By: Staff Report We've all heard and taken heed to the warning signs, no matter how absurd or ridiculous it may sound. No drinking coffee while breastfeeding or pregnant, careful with the fish and also unwashed vegetables. Then there are the old wives tale of how cats can harm babies, squatting could force you into labor, and so on. While pregnant, women are not only at their

By: Carolina Pichardo This week, many are celebrating National Fresh Squeezed Juice in the U.S. and we want to join in on the fun! Welch's Grape Juice is not what's traditionally celebrated this week, but this delicious drink deserves to be part of the national juice week festivities nonetheless. Yes, we modified the rules for this one. Growing up, Welch's was a delicious treat for me. It

By: Carolina Pichardo This isn’t an article on how to make your New Year’s resolutions, or even a recap of the year we’re leaving behind. This is a piece of renewal. It’s a reminder that the best, most effective way of changing is to fully support what we’re trying to do. It’s about making a decision and finding ways - no matter what - of how to

By: The Refined Chef Editor's Note: That's it's for this week's dinner recipe week. Thank you to Seth of The Refined Chef for sharing with us such great recipes! Fairy Tale Eggplant with Pea Shoot Salad and Reduced Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients 7-10 fairy tale eggplants (they are about 2-4 inches in length) 1 medium size heirloom tomato - diced Handful of pea shoots (washed and dried) 1/4 cup reduced balsamic vinegar Olive

Editor's Note: We're switching it up a bit, because we just want a sweet excuse - like this one. This is a must-do for your family this week! By: The Refined Chef Homemade Pumpkin Pie Ingredients 1-2 small to medium sized Sugar Baby (you need 1 16 oz cups of pumpkin puree) 1 cup per pie 3/4 sugar 2 large eggs 12 can evaporated milk 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp

By: The Refined Chef Lamb Rib Chops with Rainbow Swiss Chard Ingredients 4 lamb rib chops 4 cups chopped rainbow swiss chard 1.5 tablespoons diced shallots 1 clove diced garlic Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional) 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (optional) Olive oil Salt and pepper to taste The mild lamb pairs nicely with the slight bitterness of the swiss chard (and the colors really make this dish pop.) This is a great meal for a

By: The Refined Chef Chicken with Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup Over Wild Rice Ingredients Mushroom Soup 4 cups raw sliced mushrooms (2 cups baby portobello, 2 cups crimini) 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth 1.5 teaspoons fresh thyme 2 tablespoons chopped shallot 2 tablespoons butter Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup wild rice - I like Minnesota wild rice 1 lbs - skinless/boneless chiken tenders The hearty rice and earthly flavors of

By: The Refined Chef Broiled Hake with Rosemary Mini Potato Medley Ingredients: 2 pieces of Hake (1/3 lb each) 1/2 lb - mixture of mini potatoes 1 medium shallot - sliced into rings 5-10 grape tomatoes A few sprigs of rosemary Olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Lemon wedges You can find this potato mixture at local farmers' markets. I think they work well with the fish (but also enjoy just roasting them and eating

By: Carolina Pichardo Halloween is right around the corner. Before you know it, you'll be sledding down department stores with a shopping list, travel plans and wondering what hit you. Are our lives soon bound to get that busy? Chances are that, yes. Well, in order to make at least some part of your routine a little easier, all this week YUM will be posting some delicious dinner

By: Carolina Pichardo April is nationally recognized as Autism Month, and I wasn't sure how to approach this topic. Despite all the facts and studies and advancements, it has always been a condition I've known very little about... And am still not too quick to get acquainted with. You see, my brother was diagnosed with autism when he was 14. We knew there was something different about him, but