University of Illinois Extension

Events (6)

Certified Food Protection Manager Class | McLean County

Mon, 10/17/2022 - 12:00 - Wed, 10/19/2022 - 12:00

Heartland Community College

Macon County Certified Food Protection Managers Training and Exam

Wed, 11/02/2022 - 12:00

Macon County Extension Office, 3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd., Decatur, IL 62521

Pair of gloved hands cutting a piece of raw meat on a blue cutting board

Certified Food Protection Managers Class & Exam

9 AM - 3 PM

Thu, 11/03/2022 - 12:00 - Fri, 11/04/2022 - 12:00

Macoupin County Extension

Macon County Certified Food Protection Managers Training and Exam

Fri, 11/04/2022 - 12:00

Macon County Extension Office, 3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd., Decatur, IL 62521

Pair of gloved hands cutting a piece of raw meat on a blue cutting board.

Certified Food Protection Managers Class & Exam

9 AM - 3 PM

Mon, 11/07/2022 - 12:00 - Wed, 11/09/2022 - 12:00

Montgomery County Extension Office, #1 Industrial Park Dr., Hillsboro, IL 62049

Certified Food Protection Manager Class | Woodford County

Tue, 11/29/2022 - 12:00 - Thu, 12/01/2022 - 12:00

Woodford County Extension Office

Blog Posts (51)

Eggplant is a recipe centerpiece and a team player

Flat metal pot with 3 eggplant on wood background

Summertime is the best time to enjoy peaches

Tan wood background with whole and halved peaches with a few peach leaves

Feed your community by safely donating homegrown fruits and vegetables

Red tomatoes in a black bin

5 summer salads to help you cool down in hot weather

Potato salad in yellow bowl next to fork on blue wood table

Switch up your meal routine by adding turnips and turnip greens

Small white turnips with attached greens on a bamboo mat

How to make pickled eggs

EGG--zactly right!

eggs in carton and mixing bowl

Cucumbers make tasty salsas, salads, and pickles

Plate of sliced cucumbers with overlaying text of "Cucumbers: From pickles to salads to sandwich toppers to dippers." Photographs show a young Asian holding a cucumber, a pregnant women slicing cucumbers, and an African American father and child holding cucumbers on a cutting board

Be smart and keep foods apart to prevent contamination

Finding infant formula in midst of recalls and shortages

Baby with bottle

Let's look inside the can

A Look Inside the Can: The Role of Canned Food Liners

How do I eat kiwi fruit?

How Do I Eat Kiwi Fruit? With Tips on Recipes, Shopping, and Storage. Left photo is a gold kiwi fruit cut in half sitting on a blue napkin. Right photo is a wood cutting board with a knife and green kiwi fruit cut in half.

Acorn (squash) are not for squirrels

Acorn Squash Are Not for Squirrels: With Tips on Eating, Shopping, and Storage

September is Food Safety Education Month

A person washing their hands under a sink faucet. Text says, 'food safety education month'.

Before squash harvest, you can cook with the blossoms

Cooking with Squash Blossoms; open blossom on squash plant on right side, three cut squash blossoms on wood background on right

Packing food for the beach

A beach with a surfboard propped up in the sand

Use up-to-date methods when preserving foods this summer

jars of preserved food next to a pressure canner and the words "safe home food preservation resources".

Rounding up some fresh blueberry recipes

Older women sitting outside eating blueberries

Summer grilling success

photo of grilled meats and vegetables above the words, 7 tips for grilling success.

Grilling and summer food safety

Summer Food Safety image of chicken, corn, grilled veggies, watermelon

Make meals and messes with kids in the kitchen this summer

Make Meals and Messes with Kids in the Kitchen this Summer

Now's the time to use your slow cooker

plate of chicken

Cabbage Recipes for Every Season

Every Season Recipes for Cabbage

Canning Pie Filling? Do you have Clear Jel®?

Apple Pie Filling in Mason Jars

Can I "can" in my electric pressure cooker?

electric pressure cooker

Enjoy your tomatoes all year

photo of tomatoes

Freezing your summer harvest

Blanching broccoli for freezing

Which apple works best for preserving

Variety of Apples

How do I stop my apples from turning brown?

slicing apples

Fill your pantry with apples!

Apples on a cutting board

Cocinando sanamente al aire libre

Outdoor cooking

Decoding food packaging dates

Calendar with the 18th circled in red marker

Eating Beets from Root to Stalk

Fresh beets with leaves and stems on granite background

Fill Your Pantry with DIY Drying

Horizontal dehydrator with trays of drying apples and tomatoes

OUTDOOR COOKING

outdoor grill, hamburgers, hotdogs

Think food safety before you hit the trails

Hiking trail in the woods.

