August is the perfect month to take advantage of the bounty of fresh, local, summer produce, and there’s no better place to find the juiciest, ripest, and most flavorful fruits and vegetables than at your favorite local farmers markets. Each year, National Farmers Market Week is celebrated during August (6th-12th). This week reminds us that by supporting local farmers markets, we are also supporting our local farmers. The week highlights the important role farmers markets play in providing people with delicious, locally-sourced food. In addition, farmers markets bring the community together putting fresh, local, and healthy at center attention. That’s especially true here in the Lowcountry, where our plentitude of farmers markets offer a huge assortment of locally grown, in-season produce, as well as fun, weekly community gatherings that showcase local growers and food vendors.

Colorful, vibrant and luscious—no I’m not describing how you look in a bathing suit! I’m talking about juicy, delicious berries! Summertime is bursting with the best quality berries, and their bright, sweet flavor creates the perfect treat for celebrating Independence Day and the feeling of freedom summer brings.

As we enjoy many summer classics, it’s a great time to harness all those delicious, berry flavors and try out new recipes. The Fourth of July deserves a feast! With that in mind, we teamed up with the talented chefs at Domino Sugar to bring you delectable dishes perfect for a sunny, summer gathering.

Nothing says summer like the tastes and smells of your favorite foods sizzling on the grill. In fact, when it comes to summer dining, there are many advantages to grilling outdoors. Not only does grilling meat help lower overall fat content by allowing for excess fat to melt and drip off food, but grilling fruits and vegetables helps to preserve their natural nutrients. Plus, on those steamy hot July nights, when you’d rather not heat up your kitchen with your oven or stove, grilling keeps the heat outside.

Summer is simmering, the grills are lit, and flavorful food is on deck! That’s right, it’s time to slip into your favorite sundress and enjoy the weather with some great food and drinks. Whether you’re manning the grill for hamburgers on Father’s Day, planning hot dogs for Independence Day, or just having a backyard gathering laden with sliders, there’s one brand you can’t leave out—Nature’s Own.

There’s never a shortage of “golden packaging” on my kitchen counter as my family enjoys diving into their signature “butter bread” for chicken salad sandwiches, or biting into a luscious brioche bun, perfectly toasted for burgers. And it’s no mystery, with more than 100 years of baking experience, Nature’s Own is America’s leading bread brand.

June is a delightful time to get outside in South Carolina. With nearly perfect weather, this month’s bright blue skies and gentle breezes are the perfect accompaniments to dining outdoors, whether at a favorite restaurant, your own patio or deck, oceanside, or at one of the countless, picture-perfect picnic spots across the Lowcountry. All of these provide a scenic backdrop for an easy, breezy, laid-back summer meal.

Planning the perfect picnic is simple with the combination of fun and easy foods in a comfortable outdoor setting. From choosing the best way to pack your fare, to choosing a comfy picnic blanket, there are a number of things to keep in mind in addition to your menu. Choosing your picnic spot is key – think soft, lush grass, possible water or marsh views, and lots of shade!

Things are heating up this month. Summer is well on its way and with it comes Mother’s Day, graduation parties and backyard barbecues—all of which are better with bacon. Isn’t everything? We reached out to the experts, Wright® Brand Bacon for some of their best sizzling summer recipes.

Rich in both tradition and flavor, the bold taste of Wright Brand bacon has been savored since Roy Wright and Fay Eggleston handcrafted their first batch in 1922. It all started with a belief in a better slice of bacon. They set out to create a thicker, fuller-flavored slice of bacon, and they did it the only way they knew how: craftsmanship; commitment; and a 100-year-old proprietary, mouth-watering family recipe for curing.

We’ve all heard April showers bring May flowers, however, they also bring some of the most delectable, fresh-off-the-farm produce bursting with flavor. Here in the Lowcountry, May is a great month to indulge in the fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season and kick off a whole summer of spectacular seasonal eating.

There are many reasons to “eat seasonally” when it comes to produce, the main one being enjoying the richest, ripest, peak flavors. In addition, foods eaten in season are more nutritionally-dense than forced, out-of-season produce and are more abundant from local, or at least closer, resources, which means it’s at it’s lowest cost of the season, too.

Springtime is the perfect time to refresh and rejuvenate. The urge hits to tackle outdoor spaces, dig into the garden, maybe even clean your home from top to bottom... so why not give your recipes a refresh, too?

