Bowtie Pasta with Tomatoes and Ground Beef

Egyptians worshiped garlic and placed clay models of garlic bulbs in the tomb of Tutankhamen. Garlic was so highly prized; it was even used as currency. Folklore holds that garlic repelled vampires, protect against the Evil Eye, and rid off jealous nymphs said to terrorize pregnant women and engaged maidens. And let us not forget to mention the alleged aphrodisiacal powers of garlic which have been extolled through the ages.

Cheesy Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Bell peppers have been cultivated for more than 9000 years, with the earliest cultivation having taken place in South and Central America. While the name "pepper" was given to the food by European colonizers of North America who first came across it in the 1500 - 1600's and then transported it back to Europe, the original name for this food in Spanish was pimiento.

Black Bean Rice

Dried and canned black beans are available throughout the year. Dried beans are generally available in prepackaged containers as well as in bulk bins. Make sure that the bins containing the black beans are covered and that the store has a good product turnover to ensure the beans freshness. Whether purchasing black beans in bulk or in packaged containers, make sure that there is no evidence of moisture or insect damage and that they are whole and not cracked.

Debo’s Southern Fried Pork Strips

The cayenne peppers as well as other chili peppers can trace their seven thousand year history to Central and South America, regions whose cuisines are renowned for their hot and spicy flavors. They have been cultivated in these regions for more than seven thousand years, first as a decorative item and later as a foodstuff and medicine.

Easy Apple Tart

Look for apples that are firm with rich coloring. Yellow and green apples with a slight blush are best. 

French Toast Rolls

Pietro Ferrero, owner and founder of the Ferrero Company from the Piedmont district of Italy, invented the spread. Ferrero originally began adding hazelnuts to chocolate during WWII when cocoa was being rationed. Hazelnuts were plentiful in the Piedmont area, and they helped to stretch the amount of cocoa Ferrero was allotted during rationing. 

Summer Scramble Eggs

The tomato, fabulous nutritious fruit known as a vegetable. It's hard to believe that such a widely used food source was once considered deadly poisonous. Available year round in fresh and preserved forms, there is no shortage of uses for this versatile "vegetable."

Fried Tilapia Bites

Louisiana Fish Fry Products traces its roots back to 1959 when Donaldsonville, Louisiana native Tony Pizzolato opened a small retail and wholesale produce business in the city of Baton Rouge.

Potato Rounds with Cheese and Bacon

American horticulturist, Luther Burbank was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts on March 7, 1849.

Chicken Quesadillas

Today, cheddar ranks as one of the most popular cheeses in the world. Just within the United States, some claim that almost 90% of all cheese sold is some type of cheddar. Certainly, it is the cheese for which England is best known. 

Hamburger Stew

Carrot roots should be firm, smooth, relatively straight and bright in color. The deeper the orange color, the more beta carotene is in the carrot. Avoid carrots that are excessively cracked as well as those that are limp or rubbery. 

Crunchy Turkey Casserole

Olives were more than likely first domesticated in the Mediterranean basin some 6,000 years ago. It is thought that oil from the olive was one of several attributes that likely made the bitter fruit attractive enough to result in its domestication. However, the production of olive oil, the deliberate pressing of oil out of olives, is currently documented no earlier than 2500 BC.

Debo’s Crazy Chipotle Taco Casserole

In 1932, C.E. Doolin walked into a San Antonio cafe and purchased a bag of corn chips. Little did he dream this savory chip would become one of the nation's most popular snacks.