Gardens, farmers markets, and stores are benefiting from the wide variety of fruits and vegetables available during summer months. And summertime brings the best colors of produce!
Eating different colors helps meet nutrition needs
No fruit or vegetable has the same mix of vitamins and minerals....
Now that gardens are being planted, it’s my turn to plant this important seed: how you are going to use the bountiful harvest so that it doesn’t go to waste? Canning is one way to preserve your food, but if that always seemed too overwhelming and time-consuming, maybe you haven’t yet explored the...
Springtime carries chances of severe weather, including thunderstorms, high winds and tornadoes that can lead to power outages and boil orders. Knowing what to do before disaster strikes can help you take charge in protecting you and your family.
When the power goes out for a short time it’s...
Spring is here, signaling a time for new beginnings as the colder temperatures of winter melt away, ushering in longer days, warmth, and a time of growth. With so many delicious springtime vegetables, it’s hard to know which one I should encourage you to try. However, in northwest Illinois, one of...
One vegetable that is notably present in grocery stores across the nation each spring is asparagus. Although asparagus can be found year-round, the peak availability of this perennial vegetable is in the spring.
This vegetable has long slender, brightly colored spears with pointy crowns. The color...
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...
