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Articles written by Vicki Hayman


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  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Nov 21, 2024

    With Thanksgiving fast approaching, this is a good time to learn about the real all-American fruit – the cranberry. Cranberries are grown throughout the United States, mainly in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington and Oregon. Cranberries are small, round, tart berries with a tangy flavor. Cranberries are often added to recipes or made into other products rather than eaten alone. Nutrition All cranberry products provide similar health benefits and are easy to incorporate into the diet. Cranberries are high in nutrients and a...

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Oct 31, 2024

    As the calendar turns to October, the air will start to cool, pumpkin food and beverages will be featured, it'll get darker earlier and autumn plans will fill the calendar! Pumpkins, it seems, are everywhere this time of year. What can you do with a pumpkin? There are endless possibilities! All pumpkins are squash, but not all squash are pumpkins, and not all pumpkins are created equally! The big jack-o'-lantern orange pumpkins you typically see on everyone's porches in the fall aren't the best...

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Sep 19, 2024

    A cantaloupe is a delicious summer melon. Cantaloupe is an orange, juicy summer fruit that's related to the watermelon and honeydew melon. Varieties There are two main cantaloupe varieties: North American and European. Both varieties have orange flesh inside and have a similar taste. The primary difference is the outside pattern on the rind. North American cantaloupe, also known as muskmelon, is round with thin, light brown skin and a net-like covering, while European cantaloupe is oblong with...

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Aug 29, 2024

    Green and yellow zucchini are also types of summer squash. There are numerous varieties of zucchini. Each has unique features (appearance, color and taste) distinguishing it from other varieties. If you want an inexpensive vegetable, you can find an abundance of zucchini this time of year. While zucchini is treated as a vegetable in the culinary realm, it's technically the fruit of the zucchini flower. Squash Blossoms Did you know that the blossoms of summer squash plants are also edible? Be...

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Jul 11, 2024

    An authentic Caesar salad is all about crisp, chilled romaine hearts served with homemade creamy dressing and croutons. It is quick, simple and bursting with flavor! Today, I will share with you how to make a Caesar salad from scratch. Everything from the dressing to the croutons. Once you try this, you’ll never want the store-bought dressing and croutons again! The classic lettuce to use is Romaine, which has a crispy, mild, sweet flavor. Instead of using Romaine lettuce, I recommend using Romaine hearts because they are crisper than the o...

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Jun 6, 2024

    Raspberries have been calling me as I peruse the fruit section of the market. A raspberry tart is a versatile dessert with a buttery pastry crust, creamy filling and fresh raspberries. Unlike a pie, the sides of tarts are commonly shallow, and they are never made with a layer of pastry on top. Tarts can come in many sizes, from large, shareable options to petite, individual servings. A fluted tart pan with a removable bottom makes releasing and filling this tart a much easier process. The...

  • Beautiful eggs Benedict

    Vicki Hayman, UW Community Vitality and Health Educator|May 2, 2024

    Eggs Benedict is a delicious dish consisting of an English muffin, poached egg, Canadian bacon and a homemade hollandaise sauce. This breakfast dish is the epitome of luxury! People are intimidated, most likely by poaching the eggs and making a hollandaise sauce. If you don’t know how to poach eggs or make hollandaise sauce, try learning new culinary skills. Eggs Benedict is easier than it looks! Plating the individual dish components while they are hot takes some planning. Here are the steps I recommend to do it: 1. Measure out the h...

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Mar 7, 2024

    Did you know a sweet potato is not a yam? When it comes to the yam, there is a bit of confusion. What you’ve been referring to as a “yam” is most likely a sweet potato. You may have never even tasted a yam. The so-called “yams” in the supermarket produce section are nearly always sweet potatoes. Some people think that red-skinned, long sweet potatoes are yams, but they surely are just one of many varieties of sweet potatoes. Sweet Potatoes vs. Yams “Sweet potato” and “yam” are often synonyms in recipes and at the market. They are two different...

