Recipe Spotlight

Not-So-Sinful Summer Munchin’ by ANDREA NIKOLAI, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Summertime cookouts are a great way to bring people together but can also put your family in a land mine of high fat and high sugar options. Luckily, you can still get the great tastes of sweet, crunchy and savory foods and feel good about […]

Refreshing Recipes to Pluck Straight From Your Garden by RYAN MILEJCZAK Crisp, refreshing mint is a favorite for both beginner and experienced gardeners alike. It’s super easy to grow, beloved by pollinators, and absolutely thrives in the hot and humid Florida climate. There are different kinds of mint, which are all in the genus Mentha,

Say a Sweet Farewell to the Season With Even Sweeter Treats by RYAN MILEJCZAK Strawberries might be the official State Dessert of Florida, but they’re not the only sweet treat grown here in Florida. Right now, it’s the blueberry’s time to shine.  Every year from March to May, Florida blueberry season provides us with a

by RYAN MILEJCZAK When it comes to beef, it’s hard to beat grass-fed. It has higher omega 3s and 6s, a better vitamin profile, and it’s lower in fat and calories. Plus, it’s more humane, because certified grass-fed beef spent its life grazing a pasture rather than on a feedlot. Because the cows are fed

Healthy Snacks Don’t Have to Slow Down Your Kids  By RYAN MILEJCZAK Busy kids need healthy foods to stay active and nourish their growing bodies. Extracurricular activities, from sports to 4-H and FFA, require plenty of fuel in the form of food energy. But if you’re a kid on the go, how can you find

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Florida Strawberry Season is in full swing, and this year’s crop is especially delicious thanks to the year’s colder weather. Besides being delicious, strawberries are a great source of vitamin C, manganese, folate, and potassium. They’re also rich in antioxidants. There are tons of great ways to enjoy Florida strawberries, from eating

3 Fresh Florida Veggie Soups to Try This Winter by RYAN MILEJCZAK With temperatures dipping here in Central Florida, few things are as appetizing as a warm and hearty soup. And by making soups with healthy and fresh Florida veggies, like farm fresh Florida tomatoes, sweet corn, and bell peppers, you can make healthy and

Stuffed Pepper Recipes Perfect for Ringing In the New Year by RYAN MILEJCZAK Among the many delicious fruits and vegetables grown in Florida, you might not know that bell peppers are one of our biggest crops. In fact, Florida is the largest producer of bell peppers in the U.S. as of 2022. The Florida bell

by CAROL CORLEY If you’re planning a Thanksgiving meal in Florida, your Thanksgiving might look a bit different from the one the early Pilgrims shared with the Native American Wampanoag people. Their New England harvest would have failed to include some of the foods we enjoy down South, like naval oranges, kumquats, lemons, grapefruit, eggplant,

In-Season Citrus Pairs With Seafood for the Perfect Combo That’s 100% Floridian by RYAN MILEJCZAK Florida citrus season is underway, and that means it’s time to enjoy some delicious oranges, grapefruits, and more. In October, the season begins with delicious citrus like tangerines, meyers lemons, and navel oranges. As the season rolls into the next