(Family Features) Cookouts provide the perfect opportunity to gather friends and family in the backyard for quality time to celebrate the season. When hosting, look to delicious, wholesome ingredients and recipes everyone will love. One great go-to food that never disappoints is the Wisconsin potato, and with five varieties to choose from, these hearty vegetables are easy to add to all your favorite dishes.

Get the facts about potatoes:

Wisconsin potatoes offer a variety of health benefits. In fact, one medium potato (5.3 ounces with skin) contains:

• Only 110 calories, zero fat and no gluten
• 45 percent of the daily value for vitamin C, 10 percent of B6 and 8 percent of fiber
• As much or more potassium (620mg) as spinach, broccoli or a banana

Find more health information, as well as recipes and purchasing and preparation tips, at www.EatWisconsinPotatoes.com.

Know your varieties

There are five different types of Wisconsin potatoes. Use this guide to purchase the right potato for your favorite dishes:

• Russet - Best used for baked dishes, or when making French fries or mashed potatoes; available year-round.
• Round white - Great for casseroles, gratins, soups, salads or roasted; available year-round.
• Round red - Best boiled, steamed, roasted or served in salads; available late summer to early fall.
• Yellow flesh - Can be baked, mashed or roasted; available from late summer to early spring.
• Blue and purple - Great for baked dishes, microwaved or steamed; available in the fall.

Cookout Potatoes

Ingredients

• Non-stick cooking spray
• 1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, very thinly sliced
• 1 1/3 cups shredded low-fat sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup real bacon bits
• 1/3 cup chopped bell pepper (any color)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Preparation

1. Spray 9 x 9 x 2-inch foil pan liberally with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Place half the onions, potatoes, cheese, bacon bits, bell pepper and garlic salt in pan. Repeat layers.
3. Cover tightly with foil; grill over medium heat for 1 hour, rotating pan occasionally to avoid hot spots.

Serves
Servings 8

Calories:	140g		Total Fat:	2.50g
Cholesterol:	10mg		Protein:	10g
Carbohydrates:			Sodium:	370mg

Preparation Time:
30 minutes

Grill Time:
60 minutes

Grilled Yellow Potato Planks

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 pounds (about 4) unpeeled yellow potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices

Preparation

1. Preheat grill.
2. Combine oil, garlic, rosemary and salt in dish. Add potato slices and turn until well coated.
3. Grill potatoes for 8 minutes or until soft. Turn and continue grilling 10 minutes longer or until cooked through.
4. Remove from grill and serve.

Serves
Servings 4

Calories:	280g		Total Fat:	11g
Cholesterol:	0mg		Protein:	4g
Carbohydrates:			Sodium:	310mg

Preparation Time:
15 minutes

Grill Time:
20 minutes

Grilled Potato Kabobs with Lemon Herb Drizzle

Ingredients

Lemon-Herb Drizzle

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (such as basil, rosemary, marjoram and sage)
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
• Juice of 1 fresh lemon
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Potato Kabobs

• 1 pound russet potatoes, scrubbed
• 1 (12 ounce) package precooked chicken sausage,
• sliced 1/4-inch-thick on the diagonal
• 2 ears fresh corn, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 zucchini, sliced 1/4-inch-thick on the diagonal

Preparation

1. Heat olive oil in small saucepan until very hot; remove from heat and stir in garlic. Let cool, then stir in herbs, salt, lemon juice and pepper; set aside.
2. Place potatoes in medium microwave-safe bowl and cover with lid or plastic wrap. If using plastic wrap, make sure plastic wrap is not touching any ingredients and poke one small hole in cover to vent.
3. Microwave on high for 10 to 12 minutes or until potatoes are tender (cooking time may vary depending on microwave). Use oven mitts to carefully remove from microwave.
4. When cool enough to handle, cut into large chunks. Thread potatoes, sausage and vegetables on skewers. Grill over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, turning frequently and brushing with a little of herb mixture during the last few minutes of cooking. Remove from grill and place on platter; drizzle with remaining herb mixture.

