Month: June 2020

Charcuterie boards may not be new but they have become one of the hottest food trends as of late and for good reason! They’re pretty to look at, offer an array of delicious foods, and they’re perfect for sharing on date night, with friends, or for parties. Not to mention the display offers you the perfect “Instagrammable” moment. But people are getting more creative than ever and are creating food boards that feature more than cured meats and cheese! We’ve seen everything from pancake boards to build-your-own-baked potato boards and they just keep getting better! Follow along as we roundup the most creative party platters that are even better than charcuterie boards.

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1. Burger Board

Fire up the grill and make this epic burger board that combines grilled burgers and all the toppings you’ve ever dreamed of. This impressive platter is going to capture everyone’s attention. A burger board would be perfect for parties or a casual dinner with friends and/or family. The presentation is simply on point.

https://thebakermama.com/recipes/boards/build-your-own-burger-board/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: THE BAKER MAMA

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2. Baked Potato Board

There’s something irresistibly delicious about baked potatoes, especially when they’re loaded with toppings. But why not let your guests build their own baked potatoes instead, loaded with the toppings that they love! Sandy from Reluctant Entertainer shares how you can prep and assemble this epic baked potato board and it’s so darn easy. Some great toppings include crispy bacon, sour cream, chives, chili, cheese, and whatever else your heart desires!

https://reluctantentertainer.com/epic-baked-potato-dinner-board/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: RELUCTANT ENTERTAINER

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3. Chicken Wing Board

Skip the restaurant and enjoy wing night at home! This impressive chicken wing board is perfect for game day, parties, or an impressive family dinner. This platter not only scores points in presentation but it’s full of delicious foods too. Load the platter up with your favorite wings, nachos, dips, and fresh veggies!

https://www.strawberryblondiekitchen.com/chicken-wing-platter/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: STRAWBERRY BLONDE KITCHEN

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4. S’MORES Dessert Board

S’mores are an essential part of every campfire, right? So go ahead and impress your friends with this epic s’mores dessert board. It’s loaded with everything you need to make delicious s’mores from marshmallows to assorted chocolates, cookies, graham crackers, and more. Don’t forget the roasting sticks!

https://www.number-2-pencil.com/smores-dessert-board-dessert-charcuterie-board/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: NO. 2 PENCIL

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5. Hot Dog Board

If you thought the hamburger board was impressive check out this hot dog board! Hot dogs are very easy to make, are liked by both kids and adults alike and are a perfect food to serve at parties. That said, hot dogs can be quite boring, unless you serve them in this fun hot dog board, of course! You can load the board with delicious sides like fresh fruit and salad but you’ll also want to toss in many delicious toppings too. Some great toppings include classics like ketchup, mustard, and relish but you can get creative too by offering toppings like chili, cheese, fried onions, and beyond!

https://reluctantentertainer.com/epic-hot-dog-board-for-twelve/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: RELUCTANT ENTERTAINER

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6. Pancake Board

This pancake board turns every breakfast into a party! But hey, we don’t judge so go ahead and serve this for dinner. This awesome board is equipped with all your favorite pancake toppings like fresh fruits, chocolate, syrup, and whipped cream. It’s even served with a few other breakfast favorites like scrambled eggs and crispy bacon strips! This epic board is fit for Saturday breakfast, Mother’s Day brunch, or any other special occasion worth celebrating!

https://thebakermama.com/recipes/pancake-board/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE BAKER MAMA

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7. French Fry Board

Skip the drive-thru because this French fry board is better than anything you could ever imagine. Even though fries are typically served as a side dish, they certainly steal the spotlight when served on a platter like this! You could even pair this board with the burger, hot dog, or wing platter for an epic meal to share with friends and family. Cook up your favorite type of fries and serve with a variety of sauces — so easy!

http://www.thedeliciouslife.com/french-fry-board-how-to/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE DELICIOUS LIFE

