Poke Bowls – This Year’s Food Fad
Poke bowls, fish salads, originated in Hawaii and then became popular in California. The popularity of this dish has spread across the United States in 2018 and into 2019. According to Eater.com,...
Category: Tasty Bites
Snowman Hands Can Prevent Food-borne Illness
Yes, you read that right – snowman hands. When I started teaching food safety practices to children I wondered how to teach them about proper hand washing. We all know how important it is to...
Food Safety in a Power Outage – Tips from Dr. Susan Barefoot
I recently had a call from a South Carolina resident who lost power for more than 24 hours and wanted to know whether the foods in her freezer would be safe to eat. This is a very common problem in...
New Year, New Habits
Are you the person who every year swears that this is the year they are going to eat healthy and get in shape, but by February you’re back to your old habits? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Most...
Q & A of the Week – Fruit Cake Storage
Q: The holidays have come and gone, but some of us still have leftover food lingering around, and others are stocking up on post-season grocery sales. We got an HGIC call this week from a gentleman...
Holiday Cooking
Reflecting on Thanksgiving and getting ready for round two. Here’s the takeaway: Start your kids in the kitchen early. One day they may make beautiful pies! Befriend someone who lives on a farm and...
Basil and Pesto
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an annual herb that is easily grown in South Carolina. It flourishes in full to part-sun and in well-drained soil enriched with organic matter (pH range 6.0-6.5)....
Making the Most of Fall Pumpkins
Here’s a Halloween challenge for people who like to decorate with natural materials and don’t like waste. Cooking pumpkins make great fall decorations. They are smaller than typical...
Canning Apples
Looking for something different to do with fresh harvested apples this year? Spice up your pantry with perfectly beautiful canned Spiced Apple Rings. It’s pretty easy and a fun way to make the most...
Canning Tips – How tight should your lids be?
The canning and preserving season is well underway. Muscadine grapes and apples are ripe. Beans, beets, field peas, leafy greens, peppers and other vegetables are available. Sweet potatoes are in...
Filling Formula: Don’t Pack Too Tight
Directions for filling canning jars are included in the canning recipes recommended by USDA and Clemson. Following these directions carefully is critical. The safety of a specific process has been determined for the specific food, the specific procedures for food preparation and the specific directions for filling jars provided in the recipe. Canning directions for whole kernel corn, lima beans,...
Canning With Half-Gallon Jars
Half-gallon canning jars are available from at least one canning jar manufacturer. That manufacturer indicates that half-gallon jars should only be used for highly acidic foods in a boiling water canner. Their recommended choices are grape juice and apple juice. The USDA, Clemson Extension and the University of Georgia’s National Center for Home Food Preservation recommend process times only for...