Serves
Servings 6

Calories:	340g		Total Fat:	18g
Cholesterol:	55mg		Protein:	15g
Carbohydrates:			Sodium:	680mg

Preparation Time:
20 minutes

Grill Time:
10 minutes

SOURCE:
Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers

(Family Features) Think ahead with a good yard-care routine this year so you’ll have a backyard oasis through the year for entertaining or simply relaxing and enjoying the hazy, lazy days of summer with family and friends. There’s simply nothing that compares to running barefoot through the lush green grass, here are some tips to get started:

1. Begin with a good spring clean up, which includes raking leaves and removing debris, tree guards and burlap. Just be careful not to remove mulch from perennials or shrubs too early, or to rake your flower garden too vigorously. Doing so could damage the soil, tendering new bulbs and emerging plants.
2. Clean, repair, sharpen, lubricate and tune all of your garden tools, mowers and trimmers, so they are ready to go when you are.
3. Testing your soil is the starting point of any lawn fertilization program. Consider testing your soil each time you plant new seed. State Extension services and private labs offer kits that let you mail in soil samples for analysis. The reports will give you an accurate reading of what your lawn needs and how much of it should be applied. While tests don’t have to be done every year, they are a good idea every three or four years.
4. Control crabgrass, dandelions and clover, three of the most common weeds you’re likely to see trying to take hold in your lawn. Crabgrass is best tackled before it emerges from the ground and begins to grow leaves. Conversely, members of the broadleaf weed family – like dandelions, clover, plantain, chickweed, and spurge – require a treatment that comes into direct contact with the plant’s leaves, so they must be dealt with, once they’ve made their appearance known. Be sure to choose a product that is best suited for your region, especially if living in the south.

   For a simple spring lawn care routine, try GreenView with GreenSmart Crabgrass Control plus Lawn Food, and Broadleaf Weed Control plus Lawn Food in a zero-phosphate formulation. In addition to handling tough weeds, they also fertilize in one easy application. The broadleaf control kills over 250 of the toughest weeds, as listed on the package label.

   Look for lawn fertilizers with a slow-release nitrogen ingredient for strong roots and long lasting results. Once you get it on the lawn – you’ll be done for the season because the slow-release nitrogen provides your lawn with controlled, steady nutrition – resulting in thicker, healthier grass. That means no excess growth, and less mowing.

5. Set your mowing height at 2 1/2 to 3 inches and mow at the same height all growing season. Try not to remove more than 3/4 inch of grass at any single mowing. Whenever possible, mow during the cooler morning or evening hours to avoid damage to the turf.

SOURCE:
GreenView

(Family Features) A beautiful landscape doesn’t happen on its own. You can help your lawn, trees and shrubs get off to a healthy growing season.

“Trees and shrubs add tremendous appeal to our urban home environments, but to thrive, particularly out of their natural world, they require regular care with added nutrients and protection against invasive pests,” said Ben Hamza, Ph.D., director of technical operations at TruGreen.

Here are some lawn and landscape tips to help you take care of your yard this spring.

Clean Up: New spring growth can be hampered if it’s covered with debris. Clean out dead leaves, branches, trash or anything else that could impair your lawn’s growth.

Prune Properly: Corrective pruning of your trees and shrubs can make them not only look better, but help them grow better, too.

• Don’t top-shear overgrown shrubs or trees – thin them out to preserve their shape.
• Spring-blooming plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia and lilacs should only be pruned after they flower.

Put the Right Plants in the Right Place: When you’re ready to plant new plants, make sure you put them where they’ll thrive.

• Be sure you know the light requirements for a new plant.
• Fences or other structures can restrict air flow, which can interfere with growth.
• Make sure you have the right type of grass for your lawn. Wherever grass has a hard time growing, plant shady ground covers instead.
• If you’re considering sod, make sure the temperature is warm enough for grass growth. Firmly pack sod into the soil and water as needed to encourage deep root growth.