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8. Vegan Charcuterie Board

The vegan diet is on the rise and shows no sign of stopping. With more people seeking healthier, and flexitarian options this vegan charcuterie board would be a great platter to serve at any party. This board is loaded with fresh veggies, fruit, nuts, hummus, and vegan-friendly meat and cheese. Since the plant-based diet has become so popular you should have no issues finding vegan-friendly foods at your local grocery store!

https://www.emilieeats.com/epic-vegan-charcuterie-board/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: EMILIE EATS

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9. Bruschetta Board

A bruschetta board doesn’t only look pretty but it’s a great way to allow your friends to assemble their appetizers with toppings they enjoy. All you have to do is grill slices of your favorite bread and place your toppings in serving bowls. This recipe provides great tips from what type of toppings to pick to how and when you should assemble your bruschetta board. Want to make this bruschetta board even more special? Serve it with your favorite bottles of wine and enjoy a fun night with friends!

https://www.countrysidecravings.com/make-your-own-bruschetta-bar/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: COUNTRYSIDE CRAVINGS

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10. Charcuterie Kabobs

If you’re craving a classic charcuterie board but are still looking to try something different then give our charcuterie kabobs a try! They feature all the same ingredients you have come to know and love like cured meats, fresh veggies, and cheese but this time it’s served on a stick! This also makes it a great grab and go appetizer — perfect for parties! Once again you can always customize the ingredients to feature foods you love. You may also enjoy serving the kabobs with fresh bread and assorted dipping options like mustard, balsamic vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil.

https://www.forkly.com/recipes/quick-and-easy-party-pleasing-charcuterie-kabobs/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY

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11. Breakfast Taco Board

If you thought the pancake board was fun check out this breakfast taco board! Tacos aren’t only fun for dinner but they can make a wholesome and delicious breakfast too! This board features tortillas, scrambled eggs, bacon, breakfast sausage, and loads of wonderful fresh toppings. Not only is making breakfast tacos fun, but everyone will appreciate being able to customize their tacos to how they like them!

https://thebakermama.com/recipes/build-your-own-breakfast-taco-board/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE BAKER MAMA

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12. Hot Chocolate Board

Nothing quite beats warming up with a cup of hot cocoa, especially on a cold day, or to keep you cozy by a campfire. But what would make hot cocoa even better (and perhaps more fun) would be serving you and your friends this hot chocolate board. You can start with your favorite hot chocolate mix and then load up the board with your favorite hot cocoa toppings — don’t be afraid to get creative!

https://www.number-2-pencil.com/hot-chocolate-dessert-charcuterie-board/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: NO. 2 PENCIL

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13. Summer Grilling Board

Grilling season is in full swing as soon as the warmer weather hits. What better way to serve up a perfectly grilled meal than with a summer grilling board! Fire up the grill and cook your favorite steak and grilled veggies then serve it on a platter. This is perfect for barbecues, Father’s Day, the July Fourth holiday, or for a fun family meal.

https://hipfoodiemom.com/2018/07/26/ultimate-summer-grilling-platter/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: HIP FOODIE MOM

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14. Brunch Board

This is yet another delicious brunch board! This one, however, features a few sophisticated ingredients like smoked salmon making it the perfect treat for Mother’s Day or bridal and baby showers. But really, you can serve this beautiful brunch board any weekend too. Along with smoked salmon, this board also features fresh bagels and bread, cream cheese, and other lovely fresh toppings like tomatoes, olives, and fruit.

https://flavorthemoments.com/smoked-salmon-breakfast-platter/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FLAVOR THE MOMENTS

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15. Family Movie Night Snack Board

What would make movie night better? Why snacks of course! But not just any snacks, this epic family movie night snack board! It features a plethora of options for everyone from fresh fruit to chocolate, crackers, candy, and more. So go ahead and pick your favorite snacks, arrange them on a board and sit back and relax with your family for a fun movie night!

https://reluctantentertainer.com/movie-night-snack-board/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: RELUCTANT ENTERTAINER

The post Creative Party Platters That Are Better Than Charcuterie Boards appeared first on Forkly.

