TIP OF THE WEEK

Try a cooking hack with basic vinegar

Versatile vinegar does it again. Try one of these tips from The Vinegar Institute to make dinner prep easier.

• Add a few drops of vinegar to a nearly empty condiment bottle and shake. Whatever is left in the bottle will pour out easily.

• Soak fish in vinegar-and-water mixture before cooking. It will be sweeter, more tender and keep its shape, plus it will combat some of that fishy taste.

• When boiling eggs, add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water. If a shell cracks, the vinegar holds the egg white in place.

• Add 2 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar to every pint of water for an easy and effective fruit and vegetable wash.

• Add flavor to store-bought soups, gravies and spaghetti sauces with a splash of vinegar.

SUPERFOODS

Good for your diet

Although no one food holds the key to good health, according to healthline.com, the following might be worthy of the title “superfood.”

• Dark leafy green vegetables

• Berries like raspberries and strawberries

• Green tea beverages

• Legumes like beans and peas

• Nuts and seeds

• Ginger (fresh, powdered or as an oil)

• Avocado

ENTERTAINING

Tips from a chef

TV chef and cookbook author Katie Lee and Sara Lee Artesano Bakery offer these tips for easy entertaining:

• Consider a buffet or family-style menu: Try veggie burgers or shrimp rolls to kick the flavor up a notch. Have people “Create Your Own” (CYO) with a buffet of toppings.

• Hors d’oeuvres are a must: Easy options are cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto, a cheese plate or a tasty dip.

For recipe tips, visit saraleebread.com.

PRODUCE

Find what’s in season

Nothing says “summer” like fresh fruit and veggies, straight from the farmers market stand. But what’s actually in season? Comprehensive food database SeasonalFood Guide. org has a tool for finding what produce is currently at its peak in your home state. This guide also lets you search by calendar or by produce.

— Brandpoint