(NC)- This guilt-free dip from the Almond Board of California is the perfect partner for fresh vegetables like baby carrots, cherry tomatoes and zucchini slices. Using low-fat yogurt and crunchy roasted almonds, you can customize your own herb combination.
 

Fresh Almond-Herb Dip
 

Makes 6 servings
 

Ingredients
 

2 cups (500 mL) plain, low-fat yogurt
 

1, 10-12-inch square of cheesecloth and 1 large rubber band
 

½ cup (125 mL) slivered almonds, roasted
 

5 tbsp (75 mL) chopped fresh herbs (any combination of parsley, dill, chives, chervil, basil and tarragon)
 

1 green onion, trimmed and diced
 

¼ tsp salt
 

¼ tsp black pepper
 

4-6 cups (1-1.5L) fresh vegetables for dipping, such as radishes, baby carrots, trimmed green beans, broccoli florets, or strips of zucchini, jicama or bell pepper
 

Directions
 

If desired, thicken yogurt by lining a medium-sized bowl with cheesecloth. Wrap cheesecloth edges around outside of bowl and secure with rubber band. Pull cheesecloth edges to leave some space between cheesecloth and bottom of bowl for liquid to drip and collect.
 

Place yogurt in cheesecloth bowl and allow liquid to drip out for 30 minutes, refrigerated. Discard liquid.
 

Combine yogurt, almonds, herbs, green onion, salt and pepper in a bowl. Serve with fresh vegetables.
 

More recipes are available online at AlmondBoard.com.

(NC)-Turn your next meal into a retro gourmet feast with this made over meatloaf. TV host and cookbook author, Sabrina Tutino, uses a little imagination to put a cheesy twist on a classic to make this Mozzarellissima Gourmet Meatloaf. Cook the carrots together with the meatloaf for an easy and colorful side dish that adds a sweet note to this dish. Substitute carrots with potatoes, onion or turnips for variety. For something different, toss leftovers into a salad the next day. More tasty recipes can be found online at www.mozzarellissima.ca.

Makes: 4 to 6 servings

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 90 minutes

Ingredients:

2 lb (1 kg) minced medium ground veal (or beef, pork or turkey)

Small handful breadcrumbs

1 egg

1½ tbsp olive oil, divided

Pinch each salt (or powdered beef stock) and freshly ground pepper

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 small tomatoes, 1 diced and 1 sliced

1 tbsp (15 mL) powdered beef stock

12 oz (340 g) Lite Mozzarellissima cheese, cut into cubes

5 oz (150 g) thinly sliced prosciutto

8 to 10 mixed orange, red and white carrots, coarsely chopped

½ cup (125 mL) white wine (or water)

juice of half a lemon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).

2. In a bowl combine meat, breadcrumbs, egg and 1 tbsp (15 mL) of olive oil. Season with salt (or powdered beef stock) and pepper, and mix well.

3. In a 9"x13" (23 cm x 33 cm) ovenproof baking dish lined with plastic wrap, pack the meat mixture flat, then drizzle with ½ tbsp (7 mL) of olive oil.

4. Distributing evenly, top with chopped onions, diced tomato, powdered beef stock and half of the Mozzarellissima. Cover with slices of prosciutto and the rest of the cheese.

5. With the help of the plastic wrap, roll the meat lengthwise into a long log. Discard the plastic wrap after the log is formed. If needed, use your hands to completely close the meatloaf, sealing the fillings inside.

6. In the baking dish, top the meatloaf with sliced ​​tomato and any remaining onion pieces.

7. Place chopped carrots around the meatloaf, then pour white wine into the bottom of the baking dish.

8. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil, then cook uncovered for an additional 45 minutes. Sprinkle lemon juice over the carrots, and serve as a side dish with the meatloaf. Meatloaf can be served hot or cold.

Tip: The amount of diced onion and tomato used inside the meatloaf can be adjusted to suit your own taste.

As the weather gets warmer, nothing is better than a barbecued meal with friends and family. However, after a long cold winter, it is necessary to get your grill ready with a bit of a tune-up first. Here are some tips courtesy of The Home Depot that will get you serving up tasty burgers in no time:
 

Get your grill as good as new
 

Similar to an oven, barbecues need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Here is what you can do:
 

• Remove the grills and scrape away excess build up with a grill brush or scraper.
 

