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What’s In Season? Your Guide to Spring Produce

March 17, 2016 by

Spring is a bountiful time of the year when it comes to fresh produce, but it always helps to know exactly what’s in season. If you want to purchase only the freshest, most flavorful fruits and veggies and ensure that they last as long as possible in your fridge, use these helpful tips for understanding spring produce.

  1. Artichokes. Whether you use them on pizzas or add them to your salads, artichokes are a great way to add flavor and nutrients to your meals. Their main harvest takes place during the springtime, so look for artichokes with close, compact leaves and clean-cut stems.
  2. Asparagus. This popular veggie is found in a number of high-end restaurants, but you can easily prepare it at home if you purchase it fresh in the springtime. The thickness doesn’t necessarily indicate tenderness, so don’t overlook thinner or thicker spears at your grocery store.
  3. Carrots. While carrots are commonly found in grocery stores year-round, they taste best during the spring season. Only purchase bundles that are firm to the touch for maximum freshness.
  4. Leafy greens. Nutrient-rich veggies like chard, kale, and other cooking greens tend to turn bitter during hot summer months, so purchase them in the spring for the best taste.
  5. Fennel. If you’ve never cooked with fennel, experiment with this green (a relative of celery) when it comes into season during the warmer springtime.
  6. Grapefruit. Create a nutritious breakfast by adding grapefruit, which starts to become plump and juicy in January.

Spring Produce: Your Guide to Picking the Best [Greatist]
What’s in Season? Spring [Fruits and Veggies More Matters]
Fresh Spring Fruits and Vegetables [About Food]

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Creamy Meets Sweet in These 3 Tres Leches Cake Recipes

June 18, 2015 by

Whether you’re interested in the cuisine of Latin America or you’re simply searching for a unique dessert to try out, the traditional tres leches cake is a truly decadent option. Evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream fully saturate a delicious sponge cake base in this rich dish, and a fluffy whipped cream topping is the icing on the tres leches cake. Try out one of these three recipes at your next gathering.

Premium Tres Leches Cake [Betty Crocker]
This recipe from the Betty Crocker website recommends using a box of yellow cake mix to cut down on the prep time for your tres leches cake. The milk mixture is the same as the traditional recipe, which makes this the perfect choice if you want an authentic taste in a shorter amount of time.

Emeril Lagasse’s Tres Leches Cake [Food Network]
While this recipe from Emeril Lagasse takes longer to make than most cake recipes, it’s well worth the effort. The cake is made from scratch using only real ingredients, like whole milk and flavorful vanilla, and the decadent icing topping features subtle notes of mango and papaya for a tropical flavor.

Martha Stewart’s Tres Leches Cake [Martha Stewart]
This is a fairly simple, traditional tres leches cake recipe that incorporates the usual three milks to create a moist mouthful with each bite. Martha Stewart’s version also adds fresh fruit to the whipped cream topping to add a refreshing contrast to the cake’s rich flavor.

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Pomegranate Is the Not-So-Secret Ingredient in These Unique Recipes

January 22, 2015 by

You’ve likely never thought of incorporating pomegranate into your savory recipes, but the addition of these tart, sweet seeds could be just what you need to add a bit of excitement to your meals. Here are a few great recipes that use pomegranate as the not-so-secret ingredient.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pomegranate and Hazelnuts [foodnetwork.com]
Brussels sprouts are certainly having a moment in the culinary world, but then again, so are pomegranates. Combine the two into one healthy, delicious side dish that is positively filled with flavor with this unexpected recipe.

Pomegranate Parfait [pomegranates.org]
Forgo the usual cake or pie for tonight’s dessert in favor of something a bit lighter and more refreshing. These pomegranate parfaits are equal parts fruity, fresh, and fluffy, and they’re topped with whipped cream and chopped pistachios for a bit of added richness and nutty flavor.

Black Bean, Pomegranate and Avocado Salsa [twopeasandtheirpod.com]
Serve this fun and festive salsa at your next party or gathering. It’s just as flavorful as a traditional salsa, but instead of using the usual tomatoes, it incorporates savory black beans with the cool taste of avocado and pomegranate seeds. Serve it with tortilla chips, pitas, or even as a garnish for a fish or chicken dish.

