Gourmet food gifts made with love are a fun and clever way to bring glad tidings to those you don’t want to forget during the holidays. These fanciful gifts-in-a-jar are both functional and enjoyable and are a perfect gift for party hosts, teachers, co-workers and friends. There are a million ways to get creative and Decemberorate your jars to make them reflect your style and vibe. Change up the décor and these recipes can take you through the year for any season, occasion or holiday. Wouldn’t it be special to take the Alphabet Soup to someone recovering from an illness? Or, change up the color of M&Ms in the Cookies for Santa recipe and voila—it’s a multitasker! Your girlfriend who just had a baby would totally delight in the sugar scrub. Best of all, these jars can be a fun project to share with your children so they can take ownership in sharing their talents. Who knew all this goodness could fit into a jar?

With the holidays upon us there is an opportunity, cook at every turn. This month, Land O’Lakes® has invited us into their fantastic test kitchen to try out recipes that are full of delectable flavors.

Land O’Lakes® offers a variety of important ingredients that can make or break a recipe. Its repertoire includes: butter, Saute Express® seasoned meal starter, cheese, spreads, margarines, eggs, half & half, whipping cream, cappucino, cocoa, sour cream, and milk-—all the goodies that make a recipe wonderful! Come on in and check out these tried and true recipes!

We all love the sugary, caramelized flavor of sweet potatoes, but don’t let their sweet nature fool you. Behind their orange interior, sweet potatoes are chock full of nutrients from which you can easily benefit when prepared properly.

It is a tradition to have “Appetizer Day” at our Publisher, Elizabeth Millen’s home each year prior to the November magazine coming out. This year, we decided to shake things up a bit and have a “Dessert Day” instead. For Dessert Day, the entire Pink Magazine staff chose their favorite dessert recipe, prepared it, and brought it to share, along with the recipe, of course! To add to the fun, we gathered an impressive, eclectic assortment of serving trays from our wonderful advertisers in order to beautifully present our creations. This also allows us to show you that if we can do it, so can you.

Before we shared in the feast, each dessert was given star treatment, as it is groomed, garnished and styled for its very own photo shoot. The house was filled with delightful aromas and bustling with people coming in with their delicious desserts. It got us all excited for the upcoming holiday season.

The only thing that should spook you in the autumn is Halloween. Hearty cool-weather foods like beans and other legumes, though, have frightened more than a few cooks.

Did your parents ever say "Make sure you eat your fruits and vegetables so you will grow big and strong?" Of course, because they contain vital nutrients for our body to function. Another important food group carries many nutrients that are essential—protein. And lean beef is the best way to get it! Beef has 10 essential nutrients that will help do more than just get through the day—they can help you be the best you can be.

Whether you are just visiting or a true local, one of the most popular questions to hear is, “Where is the hottest spot in town?” Well, do I have a new one for you! Java Burrito Company is serving up a fresh, fast casual Burrito Bar and Coffee Bar that is making a new name for farm-to-table food!

Did you know that peanuts and peanut butter are low glycemic index foods? It's due to their high amounts of healthy oils, fiber and protein that help sugar to be released into the blood stream more slowly, keeping energy levels high and appetite in check.

When eaten in small amounts daily, peanuts and peanut butter can keep you satisfied from one meal to the next. Recent research from Purdue University showed that when peanuts or peanut butter were consumed for breakfast with a whole grain, they can help control appetite for up to 8-12 hours later. Peanuts and peanut butter also helped maintain even blood sugar throughout the day, preventing blood sugar spikes which can affect appetite and energy levels.

Tailgating in the South is nothing short of an art. Walk through any southern stadium parking area on game day and you’re sure to see anything and everything from custom grills to white tablecloths and sterling silver candelabras. What you may not recognize, however, are the long traditions behind each and every group’s tailgate. Some have had the same parking space for decades, passed down through generations of families. Others have tried-and-true game day recipes. For instance, I’ve never been to a South Carolina game without Bob and Janet Keen’s Lil’ Smokies pig-n-the-blankets. It just wouldn’t be the same.

Got a little carried away at the U-pick farm and now buried in berries? Maybe you took advantage of the farmers market deal and bought three baskets instead of just one? Preserve or use up the surplus in a variety of ways, from hearty salads to tart-sweet syrups.

It’s summer in the South and that means some of the best days of eating are here. Garden fresh fruits and vegetables, family gatherings, lazy days spent on the river or at the beach all bring about the sharing of food—delicious food.

As we all know, certain foods and the preparation of them are regional. Here in the South, summer is all about eating fresh and local. Juicy watermelon and peaches, vine-ripened tomatoes, barbecue and potato salad, they are all staples of the South—the foods in which memories are made. Welcome to the South…now let’s eat!

Nestled in the heart of Bluffton, Belfair Plantation sits quietly off the highway eluding to scenic views and beautiful homes. The graceful entrance bids the viewer a taste of the charm that lies within. After driving past Belfair nearly every day, I was very excited for the opportunity to learn more about the plantation, and most of all, take a behind-the-scenes look at the magic that happens in their renowned kitchen.

Salad is usually an accompaniment. But what if you turn the tables and make it the star of the meal? The beginning of summer is the perfect time for such a light and refreshing option.
Many of us have participated in wine tastings. For a fun and equally informative change of pace, why not a lettuce tasting? A rut often accompanies lettuce—many diners eat the same one repeatedly.