(Family Features) Inviting loved ones and neighbors for a backyard barbecue is a timeless summer tradition bringing together favorite foods and friendly conversation. At your next cookout, remember to make the experience warm and welcoming for everyone, including those looking to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets, by offering up a variety of options at the table.

You can make it easy to enjoy a meatless summer soiree loaded with flavor by using an option like Sweet Earth Plant-Based Chik’n, a ready-to-eat solution offering an excellent source of protein per serving, made with vegan ingredients. The pre-marinated options mean less time spent cooking and more time catching up with friends and family in the summer sun while eating delicious meals.

Perfect for enjoying in a variety of ways, it’s a bold and savory centerpiece in these Vegan Pulled Chipotle Chik’n Sliders that combine a sweet and spicy chipotle-maple sauce with fresh veggies for a saucy bite full of plant-based protein. Put a taste bud-tingling twist on fajita night with Jerk Chik’n Fajitas with Black Rice, an easy way to channel your inner chef and serve up a flavorful, plant-based meal.

Find more delicious plant-based recipes and products at sweetearthfoods.com.

Vegan Pulled Chipotle Chik'n Sliders

Prep time: 10 minutes 
Cook time: 10 minutes 
Servings: 10-12

• 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup veggie broth
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 1pinch pepper
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 
• 1/2 lemon, juice only 
• 1 package (8 ounces) Sweet Earth Chipotle Chik'n

• 12 vegan brioche slider bun

Vegan Spicy Mayo:

• 1/2 cup vegan mayo
• 2 tablespoons vegan sour cream
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely minced
• 2 teaspoons fajita seasoning 
• 1 lime, juice only

Optional toppings:

• 1 jar pickle chips
• 1/2 cup purple shredded cabbage
• 1/2 cup jalapeno peppers
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes

1. In blender, puree peppers with ketchup, maple syrup, broth, allspice and brown sugar. Set aside.
2. In pan over medium heat, add oil. Once oil begins to shimmer, add onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally.
3. Once onions become translucent, around 5 minutes, add garlic. After 1 minute, add pepper puree blend to pan along with lemon juice and stir to combine.
4. Once mixed, fold in chipotle plant-based "chicken" and cook 3-4 minutes until heated through.
5. To make vegan spicy mayo: In bowl, mix mayo, sour cream, peppers, cilantro, fajita seasoning and lime juice.
6. Spread vegan spicy mayo on buns and add plant-based "chicken" mixture. Top with pickle chips, cabbage, jalapenos, carrots and tomatoes, as desired.

Jerk Chik'n Fajitas with Black Rice

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2-3

Marinade:

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons lime juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
• 1 Scotch bonnet pepper
• 2 tablespoons Jamaican jerk seasoning
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

Fajita Fixings:

• 1 package (8 ounces) Sweet Earth Mindful Chik'n Strips
• 1/2 teaspoon avocado oil
• 1/2 white onion, chopped
• 1 small green pepper, chopped
• 1/2 yellow pepper, chopped
• flour tortillas, warmed
• black rice, cooked

Mango Salsa:

• 1 chopped mango
• 3 teaspoons lime juice
• 2 teaspoons chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped

1. To make marinade: In blender, blend brown sugar, lime juice, soy sauce, oil, bonnet pepper, Jamaican jerk seasoning, garlic and salt and pepper, to taste, until smooth.
2. To make fajitas: Marinate plant-based "chicken" in jerk sauce for 1 hour.
3. In grill pan on stove over medium heat, heat oil. Cook plant-based "chicken" until heated through. In separate pan, add splash of oil and cook white onion, bell pepper and yellow pepper.
   Add plant-based "chicken" to veggies and cook 1-2 minutes.
4. To make mango salsa: In bowl, mix mango, lime juice, cilantro, red onion and red bell pepper.
5. Add jerk plant-based "chicken" and mango salsa to tortillas. Serve with black rice.

Source: Sweet Earth

(Family Features) Between the time it takes to plan healthy meals and the actual minutes spent in the kitchen, it can be easy for some families to let nutrition fall by the wayside. However, all it takes is a little twist on your loved ones’ favorite meals to free up those valuable moments while taking health into account.

These Sheet Pan Mushroom Fajitas, for example, offer a meatless version of an ethnic meal many families love. Gather fresh onions and bell peppers to mix with earthy, wholesome mushrooms as the heart of this plant-forward dish. Slice, season with taco seasoning, toss with vegetable oil and bake for less than half an hour for a family dinner that’s as simple as it is flavorful. Plus, you can garnish the fajitas with any combination of avocado and lime to salsa or hot sauce for a perfectly customizable taste.

Find more ways to add mushrooms to the menu at mushroomcouncil.com.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Sheet Pan Mushroom Fajitas

Total time: 30 minutes
Yield: 6 fajitas

• 2          large portobello mushroom caps, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
• 2          medium yellow onions, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
• 2          large red bell peppers, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
• 2          tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 1/4    teaspoons taco seasoning
• 6          flour tortillas (6 inches), warmed
• 1/4       cup roughly chopped cilantro
• avocado (optional)
• salsa (optional)
• hot sauce (optional)
• lime (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line large 18-by-13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In large bowl, toss mushrooms, onions and peppers with oil and taco seasoning. Distribute on baking sheet. Roast 25 minutes, tossing halfway through, until veggies are fork tender and edges are slightly browned.
3. Serve with warmed tortillas and garnish with cilantro. Top with avocado, salsa, hot sauce or lime, if desired.

Source:  Mushroom Council

(Family Features) If you find yourself stuck in a rut with the same recipes, remember a little change can add a lot of flavor. By simply using fresh pork in dishes that usually consist of chicken or beef, there are countless ways to switch up your dinner routine.

Whether grilled, roasted, slow-cooked or sautéed, Smithfield Fresh Pork is available in a wide variety of cuts as well as pre-marinated flavors, making it versatile and convenient for any night of the week. Try out these recipes for Smoked Bacon Pork Alfredo and Grilled Pork Loin Fajitas to shake up your next meal.

Find more recipe ideas at Smithfield.com/ShakeItUp.

Smoked Bacon Pork Alfredo

Prep time: 8 minutes
Cook time: 22 minutes
Servings: 6-8

• 1          Smithfield Applewood Smoked Bacon Marinated Fresh Pork Loin Filet
• 3          tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1          pound penne pasta  
• 1          package (8 ounces) sliced mushrooms
• salt, to taste
• 2          jars (15 ounces each) Alfredo sauce
• pepper, to taste
• 1/4       cup finely chopped green onion (optional)
• grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Cut pork loin into 1/2-inch thick slices then into 1/4-inch wide strips. In large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Stir-fry half the pork loin 7-8 minutes until well browned. Set aside on separate plate and repeat with 1 tablespoon oil and remaining pork.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions.
3. In skillet over medium-high heat, heat remaining oil; add mushrooms and sprinkle with salt, to taste. Cook 3 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
4. Drain pasta and return to pot; stir in pork, mushrooms and Alfredo sauce. Stir over medium heat about 4 minutes until heated through. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Sprinkle with green onions and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Grilled Pork Loin Fajitas

Prep time: 20 minutes, plus 30 minutes marinade time
Cook time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4-6

• 1          Smithfield Prime Boneless Fresh Pork Loin, cut into 1-inch thick steaks
• 1 1/2    cups water, divided
• 1          cup soy sauce
• 1          can (6 ounces) pineapple juice
• 6          cloves garlic
• 1/4       cup white wine
• 1          teaspoon salt
• 1          cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2          large onions, cut into 1/2-inch wide strips
• 1          tablespoon corn oil
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 12        tortillas
• guacamole (optional)
• sour cream (optional)
• pico de gallo (optional)
• shredded cheese (optional)

1. Using meat mallet, pound pork steaks until 1/2-inch thick; place in 1-gallon re-sealable plastic bag. Pour 1 cup water, soy sauce and pineapple juice over pork; seal bag and lay flat in refrigerator 30 minutes, turning occasionally.
2. In blender, pulse garlic, white wine and salt until thoroughly blended. Whisk butter and slowly incorporate garlic and wine mixture. Reserve at room temperature.
3. In large skillet over high heat, saute onions in corn oil 2 minutes until they turn deep brown. Add remaining water to skillet and lower heat to medium-low. Cook and stir, scraping bits from bottom of pan, 15 minutes until water has evaporated and onions are caramelized. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Heat grill to 300° F for indirect cooking. Lightly grease grates.
5. Remove pork from marinade and place on grill over indirect heat 4-6 minutes per side, until internal temperature reaches 145° F. Remove pork and brush garlic butter on both sides. Let stand 5 minutes; slice into 3-inch long, thin strips.
6. While grill is hot, grill tortillas individually. Wrap four tortillas at a time in aluminum foil with a little garlic butter.
7. In skillet, reheat caramelized onions and serve with fajitas. Top with guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo and shredded cheese, if desired.

Source: Smithfield