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Feb 22, 2024

    It is important to pay attention to heart health all year long, and with February being Heart Health Month, now is a good time to establish a healthy eating plan. The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease. Following a heart-healthy diet is the best way to care for your heart. These guidelines are not just for those with heart disease or a history in their family, they are for everyone. The American Heart Association (AHA) encourages the public to make heart-healthy decisions with their diet. The guidelines emphasize...

  • Delectable Donuts

    Vicki Hayman|Jul 27, 2023

    A donut (sometimes known as a doughnut) is a sweet bread that’s been baked or fried. Some donuts are formed into ring shapes, while others look like buns and are filled with cream or jelly. Donuts range from basic and rustic to beautifully decorated with icing, sprinkles, and other designs. A fresh, hot donut is genuinely an amazing treat! The pastries we know as donuts today are a combination of the culinary traditions and techniques of a variety of countries. Here are a few of the main types of donuts: Yeast/raised donuts: This donut v...

  • Home Fried Chicken

    Vicki Hayman|Jul 27, 2023

    If you’ve ever had a piece of crispy outside, juicy inside fried chicken, you know how blissful it can be! Learn how to make fried chicken at home with these tips and tricks for creating fried chicken that will have everyone wanting to steal your secrets. Did you know fried chicken can be controversial? There are debates over brining the meat. People argue over what starch is used to coat the chicken, the fat frying it, and the cooking temperature. Follow these instructions to make the best 5-star fried chicken at home. Chicken You can cut a w...

  • PICNIC PLANNING

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator University of Wyoming|Jul 27, 2023

    The cool thing about having a picnic meal is that it can happen in almost any outdoor scenario. There is something special about enjoying a meal outdoors on a nice day. Outside is the way to go, whether you plan to take advantage of your backyard or venture out to a local park. When planning a picnic, some essentials must be on your list. Here is how to plan a picnic you will not forget.: Location Location is the most important variable of any picnic experience. Remember, all picnic spots are not created equal, and finding the right one can...

  • HEALTHY HEART NUTRITION

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Feb 9, 2023

    Are you looking to improve your cardiovascular health and prevent heart disease? Heart disease is the leading killer in women and men. Every 34 seconds, one person in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease. You are not alone if you are unsure what to eat to keep your heart healthy. Genetic predisposition plays a role, but many things are in your control, including what you put on your plate. February is American Heart Month so learn which foods are healthiest for your heart. Everyone should aim for a well-balanced diet. Your diet...

  • DRESSED UP TATER TOTS

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Feb 9, 2023

    The much-loved food, tater tots, is often considered a staple of American comfort food. They offer the best of both worlds with a creamy center and a crispy, deep-fried exterior. The tater tot has not always been as popular as it is today. Recent food trends have made this salty morsel a must-have item for restaurants all across the country. In the 1950s, Ore-Ida came up with the tater tot to limit food waste during French fry production. The moment these little morsels hit the shelf, tater tots were a hit. They elevated the growing frozen...

  • Maximize food dollars with menu planning

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Jan 19, 2023

    Feeding a family can be stressful, especially when on a tight budget. Do you plan your meals before grocery shopping? Menu planning doesn’t have to be complicated! Planning meals ahead requires a small investment of time, but can reap great rewards: • A menu plan saves money. A menu plan reduces impulse spending and helps you to stay within a food budget. Using leftovers efficiently cuts food waste and planned buying makes it easy to stockpile food at reduced prices. • A menu plan saves time. There is no dash to the market for a missing ingre...

  • Homemade Candy Success

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension Food and Nutrition Educator|Dec 1, 2022

    Who doesn’t love a delicious sweet piece of candy? Whether making a treat for parties, gift giving, or because it is a holiday, candy-making is easy if you know the tricks of the trade. Weather Weather can significantly impact candy. When making candy, it is important to try to pick a day that is dry and not humid. On humid or rainy days, candy may refuse to set. Candy Thermometer A candy thermometer is used to test the temperature when cooking candy, jams, and jellies. Digital thermometers are preferred for their accuracy. Most have an a...

