Hello fall and hello pumpkin spice lattes! Do you love fall flavors in your morning cup o' joe but hate spending the money?? Well, you're in the right place because there's no need to say goodbye to your hard earned cash. Instead of driving to the coffee shop, waiting in line, and...

Ever since I saw the grind your own nut butter machines at Fresh Market, I wanted to make my own peanut butter. It's simple in its truest form. What are the ingredients? Peanuts. That's it. No hydrogenated vegetable oil, no sugar, no molasses, no mono and diglycerides and no salt. Making your own...

Ah, the smell of a campfire. Roasted marshmallows, hot dogs, fruit cobbler, foil packets of hobo stew…. there is nothing as good as simple food cooked over an open fire. I can almost taste it now! Whether it's a day at the park or a weekend camping trip, preparing and eating food outdoors takes...

Last but not least in Recipe Rescue: Thanksgiving Edition... pumpkin pie! Pumpkin pie is actually one of the healthier pie choices, relatively speaking. We've made some tweaks here and there, but the major change is simple portion control. Rather than serve smaller slices, amp up the fun factor...

Football season means appetizers galore. Get your next viewing party "popping" with these flavor-packed, crunchy Bacon & Cheese Jalapeno Poppers! (Scroll to the bottom of the post for a printable PDF version of the recipe!) Ingredients: ...

Mozzarella sticks are always a crowd pleaser, but with that fried cheesy goodness comes a lot of fat and calories. Here's a healthier version that's a delicious option to serve at parties or just make when you need a fix. (Scroll to the bottom of the post for a printable PDF version of...

According to the National Peanut Board, the average American person will eat around 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the time they are 18 years old. If you are like me, then those delicious sandwiches are still a staple in your diet; but are they actually healthy for you? The answer is...

Growing hemp in Illinois? Currently some states, including Illinois, allow hemp to be grown for research purposes. This past summer, Pat Quinn signed a bill making this possible but there are no funds attached which may make it difficult for this research to take place. Illinois...

A hot trend in the grocery store these days, seeds are taking the "health food" section by storm. First there was flaxseed, then came chia seeds, now hemp seeds are all the rage. What's the deal with these crunchy, granola -like fare? But why are these seedlings are a good inclusion in your diet?...

It seems as though salsa has become a more popular condiment than ketchup, as I see it accompany so many dishes at restaurants. Is this contributed to Americans' growing love of hot and spicy foods and interest in ethnic foods? Or are we merely trying to make healthier choices when dining? My...

Americans gain one to two pounds between the Thanksgiving feast and the New Year countdown. Some do not lose those extra pounds and continually gain weight every year. Simple, smart selections can help avoid this annual obstacle and set up a positive start to 2015. The best...

Creamy alfredo sauce is almost a heart attack waiting to happen! Traditional sauces made with butter and heavy cream cram in 350 calories per 1/2 cup (and that's before the pasta)! Get your alfredo fix with my slimmed down sauce served over whole grain linguine, chicken, and broccoli. (...

These days, so-called natural sugar substitutes are all the rage. Some are good old-fashioned favorites: honey, molasses, maple syrup. Others are newer to the scene, like agave nectar, stevia, and monkfruit extract. But wait. What exactly is a sugar substitute? The terminology can be...

Healthy and cornbread are not two words that typically go together, but today they do! Traditional cornbread recipes typically include some combination of butter or bacon grease and buttermilk or sour cream along with cornmeal, flour, and other ingredients to make it rise. Sugar is also sometimes...