College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

Blog Archive

Vanilla extract bottle

Everything you need to know about vanilla extract

December 22, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

The scent of vanilla is found in so many things, including candles, soaps, and lotions, but it’s also in tons of different foods, topping the list for the world’s favorite flavor. Why do we love vanilla so much? It’s widely accepted scent is rich, smooth, slightly floral, and subtly sweet. Either...

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Cranberry juice in a pitcher and glass on a wooden cutting board

Cranberry juice deserves a moment in the spotlight

December 15, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Several years ago, I attended a Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo where I had the experience of wading through a gigantic makeshift cranberry bog. It was a strange but satisfying encounter! Cranberries are a unique crop that thrive in natural wetlands called bogs, although most bogs for...

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Dates in a bowl

What can you do with dates?

December 1, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Dates are the fruit of the date palm tree commonly grown in tropical climates. They can be sold fresh, but they are regularly found dried in the grocery store. The drying process makes dates sweeter and concentrated in nutrients. Dates are a good source of fiber, potassium, magnesium, and...

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Evaporated and sweetened condensed milk

Understand the difference between evaporated and sweetened condensed milk

November 17, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

As the holiday baking gets underway, many recipes will call for evaporated or sweetened condensed milk. You won’t find this milk in the refrigerated section, but rather this shelf-stable milk is typically in the baking aisle. Have you ever thought about how these two milks are made? Both...

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Buy Local

Take advantage of winter farmers markets

November 10, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Farmers markets are a great place to purchase locally grown food, but what happens when the summer ends and the market packs up for the season? Those living in and near Bloomington are fortunate to have an indoor farmers market in the Grossinger Motors Arena starting November 18 and running once...

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two cups of hot cocoa

Make your own convenient hot cocoa mix

November 3, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

As the weather turns cooler, you may find yourself reaching for a warm mug of hot cocoa. While it’s convenient to grab a packet out of the box, making your own only takes three simple ingredients: sugar, cocoa powder and milk. This is a far cry from the hot cocoa mix you buy at the store, which...

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Outdoor Dutch Oven with hot coals on the lid

How to cook outside with a Dutch oven

October 27, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

A recent camping trip allowed me to explore a new way of outdoor cooking: Dutch oven cooking. Different than a home Dutch oven, which has a flat bottom and is sealed in enamel, a camping Dutch oven is a pot with three legs on the bottom and a concave lid so that you can spread coals underneath and...

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Jar of everything bagel seasoning on a wooden cutting board

Don’t miss out on everything bagel seasoning

October 20, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

I tend not to eat too many bagels, and when I do, I always opt for sweet instead of savory. Therefore, when I heard people talking about their love for everything bagel seasoning, I had no idea what I was missing. The seasoning on the everything bagel is now available at most grocery stores and...

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Cup of pumpkin puree

Make the most of canned pumpkin

October 12, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

It’s the season of everything pumpkin. While this winter squash can be roasted in an oven and blended into a puree, it is much more convenient to simply purchase canned pumpkin. It can be kept on the shelf ready for it to make its star appearance in everything from pumpkin pie to pumpkin chili....

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Grocery basket filled with food in a grocery store aisle

Grocery shopping tips to save time and money

October 6, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Grocery shopping may not be your favorite household task. It’s often a mundane chore, yet necessary if you want to have food in the house to eat. Here’s a few tips to save you time and money without sacrificing good nutrition. Get organized and plan ahead. Use a free grocery...

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Fresh loaf of bread next to rising dough and a bowl of water

No ‘knead’ to stress when making yeast bread

September 29, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

A yeast bread may feel intimidating to make, but even a novice baker can pull off making a basic loaf. Yeast breads, of course, use yeast to make the dough rise. Yeast is sold in individual packages or jars. Be sure to refrigerate after opening and check the expiration date, as it will weaken and...

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Bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough

Indulge in safe edible cookie dough

September 22, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Some may say that raw cookie dough is better than the baked cookie itself. However, raw cookie dough eaters are taking a risk with foodborne illness. Most know that eating cookie dough with raw eggs runs the risk of contracting Salmonella. But this isn’t the only ingredient that deems it...

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Bowl of cashews

Cracking the 'nut': Are cashews nuts, fruits, or drupes?

September 15, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Call me a nut, but I’m always interested in how my food is grown. Did you know that cashews are grown on a tree? Ok, maybe you did, but did you know that the tree produces fruit, known as a cashew apple, and below the apple hangs a drupe, which is a hard shell that surrounds the cashew? I didn’t!...

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Fresh arugula on plates with miscellaneous food in the background

Arugula is not your average leafy green

September 8, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

With its surge in popularity, it’s likely that you have come across arugula, whether in the supermarket, at the local farmers market, or in a trendy restaurant. Arugula, also known as rocket, is a leafy green with a peppery taste. It appears most often in salads, usually in a mixture with other...

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Fresh produce in an bowl and on a tabletop

Learn how to preserve your produce like a pro

September 1, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

No one like’s having to throw out food because it’s gone bad; that’s hard-earned money down the drain. Fruits and vegetables are some of the most common foods wasted. Knowing how to store produce properly will help them stay fresh and last longer, decreasing food waste. Some fruits and vegetables...

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jar of sauerkraut on wooden surface

What do you know about Fermentation?

August 25, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Fermentation has been around since ancient times, but with the surge of people wanting to preserve their own food, it’s been enjoying a revival. There are three main types of fermentation, producing an industry of fermented products: alcohol (wine, beer), acetic acid (vinegar, kombucha) and lacto-...

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Grilled vegetables on skewers sitting on a plate.

Healthy grilling without sacrificing flavor

August 17, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, backyard cookouts are a favorite summertime activity. But between the hot dogs, mayo-drenched salads, crunchy potato chips and sugary drinks, these meals are often loaded with fat, sugar, sodium and calories. However, with a plan in place, healthier...

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breaded cod fish in a bowl next to a lemon wedge

The possibilities are endless with cod fish

August 11, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Cod is one of the most popular fish and is commonly used for the traditional “fish and chips” recipe. Cod is a white fish from the same family as haddock and pollock. It has a very mild flavor, making it an excellent choice for those that don’t care for a “fishy” flavor. Cod is firm with a flaky...

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Bowls of brown, red, and purple rice

Reap the benefits of whole grain rice

August 4, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Rice is a common staple to always have on-hand in the kitchen cabinet. It can make a stir-fry, add to a soup, fill a casserole, or stuff a burrito. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourages us to make at least half our grains whole grain. Whole grains contain the complete grain kernel, which...

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jars of salad dressings and mayonnaise next to a napkin and bowl of salad

Mayonnaise versus salad dressing for popular summer dishes

July 21, 2023

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Mayonnaise is a staple of summer. It’s the glue that holds together the potato salad, coleslaw, deviled eggs, and the classic BLT. But you may have asked yourself, “should I use mayonnaise or salad dressing, and what’s the difference, anyway?” Mayonnaise is a mixture of eggs, oil, lemon...

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College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

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