PRIMGHAR, Iowa — Straight from the garden vine or from the local Farmer’s Market, nothing compares to the flavors of fresh grown produce.
Spend Smart. Eat Smart. (https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/) from ISU Extension and Outreach is an excellent source for ideas, recipes and how-to tutorials for fresh produce. The videos feature a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits, how to prepare them, and link to a healthy, economical recipe using that produce.
A few examples include:
How to Prepare Broccoli – Includes what to do with the broccoli stem.
Featured recipe: Summer Bounty Salad
https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/video/prepare-broccoli/#video_player
How to Prepare Zucchini – Learn how to slice, matchstick, chop, dice and shred.
Featured recipe: Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/video/how-to-cut-zucchini/#video_player
How to Prepare a Pepper – What really is the best way to slice or chop a pepper?
Featured recipe: Chicken Fajitas
https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/video/cut-bell-pepper/#video_player
How to Prepare Melon – Best way to slice and cube a melon, probably not the way mom did it!
Featured recipe: Fruit Slush
https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/video/cut-melon/#video_player
Teriyaki Rice Bowl (https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/recipe/teriyaki-rice-bowl/) is also a favorite and versatile Spend Smart. Eat Smart. recipe using fresh produce.
Substitute any combination of fresh vegetables for frozen stir-fry vegetables in this recipe. Use three to four cups of sliced cabbage, zucchini, peppers, onions, broccoli or other summer vegetables. This recipe is also a great way to use up leftover chicken, pork or beef from a previous meal or from grilling out. Adapt further by substituting eggs for the meat or use in addition to the meat. Scramble one to three eggs, set aside and stir into the rice and vegetable mixture before serving.
Just a reminder – ISU Extension and Outreach is offering several hands-on workshops for gardening and cooking with fresh produce in Northwest Iowa. Be sure to check them out!
Lyon County:
Call 712-472-2576 for more information and/or to register.
- Garden Walk and Local Food Tasting – July 18 – Rock Rapids
- In the Garden with Kids – August 5 – Rock Rapids
- Cooking with the Family – August 10 – Rock Rapids
Sioux County:
Call 712-737-4230 for more information and/or to register.
- Cooking with Herbs – August 17 – Sioux Center
Osceola County:
Call 712-754-3648 for more information and/or to register.
- Cooking with Herbs – August 9 – Sibley
O’Brien County:
Call 712-957-5045 for more information.
- Gardening with Kids – July 25 – Primghar
— Renee Sweers, Human Sciences Specialist, Nutrition and Wellness
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
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