HEARTh & HOME

By Janae Jean – For Thanksgiving, we are sharing four different takes on the classic cranberry sauce. The cranberry, is second only to the blueberry in antioxidant capacity per cup. They are also high in vitamins C and E and fiber and very low in sugar with only 46 calories …

By Janae Jean In North America, pumpkins and other winter squash are synonymous with fall. Pumpkin pies, lattés, breads, muffins and more are everywhere as well as squash soups and risottos. While you may think that pumpkin and squash look very different from one another, pumpkin is actually a variety …

By Janae Jean October is the half-way point for the fall semester at most colleges and universities. Students are in the midst of studying hard for midterms and midnight snacks become meals. For this fall semester, here are two healthful variations on the college dorm room classic ramen noodles. Ramen …

By Janae Jean September is such a busy time of year for many of us. Summer vacation season is done, and it’s time to go back to school. Even those of us who aren’t in school or don’t have students in our homes are getting ready for the cooler fall …

by Janae Jean – August in the Midwest is hot and humid. So, why not add some heat to our dinner plates as well? This month we have a plant-based meal inspired by the Indian Subcontinent. Indian food is known for its spicy flavors. This month’s masala-inspired dish is packed …

By Janae Jean – In the United States we use the word smörgåsbord to refer to any type of buffet style meal. It literally means “sandwich table” in Swedish. Its normally a large spread of cold and hot dishes, featuring regional ingredients such as herring, salmon, dill, cucumbers and crispbread. …

By Janae Jean –  Lavender is for more than skin care and potpourri; it’s a culinary herb that adds a certain je ne sais quoi to both sweet and savory dishes and beverages. Lavender is a common herb in Southern French or Provençalcooking. While recently becoming popular in North America, lavender …

by Janae Jean – We are all most familiar with orange carrots, but carrots come in purple, red, yellow and white varieties as well. When we include carrots are various hues in our diets, we are maximizing our antioxidant intake. Carrots are probably best known for the antioxidant named for …

  By Janae Jean – Rhubarb and Asparagus April is the first full month of spring, and the fresh, locally grown produce we missed during the long, cold winter is beginning to return to the produce aisles and farmer’s markets. In the Midwest, some of the first in season fruits …

Irish Teatime Breads By Janae Jean – What is the most popular drink in Ireland? Is it that well-known dry stout? Is it whiskey? It’s Assam black tea. The Irish consumed 4.83 pounds per capita of tea in 2016; that’s second in the world after the Turks. Irish tea is …