Nourish the Roots: Spring lawn, tree and shrub roots seek nourishment after the dormancy of winter.

• Make sure your early spring fertilizer has less nitrogen and more phosphorus to promote strong roots. Consider a professional company, such as TruGreen, which will design a custom plan to give your yard exactly what it needs.
• Be sure to keep fertilizer on target to prevent run-off, and sweep fertilizer granules that may reach pavement back onto your lawn. 

Get Ready to Water: Give your lawn a slow, steady watering about once a week, but adjust depending upon rainfall, grass and soil type in your area.

• Follow the owner’s operating manual to take an automated sprinkler system out of hibernation. Ensure sprinkler heads and related water lines are working properly.
• Make sure the irrigation system covers your landscape efficiently. For example, you can place a one-inch deep, empty food can in the middle of the lawn area to measure the depth of water collected after each watering cycle to ensure uniformity. 

Mulch the Right Way: Mulch can keep soil in place, reduce weeds and retain moisture. But you need to make sure you’re doing it right.

• When the soil has warmed up, apply three inches of organic mulch to base of shrubs and trees to help conserve soil moisture and to reduce weed pressure. But be mindful not to cover the flare of the tree base in mulch “volcanoes,” which can lead to rot.
• When your lawn is actively growing, return grass clippings back to the soil for added lawn nutrients and consider using composted materials to nourish plants.

SOURCE:
TruGreen

(Family Features) Everyone wants a lush, green lawn come warm weather season and while many homeowners use green solutions for their home, they may forget to extend those practices beyond the brick and mortar. But using sustainable practices can lead to a green lawn your family can enjoy all season long.

According to the 2011 Environmental Lawn and Garden Survey from the National Gardening Association (NGA), 79 percent of U.S. households report that it’s important to use environmentally friendly practices on lawns and landscapes – residential, municipal and commercial. But that same survey found that only 17 percent of respondents gave their own lawn care maintenance methods a “green” grade. This is down from 28 percent, compared to the 2008 survey.
 
Black & Decker® and Clean Air ® Lawn Care – the nation’s leading full-service sustainable lawn care company – have teamed up to help spread the word about practical and affordable lawn care methods. Use these tips to help care for your lawn and garden this year – in more ways than one:

Mow tall – The correct mowing height is one of the most critical issues in keeping your lawn healthy and lush. Make sure your mower’s blades are sharp and take no more than 1/3 the length of the grass off each time.

Go electric – Without the need for gas or oil to operate your outdoor equipment, you can tend to your lawn, garden and landscaping using electric products. Electric tools also save you money compared to using gas-powered outdoor equipment. Learn more about the convenience of electric products, like Black & Decker’s new 36V Lithium-ion Cordless String Trimmer/Edger at http://blackanddecker.com/recharge.

Water slowly, deeply and less frequently – Proper watering will allow your grass to grow deeper roots, making it less vulnerable to drought. Make sure to identify the type of grass in your yard and be aware of the recommended frequency of watering for that variety. Also, water early in the morning, so less moisture evaporates throughout the course of a hot day.

Be cautious when using pesticides – Remember, all pesticides are toxic to some degree and may harm people, wildlife and pets. Pesticides can also kill beneficial organisms, such as worms, disrupting the ecological balance in your yard.

Recycle your grass clippings – According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 27 percent of landfills were filled with grass clippings and yard waste in 2011.

Help to eliminate this waste by composting. Learn about composting techniques at www.epa.gov.

Choose lawn care services – If you prefer to leave your yard maintenance to the experts, choose a lawn care service company like Clean Air Lawn Care. Unlike some lawn care companies, this company utilizes electric tools, such as Black & Decker’s outdoor products, and biodiesel-powered equipment for lawn mowing and landscape maintenance, and charges its equipment during the day with solar panels mounted on its service trucks.

