Baked ziti is a great meal to make ahead of time and reheat for your family on busy school nights or when unexpected company shows up for dinner. Save even more time by baking ziti in a freezer-safe casserole dish and then using that dish to both store and reheat the ziti.
Read more →
Pineapple is a tropical fruit widely available in most grocery stores and produce markets. It is rich in manganese and contains plenty of copper, fiber and vitamins B-1, B-6 and C.
Read more →
Apricots are high in vitamins A and C, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and fiber, making them a healthy addition to any diet. Their sweet taste and soft texture complement a variety of foods; in particular, they are delicious in pies and cobblers, and work well with pork and poultry.
Read more →
The gizzard and heart of a chicken, usually called giblets, and the neck are typically removed from the bird before cooking and discarded. In many cases, they are removed before purchase, packaged in plastic and stored inside the abdominal cavity of the chicken.
Read more →
While it is often more affordable to purchase a whole chicken than to buy pre-cut meat, cooking a whole bird can take up to two hours. Butterflying a chicken before roasting shortens cooking time and ensures more even cooking, thereby keeping even thinner portions of the chicken moist and delicious.
Read more →
Chicken becomes more tender the longer it cooks. Unfortunately, most cooking methods produce extremely dry meat when the chicken is cooked long enough to become tender.
Read more →
Cooking a duck on a rotisserie produces a very moist and flavorful bird with well-done meat and crisp skin. This cooking method also allows most of the fat to drain from the bird, resulting in a leaner, healthier meal for your family.
Read more →
Both hard- and soft-shell clams are delicious and easy to prepare and cook. You can eat hard-shell clams raw or cooked, but soft-shell clams must be cooked until they open before eating. Always use live clams that smell pleasant and that resist having their shell opened forcefully.
Read more →
Marinating Cornish hens before cooking them improves their flavor and tenderizes the meat. You can mix a simple batch of marinade with ingredients you probably have on hand or make a bigger batch and use the extra for basting or for seasoning potatoes or vegetables.
Read more →
Shrimp are highly perishable and require cautious handling when purchasing, storing and cooking to prevent foodborne illness. Store shrimp immediately in the freezer when you return from the supermarket unless you plan to cook them within 24 hours.
Read more →
Squash, like other fruits and vegetables, contains bacteria and enzymes that will break it down with time, destroying its flavor, color and texture and reducing its nutritional content. While you do not have to cook squash before freezing it, you should blanch it to stop the activity of these enzymes and bacteria.
Read more →
If you’re concerned about red meat or want to change your dietary patterns to decrease your dependence on this form of protein, you still have lots of dietary options. Protein is an important component of a healthy diet, and you can find many other options to meat, such as poultry or fish.
Read more →
When you’ve been working or exercising hard and feel the need for a refreshing beverage, you’ll find plenty of options.
Read more →
If you've "got milk" that came from the soybean rather than a dairy cow, you might want to consider the possible hormonal effects. Soybeans contain substances called isoflavones that possess hormonal activity -- especially on estrogen -- but the jury is still out regarding soy's effects on testosterone.
Read more →
Although most people might not need to take vitamins because they can get the nutrients from the food they eat, others opt to take vitamins daily so their bodies absorb all essential nutrients. Women who are pregnant typically take prenatal vitamins on the recommendation of their doctors.
Read more →
Whole grains offer nutritional benefits such as vitamins and minerals, but a good breakfast cereal also provides you with fiber. All grains are not created equal, however, so you need to be a smart shopper to find the cereals with the most fiber.
Read more →
Starting your day with a whole-grain cereal provides you with vitamin B-6 and fiber, not to mention some tasty options. Ready-to-eat cereals offer some choices when it comes to whole grains, but many of the actual grains themselves can also be used as cereals.
Read more →
Macronutrients -- the big three of protein, carbohydrates and fat -- are the cornerstone of any dietary plan. The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that all three are important to your health, but balance is important. The best ratio for you depends on age.
Read more →
Food allergy symptoms can range from an irritating runny nose or mild itching to life-threatening swelling of the throat and difficulty breathing. If you have severe symptoms, seek emergency care immediately.
Read more →
Fish oil contains beneficial fatty acids called omega-3s and has been found to be effective in reducing high triglycerides. Available in supplements as well as from fatty fish, such as mackerel, sturgeon, salmon, anchovies and sardines, fish oil may also be beneficial in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Read more →