Have you ever been cooking or baking and unintentionally left out or forgotten an ingredient?  Sometimes missing that one crucial ingredient can ruin a dish or a baked product.  A recipe is a little like a performance in a theatre; each ingredient has a role or a purpose. Without that ingredient you may end up with a failed dish or baked item or one that disappoints in terms of quality. 

This is the season of “winter squash.” Winter Squash like acorn, spaghetti squash, hubbard, kabocha, delicata, butternut and pumpkin are the hard skinned cousins to summer squash (zucchini and yellow squash).  Winter squash come in a variety of colors and sizes and make a beautiful fall display — but are also nutritious and delicious to eat. 

Every industry, including the supermarket world, has their own lingo. How many of these supermarket terms and abbreviations do you know or have you heard when you are in your local Ingles store? 

Many of us have had significant changes in our lives and schedules due to the Pandemic and we are cooking at home more than ever before. With many restaurants closed to inside dining or only open at partial capacity we may also be eating out less. 

Recently I was able to participate in a Zoom webinar by the NC Muscadine Growers Association to learn more about muscadine grapes, how and where they are grown in North Carolina, some of the different varieties and I even got to sample some different types of muscadine grapes.

Would it be healthier for me to use honey instead of cane sugar?

Foods and drinks that are high in added sugar often lead to consumption of excess calories and dental caries so it would seem like "no sugar added" or "sugar-free" products would be a better choice, right? 

It's a good idea to have pantry or cupboard staples that are versatile and can help you to get meals on the table more quickly. Canned beans are budget friendly and nutritious. 

What does "local" mean to you? Often when people talk about buying food and beverages one of the top of mind preferences is to support locally grown/made/produced products. Unlike other terms like "certified organic"; local has no legal definition and so it may mean different things to different people. 

If you or your child has a milk protein allergy or a dietary restriction;  you can find a number of fluid non-dairy alternatives in the Ingles refrigerated grocery section as well as on the grocery aisles (in shelf stable packaging).