Safely canning at home

photo of canning jars

Put your freezer to work

Ice cubes

Cleaning, Sanitization, and Disinfection on the Produce Farm: What’s the Difference and Why Does It Matter?

Washing sinks

Home Cook to Small Business: Start your Side Hustle as a Cottage Food Operator

Understanding dates on food packages

One Bag, Three Yellow Split Pea Recipes

Bowl of yellow split peas on blue background

How Many Citrus Fruits Can You Name?

variety of citrus fruits, both whole and cut in half

Preventing Uninvited Guests (a.k.a. Pantry Pests)

Jerky Guide: Shopping, Storing and Preparing

Three strips of jerky on white plate with blue background

Wild Eats - Jerky

3 strip of deer jerky on white plate with blue background

Wild Eats - Part 1 (Introduction to Deer)

Deer eating near tree

Wild Eats: Easy Venison Recipes

Wild Eats: Venison Nutrition and Cooking Tips

Chimichurri sauce over sliced venison

Who will be the next 4-H chef? Challenge tests food prep knowledge

It's a win-win situation at Vermilion County Food Smart program

News Releases (55)

University of Illinois Extension offering Certified Food Protection Manager Certificate Course

Back to school is a great time to make the healthy choice, the easy choice

IIlinois Extension launches new website to support cottage food businesses

Be prepared when disaster strikes

Can Foods Safely this Summer with Free Test from Extension

Feed your community by safely donating homegrown fruits, vegetables

Brush up on your canning skills this spring!

Do you need to be certified to handle food?

Home-to-Market Act expands options for Illinois’ growing cottage food industry

Ensuring food safety and quality

University of Illinois Extension to offer Food Certified Food Protection Manager Class

Small businesses, underserved communities get assist from Extension food safety expert

Safe canning techniques are essential when preserving at home

Get a refresh and recharge on food preservation

Grilling mistakes can be costly; stay safe during cookout season

Can foods safely this season with free test from Illinois Extension

Mandated Food Protection Manager class offered in Macon County

Take the electric pressure cooker out of the box, help is here!

Follow cottage food laws when selling at farmers markets

Is your supervisor certified in food protection?

Be creative with your Thanksgiving meal

Don't get sick from your holiday turkey

Extension to offer Certified Food Protection Manager course in November

University of Illinois Extension offers Canner Testing at Edwards County

Calling All Creative Young Chefs to Show Us Your Cooking Skills

Planning to Can Tomatoes

Be ready for prolonged power outages during summer

Celebrate National Grilling Month with important tips, new recipes

Learn safe food handling, prep methods

Tips for Preventing Apples from Turning Brown

Perfect Your Pickles

What’s Wrong with My Jam?

Restaurants make critical menu adjustments, safety practices

At-home animal slaughter involves risk, challenges

Use safe, tested methods for preserving food

Cracking Open Canned Food Myths

'Egg'cellent food safety tips keep us healthy

Improve your health at home: Online Webinar

Stocking up on food? Check your food waste habits

Follow safe food production practices: COVID-19 facts for farms, markets, and gardens

Tips for Keeping Frozen Food Fresh

Illinois Extension Offers Tips for National Nutrition Month

University of Illinois Extension offering Certified Food Protection Managers Class & Exam in March

University of Illinois Extension offering Certified Food Protection Managers Class & Exam in February

University of Illinois Extension offering Certified Food Protection Managers Class & Exam in January - Montgomery County

Hack your January with Easy Slow Cooking Meal Preparation

University of Illinois Extension offering Certified Food Protection Managers Class & Exam in January - Macoupin County

Do I Need to Refrigerate the Pie?

Practice Making Healthier Meals Using a Pressure Cooker

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course

Cottage Food Website Launch

Extension to Host Food Preservation Workshop

Extension to Host Program on Cooking with Herbs

Local Residents Learn about Food Preservation and Cooking with Herbs

Requirements for Exempt Farms Under FSMA Produce Rule

Staff (5)

Kristin Bogdonas

Kristin Bogdonas

Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness

Susan Glassman

Susan Glassman

Nutrition and Wellness Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences

Zachary Grant

Zachary Grant

Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator

Caitlin Mellendorf

Caitlin Mellendorf

Nutrition and Wellness Educator

Lisa Peterson

Lisa Peterson

Nutrition and Wellness Educator; Acting County Director