Football, friends, and fires—fall is on the way! Time to whip out the comfy leggings, camping chairs and serving platters...tailgating season is upon us. When I think of tailgating and the holidays, I immediately associate them with flavorful foods—the staples that always find their way onto the table at get togethers. These party favorites usually have two things in common: 1. Jimmy Dean sausage; and 2. There's never a bite left. So whether you're making iconic Southern meatballs or sausage party dip, make sure you start with the best—Jimmy Dean.

It’s been referred to as “Mother Nature’s sweetener,” and chances are you’ve enjoyed honey either on its own, added to your favorite cup of tea, or as part of a special recipe. September is National Honey Month, which, since 1989, has promoted beekeeping and the use of honey as a natural sweetener. There’s no better time to celebrate both the distinct sweet taste and the many health benefits of honey than this month, which, according to the National Honey Board, is the month when the majority of honey is harvested in the United States.

When it comes to adding flavor and making meals healthier there’s nothing better than adding fresh, local ingredients. And, with nearly 25,000 farms and 4.8 million acres of farmland in SC, you don’t have to go far to find fresh, locally grown food. In fact, The SC Dept of Agriculture (SCDA) has created an fool-proof program to know you’re getting the great local ingredients—Certified SC.

The Certified SC program is an exciting cooperative effort among farmers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and the SCDA. The Certified SC brand and label help consumers easily identify goods that are grown and harvested or raised right here in the Palmetto State. Buying local not only means you’re taking home fresher, tastier and healthier foods, it also means you’re supporting our state’s farmers.

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.