DALLAS -- A spoonful of sugar? Americans are swallowing 22 teaspoons of sugar each day, and it's time to cut way back, the American Heart Association says.

Fall brings cooler weather, increased outdoor activities, and the upcoming holiday seasons create a lot of anticipation of joy.

Fall brings cooler weather, increased outdoor activities, and the upcoming holiday seasons create a lot of anticipation of joy.

Pumpkins, according to an Iroquois legend, came to man when the Great Spirit walked across the Earth: Corn sprouted where she walked, beans grew at her left hand and pumpkins grew at her right.

Adding coffee to coffeecake is a simple way to take something great and make it even better.

Adding coffee to coffeecake is a simple way to take something great and make it even better.

James May, founder and CEO of SweetLeaf Stevia Sweetener, was honored recently in Paraguay for his efforts toward the promotion and cultivation of what has become one of North American’s most popular alternative sweeteners.

Many fruits, particularly tropical varieties, are at the height of their season and it’s tempting to snatch up a bunch of them while they’re on sale at your favorite market or ripe on the trees in your garden.

This savory muffin studded with zucchini and cheddar cheese pairs as wonderfully with dinner as it does breakfast. And consider taking advantage of all that extra zucchini piling up in the garden by baking a double batch. The moisture from the zucchini means these muffins freeze well.

This savory muffin studded with zucchini and cheddar cheese pairs as wonderfully with dinner as it does breakfast. The moisture from the zucchini means these muffins freeze well.

Remember the little colored tablets you were supposed to drop into a glass of water to make an effervescent drink, but instead you stuck it on your tongue to give it a tingling jolt?

The first thing I ever picked out to bake with my mother was a lemon blueberry Bundt cake. I’d seen an ad for the cake — complete with lemon-yellow icing — and thought it was the most sophisticated, beautiful cake possible.

The first thing I ever picked out to bake with my mother was a lemon blueberry Bundt cake. I’d seen an ad for the cake — complete with lemon-yellow icing — and thought it was the most sophisticated, beautiful cake possible.

Mom deserves a freshly baked breakfast in bed on her special day.

Mom deserves a freshly baked breakfast in bed on her special day.

No matter how much she would appreciate it, and no matter how much you love your mom — or the mother of your children — you aren’t likely to make her croissants from scratch.

We all know about a garden’s ability to provide yummy-smelling herbs for our soups and sweet-tasting fresh vegetables for our salads. But gardens can also be a place to find homeopathic healing remedies and nutritional benefits. Local plant nursery experts weigh in on the plants that can help you feel good.

When Stephanie Matthews entered her Extreme Pumpkin Cheesecake in the Ultimate Krispy Kreme Recipe Contest she was missing a vital ingredient — the Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Slushies have taken on a surprisingly critical role in my family's summer. And it's my 7-year-old's fault.

Last week, my son asked why we never use our fireplace. Good question. Six years in the same house, not so much as kindling has passed the river rock facade. The cats occasionally inspect the space, especially when birds rest and chirp atop the chimney, but no glowing embers or crackling happens here.

I sense a momentum change for St. Patrick's Day. I can feel it expanding, like Valentine's Day or Halloween, into a garish green blur of shamrocks, corned beef and "Kiss Me I'm Irish" T-shirts.

A basic chicken soup is fine for when you need warmth and comfort.

One of the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center’s largest events is right around the corner.

One of the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center’s largest events is right around the corner.