Allrecipes February/March 2018

WINTER IS MY FAVORITE TIME to get in the kitchen and try something new—a new technique, a new ingredient, a new tool. And that’s what you’ll find this month in our first project issue: flavors and recipes that entice you to explore new ideas, like baking a sweet loaf of babka (our cover recipe that’s perfect served with morning coffee), or experimenting with Asian steamed buns filled with pork (you’ll want to invite friends over to taste the results—yum). And with dinner tonight in mind, we have several recipes you can make now and freeze to serve on another day. Enjoy the adventure! Editor in Chief LETTERS & COMMENTS feedback@armagazine.com SUBSCRIPTION HELP allrecipes.com/magaccount or email us at alrcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com or call 800-837-9017…

Last September, Allrecipes hosted 35 of our Allstars at our Des Moines headquarters for two days of fun and learning. (Allstars are a select group of our most passionate and actively engaged community members. You can be an Allstar, too; get details at armagazine.com/allstars.) Many of them have become great friends. We all had a crazy-good time getting (re)acquainted and participating in the activities (and eating, of course). The Allstars got tips on food styling and mixology, competed in a recipe-development contest, and went head-to-head in a cook-off in our test kitchen. Many thanks to our sponsors who helped make the overall event a great success: RAGÚ SNACK FACTORY PRETZEL CRISPS TITO’S HANDMADE VODKA GALBANI CHEESE FOLGERS COFFEE BUSH’S BEANS Check out the winning recipe on the next page!…

This recipe is from the Allrecipes Allstar team that competed to create the most innovative, best-tasting recipe in our Bush’s Beans-sponsored cook-off. Team members included community members RainbowJewels (Jewel Kingsley), MommaBean3 (Mauren VanBuskirk), and Carrie C. (Carrie Caldwell). Great work, you guys! Brownie Batter Bean Dip armagazine.com/brownie-batter-bean-dip 1 (16-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained½ cup packed brown sugar½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder½ cup almond butter or sunflower-seed butter ¼ to ½ cup unsweetened almond milk, as needed Fresh fruit or graham crackers for dipping Add beans, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and almond butter to a blender or food processor. Process until well combined. With blender still running, add almond milk, a tablespoon at a time, until reaching a smooth and spreadable consistency. Serve with fresh fruit or graham crackers for dipping. PER 2-TABLESPOON SERVING: 93…

Personalize With Custom Features. 1. A paper towel holder made with a dowel and rod anchors turns an open shelf into a right-where-you-need-it towel dispenser. 2. Baskets or bins serve as removable drawers, holding things you use often but don’t necessarily want to look at. 3. Vertical spacers help keep cutting boards, baking sheets, and cooling racks organized. 4. Locking casters let you reposition your island or wheel it away for easier floor cleaning. Top It Off: Metal, Marble, and Wood Are Durable Surface Choices.…

the oats that fill your breakfast bowl and bulk up your favorite cookies have surprisingly humble origins. When oats first cropped up in fields of wheat and barley, they were viewed as common weeds. Soon, however, they got noticed and domesticated for their own nutritional benefits and their ability to thrive in damp conditions. Today, it’s clear that oats soothe nerves (they contain a natural sedative that can lessen anxiety and insomnia) as well as skin. You’ll find oats (often labeled avena sativa) in calming creams and itch-relieving baths, where their sticky beta-glucan fiber quiets irritation and can even help heal minor wounds. Nutritionally, oats are mineral marvels, packed with a range of beauty boosters that support skin health from within. Whether you prefer them as a creamy porridge or a crunchy…