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Green goodness: 4 reasons to love homegrown produce

Are you one of the 185 million Americans who garden? If not, it’s time to consider joining the crowd. Gardening can be an incredibly rewarding hobby, especially if you grow your own produce.

When you grow your own fruits and vegetables, you can taste the difference between a store-bought tomato and one you pick fresh from the vine. Still not convinced? Discover four ways you can benefit from growing your own food.

1. Savor the taste and the savings

Growing your own produce guarantees you have the freshest possible fruits and vegetables at the best price. Inflation is top of mind for most Americans, and one especially spendy category is groceries. According to a recent U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey analysis, the average household spending on groceries is $1,080 a month. That increases to $1,260 per month for a four-person household.

https://www.telegraphherald.com/online_features/food_recipes_entertaining/article_aa758196-f5cc-5205-99c3-3c72c58b23f2.html

Apple Guacamole

Nearly everyone is looking for that next fun yet easy dish to make for friends and family. Whether it’s for a birthday party, anniversary celebration, date night or just a friendly neighbor stopping by for an afternoon of visiting, you can strive to impress with some of the latest recipes.

Most get-togethers call for something spunky, delicious and easy to serve. Try this Apple Guacamole, which hits every mark and is sure to leave your guests wanting more. With every scoop, their taste buds will fire, and they will think, “I’ve never tasted anything like this before.”

https://www.telegraphherald.com/news/features/article_cd01c91a-2754-58f4-919f-b85a5fd5ebae.html

Chicken shawarma in a bowl is a tasty, healthy meal

Protein bowls are appealing for many reasons, the biggest of which is they’re incredibly versatile.

Whether you top them with a lean meat like roasted chicken or a fatty, good-for-you fish like salmon — or opt for a vegetarian source of protein such as tofu or canned chickpeas — bowls can fill you up with countless combinations, while also making you feel great about how well you’re eating.

Plus, they’re easy to assemble on a busy weeknight or quick lunch break, without the need for any fancy-pants equipment. Besides its namesake dish, all that’s really required to create the perfect lunch or dinner bowl is a cutting board for all the chopping (of toppings) and a small bowl for a bit of mixing (of sauce).

https://www.telegraphherald.com/news/features/article_63ea769f-e860-59e4-989e-4f58df51fb12.html

Quick Fix: Stacked Goat Cheese Quesadillas with Avocado Lettuce Salad

You can let your oven do the work for these crunchy, vegetarian quesadillas. They’re filled with goat cheese and red kidney beans flavored with cumin and fresh cilantro.

Placing your baking tray in the oven while it preheats means that when you add the tortillas the bottom layers will be crisp. I used a food processor to quickly mix the filling ingredients. Avocado tossed with lettuce adds a refreshing finish to the meal.