Recipe:  Olive Garden Chicken Milanese

All types of cuisines, from Italian to Latin to Asian, have a set of core staples that are essential to creating a distinctively authentic meal.

More often than not, Italian fare rises to the top of the preferred cuisines list, so Chef Paolo Lafata, director of Olive Garden's Culinary Institute of Tuscany, provides a little education about Italian dishes by sharing the top five essential ingredients needed to prepare fresh and delicious Italian dishes.

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Recipes by Bobby Flay:

Most parents face the same mealtime dilemma - making affordable and convenient food that the whole family will like. Time is short, palates are picky and some fear it will cost too much to put real food on the table.
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay joined the Hellmann's® and Best Foods® Real Food Project to help moms tackle the barriers to real food in simple and helpful ways. "Real food does not have to be complicated. With a few basic ingredients, it's easy to create a meal you can feel good about serving the whole family," said Flay.

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Recipes:

With spice consumption at an all-time high across America, it's an exciting time for flavor. According to the McCormick® Flavor Forecast®, different tastes, textures and colors are mixed and matched to deliver fun and excitement to eating.

"We're seeing a more adventuresome spirit in the kitchen - playful takes on America's favorites that bring both the comfort of familiarity and the energy of the unexpected," says Larry Tong, McCormick chef. "For example, nishes." a contemporary combination of mustard seed and vermouth sparks a martini-inspired steak kabob, complete with onion and olive garnish.

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Baby Food Recipes:

When it comes to caring for your bundle of joy, you only want what's best. And these days, with early nutrition top-of-mind for many, it's no wonder that a growing number of parents are turning to homemade baby food to help instill healthy eating habits from the start.

Prepping and pureeing easy, everyday ingredients in the home also gives you the satisfaction of knowing exactly what is going into your baby's belly, from avocado and green beans to diced apples, sweet potatoes and peaches. Using fresh-from-the-market finds also lets you avoid preservatives and additives. And by introducing a variety of healthy foods at an early age, parents can help children develop a taste for similar flavors for the rest of their lives.

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Recipes:

Brunch is the ultimate way to gather friends and celebrate special occasions. Instead of going out, host your brunch at home where you can relax and make everything delicious with your favorite flavors from McCormick.

"An at-home brunch is the perfect opportunity to express the flavors of the season with herbs and spices - sweet and warm cinnamon brightens Stuffed French Toast, while lively ginger, savory thyme and unmistakable vanilla all contribute to an unforgettable occasion your guests will enjoy," said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens.

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Basil Pesto Recipe

Pesto is a sauce that orginiated in northern Italy. It traditionally consists of crushed garlic, basil, and pine nuts blended with olive oil and Parmigiano Reggiano (parmesan cheese). It must be my Italian heritage, every summer I plant tons of basil everywhere from my flower beds to my vegetable garden. Basil is one of the few herbs I grow that won't winter over in South Carolina. I dry enough for family and friends to last through the winter and also make batches of Basil Pesto to freeze. Yes, it freezes quite well.

Don't limit yourself, there are more ways to use pesto than as a sauce for pasta. Use pesto as a pizza topper, a sauce for grilled meats, mixed with mashed potatoes or tossed with your favorite vegetables. The possibilities are endless.