Lately, people have been sniffling and coughing around me. I practically run down the hallway to escape the germs. I thought about barricading my office door or wearing a surgical mask. I’m really not a “germophobe.” I had the flu a couple of years ago and was bedridden for four days after not using any
How to fight the flu
Prairie Fare: Personalized Homemade Vegetable Soup (Slow Cooker Or Stovetop)
Honey, you shrank the fruit
Prairie Fare: Pumpkin Leather
I think Dad may be drying socks in the dehydrator next,” our son said with a laugh. My husband rolled his eyes and glanced in my direction. I think he wanted me to defend him. Earlier this fall, I bought a new food dehydrator. We had a bumper crop of large apples, and our kids
Trick-or-treat season calls for moderation
Prairie Fare: Cranberry-Oatmeal Cookie Mix, Cranberry-Oatmeal Cookies and Chewy Caramel Squares
Mom, they’re not noticing me!” my 12-year-old daughter said with a loud sigh as she looked into her nearly empty pumpkin pail. We were watching a parade, and some of the people on the parade floats were tossing out items such as footballs, stickers and candy. “Let’s straighten your bison hat. Be sure to smile,
4-H foods projects teach lifelong lessons
Prairie Fare: Bread Pudding
I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world.” If you recognize this pledge, chances are you have been in 4-H, or perhaps your child and/or other relative has been in
Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away?
Prairie Fare: Microwave Apple Crisp for one and Apple Raisin Bread Pudding
As I looked up at our apple tree with its big red apples, I was carried back in time to a memory of my children’s younger years. They usually help with the apple harvest if we have a good year. They have learned about a lot of things in the process. “I want to pick
Music is good for your health
Prairie Fare: Black Bean Brownies and Pumpkin Waffles with Cinnamon Yogurt Sauce
I heard a high-pitched “beep beep beep” sound one day while I read the newspaper. I could tell the sound did not emanate from the smoke detector, the timer on our oven or the alarm on our refrigerator door. What was beeping? I didn’t smell smoke, so I didn’t rise from my chair. As I
Roasted vegetables are an autumn treat
Prairie Fare: Beet greens also make a delicious and colourful addition to salads
Look at our bountiful harvest!” my 17-year-old daughter said as she pulled a potato from our backyard garden while kneeling among the foliage. “I want to find one!” I said teasingly as I reached over and tried to grab a potato. She playfully swatted my hand away before I could nab the large potato near
Are you taking steps to ensure safe fruits and vegetables are in your kitchen?
Prairie Fare: Asian-style Cobb Salad and B.L.A.T. Wrap with Bacon Mayo
Are the cucumbers at the store safe? Have any recent foodborne illness outbreaks occurred with spinach, peppers or lettuce? Lately, you might have heard or read about a recall of cucumbers imported from Mexico that reached various U.S. restaurants and retail stores. At the time of this column, 341 people in 30 states were sickened
Are potatoes fattening?
Prairie Fare: Potato Pancakes and Herb and Sweet Onion Scalloped Potatoes
Mom, why don’t we make these at home?” my daughter asked as she took her first bite of a potato dumpling. We were at the Barnesville, Minnesota Potato Days. I call it my “annual pilgrimage for potato dumplings.” “This wouldn’t be a treat if I made potato dumplings at home,” I said. I was pondering
Which flowers can you eat?
Prairie Fare: A recipe for Veggie Dip
The blooming flowers at this time of the year look good enough to eat. Some actually are. Many flower varieties are edible, but before you munch on the centrepiece, you need to do your homework. Some flower varieties are poisonous, or at least could cause allergic reactions or stomach upset. For example, apple blossoms should
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
