Seafood can be mystifying territory for us land dwelling creatures. Well, let’s get one thing settled right now: cooking fish at home can be very easy! One of the best things about cooking seafood is its versatility — it can be grilled, broiled, poached, baked or cooked in a pan. We’ll help you learn how to broil fish and then you can expand your horizon.

Broiled Fish with Citrus and Herbs

Get the health benefits of fish and the budget benefits of cooking at home by using these simple instructions. Feel free to substitute with other ingredients such as water and lemon juice or white wine for the orange juice, dried dill weed for the herbs, and capers or toasted crushed nuts or seeds for the olives.

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Nachos, queso, chili, pizza, quesadillas, potato skins, dips…yes, please! We’ve pulled together some of our favorite foods to enjoy on game day. If you’re trying to stick to healthier options pick the Roasted Kale Chips or Green Garbanzo Guacamole and take a look at what Mary, our healthy eating guru, suggests cooking up for the big game. Remember, no matter what you serve, everyone wins when the food is delicious.

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From navy, cannellini and lima beans to great Northerns and flageolets, adding white beans to your menu plan adds good nutrition, versatility and ease. Cooking beans at home is renowned as a simple way to save money and provide the base for many a healthy meal. It requires little effort and they’re easy to keep on hand in the fridge or freezer. Then you can quickly put together everything from basic beans and rice (seasoned differently in different cultures) to soups, salads, dips and spreads.

This basic recipe for White Beans makes about 7 cups, approximately 10 servings.

1 pound dried white beans (cannellini, navy or great northern)
1 yellow onion, quartered
2 dried bay leaves
Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

Spread beans in a single layer on a large sheet tray; pick through to remove and discard any small stones or debris and then rinse well.
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Hard winter squash can be intimidating, but they are actually very simple to prepare as well as satisfying, nutritious and affordable! Butternut squash, for example, delivers healthy carbohydrates, vitamins A and C plus potassium. We’ll share two recipes here to get you started with winter squash.

Roasted Butternut Squash

This basic recipe brings out the best in winter squash: little bites delightfully caramelized outside and creamy inside. Serve straight from the oven as a side dish or use in soup, tacos, enchiladas, pasta and salad.

1 medium butternut squash (about 2 pounds)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400°F. Halve the squash lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out and discard seeds.

If desired, peel with a vegetable peeler or cut into big chunks and keep steady on the cutting board while cutting off the peel with a knife. You can also place a damp kitchen towel under your cutting board to help stabilize when cutting the squash.

Cut into 1-inch cubes. Transfer to a large, rimmed baking sheet. Toss with oil, salt and pepper and spread out in a single layer. Roast, tossing occasionally, until just tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know that January is National Soup Month? What better time of year than now to dedicate a weekend afternoon to making a large pot of soup? You’ll have lunches and dinners for the week, plus leftovers for the freezer. Here are some of our favorite soups for keeping warm, cozy and nourished all winter long!

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Enjoying a salad bowl filled with winter lettuce, red onions, fresh herbs, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, peppers and more is a great way to kick off the New Year. But the veggies are only half the picture. The salad dressing on top can turn that healthy choice into a SAD one. (SAD = Standard American Diet, if you didn’t know.)

A quick trip down the salad dressing aisle at any conventional grocery store features an astounding array of bottled chemicals, sugars and high fructose corn syrup, overly processed oils and preservatives. On the other hand, a good salad dressing not only adds great flavor but nutritional value as well.

It’s actually quite simple to make your own dressing. Nuts and fruits can make for creamy, juicy and flavorful salad dressings without adding any extracted oils. Plus you get the health benefits of those nutrient-dense nuts and fruits. Save money by using your imagination and what’s in your pantry to come up with new flavor combinations.

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Looking for some fun and festive ways to ring in 2012? We asked around and gathered ten of our favorite ideas for homemade merrymaking. From family game night to a DIY sparkling drinks bar, we think you’ll find something that suits you. Of course, there are a ton of other ideas out there so let us hear them! Use the comments sections below to share how you celebrate the New Year.

1. Host a “Small Bites” Party: Check out 30 delicious small bites recipes for entertaining. You provide festive drinks; ask guests to bring the small bites.
2. Plan a Neighborhood Progressive: Connect with neighbors and map out a menu where you’ll walk from house to house and enjoy a different course at each home. Take flashlights and be careful on the walk!

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Apples make a delicious contribution to a wide range of recipes. This season, they’re also making a contribution to end childhood hunger in the US. From now until December 25^th, for every pound of organic Fuji apples sold, a donation goes to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry™ campaign. It’s an easy – and tasty – way to give. And besides buying organic Fuji apples, here are three additional ways you can help the campaign.

What to do with your pound of apples? We’ve picked a few of our favorite recipes just for you.

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‘Tis the season for holiday baking! Whether you’re baking for a holiday cookie swap, crafting homemade gifts from the kitchen, making goodies for Santa or simply treating family and friends, here are 12 of our favorite cookies for the holidays. For seasonal baking tips, check out our holiday baking guide.

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Leftovers are one of the best parts of Thanksgiving as far as we’re concerned, and we have lots of ideas for getting creative with cooked turkey.

For ideas on using other leftovers from the Thanksgiving meal, covering everything from stuffing and gravy to mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, check out our guide to making the most of leftovers.

*Substitute leftover turkey on recipes that call for chicken or ham

Pot Pies

• Gluten-Free“Pot Pie” with Crunchy Brown Rice Crust
• Turkey Pot Pie

Soups, Stews and Curries

• Hearty Turkey Noodle Soup
• Turkey Sweet Potato Curry
• Turkey with Sweet Potato Dumplings
• Turkey Picadillo
• Thai-Style Red Curry with Turkey and Green Beans

Casseroles, Enchiladas and Quiche

• Turkey Enchiladas
• Turkey and Roasted Vegetable Quiche
• Turkey Tetrazzini
• Turkey and Wild Rice Casserole

Sandwiches and Wraps

• Ham and Brie Sandwiches
• Turkey and Cucumber Wrap
• Turkey, Plum and Brie Panini
• Turkey Salad Wraps 

Salads

• Chicken Orzo Salad
• Chipotle Turkey Salad
• Creamy Turkey Salad with Apples
• Green Salad with Buffalo Turkey and Blue Cheese
• Turkey Pasta Salad

What are your top tips for using leftovers to create delicious meals?