Banana Nut Med Muffins

Next time you have overripe bananas lying around, don’t throw them out – make these delicious and healthy muffins instead!  Most muffins are just a step away from cake with lots of added sugar and unhealthy fat. Not these med muffins! These muffins utilize ripe bananas for natural sweetness and nuts for heart-healthy fats. Great […]

Snacks and Lunch Packing Hacks

Our colleague and nutrition expert, Catherine Hill, RDN, LDN, shares some simple tips for nutritious snack options, a bin system for organizing your fridge and pantry, as well as lunch-packing hacks. Click the button below to watch the video and learn more! To read the full blog post, visit Homegrown in the Kitchen. You might […]

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 […]

Chocolatey Black Bean Brownies

December 8th is National Brownie Day in the United States. To celebrate, I want to share with you a recipe that gives a new twist on the classic chocolate brownie: the black bean brownie. I know you are probably skeptical of beans in your brownies, but hear me out on this one. These brownies do […]

Cinnamon Baked Pears

A delicious and healthy alternative to fruit pies, these baked pears can be served as dessert, or even eaten with breakfast. This is a favorite of mine at holiday meals when you want something sweet after dinner because they fulfill the sweet tooth craving without being too sugary or too filling. These pears are delicious […]

Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes

Recipe from NC EFNEP Ingredients Recipe makes 1 dozen 3 1/2-inch pancakes 2 cups flour (use 1/2 whole-wheat) 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 1 3/4 cup skim milk 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Vegetable cooking spray Directions Wash […]

4 Healthy-ish Fair Food Alternatives

COVID-19 has caused some of our favorite events to be either placed on hold or canceled completely. The NC State Fair is a longstanding North Carolina tradition that has been canceled this year for the first time since 1945.  Some people will miss the rides and the exhibits, but many people visit the fair just […]