How many times have you heard yourself say, "It's too hot to cook"? And let's face it, going out to eat isn't always an option. This is when a tried and true recipe can save the day.

If you're delighted with the freshly ground spice, want to take it up a notch. Try roasting the seeds first, then crushing them. The aroma and taste are amazing, and it's easy to do.

Once you're sold on the value of beans and enjoy eating them regularly, you may want to stretch a little and cook them from scratch. It's so much easier than you might imagine.

These recipes taste as delicious as they look.

Allow me to take you northward along Lake Michigan, to the state of the same name, where recently my father tapped maple trees and alchemically turned their watery sap to delicious, amber syrup.