Food Preparation

Preserve It! A Fruit from the Bogs! From the bogs and swamps of the northeastern part of the country comes a fruit widely used for those family gatherings this time of year. Sure, in a pinch, you could purchase one of those iconic cans of cranberry sauce from the grocery, but why not can and preserve…

Preserve It! A Jam for the Ages Cozy up with what might be considered classic, comforting, winter flavors of onion, maple syrup, and apple juice. This jam sets up more like a spread and is quite delicious on a hamburger or as a glaze over a chicken or a pork roast. Try pouring it over cream cheese as a…

Autumn Glory Compote is as good as pie  This autumn compote is a delicious change of pace from eating pumpkin pie, but still evokes the flavors of the harvest, and this tested recipe is safe for boiling water canning as well as atmospheric steam canning*. A versatile condiment with festive…

Preserve It! Homemade Fruit Spread is a Freezer Delight!  What would you say to a fruit spread recipe with a low or no sugar option? Yes? Short on canning jars or just don’t want to deal with the processing? Freezer jam is the answer. A bonus is that freezer jam stays soft and can be scooped out as…

A new Child Nourish Lab research brief examines how often California schools serve scratch-cooked, quick-preparation, and convenience foods. School meals provide a major source of daily nutrition for children and have become healthier since the implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010…

 Don't say goodbye to apples and pears yet Apples and pears have a long and distinguished history in El Dorado County agriculture. Locals and tourists alike appreciate our fine mountain autumn fruit. Right now, it's late in apple and pear season here in Camino, and most of the fruits will be gone…

A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior explored the perceptions of elementary school parents and staff in a large, urban California school district that recently introduced more freshly-prepared school lunches. Based on interviews and focus groups conducted from May…

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) reached 87 adults from the Sutter Adult School’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program through the Families Eating Smart and Moving More curriculum!

Preserve It! Peaches!  Don't Hesitate to Buy Loads of Fuzzy Peaches (in season!)  Have you noticed that fresh peaches have more fuzz than peaches in grocery stores? Before peaches are sold in grocery stores, some of the fuzz is removed to make it more appealing. It is thought that too much fuzz on…