Summertime on the Farm and Memories of My Grandmother's Kitchen
First enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, asparagus continues to be among the most popular green vegetables around. Beautiful and easy to prepare, it seems almost too good to be true that it’s also good for you and versatile. As an appetizer, a first course, soup, or a vegetable dish alongside an entrée—asparagus is wonderful in all its incarnations. > more

 

Ten Tips to Building a Better Burger

First enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, asparagus continues to be among the most popular green vegetables around. Beautiful and easy to prepare, it seems almost too good to be true that it’s also good for you and versatile. As an appetizer, a first course, soup, or a vegetable dish alongside an entrée—asparagus is wonderful in all its incarnations. > more

 

Asparagus Salad with Lemon-Soy Sauce

First enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, asparagus continues to be among the most popular green vegetables around. Beautiful and easy to prepare, it seems almost too good to be true that it’s also good for you and versatile. As an appetizer, a first course, soup, or a vegetable dish alongside an entrée—asparagus is wonderful in all its incarnations. > more

 

Easy Summer Soups for Comfort and Health

Although soups are sometimes ignored in summertime, they can be refreshingly effective in dealing with sizzling temperatures. And, as a “starter” or first course, they are useful in taking the edge off the appetite for dieters. Soups can also function as a light summer meal, served with a salad and bread and, from a health perspective, offer an interesting and easy way to increase daily servings of vegetables. read more >>

 

The Edible Incredible Egg

It’s National Egg Month, so celebrate with this spinach and red pepper quiche. Just hold the sausage and bacon. Spinach and Red Pepper Crustless Quiche recipe >>

 

A Fresh Take On A Classic Soup

French Onion Soup requires a long simmering period to allow its flavors to build slowly. Japanese miso soup is ready in minutes. So what might they have in common? The answer, surprisingly, is miso.

 

Soy Is More Than Tofu

You see a white rectangular blob of tofu and ask yourself, "Do I really have to eat that?" The long answer is "Well, you should, and we've got a recipe at the end that should get you eating tofu." But the short answer is, "No, because soy is more than tofu." Then you might wonder, "OK, but why do I have to bother to eat soy anyway?" more

 

The Most Versatile Vegetable?

Butternut squash is one of the handiest and healthiest vegetables you can serve. It might win the vegetable versatility award, as you can bake or roast it, steam or boil it, use it in stews or a stir-fry. Butternut squash is good in soups, main dishes, as a side dish, and even for dessert, where it can take the place of pumpkin or sweet potato as a pie filling. Butternut Squash Enchiladas with Salsa Verde recipe>>

 

Healthy Whole-Grain “Power” Treats >>

 

The Protective Power of Garlic

Garlic provides more than a warm, rich taste in pastas and pizzas. Mounting evidence consistently links this plant to lower cancer risk. In one of the latest studies, men who ate less than a clove of garlic a day cut their risk of prostate cancer in half compared to men who ate none. more>>

 

• Chive Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
• Turkish Manti: A Colorful Holiday Dish

 

Beets for Beginners

By mid-September, shorter days signal that autumn is near, even if the thermometer still reads like summer. Beets add fall color as well as a welcome variety to familiar salads during this transitional time. Beet, Potato and Green Salad recipe >>

 

A Little Melon Goes a Long Way

The eye is often bigger than the stomach when buying ripe end-of-season melons. After a few end-of-meal desserts, there’s often a big piece of melon left over. A melon salad is a tasty, colorful solution. Melon Salad recipe >>

 

Mushroom Magic

Mushrooms provide intense flavor with little effort. Since they contain no fat and few calories, there are many reasons for eating them regularly. Fresh mushrooms are fairly perishable, but they make quick additions to many dishes, and so are good to have on hand, ready to use. mushroom pate recipe>>

 

Italian Omelette

A quick and easy recipe for breakfast lunch or dinner. Eggs and potatoes smothered in cheese. Click here for recipe>>

 

Greek Pita Salad with Potatoes
This colorful mixture of potatoes with Romaine lettuce, feta cheese, cucumbers, olives and tomatoes is a tasty treat you’re sure to enjoy. click here for recipe>>

