Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious 2016

Are you a late night snacker? While "eating after 8 p.m. is bad for your health," is a myth that has long been debunked, it doesn't mean that all foods in a late night kitchen spree should be on the table. However, late night snacking doesn't have to kick the curb as long as you follow...

January 2nd was National Buffet Day. That's day number two in the start of most people's diets. Just who was the malevolent person who determined the need for Buffet Day to be celebrated at the beginning of News Year's resolutions? I guess the more important question is, "why is there a buffet day...

The 68th United Nations General Assembly declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses. What in the world are pulses you ask? Pulses are a subgroup of legumes; legumes refer to the whole fruit enclosed in the pod of the plant, but pulses refer to only the edible seeds within the pods. Common...

Somewhere packed between holiday shopping, stringing of lights and putting up the tree is a marathon day of cookie baking and candy making. A platter of goodies just wouldn't be the same without the famous gingerbread man. While this little guy may try to run away from being eaten, he's too tasty...

Many will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Irish-inspired dishes like the classic corned beef and cabbage, but let's not forget the potatoes. Taters are a must on an Irish menu, whether it be in the form of shepherd's pie, colcoannon, champ, boxty, or hash. Not sure what any of those are? Don't...

Plump and juicy blueberries are one of nature's best treats. The blueish purple fruit is grown on bushes and typically in season all summer long from April to late September but peaking in June and July. Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of dietary fiber. They've...

In the world of cookie flavors, a chocolate chip cookie tends to win the battle of Americas favorite over its competitor, the oatmeal raisin cookie. However, this doesn't mean that the raisin doesn't have its use in our kitchens. Raisins are a versatile food that can be added to stews, sauces,...

If you're an enthusiastic cook, you probably don't even think twice when preparing a recipe that has twenty different ingredients and numerous steps. However, if you're not as comfortable in the kitchen, a large recipe like that may be very intimidating. Recipes with shorter lists of ingredients do...

There's a new way to get your daily dose of veggies: veggie noodles. While there's nothing wrong with a whole grain noodle or pasta (certainly packs more nutrition than regular enriched), veggie noodles can offer a variety of nutrients with less calories. So grab your julienne peeler, vegetable...

Muffins are one of those breakfast foods that seem like the healthy choice. It's surely better than a doughnut or a bagel with cream cheese, right? Not so fast. A muffin found at a bakery can clock in around 550 calories and over 20 grams of fat. An original glazed doughnut, on the other hand, is...

Have you ever wondered if there is a difference between noodles and pasta? Noodles are different than dry pasta, such as spaghetti or fettuccine, because noodles contain eggs or egg yolks while other pasta does not. As a matter of fact, the FDA rules that a noodle, except chow mein noodles, must...

Much like its breakfast competitor, bacon, everything tastes better with sausage. Whether it's a sausage lasagna or sausage on top of pizza, Americans have grown accustomed to seeing the meaty protein in various dishes. While sausage is simply ground meat stuffed into a casing, different types of...

Serve it for breakfast or dinner; polenta is a versatile dish. But with its yellow tint and slight grit, it looks a lot like cornmeal and grits. So what's the difference? Cornmeal may be made from blue, white or yellow corn and ground into fine, medium or coarse textures. Cornmeal is the...

What was the first meal you ever learned to cook by yourself? Did it happen to be two slices of buttered bread with a slab of American cheese in between and toasted over a hot skillet? A grilled cheese sandwich is simple to make and scores high on a child's menu, but it's so gooey and comforting...

We all know that oats are nutritious and good for our health. But for some, a bowl of hot oatmeal in the morning just doesn't sound appealing. Allow me to introduce you to the new craze: overnight oats! These uncooked oats are served cold with endless mix-in possibilities. It's a breakfast that...

Cinco de Mayo (fifth of May) is a celebration to commemorate Mexico's victory over the French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. So why is it celebrated in America? Much like Americans love to celebrate Irish culture for St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo is an opportunity for us to gorge...

It's arguably the most common side dish at the Thanksgiving table: stuffing. Or is it dressing? Is there even a difference? Some refer to it as "stuffing" if it's cooked inside the bird and "dressing" if it's cooked outside the bird. However, according to Butterball, 78% of Illinoisans and those in...

Peanuts are an essential ballpark snack food, but they may also be an ingredient in mealtime cuisine, including appetizers, entrees, salads and desserts. Peanuts, also referred to as groundnuts, are actually a legume like beans and peas. This unique plant produces its fruit (nut) below ground,...

As the weather gets cooler and the days get shorter, the cravings of a warm bowl of soup get stronger. Of course, the same goes for bisque, chowder or stew. While your taste buds may not care, there is a difference between them. The word "soup" generally refers to ingredients, such as meat and...

Most people wouldn't think twice about buying a bag of beautiful orange carrots, but what if those carrots were white? Back in Roman times, wild carrots were actually white, not orange. According to Philipp Simon, research geneticist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers prior to the 16th...