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Easy Ways to Incorporate More Iron Into Your Diet

August 21, 2014 by

While you may think that iron is only important to bodybuilders and Popeye, it’s actually a very beneficial mineral that all humans need to survive. In fact, if your body doesn’t get enough iron you could start to suffer from anemia, an iron-deficiency that causes fatigue, weakness, and brittle nails and hair. These healthful foods will help to provide you with the right amount of iron each day.

  1. Mollusks. Seafoods like clams, oysters, and mussels have some of the highest levels of iron of any food groups. Oysters contain the most, offering 53 milligrams of iron in just a 20-count serving. Because the average person’s recommended percent daily value is just 18 milligrams per day, this means that you can get 295% of your daily value from an weekly oyster night at your favorite seafood spot.
  2. Liver. While you may have hated liver and onions as a child, liver is actually filled with quite a few health benefits. Beef liver is very low in fat and calories, and it also provides an incredible 26 milligrams of iron in just one 4-ounce serving. If you don’t eat beef, you can also get similar amounts of iron from chicken, pork, lamb, or turkey liver.

Best Foods for Iron [Huffington Post]
Top 10 Iron-Rich Foods [WebMD]
Top 10 Foods Highest in Iron [Healthaliciousness]
Iron Rich Foods [American Red Cross]

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Sweet Recipes for Tres Leches Cake

June 19, 2014 by

If you haven’t heard of tres leches cake before, you’re in for a real treat. This traditional Latin American cake combines a simple sponge cake with evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream to create a moist, delicious cake that’s unlike any other type of dessert. Here are two delicious ways to prepare a unique tres leches cake.

The Pioneer Woman’s Tres Leches Cake [The Pioneer Woman]
The Pioneer Woman’s Tres Leches Cake recipe involves a homemade sponge cake that’s already moist and delicious. She recommends drizzling the three milk mixtures all over the entire cake once it’s cool, and she even proposes the option of adding rum to give the cake an even more distinct flavor.

Tres Leches Cake [Allrecipes]
With three layers— cake itself, the filling, and the topping—this Tres Leches Cake uses a traditional recipe that makes it taste just as sweet and delicious as the original. Sprinkle some cinnamon on top to add a bit of extra spice to the rich, creamy flavor.

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Have a Surplus of Mint on Your Hands? Try These 3 Recipes!

June 5, 2014 by

Even gardeners lacking any sort of green thumb can grow mint. This herb is loved (and loathed!) for its tendency to take over an entire garden, offering a veritable bounty of green leaves all summer long. Whether you're dealing with a surplus of mint from your own windowsill garden or you were gifted a mint bundle from an exasperated coworker, these three recipes will put the herb to good use.

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream [The Kitchn]
Mint leaves are crushed, then steeped in a cream and sugar mixture for an hour, imbuing the ice cream with a fragrant, herbal taste. Chunks of dark chocolate are added into the mix at the end.

Warm Rice Salad with Peas and Mint [Huffpost Taste]
Regular rice is elevated in this summery side salad. Cooked rice is flavored with garlic and shallots, then brightened with the contrasting flavors of lemon juice, mint, and fresh peas.

Basil Mint Parsley Raw "Pesto" Sauce Recipe [Gluten-Free Goddess]
Cheese and nuts are omitted in this recipe for raw pesto sauce, which relies solely on basil, mint, parsley, garlic, olive oil, and salt to create a refreshing sauce for pasta, salmon, grilled corn — whatever you desire!

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Two Great Websites for Muffin Recipes

March 20, 2014 by

If you’re growing tired of the usual blueberry muffin recipe, it might be time to switch things up in the kitchen. Put your baking skills to the test with these wonderful muffin recipes from two of the best recipe sites from around the web..

