Food and Beverage
7 Steps to Start Growing Produce at Home
(Family Features) Growing your own produce is an all-around smart practice, from the money you’ll save at the grocery store to the contributions you can make toward a cleaner planet.
Maintaining a garden takes some effort, but it’s a project even a beginner can tackle with ease. Consider these tips to start growing your at-home garden:
- Select a perfect spot. You’ll want to place your garden in an area where you see it often so you’re reminded to weed and care for it regularly. Find a flat area you can access easily, where erosion and other pitfalls (including hungry wildlife) won’t be a problem.
- Choose between ground and containers. There are pros and cons to gardening in containers vs. the ground, and there’s no universal right choice. Rather, the best garden depends on your goals and preferences. A ground garden usually offers more space and may provide a better growth environment for roots. However, a container garden is often easier to maintain and may be all you need if you wish to grow just a few plants.
- Understand the importance of quality soil. You may think any dirt will do, but keep in mind the soil you plant in will be the primary source of nutrients for your produce. Not only that, but quality soil provides stability so plants can root firmly and grow healthy and sturdy to support their bounty. Quality soil also allows for ample drainage. Organic matter like compost, leaf mold or aged manure all help improve soil quality.
- Keep water close. Lugging water can quickly eliminate the pleasure of tending your garden, so be sure you’re situated near a hose. You’ll know it’s time to water when the soil is dry about an inch below the surface.
- Plan for plenty of sun. A bright, sunny spot is a must, since most vegetables, herbs and fruits depend on six or more hours of sun every day. Remember the sun’s path changes throughout the year, and as trees and foliage grow, they may produce more shade with each growing season.
- Consider what you’ll grow. Starting with veggies you know you like is a smart starting point since you’ll be pouring sweat equity into making them grow. Over time, you might add new varieties, but early on, keep your focus on foods you know you like so you can see a meaningful return and avoid waste. You’ll also need to consider what you can grow to maturity within your area’s growing season. If necessary, you might want to start transplants you can nurture indoors before moving them outside when the temperatures allow.
- Plant according to a calendar. Knowing how long it takes different foods to mature will help you create a planting calendar. You don’t want to harvest everything at once, and if you stagger planting and replant what you can, you’ll have a garden that produces food for your family for a longer period of time.
Find more helpful tips for managing your home and garden at eLivingtoday.com.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
SOURCE:
Family Features
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Lifestyle
Does Your Favorite Brand of Dark Chocolate Contain Dangerous Metals?
According to a recent article from Consumer Reports, there are some brands of Dark Chocolate that contain dangerous levels of lead, and cadmium.
Dark Chocolate
According to a recent article from Consumer Reports, there are some brands of Dark Chocolate that contain dangerous levels of lead, and cadmium.
Dark Chocolate has become popular due to studies suggesting that they are rich in antioxidants, which is beneficial to the heart, and it having low sugar properties that positively impact health.
The article, which was posted in mid December, states that 28 popular brands were tested, and that 23 of them contained high levels of the dangerous metals.
For more details, check out the article from Consumer Reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-in-dark-chocolate-a8480295550/
STM Daily News is a vibrant news blog dedicated to sharing the brighter side of human experiences. Emphasizing positive, uplifting stories, the site focuses on delivering inspiring, informative, and well-researched content. With a commitment to accurate, fair, and responsible journalism, STM Daily News aims to foster a community of readers passionate about positive change and engaged in meaningful conversations. Join the movement and explore stories that celebrate the positive impacts shaping our world.
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recipes
Keep Your Kitchen Clear with an Ooey-Gooey Appetizer for Guests
(Culinary.net) Prepping for Thanksgiving gatherings is plenty of work on its own, and when family and guests can’t stay out of your way in the kitchen, you’ll need the perfect appetizer as a distraction. This Loaded Spinach Dip offers a little something for everyone with ooey-gooey goodness and just the right touch of bacon.
Find more shareable holiday appetizers by visiting Culinary.net.
Loaded Spinach Dip
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 8-10
- 16 ounces softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 10 ounces thawed spinach
- 14 ounces drained canned artichoke hearts, roughly chopped
- 1 package (2 1/2 ounces) real bacon pieces
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- pretzel bites, toasted baguette slices, crackers or veggies, for serving
- Heat oven to 375 F.
- In large bowl, mix cream cheese, mayo and sour cream. Add spinach, artichoke hearts, bacon, Parmesan and mozzarella. Mix in garlic powder and onion powder. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
- Spoon into oven-safe skillet or baking dish and bake 20-25 minutes. Serve with pretzel bites, toasted baguette slices, crackers or veggies.
SOURCE:
Culinary.net
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recipes
A Savory Way to Start Holiday Celebrations
(Culinary.net) It’s the holiday season and your family can feel the cheer as loved ones fill their appetizer plates and excitement fills the air as gifts are being placed beneath the tree.
Someone asks, munching away near the table, “Wow, how did you make this?” In your mind, you think, “It was too easy.”
These Savory Cheese Balls are not only simple to make but perfect for any holiday get-together or celebration. They’re fun to create and even more enjoyable to dive in to once finished. Texture and color are the name of the game with this recipe. The result is a beautiful array of red, gold and green, all on one plate.
Start by rolling cream cheese into balls and mixing up three bowls with powerful flavors to create the three different colors. The “green” bowl gets parsley, thyme, rosemary and, of course, some garlic, just for an extra kick of seasoning. The “gold” ball calls for caraway seeds, poppy seeds and garlic. Finally, the “red” ball includes cranberries and pecans.
Simply roll each cream cheese ball around gently until it’s coated. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Display the array of cheese balls on a festive plate for something equally cheery and heavenly. Serve the plate with crackers, fruit or vegetables for complementary dipping options.
Find more recipes and holiday fun this season at Culinary.net.
Watch video to see how to make this recipe!
Savory Cheese Balls
Servings: 6-12
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons caraway seeds
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
- 2 cloves garlic, minced, divided
- 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
- 2 teaspoons thyme leaves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon rosemary, chopped
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 2 tablespoons pecans, chopped
- crackers (optional)
- fruit (optional)
- vegetables (optional)
- Cut each cream cheese block into three squares. Roll each square into ball.
- In small bowl, combine caraway seeds, poppy seeds and half the garlic.
- In second small bowl, combine parsley, thyme, rosemary and remaining garlic.
- In third small bowl, combine cranberries and pecans.
- Roll two cheese balls in seed mixture, two in herb mixture and two in cranberry mixture.
- Cut each ball in half and serve with crackers, fruit or vegetables, if desired.
SOURCE:
Culinary.net
At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.
Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience.
https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage
Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
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