Pictured is a bowl that contains summer green bean salad.

Favorite Summer Recipes, Have Them While you Can

Summer is NOT over. As someone whose birthday is the first day of Fall, I know that summer is still alive and kicking. So hold off on the pumpkin spice latte and the turtlenecks ‘cause it is still 90 degrees outside. This calls for one more round of favorite summer foods such as tomato sandwiches, […]

Guaranteed Way to Save on Your Grocery Bill

Grocery prices continue to rise. Each trip to the grocery store seems to be more and more expensive. One of the most important things to do when grocery prices are high is to make sure you don’t have any food that goes to waste. Buying the 3-pack of bell peppers is cheaper than buying them […]

Two 8 inch chef's knives.

Five Steps to Keeping Your Kitchen Knives Sharp

There is nothing better than starting to prep food and finding your knife is super sharp. It makes your task faster and more enjoyable. On the flip side, there is nothing worse than a dull knife. Fighting to get through your prep work, slogging to get uniform slices or dices, it makes every task harder. […]

Deviled egg halves made using olive oil

What to Take to Your Next Potluck or Picnic!

Deviled eggs are a popular staple on the Southern dinner table. I have made literally hundreds of dozens over my life. I was taught to make deviled eggs by my mother, who was taught by her mother and so on. Salt the whites, add a bit of vinegar, all these tricks from our past to […]

Picture of grilled Greek inspired chicken breast

What Can I Use Instead of Buttermilk in a Recipe?

Buttermilk is a great ingredient in baked products, marinades, and some desserts. However, not many of us keep it on hand. The most common substitute for buttermilk is to mix a bit of vinegar in regular milk. I have done this and it works ok but does not have quite the same flavor as buttermilk. […]

Dish of pink Himalayan salt.

Is Pink Himalayan Salt Healthier than Other Salt?

A few years ago, pink Himalayan salt started cropping up everywhere: discount stores, grocery stores, gift shops, and gourmet shops. It is a beautiful color and is often branded as a healthier alternative to sea salt or regular table salt. Pink Himalayan salt is from a salt range in the mountains in Pakistan. It is […]

Bowl of Gazpacho soup.

The Only Gazpacho Recipe You Will Ever Need

When you tell someone what gazpacho is- cold tomato soup- you more than likely get a confused face or a “I’ll pass” response. However, the first time you taste gazpacho, a much different response is elicited. “Oh, wow, this is great,” is the most common I have encountered. Some gazpacho recipes are, in my humble […]

Plated fish meal.

A Guaranteed Method for No Stick Fish

Eating more fish (not fried of course) is a great step toward healthy eating. Cooking fish, however, can be daunting. Even an experienced cook has torn, shredded, or mangled fish when trying to flip it. Cooking salmon is relatively easy thanks to its high fat content. However, lean fish is another story. During a recent […]

Ceramic jar containing various kitchen cooking tools.

What Kitchen Equipment Do I Really Need?

Everyone needs the basics to make a meal – knives, cutting board, pots and pans, spatulas, spoons, mixing bowls, measuring cups, you get the idea. Beyond that, what gadgets or pieces of equipment do you REALLY need? A good knife and some practice can take the place of many gadgets sold today. Here is what […]

Chef in the kitchen preparing food.

What I Learned at Cooking School- Part 3

Cooking is my passion. I am fortunate that this passion often overlaps my career in nutrition as we work to build healthy recipes, test cooking techniques, and write curricula that helps everyday cooks make healthy food for their family. As with any passion, you should sharpen your knives from time to time. The way I […]