Outdoor Dining

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From orchard to table, apples bring flavor for the perfect picnic

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Ice Pops
Baked Apple Pie Layer Bars
Spiced Pork and Apple Burger with Maple Dijon
Apple Tortellini Salad

(Family Features) There’s nothing like the perfect picnic or barbecue to slow down and reconnect with friends and family. This season, gather together guests and surprise them with a rustic backyard picnic, starring delicious new recipes that bring out the flavor of apples – a versatile and healthy year-round fruit.

Filled with healthy antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals, apples add a flavorful twist to classic picnic fare. For a refreshing treat that both kids and adults will love, try the Strawberry Banana Smoothie Popsicle, made with Tree Top Apple Juice. Or grill some Spiced Pork and Apple Burgers with Maple Dijon, made with Tree Top Apple Sauce for a lean and juicy burger.

For more recipes and inspiration, visit www.treetop.com.

Designing a Backyard Party Is Easy

Set the scene with the right décor and a little bit of creativity – and let nature take care of the rest.

  • Find vintage plates and serving pieces at a local flea market.
  • Serve beverages in Mason jars, which can also be used as flower vases.
  • Cover a rustic table with gingham tablecloth.
  • Fill large wicker baskets with apples to use as centerpieces.
  • If hosting in the evening, line the table with tea lights and lanterns.


Strawberry Banana Smoothie Ice Pops

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Tree Top Apple Juice
  • 1 pint strawberries, hulled, sliced and frozen
  • 1 banana, sliced and frozen
  • 1 apple, peeled, cored, sliced and frozen
  • 6 ounces vanilla yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation

  1. Put all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into ice pop forms or paper cups. Place ice pop sticks in center and freeze, inverted, for 3 hours or until solid. Keep frozen until ready to serve.


Baked Apple Pie Layer Bars

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups sifted flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1egg
  • Milk
  • 2/3 cup crushed corn flakes
  • 1/2 cup Tree Top or Seneca Apple Sauce
  • 5 cups sliced, peeled apples
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Glaze:
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Preparation

  1. Sift together flour, sugar and salt. Cut shortening in with pastry blender or two knives. Put egg yolk into measuring cup and add milk to make 2/3 cup.
  2. Add to shortening mixture. Mix just enough until dough shapes into a ball. Roll out half the dough into 15 x 11-inch rectangle. Transfer to baking sheet. Cover with corn flakes. Mix apple sauce together with apple slices, and add mixture on top of corn flakes. Mix sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over apple mixture. Roll out other half of dough for top crust. Place over apples. Pinch edges together. Beat egg white until stiff and spread on top crust. Bake in hot 400°F oven for 40 minutes. Cut into 16 squares.
  3. Combine confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice to make glaze. While hot, drizzle glaze over top.

Serves
Servings 16


Spiced Pork and Apple Burger with Maple Dijon

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
  • 2 pounds ground pork
  • 1/2 cup Tree Top Natural Apple Sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 6 hamburger buns
  • Baby Spinach leaves

Preparation

  1. Stir maple syrup and mustard together in a small bowl. Set aside. Spray a large non-stick grill pan or griddle with cooking spray and place over medium to medium high heat.
  2. Mix pork, apple sauce, salt, chili powder, dry mustard, pepper and cinnamon together in a large mixing bowl. Form mixture into 6 patties. Place patties in pan and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, turn and cook additional 4 to 5 minutes or until done.
  3. To serve, spread bun bottoms with maple mustard mixture. Top each with a patty, spinach leaf and bun top. If desired, toast buns and top with cheddar cheese, grilled onions, pickles, tomatoes or other favorite toppings. Serve with crispy sweet potato fries and steamed beans for an easy but special meal.

Serves
Servings 6


Apple Tortellini Salad

Ingredients

Dressing
  • 3 tablespoons Tree Top Frozen Concentrate Apple Juice, thawed
  • 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons garlic salt
  • Ground pepper to taste
Salad
  • 9 ounces cheese-filled tortellini
  • 2 cups sliced apples (approximately
  • 2 medium apples)
  • 2 cups shredded salad greens
  • 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
  • 1/2 cup sliced scallions
  • 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts (optional)

Preparation

  1. To prepare dressing, combine apple juice concentrate, corn syrup, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic salt and pepper. Cover dressing and refrigerate.
  2. To prepare salad, cook tortellini, drain and cool by rinsing pasta under cold water. Shake gently to drain thoroughly. In a large bowl, combine tortellini, apples, salad greens, strawberries, celery and scallions. Toss salad gently with chilled dressing. Serve chilled. If desired, sprinkle with pine nuts.

Serves
Servings 6 to 8

SOURCE:
Tree Top



Affordable Pet Care at Home

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(Family Features) Dogs and cats provide “parents” so much love and affection. So, it’s only natural that pet parents want to return that love by taking care of all their pet’s health and wellness needs.  Fortunately, now top-of-the-line routine care can easily be provided at home using veterinarian-quality pet health products, which will help save money and possibly a trip to the vet.

When shopping for pet health products, it’s important to look for products that have the same active ingredients as the leading veterinarian brands, such as the new VetTrust line from PetArmor. Taking the extra time to read the labels and compare ingredients can provide significant savings.
Try This at Home

Help your pet live a longer, happier life with the gift of good health. Providing basic health care and picking the right vitamins and supplements can be easy with a little know-how:

  • Supplemental care. The diets of cats and dogs can benefit from vitamin and mineral supplements. A high-quality supplement helps support immune health.
  • Support joint mobility. As pets get older, they may start to slow down and have trouble with stairs. Joint health products, such as VetTrust Joint Health Chewable Tablets and Soft Chews, contain glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM for maximum cartilage support to help pets maintain a normal, active lifestyle.
  • Time for a trim. Nail trimming is an important part of a regular dog grooming routine. Long nails often break, leading to pain and infection. Purchase nail scissors from your local pet store then gently trim the tip of your dog’s nail. Take care not to clip too far down, or you could cause bleeding, then file nails, if necessary.

Brush up on Routine Care

Many pet parents already provide routine care to their cats and dogs. Savvy owners know grooming is a great way to shower extra attention on pets. Using vet-quality products also helps let the caring begin.

  • Clean up their act. Proper grooming is essential to the physical, mental and emotional well-being of both dogs and cats. Brush long-haired breeds at least twice per week. Those with shorter hair may not need to be brushed as often. Baths should be given if dirt or odor becomes noticeable. Cats usually don’t need regular bathing, unless something unusual happens, as they tend to groom themselves. However, dogs should be bathed at least once every three months.
  • All about the ears. Regular maintenance of the ears is essential for both cats and dogs. In fact, ear infections are the second most common veterinarian diagnosis. Products, such as an Ear Wash, clean away debris while hindering the buildup of bacteria. Medicated Ear Rinse will kill both yeast and odor-causing bacteria while gently cleaning away dirt and wax.
  • Beware of burnt paws. Prevent burns and blisters on pet paws by avoiding walking your pet on hot pavement or sand. If you notice irritation or redness, apply a conditioning lotion with colloidal oatmeal to moisturize and restore healthy paws.  

People love to spend time with their pets and caring for basic needs at home provides extra bonding time. It can also ease any pet anxiety or financial strain extra veterinary visits may cause. Of course, an annual visit to the veterinarian is recommended for a nose-to-tail checkup and vaccinations. Good care with quality at-home products can mean many more long, happy years together.

Find out more about products to care for your pets, visit www.petarmor.com/vettrust.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
PetArmor