The minute fall arrives, many people get excited for all things pumpkin spice and apples. However, Secret Ingredient is encouraging you to celebrate autumn with squash. There are so many varieties of squash that are in season right now. Two of our favorites are butternut and spaghetti squash. Celebrate Autumn with Butternut Squash Butternut squash […]

As the temperatures rise, cool down with refreshing dinners for hot summer nights. Let Secret Ingredient help you get creative with tasty salads, cold soups, fresh seafood and more. The last thing you want to do during the summer months is heat up your kitchen by using the oven. There are tons of easy, summer […]

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo with Secret Ingredient as we prepare our favorite Mexican recipes. Cinco de Mayo is an opportunity to explore Mexican culture and cuisine. The holiday commemorates the Battle of Puebla, a Mexican army victory during the Franco-Mexican War. Although a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, the day has become a popular celebration in the […]

Secret Ingredient is excited to highlight satisfying grain and seed alternatives for rice. Rice is a staple food in many households across the World because it complements so many of our favorite meals. It’s versatile, inexpensive, and a great addition to flavorful dishes because it doesn’t steal the spotlight. Rice is a great source of carbohydrates which […]

Secret Ingredient is here to help everyone stay healthy by sharing our favorite super foods to boost your immunity this winter. Covid cases are on the raise again with flu season and stomach bugs raging. You need your immune system at its prime to help you stay well. We all know a healthy, well-balanced diet […]

The secret ingredient is fall produce! There’s much more to the fall farmers market than apples and pumpkins. The fruits and vegetables of autumn make for a season of delicious recipes. To celebrate this abundant time of year, we’re focusing on two of our favorite fall vegetables – kale and beets.  Kale and beets are […]

As our lives are increasingly busy, eating a healthy lunch is not always a priority, but Secret Ingredient can help you stay satisfied and fueled with our healthy lunches. A healthy meal in the middle of the day provides your body with essential fuel and keeps you refreshed, energized and ready to tackle the rest […]

On a hot summer day, there is nothing better than refreshing summer cocktails with fresh herbs from the garden. Mojitos and mint juleps have been cocktail menu staples for years but mint is not the only herb that enhances a drink. Bring your basil, rosemary, thyme or jalapeño peppers in from the garden and have some fun concocting flavorful […]

With temperatures on the rise and long summer days ahead it’s time to fire up the grill. After 15 months of a global pandemic everyone seems more excited than ever for outdoor gatherings with family and friends. If there’s one thing this last year has taught us, it’s that life is better outside—especially when you’re eating […]

Secret Ingredient wants to help you celebrate Earth Day with sustainable kitchen products. Earth Day is always a good reminder that we must take care of our beautiful planet. The pandemic has definitely taken its toll on the environment with increased demand for disposable face masks, gloves, takeaway food containers, bubble wrap and cardboard boxes. […]

This blog topic – Organize Your Kitchen With Our Fresh Tips, is one that Anna and I have been talking about doing for a long time, finally, it’s here! Secret Ingredient Personal Chef Services and Your Organizing Consultants have collaborated to come up with some great tips to get you eager to start spring cleaning your kitchen. Spring […]

It’s winter time here in the North East and Mid-Atlantic regions which means it’s prime time for winter citrus. The produce section may seem uninspiring during the cold, winter months but Secret Ingredient is here to encourage you to take a closer look at the fresh citrus. Most citrus fruits ripen to their sweetest and […]

Do you want to know how to host the perfect fire pit party? Secret Ingredient Personal Chef Service is here to provide you with all of our favorite tips and fun “covid safe” food ideas. As the pandemic continues to effect our everyday lives, many are looking for new and safe ways to gather together.  […]

Secret Ingredient’s Foodie Gift Guide will help you find a special gift for everyone on your list from unique finds to tools of the trade. While the pandemic has forced people to stay at home, many of you are trying your hand at new skills in the kitchen or just perfecting the ones you already […]

The first few days of cool fall weather have arrived, and we are here to share some unique pumpkin and butternut squash fall recipes with you. Typically, everyone starts reaching for their pumpkin-spice everything. But, we have some wonderful, unique pumpkin AND butternut squash fall recipes we are sure you’ll want to try. Pumpkin and […]

