While very mild in flavor, rice is one of my favorite grains. It makes a great base for stir-fries, adds bulk to soup, and takes on fun flavors with any seasoning you add. (I sometimes mix peanut butter into cooked rice for a quick side dish.) Nutrition A 1/4 cup of dry brown...

I remember applesauce and cinnamon as an end to many childhood meals and in my lunchbox for school. As an adult, I find it a quick-to-eat fruit and tend to cook more with applesauce. (Enjoy the brownie recipe with applesauce at the end of this post.) Nutrition A half cup of...

I noticed a while back that my bottle of chili powder had an ingredient list. I never thought about chili powder being a blend of spices, but there it was for me to read. Many commercial blends of chili powder contain ground dry chiles, salt, garlic, and other spices like paprika, cumin, cayenne,...

Our blog specials are back with a series on whole grains! But before grains, I want to talk about salsa verde – or green salsa. Salsa verde is made from tomatillos and contains similar ingredients to tomato salsas. Tomatillos are small, green fruits with a tart taste. You will find them covered in...

I wonder how often barley ends up in meals? I see it on occasion listed as an ingredient in different ready-to-eat cereals and granola bars, usually as barley flour. Besides beef-barley soup, I rarely think about using it to cook with. For me, it is still not a common food choice, but I have a...

In case you had not heard, avocados are good in other recipes besides guacamole. This chips and salsa accompaniment has taken life with many new recipes and an appreciation for its healthy fats. Nutritionally, 1 medium avocado contains around 325 calories, 30g fat, 17g carbohydrate, 13g fiber, 2g...