Colorado’s WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program helps moms, babies, and young children access healthy foods and helpful resources on nutrition, breastfeeding, and health. The program is open to income-eligible families which can include pregnant women and women with children under 5 years old. Members of the program receive a WIC card which can be […]
Tag: food
Planning and Planting a Vegetable Garden
One of the things I look forward to every spring is planting my vegetable garden. It is so fun and rewarding to see your plants grow and to harvest and enjoy the results come late summer. And this year, garden centers are saying that there is a surge of interest in vegetable gardening resulting from […]
Fall in Love with Fall
Today is the first day of fall. Days and nights are getting cooler, pumpkin-flavored products are everywhere, and the leaves are changing to brilliant reds and golds. There’s a lot to love about fall — except, of course, the fact that it means winter is coming! Around the House Now is the time for planting […]
Time Machine Tuesday: Ice Cream!
Ice cream — it’s one of America’s favorite summer traditions. July is National Ice Cream Month and it was on this day in 1904 that the first ice cream cone debuted at the St. Louis World’s Fair. And, (who knew?) today is also Sprinkle Day. Iced desserts date back to ancient times, and the idea […]
Colorado Beer and Breweries
Each year, Colorado produces nearly 1.8 million barrels of craft beer. We’re third in the nation for craft beer sales and production, says the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, and home to more than 284 craft breweries. In many places around the state, brewing is an important part of the local economy. […]
What to Know When Buying Eggs
With Easter just a few days away, you may be planning to buy eggs. As you look through the many options of eggs available in your local grocery store, you might wonder, what is the difference between the grades? How are eggs inspected for quality? Is there a nutritional difference between white eggs and brown […]
September is National Honey Month
Beekeeping is growing in popularity, and many beekeepers sell honey at farmers markets and other local businesses. If you’re interested in producing and selling honey, see the publication Colorado Cottage Foods Product Information: Honey. Here you can learn about product safety and the State of Colorado’s rules for selling home-produced honey. You can find more […]
It's National Farmers Market Week!
This is the time of year for fresh produce, and Colorado has many local farmers markets that sell quality, organic fruits and vegetables, along with a variety of other homemade items such as honey. To find a farmers market near you, check out the 2018 Colorado Farm Fresh Directory from the Colorado Department of Agriculture. […]
Time Machine Tuesday: The Sweeter Side of Colorado History
This Valentine’s Day you may find yourself the recipient of candies or cupcakes, or might be planning a special dessert to go with a romantic dinner. Today is also “Fat Tuesday.” Desserts and sweets have long been a part of American culture. But how has our sweet tooth changed over the last century? The following […]
Colorado Kids Food Finder
Many Colorado children are in free and reduced lunch programs at their school. But what happens when school’s out? The Colorado Department of Education and other partners have launched a new website, Kids Food Finder, which parents/guardians can use to locate community-based sites such as churches and rec centers which have agreed to provide free […]
Colorado Potatoes
February is National Potato Lover’s Month. Did you know that more than 70 kinds of potatoes are grown in Colorado? You can learn more about Colorado’s potato industry in numerous publications from the Colorado State University Extension and the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Potato producers can find growing tips and resources on pest control, marketing, […]
Holiday Food Safety
Don’t let food poisoning spoil your holidays! Check out these resources from the Colorado State University Extension that offer tips on staying safe while enjoying some of our favorite holiday treats. Do you make your own eggnog? The raw eggs used to prepare eggnog can be contaminated with Salmonella. Follow the tips in Holiday Food […]
Tastes of Fall
October is a commemorative month for many of our favorite fall foods. Publications from our library collection can help you learn about growing and preparing these foods. October is… American Cheese Month. Learn how to make your own with Making Soft Cheeses from the Colorado State University Extension. Apple Month. If you have apple trees, […]
Time Machine Tuesday: Cooking in 1945
The way we eat has certainly changed in the last three quarters of a century, as can be seen in the 1945 Colorado Experiment Station publication Venison on the Menu. This guide was published to offer ideas on how to cook the meat brought home from a hunt. “It will prove of unlimited value to […]
Local Food for the Holidays
The Colorado Department of Agriculture encourages Coloradans to buy local this holiday entertaining season. Their website includes resources such as a winter farmer’s market list, a Colorado Food and Agriculture Gift Guide, and Colorado Market Maker, an online database for locating Colorado food products. Farmer’s markets aren’t just for summer. The Colorado Winter Farmer’s Market […]
School Lunch and Nutrition
This week, October 12-16, is National School Lunch Week, which has been celebrated each year since declared by President Kennedy in 1962. NSLW is about recognizing the importance of healthy school lunches and their effect on student learning. Here in Colorado, the state’s Department of Education (CDE) includes an Office of School Nutrition. Their website […]
Farm Fresh Mobile App
Farmer’s market season has arrived, and if you’re hunting for the nearest market or looking for a specific type of food for sale, download the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA)’s Farm Fresh Mobile App. This link will take you to CDA’s Markets webpage, where you can select from an Apple or Android app. If you’re […]
Baking Bread at High Altitude
High altitude baking can be a challenge for newcomers to Colorado and other mountainous states, and bread can be one of the more tricky items to bake at high altitude. Altitude affects baking because of a change in barometric pressure. Since some adjustments need to be made at these altitudes, including adjustments in temperature and […]
Candy Apple Recall
Several brands of candy apples are being recalled due to possible listeria contamination. At least four people have died from eating the contaminated candy apples. For specific information on which brands are being recalled, see the Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE)’s recalls page. Everyone should be aware of basic food safety guidelines. […]
Colorado Cottage Foods Act
It is becoming increasingly popular to produce one’s own food or buy products directly from farmers and other producers. Many cities such as Denver now allow residents to keep chickens, goats, and bees, to produce fresh eggs, milk and cheese, and honey. Others have signed up for cooperatives where they can buy fresh milk direct from the farm. […]