Taste of Home Celebrates America This Summer With Irresistible Patriotic Desserts

GREENDALE, Wis., June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrate summer with the July 2011 issue of Taste of Home, the #1 food and entertaining magazine in the world. From a delectable spread of barbecue-friendly food to to-die-for desserts, including new takes on kabobs and hot dog relishes, the issue has everything you need to take the party outside! Plus, our new "Roadfood" columnists Jane and Michael Stern are at it again – this time on a hunt to uncover the many faces of the All-American classic hamburger. And Today's Al Roker chats about grilling, family traditions and which of his fellow news anchors he would choose to cook for him (hint: it's not Matt Lauer).

Grill, Baby, Grill! (p 65)

Nothing signals the true beginning of summer like a smoky aroma wafting up from the barbecue. The "Blaze of Glory" contest celebrates the season and features twelve of the best under-the-sun grilling recipes that the Taste of Home  test kitchen has ever tried, including the grand-prize winning Marvelous Mediterranean Vegetables from Cathy Godberson of Oakville, Ontario – a perfect complement to any barbecue entree. Tired of the basic burger? Jazz it up with a Jalapeno Popper Burger that combines the classic components of a popper engulfed in a juicy patty for a burst of flavor in every bite.

Red, White, and Beautiful (p 29)

Give your Fourth of July celebration an extra dose of patriotism with our delicious red, white and blue summery delights. Red Velvet Crepe Cake features a cream cheese frosting and fresh blueberries, Razzy Jazzy Berry Tarts features 48 mini tarts assembled to look like the American flag. Firecracker Cupcakes come decorated with red licorice and sprinkles, and a Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake (on our cover!) topped with fresh berries looks amazing and tastes even better.

Burgers, Baby! (p 79)

Taste of Home's new "Roadfood" columnists, Jane and Michael Stern traveled the U.S. looking for the best burgers the country has to offer. From New Mexico to Oklahoma to Connecticut, they confirmed what so many of us know in our stomachs: no food has more personalities than the all-American hamburger. Read what they found and check out the complementary Taste of Home reader recipes for Cajun Beef Burgers, Family-Friendly Stuffed Cheeseburgers, and Fig-a-licious Pork Burgers – which transform the humble burger into an American art form.  

Sit Across the Table and Dish with America's Favorite Weather Man (p 86)

Join Today host Al Roker as he pulls up a chair and sits "Across the Table" with Taste of Home to answer 10 questions about the best home-cooked meal he's ever eaten (his mom's Thanksgiving feast), his guilty pleasure (French fries), and some great advice for getting the most out of your cooking experience.

Plus there's more.... Don't forget about the kids! Taste of Home has recipes to keep them busy all summer long. The secret? Fun recipes and plenty of ice cream! Try making a Jungle Float, Strawberry Patch, and Firecracker Float (p 57) and you will have them begging to get started in the kitchen. In "Easy-Does-It Dinners" (p 42), there's a week's worth of flavorful meals for spending less time in the kitchen and more time having summer fun with your family. (Each one can be on the table in under an hour.) And these are just some of the ways to help yourself to the season's best and start celebrating summer with Taste of Home.

Taste of Home is the leading multi-platform producer of information on food, cooking and entertaining, serving home cooks engaging media that capture the joy and comfort received from food made with love. Taste of Home publishes three magazines (the flagship Taste of Home—America's largest food and entertaining magazine, with a circulation of 3.2 million—Healthy Cooking and Simple & Delicious); top-selling bookazines; newsstand specials; and popular cookbooks. Tasteofhome.com is a top destination for engaging audiences with kitchen-tested recipes, how-to techniques, cooking videos and lively community forums. Taste of Home is part of the Lifestyle Communities group within RDA (The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.). More information can be found at http://www.tasteofhome.com.

Contact: Alexa Breslin l Taste of Home l [email protected] l 646-462-4137

SOURCE Taste of Home