SOURCE:
Black and Decker

(Family Features) When it’s time to sell your home, you want to do everything you can to make it enticing to potential buyers. One of the most important things you can do is boost your home’s curb appeal.

In fact, the National Association of Realtors says that curb appeal sells 49 percent of all homes. To help you build curb appeal from the ground up, TruGreen and Jason Cameron, licensed contractor and TV host, have teamed up to give you some simple, doable tips to improve your lawn and landscape.

Water Right

Improper watering can be a big drain on curb appeal. Check the working condition of sprinkler heads and water lines to make sure they’re working properly. To ensure your manual or automated watering system covers the landscape efficiently, set a one-inch deep empty food can in the middle of your lawn so you can measure the depth of water collected each watering cycle. In addition:

• Don’t over water. Watering too much can result in shallow plant roots, weed growth, storm water runoff, and the possibility of disease and fungus development. Give your lawn a slow, steady watering about once a week. Adjust your watering schedule depending on rainfall, as well as your grass and soil type. Trees and shrubs need longer, less frequent watering than plants with shallower roots.
• The best time to water is early morning, between 4 and 7 a.m. This helps reduce evaporation, since the sun is low, winds are usually calmer and temperatures cooler. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that you can lose as much as 30 percent of water to evaporation by watering midday. Always be mindful of local water restrictions.
• Take advantage of rain. Let nature water your landscape as much as possible. Rain barrels are a great way to harvest rain for watering your plants later on – and it saves you money on your water bill, too.

Complement With Color

Create an instant pop of color to help your home’s curb appeal bloom this spring. Consider your home’s exterior when selecting flowering plant combinations for plant beds, window boxes or front porch planters. With a white house, any color combination will work well. With a yellow house, red or pink blooms tend to complement best.

Here are some other colorful tips to keep in mind:

• For a calming effect, use cooler colors like blue, green and purple. They blend into the landscape for a peaceful look.
• Bold colors add excitement to the landscape. Warm yellows, oranges and reds make the garden lively. Yellow reflects more light than other colors, so yellow flowers will get noticed first.
• To brighten up a dark or shady corner, use pale colors, like pastel pinks and yellows.
• Not all color needs to come from flowers. Foliage can be a great landscape enhancer, so look for colorful grasses and plants like silvery lamb’s ear, variegated hostas, and Japanese painted ferns.

Grass vs. Weeds

Weeds are plants growing where you do not want them to grow. They can be unsightly in both your lawn and landscape beds.

Grassy weeds can be subdivided into annual and perennial grasses. Annual grassy weeds, such as crabgrass and annual bluegrass, are generally easier to control than perennial grassy weeds like dallisgrass and bentgrass. Left uncontrolled from seed, crabgrass alone can choke out desired turfgrasses and develop ugly seed heads in the summer and fall that lay the groundwork for next season’s crop.

No matter what your weed problems are, a lawn care approach that works in one region of the country doesn’t necessarily work the same in another area.

According to Ben Hamza, Ph.D., TruGreen expert and director of technical operations, TruGreen will design a custom plan to provide your yard exactly what it needs to give your lawn the right start.

“We offer customized lawn care designed specifically to meet your lawn’s needs throughout the year based on climate, grass type, soil condition and usage. And we back it up with our Healthy Lawn Guarantee,” Hamza said.

To get more tips, and to watch Jason Cameron in seasonal webisodes on curb appeal on behalf of TruGreen, visit www.TruGreen.com.

3 Ways to Boost Curb Appeal for Under $100

Want to add curb appeal, but don’t have much money to spend? Here are some simple things you can do for under $100.

