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I swear cooking is more fun when you have colorful tools. This knife block may look fancy but I put it together myself with inexpensive knives from Target.

Attention bread bakers: I’ve been using this yeast for years because it doesn’t require proofing but I never read ALL the information on the back. Duh!! I just saw that this yeast eliminates the first rise so you save almost an hour off baking anything with yeast. So… I get cinnamon rolls an hour sooner! Yay!! And here we thought it was MEN who never asked for directions! 😉

It’s flu season and eating certain foods can help keep you well.  Here are some suggestions from someone who hasn’t had a cold or flu since… well, the last time I was sick I stayed home in bed listening to some 8-track tapes.

Red Peppers – Vitamin C helps prevent the body from getting viruses and a red bell pepper has twice as much vitamin C as an orange.

Garlic – Eating garlic stimulates the body to multiply white blood cells making it easier to prevent the flu.

Salmon – The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon enhance the immune system function.

Sauerkraut, yogurt & pickles – They all contain  probiotics, which add healthy bacteria to the intestinal track. A healthy gastrointestinal track can bolster your defense and help resist flu viruses. Make sure the yogurt has active cultures.

Sweet Potatoes – They are loaded with a healthy dose of beta-carotene, which creates vitamin A in the body. This crucial nutrient boosts immune function by lowering the amount of free radicals, helping to eliminate the cause of sickness.

Green Tea – Polyphenols, potent plant antioxidants, are what’s believed to give green tea its immune-boosting effects. One  type of polyphenol called catechin may kill influenza viruses. But don’t add milk, because the proteins will bind to the polyphenols, making them ineffective.

There’s nothing like homemade buttermilk biscuits. My biscuits have only two tablespoons of butter but they taste rich and buttery, especially right out of the oven. Bottom line: I’m not flaky… but my biscuits are! 🙂 Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

… tomatoes. It makes them mealy and they won’t taste as good.

… chocolate. It has a negative effect on the texture.

… potatoes. Their starch will turn into sugar and they’ll turn dark when you cook them.

… coffee. The condensation in the fridge affects the flavor.

Homemade gnocchi are a special treat because it’s rare to find them on restaurant menus, probably because they have to be made by hand. But they are so worth the effort and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these tender potato dumplings. In Polish, we call them “kluski” and they can be served with anything from meat sauce, pesto, red sauce, browned bread crumbs (Polish style) or just a little butter. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Spoon + Spatula = Spoonula

It’s a spoon-shaped spatula, perfect for mixing, stirring, scraping, lifting, folding, even sauteeing if it’s silicone (heat resistant up to 500 degrees).

It’s the only thing I use when I saute because it can’t scratch my non-stick pans and it’s flexible so it fits into every curve and corner. A spoonula will also scrape out a bowl better than anything.

Thanks to whoever invented this!

Dear Jenny,
My question to you is you mentioned that you sip green and white tea all day long, is it hot or iced? And is there a good way to make either a perfect cup? Thank you.

My response…

Darlene, I drink green, white, or black tea when it’s hot because I believe there are more antioxidants when it’s just newly brewed. If I let a cup of green or white tea sit out too long, the color darkens (oxidizes) and to me it won’t have the same benefits. One key thing is not to brew tea more than 2-3 minutes or it can get bitter.

I’m not willing to give up my sweets and this easy healthy chocolate pudding is one of my favorite dessert recipes. It’s a low fat chocolate pudding that’s rich and creamy tasting and you’ll love my little surprise ingredient. This also makes a great chocolate pie filling. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones