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It’s that time again! The holidays bring many things: from cooler weather to dedicated family time, there is always something to do or experience. The best part, in our opinion, is the holiday food and treats – especially the cookies. Plus, when you have all your little ones gathered together, cookie decorating can be one of the best activities to keep everyone occupied and having fun. To help, here are some great sugar cookie baking/decorating tips for the whole family! Kitchen Tools Baking Sheet Kid-friendly knife Mixing bowl Stir spoon Small bowl 2 small piping bags or ziploc bags Food coloring Toothpick Rolling pin (optional) Cookie cutters (optional) Ingredients 1 package premade sugar cookie dough 1 cup of powdered sugar 2-3 teaspoons milk 2 teaspoons light karo syrup ½ teaspoon almond extract Sprinkles of choice Flour (optional) Baking First, we have to get the cookies in the oven! Here, you can do two options: Start by rolling out the premade dough on a flat surface (flour on the surface and your hands/rolling pin will help if things are too sticky). You want the cookie dough to be rather thin, with an estimate of a ¼ inch thick. It may look a little too thin, but they’ll grow as they are in the oven! From here, you can use any cookie cutters you want to create the perfect holiday shapes! Any scraps left over can be re-rolled into a new piece and used again, until you get the most out of your cookie dough. Place all your creations evenly on a baking sheet, and cook according to package instructions. NOTE: If you want to use this method, it may be best to buy a cookie dough roll that states it’s good for cookie shapes, as the ingredients will make it a little easier to roll and cut. Start by placing the cookie roll on a flat surface. Using the kid-safe knife, the kids can cut the dough roll into slices, roughly ¼ inch thick (or however fluffy you want your cookies!) Place the cookies evenly on the baking sheet and cook according to instructions. The Icing Now this is the best part, in our opinion. In a mixing bowl, add the powdered sugar, milk, almond extract, and karo syrup, then blend until smooth. You want the icing to be a little thicker, to keep it from running off the cookie. If it seems too thin, you can add 1 tbsp additional powdered sugar at a time until its right where you want it. Time to pick your colors! Once your icing is made, separate it into however many bowls of colors you’d like. For this, we used just red and green, but you can always make more icing and have as many colors as you’d like. Add you colors to the bowls until they’re the perfect shade. Don’t forget to keep white as a color! NOTE: If you use a liquid food coloring, be careful not to change your consistency! Place your colors into piping bags or dressing bottles, or a zip lock bag with just the corner cut off to allow you to decorate your cookies. A trick here: use a tall cup and place the piping bag or ziploc inside, with the top of the bag wrapping over the top of the cup. This will keep your bag open while you add the icing, keeping you from getting too messy! Twist your bags at the top, and prepare to decorate! Decorating After the cookies have completely cooled, it’s time to decorate! Whether you decide to create shaped cookies or round ones, each cookie will be completely unique with imagination. Below is a simple option for round cookies: First, spread an even layer of white icing over the top of the cookie. Let dry. Using any colors, or red and green, place small dots of both colors onto the white icing. Using the toothpick, gently drag the stick through the different color dots to create a swirled color pattern in holiday colors. Top with sprinkles of your choice – we used a white sparkle sprinkle to add some shine to the top! NOTE: If you want to use multiple colors on any of your cookies, make sure one color dries a bit before you add the next one, to keep the colors from running together and mixing on your cookie. You’re ready to create delicious Christmas sugar cookies! Of course, you can always use chocolate crumbles, peppermint pieces, powdered sugar, nuts, or crushed cookies to the top of your cookies instead of sprinkles. Make them as unique as you. Be sure to tag us and let us know what you created! Article inspired by Create Kids Club.

With the announcement of the all-new 2023 Outlander PHEV, the awards have begun rolling in before the first vehicle has even been delivered to a customer. This month, the Outlander PHEV was named  the "2023 Family Green Car of the Year™" and top segment performer as part of Green Car Journal's 2023 Green Car Awards. Not only is this a proud moment for Mitsubishi, but it marks the third time in the last five years that an Outlander PHEV has been recognized. The Green Car Awards™ highlight the best environmentally friendly new model year vehicles to help make purchase decisions easier. The Outlander PHEV has gained its reputation from the blend of environmental performance and family-friendly versatility found in every model. The unique offering of plug-in electric vehicle efficiency and sport-utility capability makes the PHEV a perfect choice for every family. "We spent a lot of time and over 20,000 miles behind the wheel of the previous generation Outlander PHEV, which allowed us to really appreciate its capabilities," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and GreenCarJournal.com. "We're extremely impressed with the sophisticated style and engineering of the new generation 2023 Outlander PHEV, and especially appreciate its significantly greater all-electric and overall driving range. It is a deserving winner of the magazine's 2023 Family Green Car of the Year™ award." The Outlander PHEV brings together the superior efficiency of an electric vehicle, the utility of a crossover as well as stability and handling provided by Mitsubishi's standard-equipment Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system. The PHEV boasts a 38-mile all-electric driving range mated to a gas motor to combine for an EPA-estimated 420 miles of total driving range. The S-AWC system was modified specifically for the Outlander PHEV's unique twin electric motor configuration to allow maximum performance and superior traction and safety, especially in harsh weather conditions. Click here to learn more, or order your very own 2023 Outlander PHEV.

