Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Someone in a food group on Facebook recently asked fellow members what was the strangest thing in their freezers. My answer: 40 pounds of hamburger. Yep, I have four 10-pound tubes of ground beef in my freezer, just waiting for a time when I have a couple of days to thaw it and cook it. I do this a couple of times a year, usually 20 pounds at a time, purchased when it’s on sale. Since time has been in short supply around this household for a few months, that 20 pounds turned into 40 when it w...
As summer draws to a close (where did it go?), so does the peak season for stone fruit. Stone fruits are a classification of fruits also know as drupes: They have a thin skin and a "stone" in the center, which contains the seed. They're in season starting in early spring and continue though early fall. Peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums and cherries are all in vogue and ready for plucking and eating. Named for their pits that are hard as stone, the fruits have a fleshy, edible outer layer...
Not only will it be nice to see actual fans in Memorial Stadium this fall and not cardboard cutouts, it will be nice to see parking lots full of fans devouring their favorite foods before the game. Tailgate parties are back! And while fun is at the forefront, food safety can't be forgotten. So before we get to the food, let's cover the basics. The key to keeping your food safe during a tailgate is a good game plan. Do you have enough coolers and all the tools you need to cook? In addition to a...
Anyone who has grown zucchini in Nebraska knows that a little planting goes a long way. Zucchini jokes abound and there is even a National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day (more about that later), but zucchini is really a versatile vegetable that can be prepared in a myriad of ways. Let's start with some tips and tricks from Cami Wells, an Extension Educator in Hall County. "Whether purchasing or picking zucchini," Wells says "choose firm, slender zucchini with a bright green...
I don't know about you, but every year when back-to-school time rolls around, I look back and wonder just what happened to summer. It seems like Memorial Day was last week and the Fourth of July was yesterday, but yet here it is: The first day of school is looming right around the corner. And with school starting soon, it's time to think about what all those hungry kids are going to eat when they get home from school. "Healthy snacks can help children get the nutrients they need after a long day...
It's not hard to see why food on a stick is so popular at fairs around the country, including county fairs that are in full swing in the area and our very own Nebraska State Fair which opens later this month in Grand Island. The portability factor makes these foods easy to hang onto and easy to eat while strolling the fairgrounds in search of the best exhibit or midway ride. But the shear variety of foods that can be put on a stick boggles the mind. Who would have thought you could put a...
It's that time of year where you attend to your garden, harvest a couple zucchini and decide some of the others need more time to grow. So, you leave them on the plant. You come back to the garden two days later to find giant zucchini and double the number of squash you started with. Can anyone else relate to surges in zucchini? Squash varieties are split into the categories of winter and summer squash. Zucchini falls under the summer squash category since it is harvested during warm weather...
Taste of Home; www.tasteofhome.com Cinnamon Chocolate Sundaes: Kids will enjoy this tempting ice cream topping because it hardens on the ice cream as it stands. Store-bought sauces just can't compare to this homemade concoction. Cinnamon Chocolate Sundaes Any way you top it: Ice cream the ultimate summer treat Is there anyone you know who doesn't like ice cream? Sure we all that one person who says their favorite flavor is vanilla (seriously?), but is there really someone out there who doesn't l...
Salute the kernel This is a perfect time to enjoy delicious Nebraska-grown sweet corn. It’s not only tasty, but nutritious. Did you know that corn is a great source of fiber, potassium, folate and vitamin A? Not only that, an ear of corn only contains about 80 calories. What is the best way to cook sweet corn? It can be grilled, roasted, cooked in boiling water on the stovetop or even microwaved. When eating just buttered corn-on-the-cob, I remove the husks, wrap the ear in waxed paper and m...
It's BLT season and I couldn't be happier By Terri Hahn Friday, June 18, was marked on my calendar for weeks. I was literally counting down the days. The anticipation grew. So what important event was happening on the day? Not a birthday. Not an anniversary. Not the day I would inherit a lot of money. It was the day my favorite area produce stand opened for the summer. And that means it's BLT season. Because we all know that tomatoes are the most important ingredient in BLTs. Bacon, lettuce, may...
Who doesn’t like a sandwich? That perfect, easy to eat, quick meal on the go. Just slap some meat, a slice of cheese or two, a bit of lettuce and tomato, and your condiment of choice between a couple of slices of bread and you’re done. But what can be done to spice it up a bit? I mean bread is great and all that, but there must be a some easy way to jazz up your sandwich. Have you had a wrap lately? These sandwiches are popular when eating out but you can make your own “wrap” sandwich at home...
TERRI HAHN Something I've never been able to figure out: On Mother's Day, moms get breakfast in bed. On Father's Day, dads are expected to head to the grill to cook for themselves. Not sure why. Maybe while dads can help the kids make scrambled eggs and French toast, moms aren't as eager to let their kids play with fire. But maybe there is a way for mom and kids to make dad a meal - complete with the grill - but in a safer matter. Pizza. Yep, pizza. Grilling infuses pizza with a wonderful smoky...
