Food Blog Posts
November 8, 2021
Not all grains are created equal and figuring out the difference can be confusing. Grains are divided into two subgroups: whole grains and refined grains. Qula helps you sort through the diffences and understand how to shop for whole-grain products.
November 5, 2021
What’s on your Thanksgiving menu this year? My family loves turkey and dressing, and I’m getting the list of my favorite dishes to contribute ready. No matter what you plan to cook this holiday season, the first item on your checklist should be food safety.
November 1, 2021
This Crustless Pumpkin Pie is great if you need a gluten-free option for your holiday meals and comes together quickly. It's easy to substitute Mississippi-grown sweet potatoes for the pumpkin. Natasha shows you how in the latest installment of The Food Factor.
October 19, 2021
Pumpkins are the star of fall. And so is pumpkin spice. If you love lattes and this quintessential fall flavor that has become all the rage, this recipe is for you!
October 11, 2021
Whether you are having a Halloween party with friends, sending treats to school, or trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, with a little creativity, you can find ways to add some healthy options into the mix.
October 4, 2021
Video by Jonathan Parrish
Sweet potatoes are a staple for many people during the holiday season. But sweet potatoes are great any time of year. Depending on your recipe, sweet potato dishes can be sweet or savory.
Packed with fiber and vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin B-6 and potassium, sweet potatoes are a good way to add variety to your meals if you want to increase your vegetable intake.
This mashed sweet potato recipe is one of my favorite ways to prepare this vegetable. I like to serve it as a main dish with a side salad and a whole grain roll.
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September 21, 2021
These slow cooker barbecue chicken sliders are perfect for tailgating parties or a Monday night dinner.
September 16, 2021
Food safety when cooking and serving food at a tailgate is a lot like serving food at home. The same basic rules apply. You just need a little more planning and a few extra supplies.
Keep hands and surfaces clean
- Wash your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing food.
- No running water where you are tailgating? No problem. It’s easy to set up a handwashing station. Here’s how:
- Use a table or another flat, elevated surface to set up a water jug with a spigot faucet, hand ...
September 13, 2021
Don’t think of breakfast as a meal that has to take a long time to prepare. One of my favorite breakfast meals is toast. I start with whole-grain toasted bread as my foundation to build a healthy meal with lots of fun, tasty, and nutritious toppings.
September 7, 2021
It’s September and that means it’s National Rice Month! Try some of these recipes to celebrate.
August 23, 2021
Whether you are tailgating or celebrating your favorite team at home this fall, food is always a part of the festivities. If you want to have some lighter fare at your gathering, this Spinach Dip Makeover will fit perfectly.
August 17, 2021
School is back in session, and mornings can be hectic. But you don’t have to put breakfast on the back burner. If you are looking for a way to make your morning routine a bit easier, check out this blueberry oatmeal dish.
August 9, 2021
You’ve likely heard natural sugar is okay, while added sugars should be limited. But what's the difference and why does it matter?
August 6, 2021
Bell peppers come in a rainbow of colors and have many health benefits. The variety and amount of time a bell pepper spends on the plant determines its color and ripeness.
July 19, 2021
Video by Jonathan Parrish
Cooking food in an air fryer gives you that crunchy texture you love without the added calories of deep frying. This recipe for Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potato Fries features Mississippi-grown sweet potatoes, olive oil, and spices—that’s it!
Whether you serve these as a side dish or a fun snack, you’ll enjoy the health benefits of sweet potatoes, including fiber, beta carotene, and vitamin A. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient that has antioxidant properties that can help protect cells from damage. For savory sweet potato fries, use garlic powder,...
July 12, 2021
With my kids out of school for the summer, snacks are an important part of our routine. Check out three of my family's favorite nutritious and filling snacks.
June 30, 2021
As the days heat up, I’m looking for ways to cool off! This recipe for a Strawberry Swirl gives me all the health benefits of whole fruit with the refreshing coolness of a frozen drink.
June 18, 2021
If you love fried chicken wings but want a healthier option, these Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings cooked in the air fryer are for you!
June 18, 2021
Are you planning to can fruits and vegetables this year? Whether you’re new to canning or you’ve done it for years, Extension has resources to help you make sure it’s done safely.
June 11, 2021
If you are a fan of The Food Factor and are of a certain age, you may remember one of my favorite childhood flavors—the Orange Julius®. A trip to the mall wasn’t complete without a stop for a creamy, frozen citrus treat!
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About Extension for Real Life
Extension for Real Life is a product of the MSU Extension Service’s Office of Agricultural Communications.
That’s a long way of saying we are professional communicators who get to talk about food, families, 4-H, flowers, and farming for a living. Pretty good gig, right?
The three main writers for the blog are Ellen Graves (Seamstress of Social Media Strategy), Susan Collins-Smith (Content Connector) and Keri Lewis (Captain Cat Herder). But we get by with a lot of help from our friends in Ag Comm and Extension!
You can reach us at 662-325-2262 or extreallife@msstate.edu