In August 2021, during the continued fight against COVID-19, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) loaned a Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) to Middle Tennessee-based nonprofit organization Charis Health Center as part of MMNA's Community Utility Vehicle (CUV) Program. Through this partnership, the 2020 Outlander PHEV racked up over 15,000 miles while distributing COVID-19 vaccinations, flue vaccinations, and more to nearly 3,000 people in underserved communities across middle Tennessee. Looking back today, Mitsubishi Motors and Charis remember those unprecedented times and the critical aid they were able to provide through their partnership. In addition, the Outlander PHEV also powered two disaster relief missions, using the vehicle's on-board 120V outlet and power generation capability, as Charis responded to historic flooding events in Waverly and Dickson, Tennessee, in 2021. "Small Batch - Big Impact," MMNA’s larger social responsibility program, is based on the idea that small, localized efforts can create a larger impact that you might believe. Other CUV donations have been made to the Nashville-based Community Resource Center, Las Vegas-based Goodie Two Shoes Foundation, and Dallas-based Record the Journey. To learn about the upcoming 2023 Outlander PHEV, click here.

The votes have been tallied and the results are in – Mitsubishi Motors has  placed second in rankings among mass-market automotive brands in the “2022 Automotive Reputation Report” from Reputation! This achievement is a culmination of a three-year rise from 17th among the mass-market automotive brands in 2020. In 2021, Mitsubishi was the most improved brand in the study, posting a 58-point year-over-year improvement. Following alongside the rise in customer satisfaction was the rollout of the brand’s Visual Identity Program designed to enhance the dealership facilities and experience through a high-quality retail environment. Mitsubishi’s dedication to its customers combined with the 2022 award-winning Outlander was the final push that resulted in the best four consecutive quarters of retail sales since the nameplate launched more than 20 years ago. “I am thrilled for Mitsubishi. This is a brand that has been laser-focused on building the best customer experience in the industry and their hard work shows,” said Joe Fuca, Reputation CEO. “Their active customer engagement approach has created impressive brand loyalty and it’s an absolute pleasure being their partner.” Reputation is an annual analysis of customer experience that includes 35,000 automotive OEM brands, dealer groups, and dealerships across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The report from Reputation analyzed customer feedback from dealerships to gauge overall sentiment and then assigned brands, dealer groups, and dealerships a “Reputation Score” metric. Graded on a 1,000-point scale, the score encompasses the voice of the customer and highlights reputation management as a key element of a dealership’s consumer experience strategy.

Your car’s oil might be the first thing you think of when you hear “vehicle fluids,” but there are several others that play critical roles in making your car perform at its peak. While some of these fluids don’t need to be changed all that often, it’s still a good idea to have them checked regularly. Transmission Fluid Similar to engine oil, transmission fluid keeps the important moving parts in your vehicle’s transmission running smoothly. Both automatic and manual transmission vehicles need to have this fluid replaced periodically. In a manually shifted vehicle, replacement generally occurs more often, typically between every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Automatic transmissions don’t need this service done as often—generally every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Coolant Also known as anti-freeze, engine coolant is responsible for keeping in check the enormous heat generated by your vehicle’s engine. If the coolant needs to be replaced, it’s simply a matter of draining the coolant, flushing the system out, and filling it with fresh coolant. Not keeping coolant properly filled or letting it get too old can cause rust and corrosion inside the cooling system, and that ain’t good. Windshield Washer Fluid Of all the fluids in your vehicle, this one is the easiest and cheapest to maintain. When winter descends and the roads get nasty, having a full reservoir of windshield washer fluid can mean the difference between seeing what’s ahead and trying desperately to see through a filthy windshield. Brake Fluid Just as important as having healthy brake pads and rotors is having good brake fluid. This fluid transmits the pressure generated by stepping on the brake pedal to the brake calipers, which then squeeze the rotors and slow or stop your vehicle. One symptom of needing to change the brake fluid is a “squishy” brake pedal, which may require extra pressure to engage. Depending on the climate where you live, brake fluid can actually absorb moisture and degrade over time, so be sure to keep an eye on this. Also, make sure it’s serviced according to your owner’s manual. Power Steering Fluid Clearly, having a properly functioning steering system is essential to your safety and the health of your vehicle. Power steering fluid plays a key role in the steering process, and it keeps the all-important power steering pump in good working order. It’s not often this hydraulic fluid needs to be replaced, but it’s a good idea to follow your owner’s manual and have it serviced at the recommended intervals. Blinker Fluid Unfamiliar with this one? Just ask your mechanic. The Heritage Mitsubishi Service Department can take all of the guesswork out of fluid changes for you. If your vehicle is in need of service or if you have any questions, contact us online and we'll take care of all your vehicle's fluid needs.

Mitsubishi Motors has always strived to deliver high quality, top value, leading-edge technology vehicles to our consumers. For the new 2023 year, we plan to do just that and more, bringing you the best in innovation. Leading the way into the new model year is the 2023 Outlander and Outlander PHEV. As the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric SUV, the all-new Outlander PHEV comes with the same bold, award-winning styling, advanced vehicle architecture and premium interior finishes as its gas powered counterpart. The 2023 Outlander is built on the success of the previous model year, now equipped with electric flooding mirrors, rear-door pull-up sunshades, and the first black-roof factory option. The Outlander PHEV adds to that award-winning mix with quiet, eco-friendly motoring in a twin-motor 4WD PHEV system, featuring more powerful front and rear motors and a larger drive battery. In addition to greater all-electric driving range than its predecessor, the 2023 Outlander PHEV also boasts an extended overall driving range thanks to a larger gas tank. The 2023 Eclipse Cross, recently receiving an all-new refresh, adds an all-new 18 inch wheel design, color-keyes lowered side-trim on SEL models, and standard fog lights. Every Eclipse Cross will come with Mitsubishi Motors’ signature S-AWC all-wheel drive system, enhancing your driving confidence in any weather. The Outlander Sport will come even more adventure ready than before, equipped with Mitsubishi's All-Wheel Control. The Mirage and Mirage G4, America’s most fuel-efficient non-hybrid vehicles, offer a huge value and one of the industry’s best warranties. Every 2023 Mirage and Mirage G4 will come equipped with  continuously variable transmission (CVT). 2023 will come with the push into Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) – Mitsubishi Motors' unique approach to all-wheel drive. S-AWC uses wheel-speed and yaw sensors to adjust braking and engine torque to each wheel, working to deliver a driving experience in which the vehicle responds exactly as the driver intends it to. Whether driving straight on a dry road or through a winding mountain pass in snow, S-AWC helps to deliver confidence to drivers. Mitsubishi is paving the way into a new, affordable future. Shop our incoming vehicles today to get started, or follow us on Facebook for all Mitsubishi updates!

Cool down with a delicious homemade cocktail! It’s nearly summer time! And what better way to celebrate than with an ice-cold beverage? These cocktail recipes, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are great for all types of summer occasions — from an outdoor soiree to just hanging out with a few friends. They’re easy to make to and don’t require having a lot of ingredients on hand, so you can whip them up anytime, anywhere. Try one of these fun summer cocktail ideas to cool you off all season long: Cucumber Sangria One sip of this drink and you (and your friends) will be begging for seconds. A creamy and fruity blend of all your favorites, cucumber sangria is sure to be a hit with everyone you know. First, cut a small honeydew in half and remove the rind and seeds. Cut the melon, a seedless cucumber and one lime, into thin slices. Throw that all into a pitcher. Next, squeeze about 1/4 cup of lime juice and a 1/4 cup of honey into a small bowl. Add with the juice, along with 12 mint leaves, to the melon mixture. Lastly, add a whole bottle of Sauvignon blanc or other semi-dry white wine. Cover and chill it in the refrigerator for about two hours. When it’s ready, pour one liter of carbonated water on top and you’re all set! If serving at a party, a garnish of fresh mint should please those detail-oriented folks. Peach Daiquiri Impress your friends who have a sweet tooth with this peachy drink. Slice and peel three cups of fresh peaches (or frozen peaches work just fine), and combine it with 12-ounce can of frozen limeade or lemonade concentrate, 1/4 cup of orange juice and two tablespoons of powdered sugar in a blender. Cover and blend until the mixture is smooth. As the blender is blending, gather two cups of ice cubes and gradually add them to the mixture. A sweet drink for a sweet occasion! Gin Slush Combine nine cups of water and two cups of granulated sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil for about 15 minutes. Next, remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool a bit. Then, slowly pour in one can of frozen orange juice concentrate and one can of frozen lemonade concentrate. Lastly, add two cups of your favorite gin and mix. Transfer the drink into a container and store in the fridge overnight. By the morning, you’ll have slushy goodness that you can scoop into a glass and top with lemon-lime soda, if you desire. Blackberry and Bourbon Lemonade If this doesn’t scream summer, nothing will. And with just four ingredients, making this refreshing cocktail couldn’t be easier. Measure out 1/4 cup of your favorite bourbon, 1 1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice and two teaspoons of blackberry-rosemary syrup in a cocktail shaker, combined with some ice. Shake for about 30 seconds or until the mixture is chilled. Then just strain the drink into a glass, add some ice, and pour about 1/3 of a cup of sparkling lemonade on top. If you’d like, garnish with a blackberry or two that you can enjoy after the drink. Minty Iced Tea There’s nothing wrong with plain iced tea, but this unique take on the classic is to die for. Start by combining seven cups of water and two cups of sugar in a large saucepan and bring to a boil while stirring. Then reduce the heat and simmer for about five minutes. Remove from the stove, and place eight orange-flavored tea bags and eight mint sprigs on the mixture. Let it sit for about five-10 minutes, then discard the bags and sprigs. Next, transfer the liquid into a heatproof bowl. Pour in another eight cups of water, two cups of orange juice and 3/4 lemon juice. Cover the tea and chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of four hours before serving. This drink is a sure-fire way to cool down on those particularly hot summer days! There’s nothing like a refreshing drink on a hot summer day, and these recipes will have you relaxing in no time.