 

Garlic Roasted Potato Wedges with Jalapeno Chili

Chili surrounded with potato wedges and served with sour cream makes a quick tasty vegetarian dish. click here for recipe >>

 

Enjoying Roasted Red Peppers

Mediterranean-cooked sweet pepper dishes include Italian Pepperonata. Usually sautéed, this version is roasted, making it easier for you to prepare the rest of the meal while it bakes. Get your dose of antioxidants with this Pepperonata recipe >>

 

The Americanization of Garlic

This full-flavored bulb adds flavor to dressings, soups, even mashed potatoes. Try the Spinach with Roasted Garlic recipe >>

 

Bringing Out The Best In Fruit

Give canned pears gourmet appeal by gently simmering them with dried cranberries and spices. The result is so good people will think the recipe came from a celebrity chef. Get Spiced Cranberry Pears recipe >>

 

Uptown Supper Salad

This hearty chicken and potato salad is sure to please and get your taste buds begging for more! get recipe >>

 

Lighter Pasta for Winter's End

It is just about time to put away the winter stew pot and get ready for the lighter fare of spring. A pasta with a light but hearty sauce is one good bridge between the seasons. It takes care of the slight chill in the air but looks ahead to less time spent in the kitchen and more outdoors. Get Pasta Puttanesca recipe >>

 

Mustard Greens, the Bold Brassica

Mustard greens are one clan in the immense, and immensely varied, brassica family of leafy greens. From a cook’s standpoint, this variety adds feisty flavor to an otherwise bland dish. Get Chicken Soup with Greens and Black Beans recipe>>

 

Love Your Heart this Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day, February 14th, is a day that traditionally evokes feelings of the heart -- of flowers, romance and marriage proposals. But this Valentine’s Day, many Americans are thinking about their hearts in a far more serious way. They’re learning that a healthful low-fat diet, a regular exercise program, and finding ways to deal with life’s stresses boost heart health. more>>

 

Three Cheers for Heart Healthy Oils

While once your options were limited to corn, canola, safflower and maybe olive oil, now your choices include walnut, almond, grapeseed and other types of oil as well. Each of these oils has its place in the kitchen and serves a specific function. Understanding which oil is suited for which use will help you to make the best choices for you and your family. more >>

 

More Spice Is Nice

No one is saying you must become vegetarian, but the health benefits of a mostly plant-based diet have become increasingly clear. If you are devoted to eating meat, adding more meatless meals, beyond pasta and pizza, can be challenging. But using a wide variety of herbs, spices and other seasonings will boost flavors, making this idea more enjoyable. more >>

 

Go Nuts -- New Research Shows It’s Good for You

If you’re among the many people who love to munch on nuts, but who gave them up because of health concerns, there’s good news. Recent research shows that nuts, in moderation, are actually a boon to your heart. Here is some flavorful ways to include nuts in your diet >>

May Your New Year Be Happy and Light The holidays are over and once again, it’s time to resolve to eat more healthfully. New studies show that one in four Americans is obese, so the beginning of a new year is a good time to think about how you eat. more >>

An Unexpected Stir-Fry As long as your stove can be turned up to super-hot, this produces a perfect stir-fry, with less mess than cooking in a wok. more>>

Easy Homemade Broth for Better Health, Better Taste Make an old-fashioned, rich broth to freeze and use whenever a dish requires broth or a recipe calls for “stock.” The process will create some cozy aromas and a sense of well-being, and the result will improve your cooking for weeks to come. more>>

Homemade Dips Make Healthier Snacks For The Holidays Or Unexpected Company To make holiday snacks and appetizers healthier but still rich in flavor, the Institute has created low-fat, vegetable-based dips that can be made quickly and easily, with ingredients easily kept on hand for last-minute company. more>>

Ins and Outs of Popcorn Many people who are trying to eat more healthfully switched to popcorn for snack time. Then came reports that the popcorn sold at movie theaters can contain as much fat as three to five Big Macs. Confusion now reigns: “Is popcorn a health food, or is it as bad as chips and cookies? Will popcorn help me lose weight or make me gain it?”...more>>

