Blogs

As berries start to ripen, mason jars are being gathered and dusted off in preparation for making jam. Unlike jellies, jams include the actual fruit and not just its juice. They’re made by cooking crushed or chopped fruits with sugar… lots of sugar! Jams will hold their shape and are easier to...

Eggs! The wonderful protein –relatively cheap, easy to prepare and versatile! You can poach, boil, coddle, bake or fry them. Fold them into an omelet or bake them in a casserole. Breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack, eggs are a perfect addition to anyone’s diet. Did you know? Eggs are an important...

During gardening season, Americans home can fruit and vegetables to store them at room temperature and enjoy them throughout the year. Fruits and vegetables go bad much quicker than dry ingredients such as flour, but how long can flour be stored, and is it safe for home canning like fresh produce?...

When packing a lunch for school, work or an outing, you may think about nutrition, so you pack an apple and baby carrots. You may also think about food safety, so you throw in an ice pack or two. But do you ever think about packing a waste-free lunch? Each person creates an average of 4.5 pounds of...

Transform your kitchen into a safe mini bakery this holiday season. Holiday baking brings family and friends together and creates lasting memories as friends share recipes, stories, and meaningful time together.   Amid the flurry of flour-covered countertops and mountains of messy mixing...

Did you know that Illinois Extension works with local food pantries through our Illinois Nutrition Education Program (INEP)? This includes nutrition education with pantry clients and assistance to pantry coordinators with...

After a multiday team meeting, our group went out to dinner. A special at a local restaurant was a whole pumpkin, scooped out and filled with mashed pumpkin, seafood, veggies, and sauce. It was a hit! While they're tasty and make for festive decorating, I find winter squash ...

Like many winter squash, pumpkins are packed with essential nutrients to fuel your body and keep it healthy. Pumpkins are one of the falls great superfoods because they contain so many disease-preventing nutrients. Pumpkins are a...

After a long summer tending to your garden, you may be getting a little tired. However, if you want your pumpkins and other winter squash to last well past the growing season, take special care when bringing them in this fall. If you intend to keep your pumpkins around for a while and use them...

When writing about specific fruits and veggies, I like to look at recipes with that food. I know how I'd use eggplant, but how do others use it? It seems like eggplant pairs endlessly with so many flavors across so many cultures. While eggplant can be the center of the dish, it can also compliment...