• Clean up the yard. Put away unused items, like lawn furniture. Clear leaves and branches out from under shrubs, other plants, and the house foundation. Make sure the lawn is free from debris and that grass clippings are not left on the driveway or sidewalk. Borrow or rent a power washer to clean off the driveway, steps, sidewalk and porch.
• Trim, prune and divide. Overgrown plants can block light from getting inside the house, and they make the house and yard look unkempt. Trim shrubs, making sure to remove dead branches. Get rid of dead or diseased plants in the landscape. If you have perennial plants that have gotten too big, divide them and plant them in other places around the landscape.
• Add new mulch. Mulch not only helps your plants, but it gives garden beds a neat and tidy finish. Wood mulch comes in different colors, but to showcase your plants the most, consider a dark brown mulch – it resembles fresh, healthy soil, so your eyes are drawn toward the plant and not the mulch itself.

Jason Cameron, licensed contractor and TV host, says that color plays an important role in boosting your home’s curb appeal.

SOURCE:
TruGreen

Have Your Cake and Ice Cream, Too

Triple Chocolate Cake Sundae
Ice Cream and Cake Sticks

(Family Features) The combination of cake and ice cream is a must-have for any special occasion. To have one without the other is a travesty-it’s like leaving the cheese off macaroni or peanut butter without jelly. While this perfect pairing is usually reserved for birthdays, anniversaries and other special events, the new line of cake and ice cream flavors from Blue Bunny and Chef Duff Goldman allow you to enjoy this dynamic duo of desserts no matter the occasion. Simply open the freezer and enjoy!

Blue Bunny and Chef Duff also collaborated to create fun, decadent recipes that are sure to excite and entice even the most discriminating cake and ice cream connoisseurs. Ice cream and cake sticks are great for individual bite-sized desserts and the Triple Chocolate Cake Sundae is packed with flavor and fun. Try both recipes and determine for yourself which one takes the cake.

Triple Chocolate Cake Sundae

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons half and half cream
• 1 bar (3.5 ounces) high quality white chocolate cut into small pieces
• 4 1/2 cup scoops Blue Bunny Chef Premium Chocolate Lovers Triple Chocolate Cake Ice Cream
• 1 cup fresh raspberries, divided

Preparation

1. In small microwave-safe bowl, combine half and half and white chocolate. Microwave on high, 30 seconds. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Heat an additional 10 seconds if not melted.
2. Cover and refrigerate until thickened to a medium sauce, about 50 minutes. Gently fold in 1/4 cup raspberries.
3. If sauce thickens too much during refrigeration, re-warm in microwave for 10 seconds. (Recipe tested in a 1250 watt microwave. Adjust cooking times accordingly.)
4. Place ice cream into 4 serving bowls. Top each with 2 tablespoons white chocolate-raspberry sauce and 4 fresh raspberries.

Serves
Makes 4 servings

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Chocolate lovers will adore this sundae topped with a white chocolate-raspberry sauce.

Ice Cream and Cake Sticks

Ingredients

• 8 scoops (1/2 carton) Blue Bunny Premium Red Carpet Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• Vegetable oil
• 8 Lollipop sticks
• Butterscotch, chocolate or caramel sauce, optional
• Whipped cream, optional

Preparation

1. Place ice cream balls on baking sheet lined with wax paper and freeze for at least 2 hours. In a medium-sized bowl, beat eggs and sugar with fork until well blended. Place panko crumbs in another soup bowl or medium-sized bowl. Dip ice cream balls into egg mixture, then roll in panko bread crumbs, coating completely. Freeze 1 hour.
2. Heat oil in deep-fat fryer to 375°F. Fry ice cream balls, one at a time, until golden brown, or 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove from oil and insert lollipop stick. Top with drizzle of butterscotch, chocolate or caramel sauce and dollop of whipped cream, if desired. Serve immediately.

Serves
Makes 8 servings

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
This version of the recipe includes the popular Red Carpet Red Velvet, but experiment with ice cream flavors and toppings and find the combination you enjoy most.

SOURCE:
Blue Bunny