In the past few weeks, I fielded questions for some of our extension agents while they took well-earned annual leave. I learned a lot about what people do as they harvest their bountiful garden produce. As the questions reached my office, I also began exploring the internet to see what was being shared by some
Ovens are for baking, not canning
Prairie Fare: To avoid foodborne illnesses, use research-tested recipes and follow them carefully
Make snack attacks count
Prairie Fare: Keep your snacks simple and healthful for best results
Make sure your seatbelts are buckled and all carry-ons are properly stowed,” the flight attendant said. I pushed my purse under the seat with my foot, cinched my seatbelt and settled in by the window. Then I realized that my reading materials also were properly stowed in the overhead bin, which was closed. I had
Onions offer layers of goodness
Onions can be eaten raw or cooked, and they are available in a wide range of sizes and colours
As I examined the maturing produce in our garden, I decided not to harvest any onions. Although the stems were sturdy and green, the onion bulbs were fairly small. Young onions are tasty, but I gave them the opportunity to grow. Whenever I look at onions growing in our garden, I remember “the year of
Gazpacho is a refreshing change in hot weather
Tomatoes, an ingredient in gazpacho, are rich in nutrients and low in calories
We’re going to have cold soup,” I said to my older daughter and husband. We were in our kitchen talking about the upcoming evening meal. “Gross,” my daughter remarked. She likes soup but expects it to be hot. I gathered tomatoes, red and green peppers, celery, an onion, a lemon and a cucumber, along with
Make some memories with picnics
Prairie Fare: Summer is picnic season and we should all enjoy this tradition
I remember the picnics of my youth. I looked forward to visiting a picnic site at a lake or park. Preparing all the food, loading the food in coolers and packing the lawn chairs in the trunk was part of the adventure. As a little girl, I thought that picnics required blankets, so I usually
Be creative with zucchini
Prairie Fare: You can make a lot of different menu items with zucchini
Mom, there’s a cucumber,” my daughter noted. “Here’s another one and another one.” I was a little surprised at her comment because I hadn’t planted any cucumbers. I had planted the prolific cousin of the cucumber. You definitely can see the family resemblance when they are hiding under some foliage. “They’re zucchini,” I said. “And
Watermelon packs a lot of nutritional benefits
Prairie Fare: Pork and Watermelon Kebobs
The other day I was at my desk at work, talking to my computer screen, but I wasn’t just being the “absent-minded professor.” I actually had an audience in a room across the state. Grilling fruits and vegetables was the topic of my webinar. I mentioned grilling watermelon to the audience because I had read
Prairie Fare: Enjoyed any anthocyanins lately?
What colour scheme should we have this year?” I asked my older daughter as we surveyed the flower pots we needed to fill earlier this summer. “Mom, you always get pink and purple flowers,” she replied with a grin. Yes, she knows her mother. I usually fill my cart with pink and purple flowers. Just
Gardening provides more than healthful food
It’s an undertaking that also provides stress relief and physical activity
She weeded the garden in her Sunday clothes without getting dirty,” my husband announced to some of our friends. They looked at me to see what I was wearing. I think they glanced to see whether I had the “telltale dirty knees” of a gardener. My clothes and knees were clean. Why was I gardening
Are rhubarb and tomatoes fruits or vegetables?
Whether produce is a fruit or veggie often depends on your perspective and how you use it
For roll call, please say your favourite vegetable,” our club officer announced. I was at a meeting of PEO, which is a philanthropic educational organization for women. We in Chapter V are getting to know each other a little better every month by answering questions for roll call. The officer stated green beans as her
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
