What do you think?” my husband asked as I took a taste of the piping hot casserole. “It’s kind of bland. It needs more pepper,” I said a little too quickly. I noticed his expression resembled that of a sad puppy. I had criticized the entree he made. Note to self: Always compliment the cook.
Plan-overs beat leftovers
Prairie Fare: By planning ahead you can minimize food waste by creating new dishes
Are you among the one in three with prediabetes?
Millions in North America have prediabetes and most don’t even know it
Millions of North Americans have this condition and 90 per cent do not know they have it. Do you know what it is? Here’s a hint: The condition occurs when the cells in your body do not respond normally to insulin, which is made by your pancreas. The answer is “prediabetes.” Having prediabetes means you
Tasting cookie dough is hazardous for new reasons
Flour and some other grain-based foods have also been linked to foodborne illness outbreaks
Do you ever taste cookie dough? Licking the mixing spoon or pinching a chunk of batter from the bowl can be tempting. If you said “yes, I taste raw cookie dough,” give yourself a pat on the back for your honesty. Now I need to tell you to avoid the temptation of tasting raw doughs
Warm yourself with some soup
Soup is high in liquid, which means it usually is lower in calories than other foods
Mom, now my hands will smell like onions!” my older daughter said as she chopped a particularly fragrant onion we had grown this summer. She has been my long-term vegetable chopper, even when we have gadgets that will do the work for us. We had onions, bell peppers and potatoes to chop as we tried
Pizza party
Prairie Fare: Don’t feel guilty, well-chosen toppings can make your pizza a healthful menu option
Do you recall your first experience with pizza? The first time I tried pizza, at about age five, I was not sold on it. In fact, I couldn’t imagine why anyone wanted to eat it on a regular basis. I was enticed by TV ads that said pizza made from the kit being advertised was
It’s been 20 years of food tips
Prairie Fare: In that time this column has covered topics from apples to zucchini and everything in between
What would you think about writing a weekly column?” a couple of editors from the NDSU Extension Service asked me. “What if no papers run it?” I responded. “Oh, they will,” they replied in unison. “Writing something new every week can get to be a grind, though,” one of them added. “And what if the
Squash are nutrition all-stars
Prairie Fare: They’re decorative, but they’re also delicious and healthy
We live an exciting life,” my husband commented as he flipped a butternut squash on its side. We were at a grocery store on a Saturday evening. An attractive display of colourful squash and pumpkins caught my eye, and I pulled my phone out of my purse to take a photo. I stepped back to
Does your stomach ever interrupt your work?
Prairie Fare: Eating breakfast has many benefits for people of all ages
Oh, no, I thought to myself. My stomach was going to growl loudly enough to interrupt a meeting. This is more than a little embarrassing, especially among casual acquaintances. I usually grab a small snack before I go to a 10 a.m. meeting, but I answered a phone call. I grabbed a water bottle and
Enjoy more apples this season
Prairie Fare: Apples are more than just tasty snacks, they’re good for your health
We didn’t get any apples on our apple tree this year,” my 19-year-old daughter lamented. “Not even one.” My neighbours cut down their aging apple tree last year, so that probably had something to do with our fruitless tree. According to NDSU Extension information written by our horticulture specialists, “many tree fruit cultivars cannot set
In a pickle over a side dish?
Prairie Fare: Pickles can be made from almost any vegetable or many fruits
Please enjoy these fresh pickles. Your food will be out shortly,” the server said as she placed a plate of cucumber slices in front of us. They were sprinkled with dill weed and had a nice crunch. I was in a restaurant in another state, and the somewhat sweet yet vinegary flavour and crisp texture
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