One of the best places to start is with an ever-present staple in your refrigerator—eggs. Sometimes you may consider them humble, but eggs are one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen. From a delicious, simple, fried egg to your favorite pound cake, eggs, especially GOOD eggs, are the difference!

On April 22, billions of people throughout the world will celebrate Earth Day—a day where people come together to advance sustainability and climate action—and highlight the need to build a healthier, more sustainable planet. First launched in 1970, Earth Day is the world’s largest environmental movement with so many different ways for people to take action towards a greener, more equitable future for our planet.

This year’s Earth Day theme, “Invest in Our Planet”, highlights the importance of what we can do to create change, be a champion for Earth and protect our planet. Whether it’s planting trees, reducing plastic consumption, educating yourself about climate change (and advocating for change), making sustainable choices in clothing, or planning your own Earth Day event/community cleanup/rally, the day is all about showing support for taking care of our planet.

When it comes to eating healthier, creating flavor and delicious food is the key to success. While it’s easy to fall back on your tried-and-true recipes, exploring spices and sauces from around the world can lead to tantalizing tastes of fabulous flavors created from years of love, family and culinary tradition.

One such flavorful taste can be found right here in the U.S.—Villa Jerada. Based in the Seattle area, Villa Jerada is the creation of Mehdi Boujrada, who drew upon his Moroccan heritage to develop an award-winning line of artisanal pantry items, like spices, condiments, spreads, and oils. Classics of the Moroccan and Levantine repertoire are well represented and offer up the warm, bright, and complex flavors of the Middle East.

When it comes to deliciousness, Italy has cornered the market. One of the most popular cuisines in the world, an Italian menu is always a safe bet if you’re looking for a meal sure to please almost everyone. There are so many different delectable dishes, styles, and regions of Italian cuisine from which to choose, the hardest part is often deciding what to cook!

What is it about Italian food that gives it such widespread appeal? Well, it’s fresh, delicious, and easy! Italian food is chock-full of fresh, readily-available ingredients easily found at grocery stores and gourmet Italian specialty markets. These simple, everyday ingredients, like sweet onions, fresh garlic, tomatoes, basil, oregano olive oil, cheeses, and pastas are accessible year round. Now let’s talk easy: Italian cuisine is typically simpler to cook than other cuisines, which means less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the food and company.

“Life is better with sprinkles!” Who says that? I say that. If you’re looking for a smattering of happiness when you dive into dessert, just add sprinkles. Trying to dress up your next confection for a party? Just add sprinkles—colorful, fun-filled, happy sprinkles! This all coming from the adult(ish) who still makes her own birthday cheesecake dyed with a big colorful swirl! It’s a proven theory that food tastes better when it looks delicious, and making food awe-inspiring is the name of the game at one of the best-known decorating and bakeware companies in the U.S.—Wilton.

Their mission: “Inspiring the joy of baking and decorating in everyone, everywhere, every day!” Their incredible variety of decorating and baking supplies opens up a colorful world of imagination when it comes to the kitchen. The Wilton team of bakers has been empowering creativity since 1929, nearly 100 years. From milestone celebrations to Saturday morning baking with mom, the Wilton team strives to be your trusted guide, your secret ingredient, your Johnny-on-the-spot for tips, tricks and solutions to ignite your most creative self and help your baking shine.

The manner in which food is served often is just as important as taste when it comes to the overall enjoyment of a dish, particularly when it comes to special dishes served for special occasions. And perhaps no occasion lends itself to the potential for unique food presentation than Valentine’s Day.

Whether you are planning a romantic dinner for two, hosting a couples dinner party, or throwing a festive “Galentine’s” Day party to celebrate the amazing women in your life, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to go all out when it comes to festive food and decorations. Serving food in a unique way can add to the fun and festivity of the evening, piquing the interests of guests while creating exciting enticement. For example, any food looks more festive and sophisticated when served in a martini or shot glass.

Healthy eating habits are first and foremost in nearly everyone’s mind right now. Whether you are at the perfect weight, or looking to lose some extra pounds, a healthier lifestyle is beneficial to everyone. With this in mind, Pink decided to team up with California Walnuts for some hearty, walnut-inspired and flavor-filled recipes with healthy benefits.

Packed with nutrients and a delicate nutty taste, walnuts offer unlimited versatility for everything from baked goods to toppings, spreads and sauces. A whole food, rich in Omega-3s, naturally gluten free, sodium free and cholesterol free, walnuts are a tasty powerhouse. In fact, they are a certified heart-healthy food by the American Heart Association, and emerging research demonstrates benefits for gut health and decreasing cancer risk.