Food Allergies
What Is a Food Allergy? A food allergy is an abnormal reaction to food, even a very small amount. The body’s disease-fighting (immune) system mistakenly thinks the food is harmful and produces...
Category: Food
June Is National Dairy Month
June is recognized as National Dairy Month, which started in 1937 to promote drinking milk. It is a great way to start the summer with nutrient-rich dairy foods, including milk, yogurt, or cheese....
Tighten Your Lids – But Not Too Tight
According to So Easy to Preserve, “When using two-piece lids, place the treated lid on the filled jar, center it, and hold it in place with fingers. Then screw down the band until it is fingertip...
Canning Tools
Lid Lifter/Lid Wand The canning lid lifter/lid wand is a magnet attached to a short plastic stick and is a useful tool for lifting metal lids from hot water. Lid wand brands include Back to Basics,...
Say “No” to Old Pickle Recipes
The Question “I recently made homemade dill pickles by my grandmother’s recipe; I have made pickles by this recipe for a very long time. This year the pickles were bubbling when I opened...
Pressure Canning Revisited
A frequent question to the Home & Garden Information Center: “I canned my green beans in a water bath canner. Are they safe?” Often this question is prefaced by “My mother and...
Why Mason-type Canning Jars
The major reason we recommend Mason-type canning jars is our experience with them and their decreased rate of breakage compared to mayonnaise jars, salad dressing jars, spaghetti sauce jars, or...
Watch the Headspace
Headspace is the unfilled space between the food in a jar and the lid of a jar. General canning headspace recommendations from the United States Department of Agriculture are as follows: Leave ¼...
Preserving Freshness: The Basics of Food Preservation
Food preservation is an age-old practice that has allowed us to enjoy fresh food throughout the year. From refrigeration to freezing or pickling to drying, there are countless ways to keep your food...
Food Safety at Home: Tips for Keeping Your Family Healthy
Food safety is a top priority for any household, as unsafe food handling practices can lead to foodborne illnesses and severe health consequences. This blog post will discuss simple tips for...
“Spring Cleaning” Our Eating Habits
Spring has officially sprung here in South Carolina. While we are all familiar with the term “spring cleaning” when it comes to our homes, there is another aspect of our lives that could use some...
A Beginners Guide to Fresh vs. Frozen Produce
First off, Happy National Nutrition Month! Every year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics hosts National Nutrition Month and offers education on nutrition and making better food choices. Each...