As the next, very new kind of school year begins, I wanted to share some quick and easy meals for back to school. This year is truly going to be unique. I wanted to help everyone stress less by sharing some of the most healthy and delicious, family-approved, quick and easy meals to get back […]

Let’s be honest who doesn’t want to keep cool with no-cook summer meals? This summer has been a doozy between the heat, humidity and Covid. Everyone is tired of cooking and in search of healthy, easy, late summer meals that don’t require cooking, especially in these dog days of summer.  As temperatures hover near 100 […]

Summer may be my favorite season because there are so many wonderful summer wines to enjoy! The longer days move our dining experiences outdoors. We are able to linger over meals and enjoy a nice glass of red, white and rosé wine in the summer weather. The freshness of summer flavors launches an abundance of […]

There is nothing we love more than local farm fresh strawberries. It is strawberry season in the Philadelphia area right now and I am excited to enjoy them in my favorite recipes or just plain as a delicious snack. When sweet, ripe, vibrant strawberries hit my local farms I know it means warm weather, summer fun […]

Container gardening is for everyone. As we all continue to observe the stay-at-home mandate, container gardening is something we can all do at home that will reap rewards all Spring and Summer long, as well as add some Zen to your life.  Getting outdoors and putting my hands into the dirt to prepare my container […]

Did you know that you can wake up your food with herbs and spices? Have you ever opened your spice cabinet, searching for one that you hoped would magically change a dish from boring to extraordinary, or add a little boost to your overall health, but didn’t know which one to use?  With the addition […]

This March don’t just embrace green for St. Patrick’s Day but eat your greens with a plant based diet. I love a good steak on the grill almost any time of year. But, I also love rediscovering the brightness and freshness of switching to a plant-focused diet for a week, or month sometimes, to help me […]

Every February, I invite my clients to celebrate Heart Health Month with Secret Ingredient. One of the reasons I launched Secret Ingredient was to bring healthy, nourishing and flavorful cooking to more people to help them live their best lives. February and Heart Healthy Month gives me the opportunity to renew this commitment, and celebrate a cornerstone […]

The beginning of the year is traditionally the time when we set goals or as many of us refer to them – New Year’s resolutions. The most popular New Year’s resolutions usually have to do with improving our health through diet and exercise, saving money and carving out more family time. So, let Secret Ingredient […]

Don’t toss your pumpkins just because Halloween is over.  Pumpkins aren’t just for making jack-o-lanterns, they are an extremely nutritious fruit and full of antioxidants.  And the health benefits of pumpkin don’t stop there.  How Healthy Are Pumpkins? (Factual Information thanks to WebMD) Pumpkins are rich in fiber, which helps you to feel full and […]

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Doesn’t it feel like it was just Labor Day?  If you’re anything like me you’re finally settling into your new routine and now the holidays are on the horizon.  Our goal is not to stress you out but instead to simplify and feel prepared for Thanksgiving this year.  Thanksgiving […]

It’s time to get outside, fire up the grill and invite some friends over for a barbeque. Grilling is a fun and flavorful way to cook.  One of the great things about grilling is that you can be a novice in the kitchen and still prepare a fabulous meal. Although you don’t have to be […]

It might be cold outside but Secret Ingredient will help you stay warm all winter long with our favorite soups and stews.  What is there not to love about a good soup or stew during the harsh winter months? They are easy, convenient, healthy and satisfying. Soups and stews are the best one pot meal and […]

The holiday season is quickly approaching which means plenty of festive parties and home entertaining.  A holiday party is the perfect way to get together with friends, acquaintances and loved ones to celebrate. However hosting the perfect party can certainly be a little overwhelming. Organization is the the key to ensuring a stress-free event.  We […]

Stir fries are a great dinner solution for busy weeknights.  This healthy cooking technique is a great way to get fresh ingredients on your table quickly.  Stir fry dishes usually combine lean meats and a variety of fresh vegetables.  These dishes promote a healthy diet and really allow the cook to add the ingredients, flavors […]