Spice of Life: Tarragon
Tarragon is a perennial herb in the sunflower family. Its botanical name is dracunculus which means little dragon. It is a sweet, aromatic herb with a note of licorice flavor. I really like the flavor and smell of this herb. It is a flavor that people either love or hate. When using it in cooking, use cautiously if you don’t know the palate of the individuals who may be eating it. There are two common varieties: French and Russian. French is the flavorful variety of the two.
Be Prepared!!
September is National Preparedness Month. It was founded three years after the 9/11 disaster. September was also chosen because it is the height of the hurricane season in the United States. You may not live in an area that experiences hurricanes, but anywhere can experience some kind of disaster. Having a plan for these situations can help you better survive them. I am not talking about prepping for the end of the world, but there is common sense in planning for disasters or challenges that we may face in our lives.
What is in Your Food? Sulfur Dioxide
Sulfur dioxide is one of the chemicals of greatest concern in our air. The largest source of sulfur dioxide is from the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities. Exposure to sulfur dioxide can harm the respiratory system, making breathing difficult so you might wonder why would it be in our food? It is a preservative for processed foods. It can extend the shelf life of products, kill bacteria, maintain color, and has a softening effect. It became widely used in the 1970s.
Meet Your Farmer: Graise Farm
I had the opportunity to venture out again to visit another farm. I think one of the most fun things about these posts is visiting the farms. Today I’d like to introduce you to Graise farm; this farm is operated by Tiffany and Andy in Faribault, Minnesota. The name of their farm is an acronym for Grass-fed Raised Humanely Animals in a Sustainable Environment. Tiffany and Andy started the farm in 2012 on over 20 acres of land. Tiffany actually grew up on this farmstead when where her family raised dairy cows.