Cooking Light
Cooking Light’s list of Healthy Muffin Recipes is the perfect resource for the health-conscious baker. Muffins don’t need to be packed with calories in order to taste great, and there are a number of simple ingredient substitutions that can help to make your muffins a bit more nutritious. The Tuscan Lemon Muffins are made with olive oil and fresh lemon juice instead of sugary sweeteners or phony flavors, and even the seemingly indulgent Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Muffins are a bit healthier than the store-bought kind.

Martha Stewart
For truly creative muffin recipes, Martha Stewart’s website is one of the best resources. Beautiful photos provide endless inspiration, while the easy-to-follow recipes are simple enough for even the amateur home baker. Try the easy Applesauce Muffins with light, fluffy icing, or bake some Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins for a thicker consistency and sweet, spicy flavor. Whether you prefer something dessert-like or a muffin that’s a bit more savory, Martha Stewart has a muffin recipe for everyone.

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Eat Healthfully When Dining Out

March 6, 2014 by

You know the feeling: you go out to a restaurant, and you’re instantly overwhelmed by the amount of options on the menu. Your companions order a few appetizers for the table, and you might have a cocktail as well. You’re already a bit full when the meal arrives, but it’s so delicious that you can’t help but eat it anyway. Before you know it, you've eaten too much!

If you’re familiar with this situation, these helpful tips from the USDA can help you keep you on track:

  • Set the tone by taking control of your beverages. Choose water or unsweetened iced tea instead of sugary beverages.
  • Start your meal with a salad. This helps to avoid fried or fattening appetizers, gives you full serving of vegetables and keeps you from overdoing it once your meal comes.
  • Ask for dressings or sauces on the side so that you can control the amount you consume.
  • If portions are large, limit yourself by immediately putting half in a takeout box or sharing with a friend.
  • Avoid dishes with words like “fried” or “sautéed” in favor of things like “steamed” or “grilled”.
  • If you order a sandwich, ask for whole wheat bread instead of the usual white.

For more helpful tips for eating healthfully at restaurants, visit the USDA website.

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Great Websites for Unique Sandwich Recipes

February 20, 2014 by

You use a recipe for pastas, soups and cakes, but you probably wouldn’t think of looking up a recipe for a sandwich. These helpful websites feature sandwich recipes that are much more elaborate than your usual grilled cheese, and you’ll certainly notice the difference in taste.

Food Network
The Food Network is home to some wonderful shows about sandwiches, and now you can learn to make them yourself. Their Top Sandwich Recipes page features everything from grown-up turkey sandwiches to hot, gravy-covered sandwiches that are more dinner than lunch. The Mahi Mahi Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich that you might not have heard of, while the French Dip recipe will show you how to make this diner favorite right at home.

101 Cookbooks
Instead of updating the sandwiches you already love, try something completely new with the unique recipes on 101 Cookbooks. This beautifully-designed website is easy to navigate, and it makes for hours of inspiration for your next sandwich. 101 Cookbooks features an Avocado Asparagus Tartine, Vegetarian Lentil Burgers, and even an Egg Salad Sandwich with Greek yogurt instead of the usual mayonnaise.

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Tasty Beef Recipes Everyone Will Enjoy

January 22, 2014 by

Like the old slogan says, beef is often what’s for dinner. If you’re looking for healthy, creative alternatives to your traditional beef recipes, these delicious dishes are sure to please.

Beef Steak With Carrots and Mint
Hearty and refreshing on a warm summer’s day, this unique beef dish features a cucumber and mint salad as a cool accent against the juicy steak.

Beef Steak With Light Tomato Mushroom Sauce
Just like the beef dishes at Italian restaurants, this savory steak is topped with a tomato and mushroom sauce and is full of robust flavor.

Stir-Fried Orange Beef
Plan an feast for only 260 calories per serving with this delicious stir-fry dish. Crisp veggies make it healthy, while ginger, soy sauce and orange juice add authentic, tangy flavor.

Quick Beef Casserole
On days when you’re too busy to plan an elaborate meal, this fast and nutritious casserole makes the perfect family dinner.  Lean ground beef is a great source of protein, while vegetables and rice hold the whole thing together without adding unnecessary calories.

For more healthy beef recipes, visit the NIH website here.

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