Some of us are experiencing a brutal winter with snow and bone-seeping cold that does not seem to be letting up. Soup is a great way to warm up; it can also be a nutritious meal. There is nothing quite like homemade soup, but many people prefer to settle for ready-made. The food industry has known this for decades, hence prepared soups are a billion-dollar industry. There are several problems with prepared soups. The most obvious is that they simply don't taste as good as hom

It's hard to know who to trust when looking for accurate, useful information about food and nutrition. There are new studies being published daily and food products being introduced constantly, and in this ever-changing world of nutrition, it's easy to get confused. Additionally, there are many opportunities for people to spread incorrect or speculative information to the public. However, there are certain professionals who are educated and trained to help you navigate the wo

Americans consume 700 million pounds of peanut butter every year! That works out to approximately 3 pounds per person. Over 75 percent of homes in the US have a peanut butter jar sitting in the fridge or pantry. This is definitely a love story. Peanuts are a new world food, likely originating in Brazil, then working their way up to Mexico. The Aztecs mashed them into a paste as early as 500 years ago. Eventually they reached the US. About half of the peanuts grown in the US a

You can make bread at home with just four ingredients: flour water yeast salt With the right equipment and experience, the result is exquisite. But only for a day or two, until the bread goes stale. By day four, it starts to grow mold. That's why a majority of people purchase their bread at the supermarket. In order to stay soft and fresh for a week or more, packaged breads need the help of some additives. Some are OK, while others are not. We'll discuss them in a bit. Beside