Some people believe that they hate to cook, but often find that what they actually hate is the decision process: What should I fix? What will the whole family eat? What's quick? It's much easier to make those decisions when the plan is already in place. In fact, you may decide that you actually...

Fruit juice may be part of your morning breakfast routine, but some argue that even the natural sugar found in 100 percent juice, is partially responsible for the obesity epidemic and the debilitating diseases that may follow. But does the fruits' healthy vitamins and antioxidants trump any...

Unless you're a foodie like me, it's probably unlikely that your Thanksgiving dinner conversation entailed a hot debate of whether or not you were eating sweet potatoes or yams. "Why isn't it called a yam casserole?" asks my aunt. "Because it's made with sweet potatoes, not yams," I answered. "No,...

There's probably not too many school cafeterias that aren't serving the classic, sloppy joes. What kid doesn't like a sandwich that has the name "sloppy" in it? But these beefy rolls aren't just for youngsters. They're perfect when needing a quick meal. It's been suggested that the name, 'sloppy...

There's a cornbread and chili competition coming up in my office and I've been tinkering with many cornbread recipes, making my husband very happy. Cornbread is quick and easy to make and can have many variations to choose from and hundreds of entrees to pair it with. Cornbread may be considered...

Being a "foodie," I have many kitchen tools that I love dearly, and I sometimes wonder how I ever lived without them. The rasp grater is one of those tools that went from being a "nice-to-have" to a "gotta-have-it." A rasp grater wasn't something ever found in home kitchens until the 1990's when...

Snacking is a daily occurrence for American adults. As reported in the Food Surveys Research Group Dietary Data Brief No. 4, the average number of snacks consumed each day by American adults nearly doubled over the last 30 years. Not only are we physically eating more, but these snacks are...

In many households, coloring Easter eggs is a wonderful family tradition, and with the invention of Easter egg dye kits, it's easy to create fun egg art. But have you ever wondered how people colored eggs before packaged dye kits became available? Eggs were dyed with natural ingredients, such as...

Water is pretty straightforward. That is until you realize that you can not only drink tap water, filtered water, spring water or natural mineral water, but you can also buy sparkling water, seltzer water, tonic water or club soda. Are you confused by the differences? You're not the only one!...

Memorial Day weekend is well-known for delicious cookouts. And while many families will be grilling up the usual hotdogs and burgers, others may be looking for something a little different. Throw a foil pack on the grill this year, and marvel at the no-mess meal you just created! Simply put, a...

First of all, there really are no "good" foods and "bad" foods. While certainly, there are many foods that severely lack nutritional value, it doesn't mean that you have to wave goodbye to them forever. Even the worst of foods can still make their way into a healthy diet as long as they are...

When you have a craving for an Asian-inspired meal, consider stir-frying. The pleasant aroma of garlic, ginger and fresh vegetables will send the whole family into the kitchen begging for food. It's not just a winner for the kids, parent's love that it's a quick, easy, veggie-composed meal that can...

Thanks to the increasing popularity of hummus, chickpeas are gaining momentum in the fight to be in your cupboards. Also called garbanzo beans, chickpeas are a legume and are widely used in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. Besides grinding them into a delicious hummus, perfect for...

September is National Mushroom Month and with mushrooms unique flavor and versatility, there's no reason not to eat these fungi. While, yes, edible mushrooms are not a vegetable but rather a seemingly unattractive and often colorless fungus, they can be considered a delicacy that has surprisingly...

According to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, the United States produces roughly 9 billion pounds of apples each year, a distant second from China. While the state of Washington is our lead producer, it may be surprising to hear that every state in the U.S. produces apples. The...

Is there a difference between broth and stock? Well, it depends on who you ask. Some will say there's a world of a difference, while others will tell you it's the same exact thing. If you ask me, I say use them interchangeably. Most trained chefs will tell you that a stock is made from the bones...

Holiday decorations are already crowding the stores, which means all the holiday foods and treats will soon be crowding our tummies. But if we start a healthy routine now, we just might be able to make it through all the temptations and traditions without gaining a pound. We've all heard the advice...

Some southern Illinois orchards will be booming with stone fruits, including peaches and cherries. But because these fruits along with apricots, plums, and nectarines prefer warmer climates without as much risk for a spring frost, they may be few and far between in Illinois backyards. Nonetheless,...

If you have children at home you're probably all too familiar with the loads of candy you're child receives in the month of October. While we all know that overloading our children with sugary treats isn't the healthiest, how can we lessen the temptations, but still not deprive our children of the...

This weeks blog post is written by Illinois State University graduate student-intern, Jeanne Arbuckle. This is a great time of year for soup. After all, it's National Soup Month. Wouldn't it be wonderful to come home to the smell and warmth of a hearty soup cooking on the stove? Soups can be...