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.

After all the festive foods and decadent indulgences of the holidays, January is a natural time to embark on a plan for healthy eating. If your New Year’s resolutions include eating healthier, there are more ways than you think to enjoy some of your favorite foods and some really delicious and easy recipes that are not only good for gut health, but can also improve your overall health, too.

If you’re ready to detox from the holidays, one of the best places to start is by incorporating foods and recipes to improve your gut health. Since diet and gut health are very closely linked, there are several things experts point out that can help improve both gut and overall health, including avoiding processed foods, high fat foods and foods high in refined sugars. (These can contribute to promoting the growth of bacteria.) In addition, ex-perts point to foods that actively promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. These include high fiber foods, such as legumes, whole grains, vegetables, nuts and fruits, fermented foods (including kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt and kefir) and collagen-boosting foods, such as bone broth and salmon skin. You can also boost your body’s collagen production by eating citrus fruits, broccoli, meat, eggs and nuts.

Tangy and tart, there’s one fruit that is synonymous with Christmas—cranberries! From festive decor to holiday dessert, cranberries are a fresh and colorful addition to holiday entertaining. Brightly hued, these tiny fruits pack-a-punch—they are considered “America’s Original Superfruit®”

This month, we teamed up with US Cranberries and The Cranberry Marketing Committee to learn more about these dynamic delights and bring you festive cranberry favorites—both food and decor—to brighten your season this year. They are a versatile, nutrient-dense fruit that can be easily incorporated into sweet and savory dishes—and floral arrangements and wreaths, too!

The holidays are known for their abundance of festive foods—from cookies and pies baking in the oven, to perfectly prepared honey glazed ham and roasted turkey, to a variety of classic vegetable and potato side dishes. And while holiday dinners are always special and meaningful no matter what is on the table, an Italian Christmas—whether celebrated in Italy or right here in the Lowcountry—is truly something spectacular in every way.

Italians are known for their love of delicious food and festive meals with family and friends, and the Christmas holidays truly bring this to life. Most Italian families gather on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after Christmas, which is a national holiday in Italy, known as Saint Stephen’s Day. Celebrated as Natale, the three-day feast begins with the Christmas Eve tradition known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Friends and family will gather enjoy seven different seafood dishes, or one or two types of fish prepared seven different ways. This tradition’s roots can be traced back to Italy and has long been a part of many holiday culinary celebrations.

The holiday season is upon us. (Are you asking, “How did that happen?”) It’s the busiest time of year, jam-packed with family get togethers, holiday parties, cozy fires with friends, and best of all, BAKING. There’s something about the spirit of the season that begs us to preheat the oven, jump into the kitchen, get creative and fill our homes with the most delectable aromas of the year. While we enjoy many of the seasonal classics, it’s a great time to look for inspiration and try out new recipes.