Bean & Butternut Squash Chili

Enjoy this chili recipe from our colleagues at NC EFNEP. Ingredients Non-stick cooking spray  2 cups diced butternut squash (about ½ of a medium squash) 1 medium onion 1/2 pound extra-lean ground beef  1 cup or 1 (15-ounce) cans red kidney beans  1 cup or 1 (15-ounce) can black beans 3 cups or 1 (28-ounce) […]

Okra after grilling

BEST way to cook okra – GRILLED

I grew up in the south. This means that fried okra was on the menu frequently. In fact, I am not sure I knew that you could eat it any other way until I was an adult. Lucky for me, my mom was a health-conscious southern cook and did not use heavy batter or deep […]

Best, Easy Corn Salad: EVER

With all the fresh corn available you may be tired of just plain corn on the cob. I have been experimenting with using corn to make a cold summer salad. I like cooking the corn in the husk in the microwave. The corn comes out perfectly every time. I like a sherry vinaigrette but you […]

Chicken Cutlet with Cucumber and Greens

Chicken cutlet is a year-round favorite and a simple way to get more bang for your buck. One boneless skinless chicken breast makes for two hefty cutlets when pounded thin. The surprising addition of crackers goes the distance by adding both crunch and flavor. When paired with a simple summer salad – one full of […]

More Reasons to NOT Skip Breakfasts

I don’t know about you, but the recent research around breakfast has been very confusing to me. Originally, it was considered to be the ‘most important meal of the day.’ Then the evidence around the importance of breakfast for overall health and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight became mixed as intermittent fasting started to […]

A serving of the prepared recipe

Whole Grain, Chickpea, and Black Bean Salad

This salad is actually a main dish with whole grain, vegetables, beans, and nuts. It keeps for several days and actually is better after a day or so. Exact proportions are not critical so don’t worry if you have more tomatoes or less cucumber. You can even add other vegetables such as peas, carrots, or […]

Nuts and fruit on a plate

Healthy Road Trip Snacks

This month, my family is embarking on a 9-day road trip across the Southeast. Part of our trip planning includes thinking about healthy snack options. We will not have access to kitchen facilities so most of our meals will be take-out or on the road. Days of driving long hours and eating out can really […]

Khichdi – Instant Pot Recipe

Khichdi is a very popular dish from the Indian subcontinent and has many variations depending upon the different regions of India. The common theme is that it is made from a mix of rice and lentils – it is like a savory porridge that is served hot. It is usually one of the first solid […]

A Dietitians Review of Baked Feta Pasta that went viral on TikTok

I kept hearing about this fabulous recipe for Baked Feta Pasta that went viral on TikTok that I had to check out.  The pictures looked delicious! During my search, I found a few different versions of this original recipe. The one that I reviewed was from Delish and can be viewed here. Nutrient Analysis – Original Recipe […]

A prepared smoothie on an outdoor table

Strawberry and Tahini Smoothie

In a previous blog for a Chocolate Banana Oat Smoothie, I mentioned that I am working on consuming more fruit. Fruit-based smoothies with no added sugars are a way that works for me to enjoy more fruit on a daily basis. Do you have leftover tahini in your refrigerator from making hummus or a salad […]