Leanne Ely, CNC: Good food isn't a complex thing at all. We all have this notion that going out to a fancy dinner at a restaurant somewhere is how you get "good food," that it has to be away from home and cost big bucks. That's simply not true.

In essence, fancy, expensive restaurants mostly cook simple, wholesome food, and their secret is that they cook these things from scratch -- no boxes or cans allowed. We can do that, too. OK, so maybe we're not going to be making some of the fancier sauces that are so wonderful, but we can certainly make quality food, nearly restaurant-quality food, at home.

The foundation for this is the food itself. When we start with the basics -- produce, meat, poultry and fish, dairy, herbs and spices -- we can do anything. There are a variety of ways to prepare these foods to suit your mood, the climate, the season and affordability, as well as availability. And the best part about the basics? They're the least-expensive stuff out there, because having a food manufacturer or grocery store prepare food for you is expensive!

So this week when you think about what's for dinner, think in terms of the basics -- the stuff that has one word on its ingredient list (like onion, or chicken, or spinach). From there, you can build a meal that's healthy, delicious and economical, too! Try this delicious recipe:
 
Herb-Braised Chicken Thighs