SUMMER entertainment can be even more fun when you follow some budget-friendly tips, according to Today Show host Joy Bauer.
The health and nutrition expert’s budget-friendly barbecue tricks and decorative designs for a penny will save you time and money.
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HUGE AND JUICY BURGERS
Bauer shared how to get the most bang for your burger buck with The US Sun.
“Instead of plain burgers, you can take ground turkey, or any meat of your choice, add all the seasonings, take a bag of spinach leaves and chop them really fine,” she said.
“You combine it with the meat and increase the volume, so you get these big, huge burgers,” she continued.
You’ll also get more nutritional value, as she explained how spinach offers a boost of vitamin C, fiber, and lots of antioxidants.
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For extra flavor, the certified nutritionist recommends adding soy sauce, garlic, onion, and Worcestershire sauce.
SALVAR CAESAR SALAD
She also has flavorful tips for elevating a classic grilled chicken Caesar salad.
For even bigger savings, be sure to buy in bulk.
“If you go to a Costco or Sam’s Club, you’ll find more romaine hearts in a bag,” she said.
“You want to keep the ends intact so they stay together. “I cut each one down the center, and you simply place them on the baking sheet and spray with a little olive oil spray,” she continued.
“I add some salt and pepper and grill them so they get charred – they’re incredibly delicious and each person gets one or two of them.”
For faster cooking, it grills the chicken at the same time.
SECRETLY HEALTHIER
Another pro tip includes some healthy substitutions.
“Instead of carb-loaded croutons, I use toasted chopped walnuts or walnuts to get that crunch,” she said.
“I make an avocado Caesar dressing. It’s so good your guests won’t even know it’s not a Caesar dressing except for the fact that it’s green.”
Bauer also always bets that her buffalo chicken salad will be the tasty, budget-friendly star of any party.
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“I buy economy rotisserie chickens – I remove the skin and tear everything apart with my fingers, then add scallions and hot sauce, she said.
Its “velvety” buffalo orange dressing includes cottage cheese, lemon juice and spices, plus pre-shredded coleslaw.
SWANKINESS TO SAVE MONEY
Updating your outdoor space with a few easy, affordable methods can also turn you into the Martha Stewart of any summer party.
“You can buy external dispensers that make beautiful spa water when packed with sliced cucumbers, lemons and limes, as well as floating strawberries,” she said.
“These things don’t fit in the dispenser, but they look really pretty, and as you refine the water, you get all the colors.”
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She also suggested using basil, mint or dill to give the impression that you are a “foodie” who spent hours planning everything.
“It’s a last-minute meeting you can count on,” she said.
Being prepared for the next party means having plastic jugs or vases ready to go, according to Bauer.
Instead of fighting potentially messy glass-break accidents, she said plastic items are ideal to have on hand in case people bring flowers.
“It’s great as a host to show them that you’re enjoying your flowers by cutting them and putting them up right away,” she said.
MORE HEALTHY TRICKS
For even better grilling without unhealthy compounds, she suggests using an olive oil-based marinade or a dry paste.
“The marinade acts as a protectant and you can do this for 15 to 30 minutes before throwing it on the grill,” she said.
“It does double duty — it gives a lot of lift and flavor and will make your stuff so much healthier,” she continued.
Choosing leaner cuts, as well as smaller pieces of meat, and reducing fat also means less worry about the harmful risks associated with grilling.
“When the fat hits the heat and rises, there is a surge of compounds, so the goal is to reduce grilling time.
Skinless chicken thighs and breasts are another healthy option.
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If you really want to keep up with Bauer, make some kabobs—you’ll cut down on the “bad stuff” by introducing vegetables into the mix.
She especially recommends her ratatouille skewers, which she makes by pouring marinara sauce over the meat of your choice after it caramelizes off the grill.
Even picky eaters can be fooled by her grilled mushroom caps, which she turns into portabella pizzas.
She also thinks that one food doesn’t get as much love as it should: corn.
“It has tons of antioxidants and one corn on the cob is so easy to make,” she said.
EASY EXCHANGES
She also has some easy ways to satisfy your summer cravings without the carbs—and without sacrificing flavor.
With her pecan-peach coleslaw, she skips the mayonnaise and goes for peach-flavored nonfat Greek yogurt for “pops” of juicy, naturally sweet peaches.
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Bauer’s Thai Coleslaw is made up of shelled edamame—rich in fiber and omega-three fats—as well as the “easiest” DIY peanut sauce ever.
For your mango cashew coleslaw, chop ripe mangoes or grab frozen mango chunks.
Her pesto pasta salad utilizes basil, a summertime staple, while her sweet potato and carrot salad cuts carbs by incorporating carrots instead of white potatoes.
“It has the same creamy, sweet flavor and orange color,” she said.
“You won’t even miss the extra potato.”
If you want to copy their grilled peach caprese burger, simply layer any vegetable or meat of your choice with grilled peaches, fresh basil, mozzarella cheese, and balsamic glaze.
If you grow mint or basil and need to find something to do with it, just make a Mediterranean quinoa salad with pistachios, parmesan, and as many summer herbs as you can grow.
Bauer is also preparing to launch its own line of multivitamins for the over-50 crowd, as well as no-sugar-added muffins under its Joyly brand.
“They’re super moist and taste like the delicious comfort food we crave, but they’re packed with protein and have no added sugar, just a little monkfish,” she said.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