More Than A Drink: Cider Boosts Flavor and Health Protection of Autumn Vegetables Although health-conscious people are often familiar with the nutritional benefits of apples, cider is under-appreciated for its culinary versatility and ability to enhance both the flavor and health-protective features of vegetables...more>>

The Many Faces of a Pumpkin A pumpkin can also be anything that any other winter squash can be. A member of the gourd family, which includes watermelon and squash, its meat has a mild, sweet taste. Its orange color signals the presence of beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant that fights cancer. more>>

(Harvest Style) Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

Hearty Pasta with Greens Ever since sprightly-green pesto opened our eyes to enjoying pasta with more than red sauces, Americans have become progressively more adventurous. Traveling in Italy, watching television chefs and reading cookbooks like Jack Bishop's Pasta e Verdura, with its 140 vegetable sauces, have taught us to appreciate the many dishes that green vegetables inspire.

The Incredible, Edible Eggplant The eggplant is a staple of the Mediterranean kitchen, but it is also becoming increasingly familiar to American diners. And that gives cooks an extremely versatile food with which to work.

This Can't Be Breakfast Breakfast is important. Whether you skip it because you are not hungry or haven't the time, or if you have one that's not nutritious, you will pay a price later in the day - in lack of energy, diminished alertness and the likelihood of overeating.

Strawberry Spa Turkey Salad This salad is simply refreshing to the taste buds!

Blender Magic Whether old-fashioned or high-tech, your blender will easily handle the main action needed to make this spicy, retro casserole.

Ratatouille American-Style Ratatouille is an unsurpassed bit of culinary magic, perfectly timed for the height of summer's harvest. This side dish transforms sun-ripened tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and eggplant into a sparkling reminder of its native Provence, France.

Getting Past the Afternoon Slump It’s three o’clock. You can’t concentrate and your energy is running low. You may be experiencing an afternoon slump. If you usually resort to candy or coffee to pull you through the rest of your day, you may want to try some of these healthy alternatives to keep you going.

Healthful, Slimming Spa Foods "Spa resorts" have a reputation for offering special meals for dieters, the American Institute for Cancer Research says healthful, slimming, "spa-type" meals can be easily prepared at home, using the techniques and strategies employed by health-oriented chefs.

The Fruitarian Diet: A raw-food/fruitarian diet makes you beautiful and pure inside and out. It leads to the clearest use of your mind -- it greatly enhances your mental abilities.

Care and Feeding of the Vegetarian Teen: For many reasons - health, religion, ethics, weight, fashion, environment - teenagers have given up Big Macs for veggie burgers.

Homemade Applesauce : When winter colds and the flu lay us low and steal our appetite, tea with honey and chicken soup or other favorite family classics are soothing treats as well as helpful treatments. When I am under the weather, I also enjoy the comfort of homemade applesauce.

Casserole Days - Tuna Noodle Casserole : Need a quick meal that is good for you and still tastes delicious? Well look no further.

Better With Bulghur: toss this versatile grain into salads, soups and stir-fries, and serve it with any meal or snack.

Salads & Favorite Dressing Recipes: Its Time To Eat Your Veggies...We'll Make It Easier On You. Try Our Salads & Favorite Dressing Recipes.

Super Summer Salads - Straight From The Pantry: When the sun is scorching, your energy is zapped and your family is famished, a quick and easy meal-in-a-salad is as close as your pantry shelf.

Making A Great, Healthy Grilled Burger: Try the All-American Chicken Burger piled with all the fixin's, it comes off like the big, sassy burgers from your local fast-food emporium!

Is Your Cereal Too Much Of A Good Thing?: A study investigating the iron and folate in breakfast cereals found that some cereals contain more than indicated on the label.

Focus On Fiber For Fitness: Perhaps more than any other nutrition practice, good fiber intake is important to our daily quality of life.

Mushroom Meets Grill: Herbed Polenta with Grilled Portobello Mushroom

Ten Healthful Cooking Habits: Good nutrition is not just a matter of selecting the "right" foods to eat. It is also important to prepare these foods in ways that will maintain their nutritional benefits.