As much as I love fresh fruit, salads and sandwiches, I can't eat them for every meal when the weather is warm. Sometimes I want something cooked, but I really don't want to take much time to make it. And who wants to heat up the kitchen any more than you have to? Sheet pan meals may be the answer. "Sheet pan meals are a godsend when you're busy, or don't particularly love to cook," says food writer Gretchen McKay. "For starters, they're super easy to pull together. They also cook quickly, are...
Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer, and many of us will observe the holiday with cookouts, road trips and other activities that involve food. And I think this year we will really be looking forward to getting outdoors and getting together with friends or family members we might not have seen for awhile. I know Memorial Day is also supposed to be the start of grilling season, but what if your group just wants to get together and eat and not have to cook when you get to...
It took me a long time to decide I liked asparagus. Of course, it wasn't as common in the grocery stores when I was growing up in western Nebraska as it is now, but it did grow wild along the North Platte River. I kind of remember Mom and Dad going out to gather some, but honestly, I don't remember what Mom did with it. Now I can't wait for asparagus season. I bought my first bunch just a couple of weeks ago. It's become a staple on my Easter dinner menu. But how much do you know about...
Terri Hahn It's no secret I love salads. All kinds of salads. Main dish salads. Potato salad. Pasta salad. Fruit salad. Side salads. Just about any kind of salad. OK, not kale salad. Tried it, just can't do it. But there is something about spring that just screams "salad." Maybe because it's getting too warm for the comfort food soups and casseroles we've loved over the winter. Maybe it's the sight of all the spring greens and veggies showing up in the supermarkets. Asparagus, while available...
Madelyn Meier Nebraska News Service With the 20 below-freezing temperatures that swept Nebraska this winter, most gardeners had a concern: if previously planted perennials would grow this year. For plant lovers and gardeners alike, the snow layers have acted as good insulation against extreme temperatures, protecting most herbaceous perennials. “Snow cover helped keep soil temperatures from reaching the extreme lows, so the roots should still be in good condition and resume normal growth in the spring,” said Kyle Broderick, extension edu...
March 17 is just a week away so it's time to get ready for St. Patrick's Day. But first a bit of history (thanks history.com): St. Patrick's Day observes of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a...
Like most people, I'm guessing, I know that Catholics don't eat meat on Fridays during Lent. (For the record, I'm Methodist.) And like most people, I'm also guessing, I never really stopped to think about why they don't. And why is fish OK? So, doing like most people do these days when looking for an answer to "why," I turned to our good friend Google. This is what I found on the website for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis at www.archspm.org: "Catholics abstain from flesh meat on...
When you think of Valentine's Day treats, chocolate is usually at the top of the list. But this year, skip the fancy box from the store and make your own chocolate treats. From breakfast to dessert, chocolate is the star of the day. ~~~~~ Show your affection with a plate of these colorful Cocoa-Kissed Red Velvet Pancakes, featuring rich 100% cocoa, buttermilk and fresh berries. Heart-shaped cookie cutters lend a special touch to these fluffy, flavorful pancakes. Add sweet garnishes like powdered...
I have no idea who invented chocolate cake, but I'm sure glad they did! Cake itself makes life better, but whoever decided to make it with chocolate deserves some kind of honor. In poking around online, I found several polls that found chocolate tops the list of favorite cake flavors. I'm not surprised. Aside from one former coworker who wouldn't eat anything made with chocolate (what's up with that?), I don't know anyone who doesn't like chocolate and very few people who don't like cake....
I know all too well how easy it is to either: 1) skip breakfast, or 2) grab something on the run that isn't exactly the most nutritious food in the world. When I do make time for breakfast, I have a tendency to grab a couple of frozen breakfast burritos or one of those sandwiches made up of a croissant, sausage patty, egg and cheese. I'm afraid to look at the nutrition label on either one. That alone should be my first clue I need to do a better job of choosing my breakfast menu. And with the...
I have a confession to make: I’ve never really learned how to make pie crust. In fact, most of the pies I’ve served in my life have a connection to Pillsbury, Mrs. Smith or the bakery department from my favorite supermarket. It’s not for lack of effort. I’ve tried to make my own crust, but I just don’t have it together. And you can’t blame my mother. For all of the good things she inherited from my grandmother, the ability to make a decent pie crust was not one of them. So long ago, I acknowledg...
All that planning. All those lists. All that grocery shopping. All that prep. All that cooking. And now Thanksgiving dinner is done and you're looking at all those leftovers. Well, you are if you're lucky. What's the point of Thanksgiving dinner if you don't have leftovers? It makes me chuckle when I read those "how much will you need" suggestions for how big of a turkey will you need to feed your crowd and it says "1 pound per person, maybe 1-1/2 pounds if you want leftovers." I'm not sure I...
Growing up, Thanksgiving was pretty laid back in my house. As I've mentioned before, I grew up in Oshkosh, but both of my parents were born and raised near Valentine and that's where most of their families still lived. My dad worked for the local power company; he and a lineman were the service crew for the area. Someone always had to be there "on call." He worked over Thanksgiving so he could take Christmas off and spend it in Valentine with family. So usually, it was just Mom and Dad and me. O...
