181 along recipes

A favorite among kids and kids at heart is the Colonel’s Mac aroni and cheese which was originally made fresh daily. Now it comes premade and is cooked in an oven, like it originally as when it was made fresh.

Easy to pack and perfect as crudités for that favorite dip, the crunchy texture and sweet taste of carrots is popular among both adults and children. Although they are shipped around the country from California throughout the year, locally grown carrots are in season in the summer and fall when they are the freshest and most flavorful.

Chocolate contains compounds believed to boost serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain. Among them are theobromine and caffeine, which can increase alertness and trigger a pleasurable feeling similar to the natural high after exercise. Another group of compounds, called flavonoids, has been found to benefit heart health. Studies suggest they improve blood flow by relaxing the blood vessels.

In a Cretan zacharoplasteion (sweet shop), we were so intrigued by these coconut pastries (among the newer breed) that I tried them at home. You can expect the potato pastry to be a bit difficult to manipulate, and you can also anticipate compliments on the results. Attractive and tasty, not excessively sweet.

Low in fat, butternut squash contains significant amounts of dietary fiber, making it an exceptionally heart-friendly choice. It also contains potassium, important for bone health, and vitamin B6, essential for the proper functioning of both the nervous and immune systems. Importantly, the squash is very rich in beta-carotene (which your body automatically converts to vitamin A), which has been shown to protect against breast cancer and age-related macular degeneration, among other health benefits. If that was not enough, a single cup serving provides nearly 50% of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C.