Author: emott

Five eggs in a row.

An Eggs-ellent Start to Spring!

— Kate Yerxa Spring has sprung…or at least it is trying to here in Maine. When I think of spring, I picture daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and eggs! It is probably because eggs are everywhere this time of year in stores because of Easter. These eggs-ellent recipes offer a solution for a quick breakfast on the […]

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Six jars of canned beans.

Bean Basics: How to Safely Can Any Type of Dried Bean

— Kate McCarty I typically buy canned beans from the grocery store. They’re inexpensive and ready in a pinch. But with so many great varieties of dried beans available from local farmers in Maine, I decided to challenge myself to a new food preservation project and try my hand at making my own canned beans […]

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The Truth About Seed Oils: Fact vs. Fiction

— Alex Bosse You may have seen headlines or social media posts claiming that seed oils are bad for your health. With so much conflicting health information being circulated, these claims have many people wondering if they should toss their canola oil for good. However, much of the buzz surrounding these oils doesn’t match up […]

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Is Your Leftover Rice Safe? (Plus 5 Recipes to Use It Up!)

— By Alex Gayton I was talking to family over the holidays, and the concern of leftover rice came up, and how it’s not safe to eat. Last year, I saw this idea going around on social media with scary titles like “Why you should never eat leftover rice,” “Rice is toxic,” “Reheated rice or […]

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A glass jar of maple syrup with a wooden spoon next it on a burlap fabric background

Maple Syrup: Fridge or Pantry?

— Kate McCarty Here in Maine, one of our first signs of spring is the flow of sap from maple trees, as the days warm up to above freezing while the nighttime temperatures stay chilly. Maine Maple Weekend, which is always the fourth weekend in March, is our chance to get out to maple producers’ […]

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Mother and son shopping for bread.

Kids In the Kitchen: Exploring Maine Foods

— By Kate Yerxa This blog is the third blog in a series of three about ideas to get children of all ages involved in the kitchen. The blog series expands on our previous blog post, From Picky Eaters to Kitchen Helpers: Making Mealtime Fun. From potatoes to wild blueberries, Maine produces so many healthy […]

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Collage of two photos. A jar of pink rose petal jelly in the foreground with someone filling another jar in the background using a blue plastic canning funnel. An overhead view of a large metal stockpot filled with dried rose petals soaking in water

How to Make Flower Petal Jelly Safely

— By Kate McCarty UMaine Extension Master Food Preserver Volunteers recently attended Flowering in the North, a conference for flower growers in New England. We shared a rose petal jelly made from dried rose petals with attendees and it was a hit! The resulting jelly smelled very floral, like you’d expect, and had a subtle […]

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strawberry salsa in a white bowl with limes, strawberries, a red onion, and cinnamon chips in the background.

Strawberry Salsa for the Win?

— By Alex Gayton I have some exciting news to share: I recently filmed two new Mainely Dish recipe videos! We spent the day making Strawberry Salsa and Baked Cinnamon Tortilla Chips. The edits are still in the works, but stay tuned for their official release. My favorite part of this filming day was having […]

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Youth peels an apple during a hands-on nutrition lesson with UMaine Extension staff in a teaching kitchen.

Kids In the Kitchen: Meal Planning

This blog is the second blog in a series of three about ideas to get children of all ages involved in the kitchen. The blog series expands on our previous blog post, From Picky Eaters to Kitchen Helpers: Making Mealtime Fun. Healthy, affordable eating starts long before you start cooking—it begins with a plan. Teaching […]

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6 circles, each with a recipe photo in it. Black bean brownies, bean banana bread, black bean burger, chickpea pot pie, vegetarian chili, and Mexican roll up.

6 Fast Recipes for That Can of Beans in Your Pantry

— By Alex Gayton, Assistant EFNEP Coordinator & Social Media Coordinator, Expanded Food Nutrition and Education Program (EFNEP), University of Maine Cooperative Extension Many of us have had it happen—you buy a can of beans that you think you will use eventually, but alas, it has been in the pantry for months. It’s easy for […]

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