If you have never eaten a pawpaw, try this tasty, fall fruit. While the pawpaw, Asimina triloba, is the largest tree fruit native to the United States. It is the northernmost representative of its family of tropical and sub-tropical plants.
People have described its taste as similar to a banana with a hint of strawberry, while others say it tastes like a banana...
In looking towards our next hands-on food program in March, enjoy a preview of the 5 Ingredient Fix class.
Recipes with five ingredients or less help you save money, spend less time preparing and cooking meals, and, in some cases, use a fewer number of dishes. These recipes do have limits on flavors, since few ingredients are used.
Register today at 217.877.6042 or online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/ for this class on March 27. If you are not able to join us, take these tips into...
I enjoy meal prep with minimal equipment. It means fewer dishes to wash, and many times, less time getting from cooking to eating. In this post, let's explore some different vegetables that do not require a knife to prepare. If I missed some of your favorite no-cut veggies, let me know in the comments. 1. Pour from the bag. In a store, these veggies are often pre-bagged for purchase. Wash with clean water before eating raw or cooking. Mini bell peppers have few seeds, and can...
Aggressive, invasive, and my personal favorite, a garden thug are all terms commonly used by gardeners to describe those garden perennials that tend to overtake their intended areas. It all starts with good intention. Usually a garden friend who wants to share a division of a plant they have an abundance of, or a gorgeous plant at the garden center whose label fails to note its aggressive growth habit. The invasive nature of plants is relative though. For some, invasive refers to any plant...
January is Soup Month, and a great time of year to warm up with a bowl of your favorite soup. Or try a new recipe this month. Many soups are packed with protein, veggies, and grains, making them a great one-pot meal option on a busy night. You can easily adapt your recipes to make a healthier soup too. 1. Choose reduced-sodium or salt-free broth or stocks. Broths and stocks in soups add a flavorful base liquid, but can also add a lot of sodium. Starting with a lower-sodium...
"Arbor Day….which has already transplanted itself…to every state in the American Union and has even been adopted in foreign lands…is not like other holidays. Each of those reposes on the past, while Arbor Day proposes for the future" said J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska, founder of the first Arbor Day in 1872. Affected by Morton's enthusiasm, the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture even gave prizes to counties and individuals for the highest number of properly planted trees, resulting in one...
Bees and Pesticides in the Garden" is the title of a recent article by Ric Bessin, Extension Entomologist at the University of Kentucky. Anyone who grows fruits and vegetables knows the importance of pollinators for pollinating crops and insuring a bountiful harvest. In addition, the ability of bee colonies to survive from year to year has been declining for the past decade due to a variety of causes. One of which is pesticide contamination. The following are Ric Bessin's suggestions for...
The leaves are falling and the days are gorgeous outside! You know, in the vegetable garden, its best practice to clear away all plant material to reduce risk of over-wintering fungal and bacterial diseases, correct? So clear away to your hearts content, and feel good. But, as unpopular as this may sound; some areas of our yard and lawn areas should remain messy, for a very special purpose. Pollinators and other beneficial insects need you too. Yes, it's true, I'm proposing leaving some areas...
Are you wondering what to do with your fresh cut Christmas tree now that Christmas is over? How about recycling it? If you have a landscape recycling center or compost facility nearby, take it there and it will be converted into a renewable mulch or compost. Before you recycle your tree, it must be undecorated - no ornaments or lights or tree stand.In the Champaign County area, you have two choices for tree recycling: the Urbana Landscape...
As part of the Older Americans Act, those 60 years of age and older are invited to receive food at congregate meal sites, often for lunch. For those 60 years and older who are homebound, home-delivered meals are available. Many programs include individuals under age 60 who have disabilities. See the Resources list below to learn more about local congregate and home-delivered meal programs in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties. Features A full meal - that...
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been getting many phone calls from people describing giant wasps in their yards. These have turned out to be the Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus), which is a mild mannered wasp. The stinger on the female wasp is used to paralyze cicadas and the male has no stinger. The adult cicada killer is an impressive looking wasp measuring up to 1.5 inches in length. Their distinguishing characteristics beyond their size is the black abdomen with three...
Last week we discussed how to go about properly identifying a pest in your landscape or garden. Once you've identified that pest problem in the garden, the next step is to create
A great way to have a healthier holiday is to include fruits and vegetables, with their important vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Any of these three dips would make a great addition to a potluck or holiday party. Thanks to the Mt. Zion District Library for hosting us for a hands-on class making dips for the holidays. With an unexpected combination of ingredients, the Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dip was a favorite of the group. Which one will you try? Red Pepper Hummus (Serves 10...
Salsa in the summer? Yes please! I like salsa as part of my lunch during summer as a way of getting vegetables in my diet in a different way from my usual bell pepper slices. My trouble with jarred salsa I buy is that the sodium amount is higher than I would like. I also prefer my salsa less chunky than I can usually find in jars, or even sometimes as fresh salsa in the deli. So making my own is a good choice for me. Still, whenever I make fresh salsa with fresh tomatoes, the final salsa is...
I'll admit it. I have a succulent addiction! They're everywhere at my house and I think you'll enjoy them just as much as I do. If you've never grown succulents before, I'll walk you through how to plant a succulent container garden here.
By definition, a succulent is a plant that has thick fleshy leaves or stems adapted to storing water. Succulent is a very broad term that can include many, many plants. Some of the...
What gets a gardener through the dark days of winter? Thinking about spring planting of course! What better way to get prepared for spring planting, than getting some seeds started in preparation. Why start your plants from seed? Because it lowers the cost you would spend for plants, and it offers you a wider selection of plants. It also gives you a head start on the growing season. Read the back of your seed packet to find out how far ahead of the average date of last frost...
Every year, people have a lot of questions about identifying pests around the lawn or garden; which pesticide to use or not to use; how to apply it and how much should be applied. Pesticides used correctly are one of the tools a gardener can use to control pests. Candice Hart and Doug Gucker, Extension Educators in Horticulture and Local Foods Systems, have created a series of short videos for homeowners that will help answer common questions about how to use pesticides safely and properly...
April hosts "Money Smart Week" (MSW) from April 22-29, an event started by Chicago-area agencies to bring awareness to money and finances. University of Illinois Extension holds events around the state to assist in this campaign, so look in your area.
In DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties, take on the Savvy Savers Food Challenge!
Download the game card online
Track at least 10 saving actions on the game card during MSW
When the challenge week is...
At this time of the year, the wildflower, Wild Carrot or Queen Anne's Lace, is in bloom. It is known for its beautiful white compound umbels of flowers that measure 2 to 5 inches across and is the source of our cultivated carrots. People will pick these flowers for drying and later using in dried flower arrangements. The wild carrot is a biennial that stands 2 to 5 feet tall and has compound leaves that are rather lacy...
Discover and celebrate the power of pollinators and the monarch butterfly as they migrate across Central Illinois next month at the third-annual Monarch Madness co-sponsored by the Macon County Master Gardeners and Rock Springs Nature Center! Be a part of this family friendly and hands-on celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 17. See caterpillars, chrysalides and butterflies up close before helping to catch and tag monarchs to track them on their 3,000-mile...
