UI Extension, Bannock County

06/11/2020

There are a lot of great ways to use up old vegetables. This vegetable pie can use any vegetables you currently have that needs used.

06/04/2020

Casseroles are a great way to throw together a meal using whatever you have available. Check out this formula for creating your own casseroles.

05/27/2020

A great way to save time in meal preparation is by cooking foods in bulk. Dry beans are a cheap protein, but they take a long time to cook. Cook a lot in advance, and then refrigerate or freeze, using as needed.

04/27/2020

How often do you buy vegetables, and before you know it they are looking sad and wilted in your fridge? As long as they haven't gone moldy, and you can still wash them, then you can still use them! Here are a few ideas to use up those sad looking vegetables. What are your favorite recipes to use up old vegetables?

04/24/2020

Do you need a great way to exercise from home? Check out these free online fitness classes.
Aerobic class: https://uidaho.zoom.us/j/541054957
Fitness Made simple: https://uidaho.zoom.us/j/826968371
Gentle Chair Yoga: https://uidaho.zoom.us/j/690939582

04/13/2020

Check out this fun way to get your kids to eat more vegetables, they can create faces. Use any type of bread - bagels, bread, etc. Spread on cream cheese, peanut butter, or any other spread. And use a variety of fruits and vegetables to let your kids create a face on their bread. Take a look at these fun examples!

03/26/2020

Handwashing

Want to help your kids understand the importance of washing their hands? Check out this video.

https://youtu.be/oj17KcJ5mxQ

Help your kids learn how to wash their hands by "seeing" the bacteria.

03/24/2020

Homemade Pasta

I hope you are all enjoying some slow down time. Some groceries have been harder to come by - one is pasta. So instead why don't you make your own!
https://youtu.be/lfcCCVFUIug

Pasta has been hard to come by in the stores - so make your own pasta!

03/20/2020

As it may feel like everything around us is getting cancelled, there is still plenty we can now take time to enjoy. Be sure to find the time to slow down, stress less, and enjoy these things that haven't been cancelled.

02/20/2020

What motivates you to exercise? For me it is a desire for more energy to do the things that I love. Maybe you want to feel better/happier. Maybe you want to increase the quality of your life. Or maybe you just want to be able to sleep better. What ever your motivation, use it to get exercising more today.

02/18/2020

Even during these cold months, try to find time to go outside every week, even in as little as 5 minute increments. You can play, hike, or simply sit and enjoy the beauty of nature. Spending at least 2 hours/week outside, no matter what you are doing, has been shown to decrease stress and increase overall mental health. So get outside and feel happier all week long!

02/14/2020

How often do you find yourself at a loss of what to make for dinner while each day you keep finding food going bad in your fridge/pantry? Both of these scenarios typically end in us wasting money and choosing less healthy options. This class series will help you learn how to confidently create meals from your pantry, saving time, money, and creating better health for you and your family. Come learn about flavors/spices, cooking meat, and cooking fruits/vegetables, getting hands on experiences, and eat good food together. Saturdays in March from 2:00-4:00, $5/class.

02/10/2020

This month is Bake for Family Fun Month. And while baking, and cooking, together as a family, remember that kids of all ages can bake. Here are some ideas for baking in each age group. But let your kids start with where they are, and continue learning more. Check out homebaking.org for more tips on baking together as a family!

02/07/2020

Stir Fry

Stir fry is one of my favorite ways to use up lots of vegetables (and even some fruits). Choose a protein, anything from chicken to shrimp to tofu. You can throw in just about any vegetables that you have on hand (and if you just want a quick meal use frozen). And then add an easy stir fry sauce made from equal parts of water (or broth) and soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid. You can also add in flavors such as sesame seed oil, honey, ginger, and garlic. And then you have a wonderful dinner.

01/24/2020

Raw flour is dangerous to eat, just like raw hamburger or chicken. I grew up looking forward to 'cleaning out the bowl' after making bread, cookies, or a cake. Eating the dough and batter was a part of cooking. But as I've learned the dangers of raw flour I've realized that the risk isn't worth the reward, even if there are no raw eggs in it. Raw flour can end up making you extremely sick with illnesses such as salmonella and e-coli. Don't risk it for yourself or your family, just wait until after your goodies are baked!

