appealing on a summer day as it is come fall. Krusteaz has no knead mixes for Italian Herb, Cracked Wheat, Honey Wheat, Country White Bread and Sourdough that I’m working my way through. Those great smells will weaken any knees. So this all came about because my husband says he could eat pizza every day. When Krusteaz promoted a pizza made from the sourdough mix, I was all in, adding mushrooms, onions, sausage and tomato sauce. It was a beauty and gone in one sitting. This is how they do:

Pizza Variation

Prepare dough using one package Krusteaz Sourdough Bread Mix as directed. Transfer to lightly floured surface. Press dough into 14-inch circle. Place on lightly greased pizza pan. Let rest 10 minutes. Press again to edge of pan. Prick with fork tines at 1-inch intervals. Bake at 400ºF 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Top with your favorite ingredients. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes.

Taste the mango

Read the labels. A well-known brand is getting noticed in a not good way for not having as much of a natural ingredient as consumers may think. Enter Santa Cruz Organic®  making the good stuff you can taste. My mother enjoyed the pure flavor of mango lemonade as she sipped it on her patio and we also enjoyed the lemonade that would be a flavorful mix for adult beverages with a summery feel.

The company has tips for incorporating the organic lifestyle into your family’s habits:

1.       Take small steps – Take the first step with your staple shopping ingredients. Consider replacing conventional products one-by-one with organic alternatives. Make foods like fruits, vegetables, milk and meat your first priority.

2.       Plan an organic picnic – Enjoy the summer weather with an organic lunch, including Santa Cruz Organic Peanut Butters and Fruit Spreads. To help round it out, Santa Cruz Organic Fruit Sauces are a tasty, organic treat with each 4-ounce sauce cup providing 100% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) of Vitamin C.

3.       Grow an organic garden – Why not grow your own organic vegetables and herbs? Plants like tomatoes, peppers, onions, potatoes and cucumbers are easy to grow and can be easily maintained on a rooftop or patio garden. Plus, it’s a great way to teach kids where food comes from and how it grows!

4.       Read the labels – Look for products with the “Certified USDA Organic” seal and read labels carefully to check out the main ingredients and any additives that may be included. The first ingredients listed should be common names and easy to pronounce.

ddoiron@panews.com