Author: kmccarty

three different electric pressure cookers are show side-by-side on a kitchen counter

Tips for Cooking With Electric Pressure Cookers

— By Kate McCarty, Food Systems Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Often known by the brand name (Instant Pot being a popular one), electric pressure cookers are beloved by home cooks for their ability to cook food quickly through a combination of high pressure and heat. I’ve made beef stew, hard boiled eggs, pulled pork, […]

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wooden spoon next to a glass bottle of amber maple syrup

​​Make Mine REAL Maple Syrup!

There is no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than to enjoy the true New England flavor of real maple syrup. Having grown up in Vermont, I have a true affinity for real maple syrup and cannot be fooled by substitutes. The arrival of maple cream, maple sugar candy, or maple syrup is […]

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Overhead view of strips of chopped vegetables on a board with a small dish of hummus and crackers

Super Bowl Food Safety

Blow the whistle to keep food safe! On February 13, my family will join millions of other Americans who watch Super Bowl LVI and feast on hot and cold snacks throughout the four-hour event. None of us are big football fans but we do like to be a part of this uniquely American entertainment tradition. […]

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a row of colorful canned foods on a wooden shelf

11 Ways to Use Home Canned Foods

By Kate McCarty, Food Systems Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Now that the calendar has turned to a new year, it’s time to make sure you’re on track to use up last season’s canned goods. Whether you’re a novice or veteran canner, it’s important to use your home canned goods within one year for […]

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several reusable water bottles on a table

Reducing Your Foodprint in the New Year

As we prepare to start a fresh, new year, consider how your food choices can make a positive impact on your foodprint and the world we live in. What is a Foodprint? A “foodprint” is the sum of all impacts our food intake has on the environment, animals, and people. It takes many resources to […]

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a variety of winter squash on a white background

Storing Winter Squash at Home

— By Kathy Savoie, Extension Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension As I transition to a new season in my new home, I find myself pondering the best space to store my winter squash cache. After having lived in the same older home for 25 years, where I had nailed down the best microclimates for […]

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Storage containers in a refrigerator with fresh produce on the shelves

Reducing Your Foodprint: Back to School Lunches

by Leigh Neptune, University of Maine Dietetic Intern, & Kathy Savoie, Extension Educator What is a Foodprint? A “foodprint” is the sum of all the resources that are used to produce our food, as well as the impacts our food systems have on the environment, animal welfare, farmers, and other workers within food systems, the […]

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dehydrated zucchini chips thinly sliced on a plastic dehydrator tray

Making Dehydrated Cucumber and Zucchini Chips

— By Eva Holmes, UMaine Extension Master Food Preserver Volunteer If you are looking for a low-carb, low-calorie alternative to potato chips, give dehydrated cucumber and zucchini slices a try! I was very skeptical but now I find these hard to stop eating once I start.  Recipe Cut a cucumber or two into thin slices. […]

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White bowl of yogurt with 3 red raspberries on the surface. Other raspberries visible in the background.

How to Make Yogurt at Home

— By Claire Schreiber, UMaine Extension Master Food Preserver Volunteer I read all the nutrition books when my youngest was an infant. We did all the “right” things and were so proud to have a little one who would eat beet greens like candy! Then, it happened—somewhere between the ages of 2 and 3 her […]

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variety of jars of home canned food on a butcher block countertop

Get Ready for Canning Season

By Kate McCarty, Food Systems Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Canning season is just beginning in Maine with some of the summer’s best produce appearing in our gardens and at farmers’ markets: cucumbers and beans for pickling, tomatoes for salsa, and fruit for jams. Now is also a great time to make sure you’re […]

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