01/22/2020

Did you get an Electric Pressure Cooker (InstaPot) for Christmas and aren't yet sure how to use it? Or maybe you'd like to try some new recipes in your InstaPot and want to have fun cooking together. Come to the Cooking Under Pressure Class on February 6. We will be making Chili, Corn bread, Broccoli, and Tapioca Pudding all in the Electric Pressure Cooker! Call or email us today to reserve your spot in the class, space is limited so call soon!

01/10/2020

Meal planning is a great way to save money and eat healthier. But how can you make the most of your meal plan? Watch for more videos and posts in the coming weeks for tips and ideas.

01/10/2020

University of Idaho Alumni Association

"Our land-grant mission extends to each of Idaho’s 44 counties. Let’s show it with signs, building wraps and paint along our state’s roadways. Our generous donors are prepared to have barns and grain bins “Vandalized” this spring across Idaho."

Read more about this new marketing effort in this edition of the Friday Letter.

https://www.uidaho.edu/president/communications/friday-letter

12/03/2019

When was the last time you sat down and ate a meal with no outside distractions? No phones, no television, not working? Today, on National "Dining In" day, make an extra effort to gather your family and sit down to simply eat, with no other distractions.

11/30/2019

Remember that you need to use up or freeze your Thanksgiving leftovers within 4 days. This means that Monday is your last day to eat the leftovers, and by Tuesday they should be in the freezer or discarded.

11/25/2019

When planning out your Thanksgiving dinner this year, remember that food should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If you factor in time to get everything on the table, time to gather everyone around the table, and time to eat. By the time you finish eating, there may not be time to sit and talk for an hour before putting away the food. Always think about how long the food is left sitting out.

11/22/2019

Do you want to liven up your mashed potatoes - and add in even more nutrients? Try mixing in some other root vegetables, such as in this recipe.

11/20/2019

As we approach Thanksgiving, don't forget to defrost your turkeys. If you want to defrost in the fridge, large turkeys could take as long as 5-6 days to defrost, that means you may need to take your turkey out of the freezer this weekend! But if you forget, there are some other ways to speed up the defrosting process in a safe way.

11/07/2019

It is always fun to enjoy treats, especially during this time of year. But if you want a way to make those baked goods a little healthier, think about substituting applesauce for the oil or sugar. You can substitute it in a 1:1 ratio, and makes the final treat taste even more like fall! If you are substituting applesauce for sugar, just take out about 1/4 cup of the liquid from the recipe.

11/04/2019

This menu was created by starting out with current in-season fruits and vegetables. By starting out with in-season fruits and vegetables you can get healthy meals that are cheaper than normal.

10/31/2019

Happy Halloween from all of us here at the Extension office! Have a happy and safe day!

10/15/2019

Fall is Pumpkin Spice Season. But we can mix up the flavors a little more by using these different types of winter squash. What is your favorite way to eat squash?

09/19/2019

Learn how to make meals from foods in your pantry.

09/03/2019

Pear season is beginning. What is your favorite way to enjoy a fresh pear?

08/26/2019

It is the season for Summer Squash! This include so much more than just zucchini. How many have you tried?

08/10/2019

Today is the last day of the Bannock County Fair! Come out to the fair and stop by my booth to spin the wheel for activities and to win a prize!

07/30/2019

This week I have been at the Society of Nutrition Education and Behaviors annual conference. I have been learning a lot of cool things - today I am learning about lifestyle factors to prevent cancer. There are some genetic factors you can’t control to prevent cancer, but here are some lifestyle factors you can do to lower your risk.

07/16/2019

It is tomato season! Nutritionally tomatoes are considered a vegetable, and counts as part of the 4-6 cups of red/orange vegetables we are supposed to have every week. How do you like to eat your tomatoes?

06/27/2019

Checkout this great class about Health Insurance. It is free and online!

Updated info on this new flyer!

06/26/2019

Is a muffin just a not sweet cupcake? Although we start out with basically the same ingredients, muffins and cupcakes have several differences. Overall the main difference how they each control the amount of gluten developed. Cupcakes control the amount of gluten developed with lots of inhibiting ingredients such as fat and sugar. While muffins control the amount of gluten by mixing very little. The additional mixing in cupcakes allows them to become light and fluffy without much baking powder. Thus we can create two different products with very similar ingredients.