Breaking News

Lifestyles

Family Features Immediately following the COVID-19 lockdown in the United States, outdoor and drivable destinations were in big demand for domestic travelers. As the country has reopened, Americans embraced the idea of getting back to normal and began traveling much as they did prior to the pandemic. However, travel trends on the horizon for 2023 suggest there is no normal when it comes to travel planning. Instead, individual interests are driving decisions about where to go and what to do. “We see a detailed and robust picture of travel into 2023,” Expedia Brands President Jon ...

These easy tips can cut your grocery costs

Metro Consumers might not think it, but eggs are an expensive commodity. As of August 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average price of a dozen Grade A, large eggs was $3.12. Eggs are just one example of foods that have become significantly more costly over the last year or more. Flour, butter/margarine and dairy products also have become more expensive. According to CNBC, food prepared at home now costs 10 percent more than it did a year ago. Comparatively speaking, restaurant prices have risen by 6.9 percent, making it more affordable for some people to eat ...

Ceviche makes Valentine’s Day special

Metro Valentine’s Day dinners out on the town can be special. However, there is no denying that reservations can be difficult to come by and some establishments must limit their menus for this busy night to make it easier to serve a packed house. Because restaurants can be so busy on Feb. 14, some couples may opt to stay in and enjoy a special home-cooked, romantic meal. Shellfish may not be served at home on a regular basis, which makes it an option for a memorable Valentine’s Day dinner. Ceviche is popular along Mexico’s western seaboard and consists of very fresh raw seafood ...

Romantic tone set with this cheesecake

Metro Romance is in the air come Valentine’s Day. Though chocolate, oysters and honey are often seen as aphrodisiacs, there is no evidence to back such perceptions up. However, Healthline reports that fenugreek, saffron, red ginseng, and pistachios might boast the properties often associated with aphrodisiacs. People have been eating pistachio nuts since 6,000 B.C. Pistachios improve blood cholesterol and stimulate better blood flow throughout the body. They’re also tasty, which makes them a worthy addition to Valentine’s Day recipes. such as this one for “Pistachio Cardamom ...

With this cake, indulgence done devilishly right

Metro If asked to describe the favored foods of Valentine’s Day in a single word, “decadent” might prove the most apt descriptor. Foodies and non-foodies alike recognize that Valentine’s Day and chocolate are intertwined, making the day an ideal time to indulge in something decadent. This Valentine’s Day, couples can share their love for decadent delights by working alongside one another to whip up this recipe for “Devil’s Food Layer Cake” from Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad Robertson’s “Tartine” (Chronicle Books). Devil’s Food Layer Cake Yields 1 10-inch cake; ...

Sweet cookies — French Macarons — for your sweetheart

Metro Valentine’s Day presents an opportunity to shower loved ones with special gifts, including treats. Dessert is a significant component of Valentine’s Day, as chocolates and cakes are given and consumed in abundance. French macarons are a great sweet for amateur bakers to add to their Valentine’s Day repertoire. Making macarons often is a labor of love, so offering a sweetheart a plate of these chewy, meringue-based cookies really shows you care. Vary the filling of choice depending on your beloved’s favorite flavors. Enjoy this recipe for “French Macarons,” which ...