Go the extra mile with your food budget with these tips from LearnVest. For years, many people — my husband, mom, sister and even my son — told me to stop wasting so much food. Throwing away half a piece of chicken here or a handful of grapes there never seemed like such a big deal to me. If I was full or no longer in the mood for that particular food, then I had no problem tossing Read more

Everyone's had potato hash browns — either in patty form at McDonald's, from a mother's stove, or in an American diner where the dish is served up around the clock. One Sunday morning, I awoke with a hankering for hash browns, but I didn't have any potatoes on hand, only sweet potatoes. I figured sweet potatoes make great fries, so why not hash browns? If you want to pay homage to your Read more

You've heard how meatless Mondays are good for the planet. Now, look to Cooking in Pajamas for a fast and easy vegan chili recipe. Meatless Monday is back baby!  It never actually went anywhere, I just kept forgetting to blog about it. In my quest to get healthy and lose a few pounds before my 20th anniversary trip in April, I have been testing out a plant based diet. I keep going back and Read more

With so many different types of onions, a full, comprehensive guide would be more than a little tedious, so we've put together a short, simple list of all the must-know points — from taste variation to shelf life to quick cooking tips. Not sure which onions to use in which dish? Learn these basics to boost your knowledge: Colors Onions come in a large variety of types, tastes, and colors, the Read more

With the addition of vegetables, barley, and lots of fragrant seasonings, brown rice, normally accustomed to being a staple side, suddenly finds itself in the main dish spotlight. What makes this brown rice a hearty vegetarian meal are the layers of flavor and variety of textures. While fresh thyme and spicy chipotles in adobo may not be the most obvious of food pairings, when tossed with the Read more

Can't wait for Turkey Day to be here, already? Well, then you've lucked out, because this year, Thanksgiving's come early — online, at least. Food Network's brought together some of the country's top food outlets for a virtual holiday feast. From cocktails and appetizers to main dishes and desserts, this meal's got it all — and each recipe is one that you can re-create yourself at home. Given Read more

Inspired by a trip to a local farmers market, Fresh Tart whips up a quick version of a food-stand favorite: the coconut curry Thai omelet. My son Nathan and I spent our summer Sundays eating our way through Kingfield Farmers Market. We did it last summer too and got in such a fun groove of eating together, visiting with friends, and stocking up on all of our favorite treats for the week. It's Read more

Soy is one of the most versatile ingredients; it can be eaten whole or ground, fermented, and formed into various ingredients for nutritious and healthy cooking. Not only that, but it's also high in protein and fiber and contains less fat than its animal counterparts, so it's a no-brainer for people who want to eat less meat. Want to know how different forms of soy compare in both taste and Read more

Not quite feeling like Spring yet in your neck of the woods? Don't despair. Rather, follow in Fresh Tart's footsteps and cheer yourself up with gluten-free fish tacos! The weather, I promised myself I would not talk about the weather. But forget it man, this is Minnesota, and we talk about the weather.  So here it is: It rained ice last night, as John and I were on our way from not one but two Read more