Recipe: BEEF AND BARLEY STEW

For best results use Certified Angus Beef ® brand BEEF AND BARLEY STEW SERVES 6 Share your great taste! Fork tender sirloin tip, nutty barley, root vegetables, earthy mushrooms, and red wine combine to make a hearty Beef and Barley Stew with deep flavor. INGREDIENTS: 2 1/2 pounds Certified Angus Beef ® sirloin tip, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks1 pound crimini or button mushrooms, cleaned2 cups fresh spinach, rough chopped3 cloves garlic, minced1 tablespoon tomato paste1 teaspoon thyme1 teaspoon oregano1/4 teaspoon…

Continue ReadingRecipe: BEEF AND BARLEY STEW

Food safety tips for novice holiday meal hosts

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – For many people, heading home for the holidays is a long-standing tradition. However, with the world in the midst of a pandemic, traditions need to take a slightly different turn this year. Barbara Brown, Oklahoma State University Extension food specialist, said millennials and others who typically travel to their parents’ or grandparents’ homes for holidays should consider staying away this year due to health safety concerns. “This younger generation…

Continue ReadingFood safety tips for novice holiday meal hosts

Food waste finds new use as compost in K-State program

University says it recycles 50 tons of food yearly MANHATTAN, Kan. – Several Kansas State University groups have worked together to find a second use for nearly 50 tons of food each year that would otherwise be headed for a landfill. They’re mixing food waste from three dining halls on the Manhattan campus with other compostable materials to provide a boost to soil, as well as support some agricultural research projects at the…

Continue ReadingFood waste finds new use as compost in K-State program

Freezer Beef Sales Explode During COVID-19 . . . Will Your Customers Be Ready to Buy Again?

Mike Estadt, OSU Extension Educator, Pickaway County Do you know if your freezer beef customers are satisfied? It is well documented that early in the coronavirus pandemic, major meat processing facilities across the United States became supply bottlenecks due to employee infections shutting down production.  In response to seeing less meat available in the retail case, or limits on the amount of proteins that a consumer could purchase, farm raised, direct marketed meat,…

Continue ReadingFreezer Beef Sales Explode During COVID-19 . . . Will Your Customers Be Ready to Buy Again?

Holidays can weigh heavy on pets, too

By Lauren Raley STILLWATER, Okla. – Year-end holiday food can mean unwanted diet breaks and extra weight for people as well as their pets. With Halloween starting off the celebrations, chocolate should be the first concern on the list, said Lara Sypniewski, Oklahoma State University Extension veterinarian. Dogs enjoy chocolate for the same reason as people: its sweet taste. However, chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which can be toxic to dogs, Sypniewski said. Theobromine is…

Continue ReadingHolidays can weigh heavy on pets, too

Recipe: JALAPEÑO BEEF POPPERS

For best results use Certified Angus Beef ® brand JALAPEÑO BEEF POPPERS YIELDS 42 Share your great taste! Deliciously easy football finger food or party appetizer! Jalapeño Beef Poppers are crispy on the outside and filled with ground chuck, cheddar cheese, and fresh jalapeños. INGREDIENTS: 2 pounds Certified Angus Beef ® ground chuck12 ounces shredded cheddar cheese6 jalapeños, seeded and minced1 tablespoon salt1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper1 teaspoon whole mustard seeds12 eggs1 cup plain bread crumbs1 cup panko…

Continue ReadingRecipe: JALAPEÑO BEEF POPPERS

Trump Administration Extends Free Meals for Kids for Entire School Year

(Mt. Wolf, PA, October 9, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending flexibilities to allow free meals to continue to be available to all children throughout the entire 2020-2021 school year. This unprecedented move is part of USDA’s unwavering commitment to ensuring all children across America have access to nutritious food as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.   “As our nation recovers and…

Continue ReadingTrump Administration Extends Free Meals for Kids for Entire School Year

Money does grow on trees

Harvesting black walnut seed provides opportunity to get outdoors and earn extra money MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Outdoor activities are almost limitless, and the cycles of nature provide a revolving door, constantly changing to create new and exciting opportunities throughout the year. Dave Bruton, utilization and marketing forester with the Kansas Forest Service, says one of those opportunities is harvesting black walnut seed. “Black walnut trees are commonly found throughout Kansas communities and woodlands,…

Continue ReadingMoney does grow on trees

Canning produce requires careful recipe for tastiest results

By Lauren Raley STILLWATER, Okla. – Canning can be a fun and rewarding way to prolong fresh produce as the season turns chilly, but it requires careful attention to the fruit or vegetable’s chemical profile, Oklahoma State University Extension specialists said. For example, a popular OSU Extension fact sheet on the importance of food pH in canning operations highlights information about acidity, or pH levels. Canning is the process of sterilizing and preserving food in an airtight…

Continue ReadingCanning produce requires careful recipe for tastiest results

Farmers to Families Food Box Program Surpasses 100 Million Boxes Delivered

(Washington, D.C., September 29, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that more than 100 million food boxes have been distributed in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers to Families Food Box Program. Earlier this month, the Department announced it had entered into contracts with 50 entities for the third round of food box deliveries, which include contracts to purchase…

Continue ReadingFarmers to Families Food Box Program Surpasses 100 Million Boxes Delivered