Blog Posts by Real Simple Magazine

By Lindsay Funston

Sauces with tang-but no high-fructose corn syrup-make BBQ (yep) even better.


Bone Suckin' SauceBone Suckin' Sauce
Honey gives this classic topper a pleasant sweetness, while horseradish adds zing.

To buy: $7 for 16 ounces, buybonesuckin.com.

Related: The Best Potato Chips









Daddy Sam's







Daddy Sam's Original Bar-B-Que Sawce
A Texas family recipe, passed down for generations, combines strong molasses notes with a mellow mesquite flavor. The finish: a spicy kick.

To buy: $5.50 for 19 ounces, daddysams.com.

Related: The 5 Tastiest Warehouse-Club Buys




Katchkie Farm




Katchkie Farm Bob-B-Que Sauce
Not your average syrupy, long-simmered sauce, this find has an unbelievably fresh, gazpacho-like flavor, thanks to the bounty of tomatoes, apples, bell peppers, and onions that goes into each bottle.

To buy: $6 for 10 ounces, katchkiefarm.foodzie.com.

Related: The Best Chicken Fingers





The Barbecue Source

Ole Ray's Apple-Cinnamon Barbeque Sauce
It may sound sweet as pie, but this award-winning blend is a rich and savory partner for all

Registered dietitian Jean Harvey-Berino ranks the healthiness of 10 popular appetizers.Best: HummusAn obvious choice, especially if it's served with vegetables. Hummus is high in fiber, so it will also fill you up.Related: The Best Frozen Appetizers

No matter your age, it's hard to beat the pleasures of a rich, luscious pop. Here are four winners that froze out the competition.
By Suzanne Rust







Best Take on a Classic Häagen-Dazs Vanilla & Milk Chocolate Bar Hailed by one tester for its "rich, thick, and buttery" filling, this winner got points for how the "nice, chunky chocolate coating crackled in my mouth and melted into the vanilla."

To buy: $4.20 for three 3.67-ounce bars.
Related: The Best Low-Fat Yogurt








Most Decadent
Eskimo Pie Vanilla Nestlé Crunch Bar "Crunchy and yumful" is how one grade-schooler rated this treat. "The thin coating gets me to the ice cream fast." Adults praised the pop's "pleasing but not too rich" interior.

To buy: $4 for six 3-ounce bars.
Related: The Best Sorbets











Best Citrus Blast
Popsicle Creamsicle Very refreshing," praised a panelist of this old-school icon. Said an eight-year-old: "Tastes like frozen orange juice, but smooth because of the vanilla ice cream."

To buy: $3.30 for 12 1.65-ounce

No matter how you like it―on yogurt, with milk, or plain―these picks are sure to please


Kashi

For High Fiber Slightly chewy, soft, and sweet, Kashi Mountain Medley Granola will remind you of your favorite childhood trail mix. The whole grain and sesame granola is baked with maple and honey and then mixed with raisins, almonds, pecans, and dried cranberries for a delicious protein- and fiber-packed combination. Coconut shreds contribute natural sweetness.
To buy: $5 for one 14-ounce box, at supermarkets.

Related: Best Energy Bars


Galaxy Granola










For a Low-Fat Fix Made with applesauce instead of oil, Galaxy Granola Vanilla Almond Munch from San Francisco has less than one gram of fat per serving. Organic cane juice gives the mix of oats, almonds, and pure vanilla extract just a touch of sweetness. Looking for another low-fat option? Try the company's delish Cranberry Orange blend.
To buy: $5.50 for one 12-ounce bag, galaxygranola.com.


Related: The Best Breakfast Cereals


Two Moms in the Raw









For Something Chewy Made by hand, Two

Go beyond the plain cheese pie with inventive recipes that rise to any occasion.











Deep-Dish Cheeseburger Pizza
Get the recipe.



















Smoked Salmon Pizzettes
Get the recipe.























Caraway Bread Sticks
Get the recipe.






















Spicy Three-Pepper Pizza
Get the recipe.




















Grape and Pine Nut Dessert Focaccia
Get the recipe.




















Garlic Butter Rolls
Get the recipe.
























Potato and Rosemary Flat Bread
Get the recipe.




















Sausage and Broccoli Calzones
Get the recipe.





















Fried Dough With Chocolate Sauce
Get the recipe.
















Salami and Spinach Stromboli
Get the recipe.

Images By: David Prince

Don't Miss
The Best Granolas
The Best Ice Cream Pops
The Best and Worst Appetizer Choices

What to do with those extra hot dog and hamburger rolls? Make everything from a salami panini to pineapple upside-down cakes.

By Tara Bench

Recipes

• All-Purpose Croutons
• Bun Crumbs
• Egg, Cheese, and Sausage Bake
• Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes
• Salami Panini
• Summer Berry and Plum Pudding
• Tomato Bruschetta

Images By Ngoc Minh Ngo

By Elizabeth Somer, R.D.

Time-saving, yes. But frozen food can also be nutritious―if you know what to look for.

Picking Produce

Frozen vegetables and fruits can actually be more nutritious than fresh, since they're packaged immediately after harvesting and the nutrients stay at their peak. Vegetables and fruits typically last for about eight months unopened in the freezer.
Related: Busting 10 Diet Myths

Vegetables
Look for: Plain, 100 percent vegetables (they should be the only things on the ingredient list). There's no nutritional difference among the boxed, bagged, or steam-in-bag plain varieties, so go with whatever you like. Make sure the vegetables haven't frozen into a lump―a sign that they have been thawed and refrozen. This means they retain fewer vitamins, says Sarah Krieger, a registered dietitian in St. Petersburg, Florida, and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.
Related: 24 Nutritious (and Tasty) Snacks

Avoid: Anything mixed with cheese, topped

By Maureen Callahan

Dinner's at eight, but you just can't wait. A healthy snack will tide you over.

Cashew-Strawberry Crunch

Think of this as a gourmet cook's PB & J. Spread 1 tablespoon of cashew butter on a slice of Ryvita Fruit Crunch. (Or substitute peanut butter and Triscuits.) Drizzle with ½ tablespoon honey and top with sliced strawberries.

Related: 24 Nutritious and Tasty Snacks

Health bonus: Nut butters are full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

One-Minute Antipasto Plate

Roll a thin slice of prosciutto or ham around a part-skim mozzarella string cheese. Eat with a few olives and grapes, or add roasted bell peppers (from a jar) drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

Related: Healthy Snack Foods

Health bonus: Contains almost a quarter of a woman's 1,000-milligram recommended daily allowance for calcium.

Pineapple and Pistachios

Combine about ¼ cup dried pineapple pieces with about 25 pistachio nuts. (For a treat, use chile-lime pistachio nuts, available at