1st Prize – Salad Category

Recipe created by Lyn Weingarten, Austin, Texas

Make It Special Chef Recipe Contest

Chef Quote: "I'm fascinated with various fruit and meat combinations. The sweetness and slight acidity of nectarines make an excellent marinade that tenderizes and flavors the meat. The nectarine's flavor and tender, pulpy flesh combines well with the other ingredients to create a creamy, smooth textured vinaigrette." –Lyn Weingarten

(NC)—Tender, nectarine-marinated flank steak "beefs up" this colorful spinach salad. Fresh bite-size spinach greens are tossed with vinaigrette made with a fresh California nectarine, then layered with slices of flank steak. The steak may be placed in the marinade for two hours for just a hint o Spinach Salad with Nectarine Vinaigrette and Marinated Flank Steak Recipe

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Chosing Organic for Health

by Marjorie Geiser, RD

We come from a society where growing organic and just growing produce and livestock for food was once one and the same. Small, family farms still grow their own food using traditional methods passed down through the generations. As commercial farming became big-business, however, growers and farmers started to investigate methods of increasing crops and building bigger livestock in order to increase their profits. This led to increased use of pesticides and drugs to enhance yield.

In this article, we will look at what is required in order to call a product organic, how choosing organic eating and farming impact the environment and our health, discuss the benefits of eating organic foods, and what research says about the nutritional benef Chosing Organic for Health Recipe

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Best Recipes: Holiday Mint Brownies

by Donna Monday

It’s Christmas time and everything is getting the decorative treatment: including brownies.

This simple recipe for Holiday Mint Brownies is a fun way to turn ordinary brownies into an extraordinary festive treat. The flavors are wonderful with chocolate mint chips and cream cheese frosting. Plus, you can have fun decorating them with decorating gel and candies.

Best of all, these brownies are an easy holiday cookie recipe to make. Any brownie lover will enjoy these special holiday brownies.

Holiday Mint Brownies 1 1-pound 5 oz pkg fudge brownie mix ½ cup mint flavored chocolate chips ½ cup water ½ cup oil 1 egg 1 16 oz can cream cheese frosting (or vanilla frosting) 5 (.68 oz) tubes green Best Recipes: Holiday Mint Brownies Recipe

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