‘The H Word’ cooking show debuts

Salmon, pan seared in a dry rub of sugar and six savory spices, and lime-juiced mashed sweet potatoes are center stage in today’s first episode of “The H Word,” the Register Star’s new online cooking show.

Boring, bland and blah go out the kitchen window when the show’s host, Register Star advertising account executive Mary Ann Suprenant, gives healthy eating a makeover with delicious recipes, handy cooking tips and health hints in a new show at 9 a.m. every Wednesday.

“I learned a lot watching my mom,” said Suprenant, who has been a Coronary Health Improvement Project lifestyle cooking instructor for the past three years. “We kids had to come up with the recipes, the whole menu, a grocery list, and then we’d prepare dinner for the family.”

You can take part in “The H Word” by going to healthyrockford.com/thehword and clicking on the appropriate links to leave your comments and recipes, download recipes, read blogs or contact the staff. You can also become a fan at facebook.com/hword for more tips and updates on future shows.

Register Star Advertising Director Michele Massoth said the show was developed as a way to meet the healthy eating interests of local consumers, and Suprenant emerged as someone who could produce “healthy food, but have fun with it at the same time and make it interesting.”

“The H Word” takes its name, according to Web site creator and show director Thom Kuss, from the reaction often associated with trying to advocate healthy eating.

“Healthy eating is usually treated like a naughty word,” Kuss said. “Why would you want to eat healthy when you can just go to a fast-food restaurant or grab a pre-made sandwich and a bag of chips?

“Healthy living and healthy eating is usually considered a pain. Well, it’s not, and ‘The H Word’ will show you why.”