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Sweet Corn Time
Each summer we have a window of time when sweet corn is fresh, ripe, and ready to eat. For me, that short window of time makes sweet corn a special food with many good memories attached to it. I smile when I think of times picking sweet corn with my family, eating a sweet corn meal around my parents’ and grandparents’ tables, and watching my children eat their first ears of corn. I even smile when I think about the bags and bags of sweet corn we froze growing up – it was a lot of work, but we always liked thawing a bag of corn for dinner in the winter.
Chickpea Salad
Our July recipe of the month is Chickpea Salad. This salad is ideal for these hot summer days with chickpeas, chopped vegetables, and a quick homemade dressing. The only problem is, I am not really a fan of this recipe. Like most people, there are foods I like and foods I do not like. Chickpeas are my least favorite type of bean and I only like mayo in certain recipes. Thankfully, my friend Christine loves this recipe and has been making it for many years. Below Christine shares her thoughts on Chickpea Salad.
Thai Chicken Curry
Our June recipe of the month is Thai Chicken Curry. When I first started working on this recipe a couple of years ago, I had no idea the price of groceries would increase the way they have. Thankfully, this is a great recipe to have on hand when food prices are high because it is flexible.
Home Questions? – Call AnswerLine
When I was a student at Iowa State University, I worked in a job where I shared an office with an amazing resource. That resource was AnswerLine – a hotline that answers your questions about home, food, and family. As a young adult starting a home of her own, the AnswerLine folks gave me tips on food safety, food preservation, and cleaning. A few years later, I found myself working at Iowa State University again. Throughout my career, AnswerLine has been there to help me when I have tough questions about food and nutrition. As a mom, I rely on AnswerLine for tips on getting stains out of laundry. If you cannot tell already, I love AnswerLine and I want to share this resource with you today!
Berry Crisp
Fruit crisp is one of my husband’s favorite foods. He often requests it for his birthday or other special meals. I do not mind because it is a dessert that gives my family some fruit and some whole grains (oats). Plus, it is an easy dessert to make. The only problem is that it can be expensive. Below I have some tips for making a fruit crisp fit into your budget.
Fish Tacos
Our April recipe of the month is Fish Tacos. This is a homemade version of restaurant fish tacos with coleslaw and chopped veggies wrapped in a corn tortilla. I enjoy this recipe because the different flavors and textures come together to make a delicious meal.
Microwave Baked Potato
Microwaving a potato is a quick and easy way to add a baked potato to a meal. Sometimes potatoes get a bad rap for not being good for you. However, potatoes are a good source of potassium and Vitamin C and they do not cost a lot. The instructions for microwaving a potato were a little out of date on our website, so we have updated them. Below are the steps and some recipes to go along with your microwave baked potato. You can also find the instructions on our website at: https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/recipe/microwave-baked-potato/
Loaded Potato Soup
Our March recipe of the month is Loaded Potato Soup. Potato soup is a favorite in my home. It comes together pretty quickly and it makes a filling meal in one bowl.
Moldy Veggies – Yucky and Disappointing
Guess what my son found in our refrigerator last week? Moldy celery. It was yucky and disappointing at the same time. We were working together to make chicken noodle soup for supper that night. He was disappointed because he wanted to chop the celery. His brother was disappointed because we ended up using frozen peas instead of the celery.
How much money do you spend on food each day?
This is a question I have been asking myself since I saw this blog, $4 A Day Challenge. Stephanie Moore, a channel 13 (WHOTV, Des Moines, IA) reporter decided to take on the challenge of eating for $4 each day for a week. Why $4? That is the average amount a person receives for Food Assistance.
Thirsty?
As the weather starts getting warmer, having something cold and tasty to drink is on my mind a lot. After taking my dog for a walk, playing with my son at the park, or working in the yard, I am thirsty for something cold. The water that comes out of the tap is just not cold enough, so what is a girl to do?
Shredded Pork Sandwich
Shredded pork sandwich is an easy meal for a busy day. This is the type of meal that I like to have on my menu each week because some nights I am too worn out to put much energy into a meal. All you need to do is: