Soup is one of my favorite make-ahead meals. Here are some of the reasons why: A big pot of soup provides days of family meals at the ready. Soup works for either lunch or dinner. It's great on its own, or you can pair it with a salad or grilled sandwich. These soup recipes are super nutritious. Homemade soup is free of artificial ingredients, additives, and high sodium that are Continue Reading
RECIPES: Easy, delicious one-pot meals
Cooking at home is almost always a healthier option than eating out or grabbing fast food, because you have control over the ingredients. But let's face it, most of us are pretty busy with work, family or other obligations. Who has time to spend hours in the kitchen? With these easy recipes, you won't have to. Indulge your cravings for comfort food -- and have leftovers for healthy lunches or Continue Reading
RECIPES: Three summer sides you can make with farmer’s market produce
By shopping at a farmer’s market, not only are you getting the freshest possible produce and goods, you are supporting local family farms by buying directly from the grower. Shopping at a farmer’s market or produce stand may help you save money as well. On the Blue Cross NC blog, I've posted three easy-to-make recipes your whole family is sure to enjoy. They are made from summer vegetables and Continue Reading
RECIPE: How to make delicious Carolina Pulled Pork in a slow cooker
Pulled pork has become a delicacy that North Carolina is known for world-wide. And it’s so simple to make using a slow cooker (Crock Pot). Plus, you won’t have to heat up the kitchen on a summer day. Pulled pork is high in protein, gluten-free and low-carb. In my easy recipe on the Blue Cross NC blog, I show how to make it lower in fat as well. Whether you’re making it for your family or a Continue Reading
3 delicious air fryer recipes your whole family will love
The Air Fryer is one of the most popular countertop kitchen appliances of the last decade. Because you do not fry in oil, this method of cooking is considered healthier. With an air fryer, greasy foods can be a thing of the past, without losing the taste and crispiness of fried foods. That saves a lot of calories versus deep frying. I recently created three restaurant-inspired easy air fryer Continue Reading
Mexican Rice recipe: A favorite since my teens
I didn't do a lot of cooking when I was a youngster, but I found that I enjoyed what I did do. My earliest memory was making a "chocolate snack cake" while in 4-H for the state fair. Fast forward to high school and my next memory of cooking. In Spanish class we had an event where we went into the home ec kitchen and each person or group had a recipe to make. Mine was Mexican rice --- and I've Continue Reading