Ideas & Tips — Eating Healthy

Labor Day may have come and gone, but don't get too depressed — we still have a few more weeks before summer is officially over. In the meantime, cook up some healthy and delicious meals making good use of plentiful late-season produce. Before you know it, we'll be making the hearty fall stews and casseroles that are perfect for fall but, for now, enjoy the bounty of tomatoes and summer squash.   Corn soup: Cooking Light tells us that corn is at its peak from May through September, so now is a great time to cook with fresh ears from your local farmers...

The farm-to-table trend is booming among home cooks and entertainers, according to Los Angeles news outlet KTLA. As Americans have become more conscious of the impact that our shopping choices have on the world around us, many have begun to buy locally grown, fresh and organic food. This is better for the environment, it supports farmers and small business owners in our own community and it can also make for a much healthier diet. Here are some tips for hosting your own farm-to-table dinner: Cut processed foods: A true farm-to-table meal won't involve any processed foods, since they tend to...

When the weather warms up, it's time to ditch those hot soups and heavy casseroles and whip up a delicious and light summer salad! Here are some components of an exceptional salad: Color: Making sure your salad has lots of color will make it nutritionally diverse and attractive! Food and recipe site Serious Eats recommends avocado and mango for pops of color. You can also add red, orange or yellow bell peppers, carrots, radishes or any other favorite veggies!  Crunch: Some crunch will add extra dimension and interest, keeping your salad from being bland and boring! Many fresh fruits and vegetables,...

How do you throw a pizza party for grown-ups? Make it gourmet! Fun and unique, this is one dinner soiree that your guests will be talking about for weeks. Here are our ingredients for making you the host with the most:  Antipasto: Lifestyle magazine Southern Living recommends starting your meal with a prettily prepared antipasto platter. Your cured meats, bruschetta, veggies and gourmet cheese will look particularly distinguished arranged on a brushed stainless steel serving plates.  Cheese: Be sure to buy mozzarella — the classic pizza cheese. Asiago, Parmesan and/or Romano are also delicious. Ricotta, goat, blue, Brie and Manchego cheese work...

Do you ever find yourself tasting a meal you've prepared and realizing it just doesn't have enough flavor? Do you dump loads of grocery store spices into your dishes, only to be put off by their bland, vague taste? It may be time to look into grinding your own spices, which is easy to do if you have the right equipment. Spices begin to lose their flavor as soon as they're ground, so when you buy prepackaged spices in the supermarket, they're already starting to go south, flavor-wise. Home-ground spices are obviously the right choice in terms of flavor, but...