The scent of vanilla is found in so many things, including candles, soaps, and lotions, but it’s also in tons of different foods, topping the list for the world’s favorite flavor. Why do we love vanilla so much? It’s widely accepted scent is rich, smooth, slightly floral, and subtly sweet. Either...

Several years ago, I attended a Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo where I had the experience of wading through a gigantic makeshift cranberry bog. It was a strange but satisfying encounter! Cranberries are a unique crop that thrive in natural wetlands called bogs, although most bogs for...

Dates are the fruit of the date palm tree commonly grown in tropical climates. They can be sold fresh, but they are regularly found dried in the grocery store. The drying process makes dates sweeter and concentrated in nutrients. Dates are a good source of fiber, potassium, magnesium, and...

As the holiday baking gets underway, many recipes will call for evaporated or sweetened condensed milk. You won’t find this milk in the refrigerated section, but rather this shelf-stable milk is typically in the baking aisle. Have you ever thought about how these two milks are made? Both...

Farmers markets are a great place to purchase locally grown food, but what happens when the summer ends and the market packs up for the season? Those living in and near Bloomington are fortunate to have an indoor farmers market in the Grossinger Motors Arena starting November 18 and running once...

As the weather turns cooler, you may find yourself reaching for a warm mug of hot cocoa. While it’s convenient to grab a packet out of the box, making your own only takes three simple ingredients: sugar, cocoa powder and milk. This is a far cry from the hot cocoa mix you buy at the store, which...

A recent camping trip allowed me to explore a new way of outdoor cooking: Dutch oven cooking. Different than a home Dutch oven, which has a flat bottom and is sealed in enamel, a camping Dutch oven is a pot with three legs on the bottom and a concave lid so that you can spread coals underneath and...

I tend not to eat too many bagels, and when I do, I always opt for sweet instead of savory. Therefore, when I heard people talking about their love for everything bagel seasoning, I had no idea what I was missing. The seasoning on the everything bagel is now available at most grocery stores and...

It’s the season of everything pumpkin. While this winter squash can be roasted in an oven and blended into a puree, it is much more convenient to simply purchase canned pumpkin. It can be kept on the shelf ready for it to make its star appearance in everything from pumpkin pie to pumpkin chili....

Grocery shopping may not be your favorite household task. It’s often a mundane chore, yet necessary if you want to have food in the house to eat. Here’s a few tips to save you time and money without sacrificing good nutrition. Get organized and plan ahead. Use a free grocery...