Recipe |Make your St. Patrick’s Day spread green with envy

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Culinary.net - Freshen up your St. Patrick’s Day menu with easy, light sandwiches inspired by the traditional color of the festivities. These open-faced noshes can be perfect for lunch, snack time or even as an appetizer for get-togethers with friends and family.

Layered with a smooth cream cheese and mozzarella mixture then topped with crisp cucumber and a stem of green bell pepper, these St. Patrick’s Day Sandwiches are easy and cute, which makes them a fan favorite at nearly any green gathering. They’re also sprinkled with lemon juice to add a little acidity and create a nice, light bite.

Plus, this recipe is quick to make. When you’re in a rush to get everything on the table for the party, it’s easy to throw together and get on the platter in next to no time.

The sandwiches pop off the plate with their bright, seasonal garnishes. While sure to attract attention and have your loved ones asking “Where did you get this idea?” they’re also an easy way to sneak a few vegetables into your kids’ diets.

For more festive recipes and ideas at Culinary.net.

St. Patrick’s Day Sandwiches
Yield: 8 sandwiches

8 ounces plain cream cheese spread, softened
1 cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese
salt
4 English muffins
24 slices cucumber
8 thin slices green pepper
fresh cilantro leaves
lemon juice
lemon slices, for garnish (optional)

In bowl, mix cream cheese spread, mozzarella cheese and salt well.

Split English muffins in half. Cut each muffin half into shamrock shape.

Spread cheese mixture over each muffin half.

Place three cucumbers on each “shamrock,” one on each “leaf.” Use green pepper slice as stem. Place cilantro leaf on top of each sandwich.

Sprinkle sandwiches with lemon juice and add lemon slices, for garnish, if desired.

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The worst BBQ ingredient ever: wire brush bristles

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Why hundreds of people in the U.S. are sent to the emergency room each year

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by Matt Sheehan
OSF Healthcare

Summer has arrived, and that means grilling season has come back after its winter hibernation.

But as Americans enjoy grilling their burgers, chicken, vegetables and more, there’s one ingredient you want to steer clear of.

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Dr. Brian Curtis, M.D

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"These short, metal brushes that you clean your grill with," Brian Curtis, M.D., vice president of the Clinical Specialty Services at OSF HealthCare says. "There are about 150-200 cases a year that occur in the United States. They may be underreported, but those are the ones that we know about."

While barbecues over an outdoor grill are a great way for people to come together and enjoy a meal, Dr. Curtis says it could be an extremely painful experience if you end up swallowing a bristle from a wire brush.

"The bristles can become embedded in your tongue. They can be embedded in the back of your throat, esophagus, stomach, and small intestine," Dr. Curtis says. "They can cause perforations, because it’s like swallowing a small needle. There are people every year that have surgeries trying to find these small objects because they are very tiny."

So how can you keep your food on the grill from getting an unwanted extra ingredient? Dr. Curtis says it’s all about preparation.

"You can use aluminum foil. Some people use nylon (scrapers)," Dr. Curtis says. "I just use a wool brush on mine. If you don’t want to go away from the wire brush, then you really have to inspect your grill very closely to make sure there’s nothing stuck on it."

Dr. Curtis says if you believe you’ve swallowed a wire brush bristle, you need to be evaluated immediately.

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Recipe: A heaping serving of homework motivation

Family Features -- Heading back to school doesn't have to mean forgetting the fun of warm weather treats. Once the homework is done and you've enjoyed dinner with loved ones, turn your attention to a dessert that tastes like it was prepared by a professional baker.

This S'mores Skillet starts with a sweet brownie base made with Domino Light Brown Sugar and is then infused and topped with traditional s'mores ingredients. Just combine in a skillet then bake - or grill for that familiar outdoor feel - until warm and gooey.

The next time you invite friends over to celebrate after a home football or volleyball game victory, try this easy-to-make recipe that will light up any party with ear-to-ear grins.

Find more dessert ideas to sweeten up the back-to-school season and postgame celebrations at DominoSugar.com.

S'mores Skillet

Prep time: 30 minutes / Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6

8 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup Domino Light Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup mini marshmallows, divided
6 graham crackers, roughly crumbled, divided

Step-by-step

Preheat oven or grill to 350 F.

Place medium heat-proof bowl over medium saucepan simmering with water. Add butter, 1/4 cup chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate; melt. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool 15 minutes.

In small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt.

In large bowl, mix eggs, sugar and vanilla. Add chocolate mixture and mix until well combined. Stir in flour mixture. Add 1/4 cup chocolate chips, 1/2 cup mini marshmallows and three graham crackers to batter.

Pour mixture into 8-inch skillet. Top with remaining mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and graham crackers. Grill or bake 10-12 minutes. Remove from grill. Cool 10 minutes and serve.