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College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

Healthy Cooking

A person's hand is shown pouring balsamic vinegar into a white bowl.

Flavor up with balsamic vinegar

Once I discovered how to put balsamic vinegar to good use, this vinegar fought it’s way from the depths of rarely used ingredients in my kitchen pantry, to the easy-to-reach shelf, directly in front and right next to the olive oil. It flavors most all my vegetables from Brussel sprouts to carrots...
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A bunch of daikon radishes with green stems attached

Ask your local growers about daikon radishes

Most people are familiar with radishes, those red-skinned, white-flesh, peppery vegetables often found on a salad bar. However, there are many other radishes, such as the daikon radish, that look completely different and yield a slightly altered taste. The daikon radish looks more like a white...
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A spoon scooping ghee out of a glass jar. Flowers on the table around the jar.

Is ghee healthier than other fats?

You may have heard about a type of fat, often used in Indian and Asian cuisine, called ghee. It’s been touted as having many health benefits, including decreased inflammation and improved digestion. However, is there any evidence to support these claims? Ghee is clarified butter made by slowly...
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a campfire in the forest

Gather around for campfire meals

I recently took my family on a weekend camping trip, where we experienced the great outdoors. We enjoyed the beautiful nature, the company of family and of course, the food. While we had the typical hot dog and hamburger meals, with two young children, I still got the request of “pizza.” No oven?...
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A white plate with gold silverware and text that says "are you tired of cooking, too?"

Are you tired of cooking, too?

I recently had a few conversations with friends and coworkers that all talked about how they are tired of cooking. I, myself, joined in or even started the discussion of feeling burned out. More time at home over the past year has evolved into more meals being prepared at home, but the enthusiasm...
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Person looking at a recipe book

Using a new recipe? Better check it twice

Have you ever started working on dinner to later realize you don’t have an ingredient? How about the time you realized you were supposed to let the meat marinate in the refrigerator overnight? These are classic examples of not fully reading the recipe well before mealtime. How does the story end?...
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Overhead view of a bowl of oatmeal with fruit, a cup of coffee, and avocado on a cutting board.

Debunking five nutrition myths

Like in most subject areas, there will always be myths, particularly when it comes to food and health. Here are five nutrition myths I am happy to debunk. 1. Carbs are bad for you. Carbohydrates serve as your body’s preferred source of energy for daily tasks and it provides fuel...
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A maroon bowl with refried beans

Save on sodium with homemade refried beans

Refried beans may not have the most appealing look, but their creamy delicious taste makes up for it. They are traditionally made from pinto beans, but black beans may be prepared this way as well. Contrary to their name, refried beans are not fried twice. They are boiled, mashed and then either...
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Five different scoops of different colored protein powders.

Do you need to bulk up on protein powder?

Protein powders can be spotted on the shelves of supplement stores, pharmacies, fitness centers and big box stores. Perhaps you’ve wondered if you should be bulking up on protein powder, too. Protein is a macronutrient important for building muscle mass, repairing tissue and powering the immune...
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A stack of granola bars on a white plate.

Homemade granola bars

This blog post was written by Nutrition & Wellness intern, Kelley Herman.  Most people are used to going to the grocery store, cruising down the cracker and snack aisle, and picking up some granola bars or crackers for quick snacks in the future. These prepackaged options are...
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College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

101 Mumford Hall (MC-710)

1301 W. Gregory Dr.

Urbana, IL 61801

Email: extension@illinois.edu

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