How well your frozen food keeps depends a lot on the quality of the wrapping or container.

How long does frozen food last?

The quality of frozen food depends on how well it is wrapped

I have a question I’ve been meaning to ask you,” a woman informed me one Sunday morning in church. I took a sip of coffee and leaned closer to see if I had an answer. I figured her question might be about food because I know she reads my column. “I have had some pumpkin

Canned fruits and vegetables can help boost their consumption and
the numbers prove that.

Can it

Canned goods can help you meet your daily fruit and vegetable requirements

We don’t need any more canned green beans,” my husband announced from the kitchen. I was sitting on the couch in the living room writing a grocery list for a holiday meal. I was wondering what had inspired his comment, so I walked into the kitchen. He had lined up 10 cans of green beans


Jars of freshly applesauce with home-canning equipment in the background.

The latest in home canning

Grandma was wrong — you shouldn’t be boiling your lids, and beware of pressure cookers

Home canning has and continues to undergo constant changes. While it’s nice to romanticize about putting up food just like Grandma did, keeping up with the times and following canning processes based on scientific research will lead to much better and safer results. The most reliable and trusted source for current home canning standards in

Take care with home canning to prevent dangerous food illnesses like botulism poisoning.

Follow the new rules

The old ways may not be safe anymore when it comes to canning

Sometimes, I feel like a broken record, especially when we reach canning season. I keep repeating things year after year, hoping that more people will hear about the current rules. But wait: Some (younger) people don’t know what a “record” is or how you might break one, other than in an athletic race. Maybe I

Freezing fruits and veggies can keep them at their best if the  proper procedures are followed.

Freezing your bounty of fruits and vegetables

Prairie Fare: As gardens hit high gear, it’s time to preserve some of the excess for the coming winter

Freezing is an easy, convenient and affordable way to preserve fruits and vegetables. In fact, when fresh produce is frozen shortly after being harvested, it can contain more nutrients than fresh vegetables that have been shipped long distances or stored in warehouses or on retail shelves. If you have a garden, a neighbour with surplus


There are U-pick operations around the province getting ready to greet 
the season’s visitors.

It’s fruit-picking time

Prairie Fare: Make the most of Manitoba’s short season

We are fortunate to have an incredible variety of fruit here on the Prairies. We have apples, cherries, choke­cherries, crabapples, currants, gooseberries, grapes, has­kaps or honeyberries, melons, pears, plums, raspberries, saskatoons, strawberries and many more. It’s enough to make one’s mouth water. Our beautiful, jewel-coloured fruit is high in antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients making it

Jar of wild berry jam on white wooden background from top view

Let’s get jammin’

Prairie Fare: Jam and jelly recipes to get your taste buds going

Making your own jams and jellies is an easy and delicious way to capture the great tastes of our Prairie fruits. Luckily for us, today, jam making is easier than ever. What was a never-ending chore and means of survival for our grandmothers is now a hobby for us. We have the luxury of preserving

We're throwing out more food than ever before, wasting time, money and effort while contributing to the waste stream.

How much food do you toss?

Here are eight tips to help you avoid food waste

A few years ago, I found a container of frosting in my cupboard that required a ladder to retrieve. I had completely forgotten that I had it. When I opened the container, the frosting had the consistency and colour of a tire. The rich brown chocolate was now black. That container ended up in the


Chicken and salsa taquitos

Freeze-ahead convenience foods

You can either make intentional freezer meals or just double up recipes and freeze some for later

It won’t be long until spring gets underway and winter routines are replaced by long hours of field work. Knowing what lies ahead, now is a good time to start stashing away a few freezer meals to lighten the load. Making freezer meals is easy and convenient. It can be as simple as doubling a

Cut your food waste with a few helpful tips

Cut your food waste with a few helpful tips

Too often perfectly safe food is being thrown away, as much as 90 billion pounds a year

Did you eat the potatoes I gave you?” I asked my son. He has been living in an apartment for a couple of months now. I had given him some large baking potatoes. I thought they would be the basis of an easy meal. Just scrub, poke a few holes and bake. I bought him