Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious 2025

The holiday season is a time of giving, and what's not the perfect gift but a homemade treat from your kitchen? While peanut brittle, fudge, and cookies are a popular and generally safe choice, you'll need to consider a few things before giving away homemade jarred goods, such as jams and jellies,...

Everyone has their favorite mug, and on days that the mug is actually clean, it gets filled to the rim with coffee or tea. However, this favorite mug wants to be used for more than just a warm jolt in the morning. Microwave mug meals are the latest craze to hit the kitchen.Microwave mug meals are...

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...

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...

Butter versus Margarine: it's a hot topic debate that has been battled over the decades. Health professionals tout that margarine is a heart healthy alternative to butter, while others claim that margarine is not "natural" and therefore, should not be eaten. You know, the whole "margarine is one...

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...

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!...

Who doesn't love cheese? Grilled cheese sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, baked lasagna with ooey gooey cheese melted all over it are common cheesy dishes. But with over 2,000 varieties to choose from, it's time to put a little more thought into your cheese choices.Cheese is formed from milk. Milk...

Burgers are the quintessential all-American grilling favorite. Nothing beats biting into a juicy burger with all the fixings. But when it's dry and under seasoned, it can be a disappointment. Just how do you get the perfect burger?It starts with the right kind of beef. Most grilling experts will...

It’s peach season here in Illinois and if you get your hands on a fresh juicy peach, you’ll be tempted to grab another. Peaches are categorized as either freestones or clingstones. The flesh of a freestone peach will not stick to the pit, while the flesh of the clingstone pit is…well, clingy. While...

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...

When asked what my favorite herb is, I'd have to go with basil. Not only is it fragrant and flavorful, but it's also a beautiful plant. Basil is an annual herb belonging to the mint family. It's so easy to grow that even I, a wannabe gardener with a black thumb, cannot kill it.If you grow your own...

Protein is an important macronutrient for building up our bodies. While many people meet or even exceed their protein needs, some groups often fall short, such as adolescents (ages 9-18) and older adults (60+). Generally, people need around 5-7 oz. of protein per day. When most people think of...

There’s all kinds of buzz words in the weight loss industry and one that has had its share of the spotlight is bone broth. What is bone broth and how does it differ from regular broth or stock? All three are very similar and thus, can be used interchangeably. First, regular broth is made by...

Seed oils have gotten some bad press lately, but there is no evidence that they are harmful, and in fact, they might even be helpful. Seed oils are the fats extracted from the seeds of various plants, like corn and soybeans. Coined the “Hateful Eight” by social media influencers, they include corn...

Many recipes will call for an onion, but when you get to the store and see all the different types of onions, which one do you buy? Not all onions are alike, so understanding the differences can help you choose the right one for your recipe. Onions are a member of the allium family, along with...

When serving a meal to a child, you may have heard them demand that their foods not touch each other. This mantra of “don’t let my foods touch!” is one to live by when storing and preparing raw animal foods, including meat, poultry, fish, seafood and eggs, which must be kept separate from ready-to...

Morels are the mushroom hunter's prey. Depending on the weather and location, the first Illinois morels of the season may begin to appear in late March to early April and generally ends in May. Morels are difficult to cultivate, thus are generally gathered in the wild rather than farmed. It may be...

Squish it. Smash it. Smoosh it. Our very first taste of solid food most likely came in a mashed or pureed form. However, as we have aged into adults, we must not forget that we can still enjoy our inner-baby’s love of mush. Here are four mashed foods that shouldn’t be stopped when the high chair...

If you’ve never seen poppy seeds, you may wonder what these tiny dark specks are doing all over your bagel. Poppy seeds are often used in baked goods, giving the product a slight nutty, sweet/spicy taste, a crunchy texture, and a unique decoration.There are many different types of poppy seeds,...