Every year as cold and flu season approaches our bodies are put to the test. Will your body be able to fight off the viruses or will you catch the dreaded seasonal flu or cold? This is why building a strong immune system is so important so that your body is ready to fight off and protect you from viruses, bacteria, and other toxins you may come into contact with. While strong immunity doesn’t always guarantee that you won’t get sick, it may help you get over the sickness faster than someone who has a weaker immune system. Either way, it’s an important part of your health.

The immune system works by recognizing foreign substances (called antigens) and works to get rid of them to keep you healthy. While everyone is born with natural immunity and we gain an adaptive immunity throughout our lives by being exposed to diseases (or immunized through vaccines), it is still imperative to build up a healthy immune system through our own efforts. Maintaining, or building a strong immune system starts with proper hygiene, adequate sleep, managing stress, not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, daily exercise, and diet. Today, we’re going to dive into the top foods and recipes to boost your immune system, so that your body is equipped to combat whatever comes at it.

Note: Remember, we are not medical doctors. Be sure to speak to a medical professional before making any drastic dietary changes, or to seek more information on how to build strong immunity.

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1. Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are chock full of vitamin C which is known to strengthen your immune system. This is because it can help boost the production of white blood cells which play an important role in fighting off infections. Since your body doesn’t naturally produce or store Vitamin C, it’s so important to consume it daily. Some great ways to add more citrus into your diet is to drink lemon or lime water and freshly pressed orange or grapefruit juice. You can also find Vitamin C capsules on Amazon that can help you reach your daily quota.

Source: Shutterstock

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2. Ultimate Cold & Cough Smoothie Recipe

If you’re experiencing symptoms of a cold and/or cough, do yourself a favor and make this easy 2-minute smoothie. Not only will the smoothie provide you with relief but it will also help fight off the symptoms of your dreaded cold in an all-natural way! Our recipe requires immune-boosting ingredients like lemon, and ginger and comes together quickly with the help of a blender.

https://www.forkly.com/recipes/ultimate-cough-cold-remedy-smoothie/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY

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3. Red Bell Peppers

Citrus fruits often come to mind as the fruit that contains the most vitamin C but that’s actually not true! Red bell peppers have the most vitamin C of any fruit or vegetable. In fact, one cup of chopped bell pepper contains almost three times more vitamin C than an orange! Better yet, red bell peppers are a great source of beta carotene which our bodies convert to Vitamin A. This is an essential nutrient which not only boosts your immunity but also helps to maintain healthy skin and eyes!

Source: Shutterstock

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4. 5-Minute Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Sure you can enjoy red bell peppers raw or you can chop them into a salad or add them to a stir fry but you really need to try this roasted red pepper dip! It’s a great and fun way to add more red peppers into your diet! this dip is creamy, full of flavor, and incredibly easy to make. In fact, it can come together in just five minutes. You simply toss the six ingredients into a food processor, blend, serve, and enjoy! The dip can be enjoyed with fresh veggies, crackers, pita bread, or can be used as a sauce for sandwiches and pasta — your choice!

https://deliciouslittlebites.com/roasted-red-pepper-spread/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DELICIOUS LITTLE BITES

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5. Ginger

Ginger has a pungent spicy aroma and sweet yet peppery flavor. It’s also is known as a natural antibacterial which helps support your immune system. This is due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Not only can it help boost your immunity, but it can also act as a remedy when you are sick. Ginger can help prevent nausea, soothe an upset stomach, and it can also help reduce a sore throat. Some of the best ways to consume it are to boil it in water and to drink as a tea, added to soup or smoothies, or used as a seasoning.

Source: Shutterstock

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6. Homemade Ginger Shots

Ginger can add a lot of great flavor to a variety of dishes but you can also reap its benefits by blending it and drinking it as a shot. These homemade ginger shots are not only easy to make but include other immune-boosting ingredients like lemon and turmeric. Simply toss the ingredients into a blender, and store in the fridge for up to a week. Some would even recommend taking a shot daily leading up to cold and flu season so that your body is ready to fight viruses!

https://www.aline-made.com/apple-ginger-shot/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: ALINE MADE

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7. Turmeric

Turmeric is known for its bright golden color and its bitter flavor. But what you may not know is that it is known to help boost your immune system. This is all thanks to its active ingredient, curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties. There are so many ways to add turmeric into your diet such as adding it to soup, smoothies, lattes, and so much more.

