Thanks to its distinct depth of flavor and its many proven (and impressive) health benefits, honey is one of Mother Nature’s sweetest gifts, and around here, early fall is when many backyard beekeepers and bee farms (called apiaries) “pull” this liquid gold from their hives and “spin” it out of the combs to share with … Read More
Spring has sprung! There are so many things to love about this season that’s all too short in the Deep South. Soon, it will be 90 degrees in the shade down here, keeping most of us hiding indoors in our AC. But for now, the temps are mild, the sky is impossibly blue, flowers are … Read More
If you’re hungry for a home-cooked dish but basically all cooked out after the holidays, consider whipping up a big batch of soup. These liquid meals are one-pot wonders that you can usually put together pretty quickly, easily make enough to freeze for later and clean up in a jiffy. While there are almost endless … Read More
The New Year will soon be here, and if you’re one who follows tradition (or is just a little superstitious), you’ll probably have some kind of greens and black-eyed peas on your January 1, 2018 menu. The legend says that the peas will bring you luck, and the greens will bring you money. Even if … Read More
Plenty of us consider coffee a “life saver” in the mornings. But this bold beverage does more than just put some pep in our step. Coffee actually provides some serious health benefits. So go ahead and enjoy another cup of joe. It’ll do your body good. Anti-Alzheimer’s. A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s … Read More
The Greeks and Romans knew something about the health benefits of honey that modern day scientists are just discovering: it actually works! That sticky sweet nectar from the humble honey bee may do more than just satisfy our sweet tooth. Recent studies show that honey has healing properties that help stave off disease, relieve gastrointestinal … Read More
Remembering to freeze foods before they go bad and learning to make big batches of your favorite freezer-friendly dishes to put up and enjoy later can help you slash your grocery budget and make meal time less stressful. The best place to start any good freezer plan is by learning a little about food safety. … Read More
Only a few miles from Montgomery, Barber Berry Farm in Millbrook is an 8-acre U-pick operation offering pesticide-free blackberries (thornless!), blueberries (multiple varieties) and muscadines (not ready ’til August). The farm grows hydroponic veggies too (tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers and more), but the berries are the real stars here and now is their time to shine. … Read More
Spinach: We won’t debate how much wisdom may or may not be gleaned from cartoons, but this much is clear: Popeye had at least one thing right. Sure, he might have relied too heavily on his physical strength to solve problems, and he had questionable relationship skills evidenced by his inability to ever get very far … Read More
Getting your hands on some butter is as easy popping in the grocery store. (And you are using butter, right? No more margarine!) But why buy what you can make? Homemade butter is creamier than the store-bought stuff and boasts a richer, more complex flavor; it’s not as difficult to make as you might think; … Read More