  • CHOCOLATE + COFFEE = MOCHA

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension Food and Nutrition Educator|Oct 20, 2022

    If you love mochas as much as I do, you are in luck! The mocha is a well-known beverage in the coffee community, and I have everything you need to know about it. So, whether you have tried one or not, today is the perfect day to pick one up from your favorite coffee shop or try making one at home! You may be wondering what is a mocha? Well, mocha is shortened for “mocha latte” or “caffe mocha,” a latte with delicious chocolate syrup added to it. This is a customizable latte, which is why it is so many people’s favorite. The first coffee be...

  • IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH AT ANY AGE

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension Food and Nutrition Educator|Oct 20, 2022

    Think it is too late to start living a healthy lifestyle? You can make lifestyle changes regardless of age to have a healthier future. Minor lifestyle changes can lead to a higher quality of life and a longer life. Changes like being physically active, eating nutritious food more often, maintaining a healthy weight, moderating alcohol consumption, and avoiding smoking can improve your chances for a healthy future. When you replace an old habit with a new one, your hard work pays off, reducing your risk of illness like heart disease. How many...

  • HALLOWEEN HEALTH TIPS

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension Food and Nutrition Educator|Oct 20, 2022

    How much Halloween candy? Nearly half of the added sugar in the American diet comes from sugary drinks. Added sugars come from baked goods, candy, cereals, desserts, and dairy products. It is recommended, by the American Heart Association (AHA), that sugar is limited to 6 teaspoons or 25 grams per day for children over two. A fun-sized candy bar, like Snickers, has about 2 teaspoons of sugar. That is one-third of a child’s total daily recommended intake. The AHA reports that children consume three times the recommended amount each day. H...

  • Pecan Sandies

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension|Jul 7, 2022

    Do you enjoy cookies? If so, be excited about a pecan sandy. You may ask what is a pecan sandy and what is with the name? The sandy is a type of sugar or shortbread cookie plus crunchy pecans. These cookies are named after their crumbly texture. They have a sandy or breadcrumb-like texture when the flour and butter are mixed together. Pecan Sandies are also a sandy color, which makes the name very fitting. A traditional pecan sandy is made with a dough that is chilled overnight, rolled into a log, cut into slices, and garnished with a toasted...

  • Shop Smart for Groceries

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension|Jul 7, 2022

    Rising prices are hitting supermarkets across the U.S. If the increased food costs worry you, here are some smart shopper tips. Set a Budget Set an amount to spend weekly on groceries to stop impulse purchases or overspending. Decide how much you want to spend ahead of time, and then make sure you stay within the budget. If you are concerned, you will go over and use your phone’s calculator to keep track of the grocery tab while shopping. Check The Kitchen Take a thorough inventory of the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. What items do you a...

  • Everything Enchiladas!

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension|Jun 9, 2022

    The traditional Mexican dish of enchiladas has a unique flavor and long history. The definition of the enchilada is a rolled tortilla with a filling, usually with meat and served with a chili sauce. In English, the word enchilada means “in chili.” Extensive research suggests that enchiladas not only date back to Mayans but also originated from Mayan people. A staple food of the Mayan people was corn tortillas. Some evidence shows that the first enchiladas were made with these corn tortillas and had fish rolled in them. Spanish conquistadors doc...

  • BLUEBERRY BENEFITS

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension|Apr 28, 2022

    Blueberries can be eaten in all kinds of different recipes. These small blue and purple berries have an extensive list of health benefits, making this delicious snack a great healthy option. Some of the many benefits include protecting against heart disease, supporting healthy skin, maintaining bone strength, and aiding in healthful blood pressure. Blueberries contain vitamin C, B6, fiber, and phytonutrients, which support heart health. Fiber specifically helps lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood and decreases the risk of heart...

  • Upscale Your BLT

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension Educator|Apr 7, 2022

    The BLT is a straightforward yet magnificent sandwich that everyone can enjoy. BLT stands for Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato. Many people add their own twists to BLT sandwiches, but the foundation of every sandwich should start with freshly toasted bread, smoky bacon, fresh-cut lettuce, and sweet ripe tomatoes. Try these tips for making your best BLT Sandwich. The Bread When making a BLT, picking out your bread is the first step, and using good-quality sandwich bread is always the best option. If you want extra flavor and crunch, the bread should b...

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