Source: Shutterstock

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8. Healing Chicken Soup

There’s something so comforting about eating chicken soup when you’re sick and it’s more than nostalgia. If it’s made with the right ingredients, chicken soup can actually help ease your symptoms and could even act as a preventative to sickness. Our healing chicken soup recipe is chock full of immune-boosting ingredients like turmeric, chicken, and bone broth. This soup comes together quickly using an Instant Pot but you could also toss the ingredients into a slow cooker, or boil them on the stove-top — your choice!

https://www.forkly.com/recipes/instant-pot-healing-chicken-soup/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY

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9. Yogurt

Yogurt is an excellent food to eat that will keep your gut happy. It’s chock full of vitamins and protein and is also a great source of lactobacillus (a probiotic) that will help fight off the bad bacteria and in turn, give your immune system a boost! Here’s the catch, be sure to avoid overly processed yogurts as well as yogurts that are full of added sugar. It’s best to look for plain yogurt that contains “live and active cultures”. Don’t forget, you can always naturally sweeten the yogurt with fresh fruit and/or honey!

Source: Shutterstock

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10. Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad With Chicken

This is truly a powerhouse meal. It features not one but seven immune-boosting foods featured on our list! The base of the salad starts with nutrient-rich spinach and is combined with tender chicken, chopped red bell peppers, and a luxurious lemon ginger salad dressing. The recipe provides instructions to create the homemade dressing, homemade wonton strips, and how to assemble the salad. It’s full of wonderful flavor, great texture, and most importantly, your body will be thanking you for this meal!

https://www.cookingclassy.com/mandarine-orange-spinach-salad-with-chicken-and-lemon-honey-ginger-dressing/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: COOKING CLASSY

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11. Green Tea

While there are many great teas to choose from, green tea stands out from the rest. This is because in comparison to other types of tea, green tea has the highest concentration of polyphenols (plant compounds with antioxidant properties). This is what gives green tea it’s excellent immune-boosting effects. Green tea is also a good source of caffeine making it an excellent and healthy option if you’re looking for an afternoon pick me up.

Source: Shutterstock

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12. Poultry

Chicken noodle soup isn’t only comforting while your sick but poultry can actually help bolster your immunity too. Chicken and turkey are full of amino acids that your body uses to build antibodies to fight infections. Furthermore, boiling chicken and turkey in a soup will release chondroitin, gelatin, as well as other nutrients that may help promote a healthy gut and boost your immunity.

Source: Shutterstock

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13. Easy 90-Minute Bone Broth

Bone broth seems like all the rage nowadays but it’s for good reason! For starters, bone broth can help protect your bones and joints and it can even provide a natural source of energy making it a great swap for coffee. Not only that, but it has gut-healing properties which can help reduce inflammation in the body. You can drink it on its own or you can add it to soups, sauces and more! Most recipes require 24-48 hours of cooking but our bone broth recipe comes together in less than 2 hours with the help of an Instant Pot!

https://www.forkly.com/recipes/easy-90-minute-instant-pot-bone-broth/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY

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14. More Fruit

Citrus fruits and red bell peppers aren’t the only fruits that can help boost your immunity. Papayas and Kiwis are also great fruits that can help strengthen your immune system. This is because they’re chock full of vitamin C and K, as well as folate and potassium. Since these fruits are naturally sweet, it’s easy to add them to your daily diet!

Source: Shutterstock

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15. More Veggies

There are a plethora of healthy veggies that we should all be consuming more regularly but a few stand out from the rest. Broccoli and spinach are both superfoods as they contain many vitamins and minerals that play an important role in strengthening your immunity. The key thing with both broccoli and spinach is to cook it as little as possible to ensure these veggies retain their nutrients. You can enjoy broccoli raw with a dip while spinach can be easily incorporated into salads and sandwiches!

Source: Shutterstock

The post Top Foods And Recipes To Boost Your Immune System appeared first on Forkly.