Opt for Easy Recipes to Reduce Thanksgiving Stress

Hosting a #Thanksgiving feast takes lots of time and energy. If you want to enjoy the #holiday with less #stress, focus on simple recipes that don’t take a lot of fuss in the kitchen. If you’re having a small gathering, you can do a whole spread on two sheet pans, Food Network says, or pick from a range of streamlined recipes that will be big winners at your potluck or dinner without requiring a ton of prep work or time in a hot kitchen. Try an air fryer turkey breast or apple crisp, for example, instead of the traditional roast turkey and pumpkin pie for easy takes on the classics that will still please a crowd. #EasiestThanksgiving

Use That Summer Produce Before It Spoils

Whether your #summer #garden has reached peak yields or you went overboard at the farmers market, you may find yourself with a lot of fresh #produce this season. Don’t let it go to #waste. There are easy ways to use up your favorite #vegetables, fruits and herbs before they turn to mush. Turn excess zucchini into lasagna or zucchini bread. Add vegetables to stews. Freeze extra berries and fruits for smoothies or cobblers. Make extra greens and herbs into a savory pesto to toss with pasta or use in marinades. And toss anything that goes bad into a #compost bin. “You’ll be saving your budget and the earth all at once,” says Better Homes & Gardens. #SummerGarden

When the Garden Yields More Than You Can Consume

#Gardens can be unpredictable. Some seasons, you’ll only get a taste of your favorite foodstuffs because of low yields, poor weather conditions or the local critters; others, you’ll be awash in so many #fruits and #vegetables you won’t know what to do with them all. This is a good problem to have! Don’t let your hard work go to waste — you can preserve the bounty for future feasts by canning, freezing or dehydrating, says Gingham Gardens, or stage a sidewalk-sale farmer’s market to sell surplus vegetables. Or you can give away those delicious foodstuffs to family, friends or a #food pantry. Who doesn’t appreciate a fresh tomato? #SummerGarden

Try Canning to Preserve Summer’s Bounty

Experiencing a glut of #summer #produce and unable to consume it all at your backyard #cookouts? Try your hand at #canning to (quite literally) preserve access to summer’s bounty for weeks and months. Start with the freshest fruits and vegetables and follow a recipe that meets USDA safety guidelines for preserving foods. You’ll need a selection of basic canning equipment including jars and a large pot or pressure canning device, as well as some quality time in the #kitchen. The payoff? You get better-than-bought flavor from your #summer #garden throughout the years. “The truth is, anyone who can boil a pot of water can make a pickle or a jar of jam.” Food Network says.

Bring Summer’s Bounty to the Table

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amounts of delicious fruits and vegetables a successful #garden can produce or the variety and bounty of the local farmers market. Many #summer #vegetables can go directly on the grill, says Delish, including zucchini, eggplant, green beans, onions and corn. Many popular crops don’t even require heat to create a fresh and healthy meal: Tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce, for example, can be dressed lightly to create a simple salad. Or just rinse that tomato, slice it, and eat it with a little salt and pepper. Store-bought just doesn’t taste the same! #SummerGarden