• If your kitchen oven has a self-cleaning setting, place the grills on the oven racks and turn on the self-cleaning feature. Not only will it incinerate every bit of foodstuff from your grill grate, but you'll kill two birds with one stone and come away with a clean oven as well.
 

Clean inside - and out
 

It is also important to keep the outside of your barbeque looking its best - no one feels confident eating food prepared on a grill with a rusty, dirty outside. Here are a few tips to help you get rid of the mess:
 

• Simply wipe it down with a moist cloth and some soap.
 

• If possible, remove gas control knobs and wash.
 

• Wipe down stainless steel models with oil to keep the weather at bay. Always remember to choose your cleaning products carefully as some may be flammable.
 

Make it easy on yourself
 

To prevent excess build up and make next year's preparation even easier, make sure you clean your barbecue after every use. A brush made of silicone is a perfect tool to get the job done. Also, invest in a cover to prevent the harsh weather from ruining your investment.

(NC)-By now we've all heard the old adage about the importance of curb appeal. If you can't get potential buyers in the door, good luck selling your home. This is especially true today with so many homes competing on the market. Home staging has become a popular trend for interior spaces, but according to experts, the same care needs to be applied to the exterior.
 

"Home buyers weigh the outside impression of a home as much as the inside, especially when surfing real estate websites and online images of homes," explains Priscilla Bergeron, Assistant Brand Manager for Sikkens, the industry leader in wood protection. "You only have one chance to make a first impression. By spending a little time and money on the outside, potential buyers may be more inclined to give your home a second look, and hopefully, a better offer."
 

According to Bergeron, the first step in giving your outdoor spaces the important face lift they need is to update your outside woodwork weathered by the sun, rain and snow. "You can give a high end look to your front porch, window trim, doors, siding and backyard deck with premium wood finishes. They provide a rich, professional touch to all exterior projects, while preserving and protecting the wood from the effects of weather and aging," she adds.
 

Home decks return about 70 per cent of their original cost back to homeowners when a house is sold, according to Remodeling Magazine's annual Cost vs. Value Report, but that's only when the decks are kept in top shape.
 

To bring weathered wood finishes back to life, Bergeron recommends applying high end wood finish products to give a beautiful rich and professional look to your woodwork that will seduce potential home buyers.
 

She points out that Sikkens products are available in translucent, semi-transparent and solid wood finishes and in a variety of different colours. To please a wider array of potential buyers, Bergeron recommends opting for more traditional colours. Translucent products give a rich, glamorous and professional look to any house.

Once the woodwork has been updated you can now stage your deck, patio or poolside, like you would indoors. "Whether your home's style is modern minimalist, country, or traditional, your outdoor décor should be a reflection and an extension your home's interior to achieve a seamless look," she explained.
 

This can be accomplished with the choice of outdoor furnishings and accessories which should look fresh, new and vibrant. Newer furnishings and planters in carefully chosen colours will help keep your outdoor spaces looking up-to-date and contemporary. Further define your deck or patio by setting a table with colorful outdoor dinnerware. For your porch, consider a bistro table and chairs to help welcome buyers into your living space.

More information is available online at www.sikkens.ca.

(NC)-When it comes to cleaning products, cleanliness and toxicity have become synonymous, but today's classic home care products have finally been exposed for what they are - dangerous. Traditional cleaners boast health and cleanliness when in reality they have been blamed for contributing to a slew of health problems while destroying "good bacteria" and making us more susceptible to illness.

It's time to change the way we clean our homes. Harsh chemicals and dangerous fumes impact our overall health, and there are many natural solutions that can take care of whatever ails the cleanliness of your home. Here are some tips to help bring natural solutions to your home:

• According to a survey, 71 per cent of the population living with smokers is concerned about indoor air pollutants caused by cigarettes - instead of adding more by spraying air fresheners and chemical deodorizers, try using baking soda boxes in strategic locations.

• When polled, 45 per cent of pet owners are concerned about how their furry friends can negatively affect air quality. While vacuuming regularly helps, customizable air filters like the Bionaire AER1 System can improve and reduce problematic odors quickly and safely without having to make Fido spend the night outside.

• If you're an at-home chef who enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, you know it is sometimes challenging to keep the colorful aroma where it belongs. Essential oils and diffusers help to neutralize overwhelming scents and replace them with inviting ones like cinnamon or lavender.

More information is available online at www.aer1system.com.