Fresh granola is such a treat, and quite easy to accomplish. Eat with yogurt and fresh fruit for a hearty start to the day. Get our recipe here: http://ow.ly/coHk30sSaAi

We love a pasta that can make any day better. Enter Pappardelle with Bolognese! Wide ribbons of pappardelle coated in a rich, slow-simmered Bolognese makes for a hearty weeknight or  

For steakhouse results at home, sear steaks in a ripping-hot cast iron skillet to get that crave-worthy crust, then finish in the oven for a perfect medium-rare every time. It’s  

 Try our cozy cauliflower & leek soup! It’s easy to make with healthy ingredients. Puree the soup right in the cooking pot with an immersion blender! Get our recipe here: http://ow.ly/q2Tq30sRqOI

Bruschetta make a great appetizer anytime, but is especially handy when you need something quick. Sauté mushrooms to silky perfection, heap them on grilled bread slathered with fresh goat cheese  

Pears are peaking! Try this delightful salad featuring ripe pears, spinach, bacon and a honey-dijon vinaigrette. Add a little grilled chicken and it becomes an entree! Get our recipe here: http://ow.ly/e0Vc30sPelA

Cupcake hack time! The next time you bake a batch of cupcakes, try adding a little uncooked rice into the wells of the cupcake pan before placing the cupcake liners. The rice grains will soak up moisture and result in less greasy cupcake liner bottoms. It also helps the cupcakes bake more evenly. Have you tried this trick?

Whether acquiring fresh blueberries from the grocery store, farmers market, or a you-pick blueberry farm, maximize freshness by waiting to wash them until right before eating. Unlike other berries that can benefit from a quick water and white vinegar soak right when you get home, blueberries actually have their own natural protective coating called a bloom (that's what that waxy white-ish layer on their surface is)! Washing them immediately removes this protective layer, so this is one berry where procrastinating on washing is to your benefit

Keep cabbage in coleslaw crispy and avoid watery dressing at the bottom of the bowl by pre-salting the cabbage! Once a cabbage is shredded, sprinkle it with about a tablespoon of salt and toss to coat. Let the salted cabbage sit in a colander over a bowl for about an hour. At this point the salted cabbage can be rinsed and dried in a salad spinner or by squeezing out water with a towel. Proceed with your favorite coleslaw recipe and enjoy a perfectly prepared side dish! What's your favorite coleslaw combo? Let us know in the comments!

When making homemade jam, check to see if the jam is ready to be canned by placing a plate in the freezer. Once the pectin has been activated and the jam boiled, test it by placing a dollop of jam on the frozen plate. Wait a minute for it to cool and solidify, and then swipe your finger through the dollop, creating two separate sides. If the jam stays separated and you continue to see the plate where your finger ran through it, it is ready to be canned. If the jam seeps back together, continue boiling for another 1-2 minutes and then try this method again. Note. Be sure not to overboil or the jam will be rock hard! We'd love to hear your canning tips in the comments below!