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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

What Can a Cookie Do?
It’s Girl Scout cookie time! As Cookie Manager for our daughter’s troop, I’m having a hard time keeping certain varieties in stock. Truly, these little boxes of sinful goodness sell out as soon as I get a new supply.

“If only seed were as to easy to sell as Girl Scout cookies!” I’ve said to myself on more than one occasion. “These little cookies practically sell themselves.”

It made me wonder what we could learn from the Girl Scouts’ cookie sales program. Here are the top five reasons I believe the Girl Scout Cookies NOW! program is so successful:
1. Limited time offer
2. Unique products
3. Instant gratification
4. Return/repeat customers
5. A great sales pitch with practice overcoming objections
Girl Scout cookies are only available for a limited amount of time (January 13 – March 4, 2012) and only from troop members, who either call customers on the phone or make door-to-door sales. Each of the eight varieties is unique, and you certainly can’t whip up a batch at home. (There’s a good reason the recipe is called “Mock Thin Mints”.)

Speaking of Thin Mints… The only cookie that outsells Thin Mints is Oreo®, which are available 365 days a year from nearly every grocer and big box store nationwide.

New to our area this year, cookies are delivered at the time of sale. There’s instant gratification because you can treat yourself to a cookie as soon as the Scout walks out your front door. Plus, customers can order early and reorder often! You no longer need to ration your intake or freeze surplus quantities until March since there is nearly a two-month sales period this year.

If you dare say “no” to the friendly Scout who rings your door bell and asks you to buy cookies, be prepared. (Remember, that’s the Girl Scout motto, after all!) These girls have been trained to overcome objections, and they’ve had plenty of practice – about 80 years’ worth.

The first recorded Girl Scouts cookie sale was 1917, and the organization itself is celebrating its 100^th anniversary in 2012. Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts of the United States of America’s membership has grown from 18 members in Savannah, Georgia, to nearly 4 million members throughout the United States in more than 90 countries.

In honor of the Girl Scouts’ birthplace in Savannah, today I’m featuring a recipe from another Savannah resident. A meal at Paula Deen’s restaurant was a highlight when several members of the West Fork Girl Scouts traveled to Savannah last summer.

Treat your family to a home-cooked chicken dinner this weekend, and open a box of Girl Scout cookies for dessert. You can eat the whole box and still have time to reorder yet this sales season. 🙂

What’s your favorite Girl Scout cookie? Cast your vote on our Facebook poll today.
Team Latham

January 20, 2012

General, Poultry, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Satisfy a Healthy Appetite in 2012
Submitted by Darcy Maulsby,
Darcy Maulsby & Co.

Achieving your New Year’s resolutions to boost health and have more energy is as easy as eating more. Yes, that’s right. Instead of worrying about what not to eat, focus on adding more nutrition powerhouses (like lean protein, fruits and vegetables) to your meals.

Even better, you’ll never feel deprived, if you do it right. This is an insight I’ve learned from the talented home cooks, chefs and dietitians whom I’ve interviewed through my work as an ag journalist and marketing specialist.

These health professionals and culinary experts have taught me that satisfying, nutritious, home-cooked meals don’t have to be time-consuming to prepare. (Check out my easy recipes for Pork Milanese and Orange and Cashew Lettuce Salad below).

At my house, “fast food” often starts with pork. Did you know that pork tenderloin is as lean as skinless chicken breast? The dietitians at the National Pork Board also note that today’s most popular cuts of pork have 16 percent less total fat and 27 percent less saturated fat than they did 20 years ago.

The key to a great pork meal is not to overcook this lean protein. New guidelines from U.S. Department of Agriculture show that pork can be consumed safely when cooked to a lower internal temperature of 145° Fahrenheit, followed by a three-minute rest time.

These are just some of the many handy cooking tips I’ve gleaned by writing about food and farming. I love spreading the word to help others make the farm-to-fork connection. After all, if you eat, you are a part of agriculture.

Pork Milanese

Ingredients:
- 1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ pounds of pork loin, sliced (pound each slice to a thickness of 1/3 inch)
- Salt
- Black pepper, or lemon pepper
- Olive oil
Directions:
1. Combine panko and Parmesan cheese and place in a large shallow bowl or pie plate. Lightly beat the eggs in another large shallow bowl or pie plate. Sprinkle pork slices with salt and pepper or lemon pepper. Dip the pork, one piece at a time, in the egg. Then dredge the pork in the panko/Parmesan mixture. Coat completely. Place the pork on a small baking sheet.
2. Heat oil (approximately ¼ cup) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork to the hot oil and cook until golden brown and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer pork slices to paper towels and drain. Then transfer pork slices to a clean baking sheet and keep them warm in a 200-degree oven. Add more oil, as needed, to the skillet and finish cooking the remaining pork slices.
Darcy Maulsby is based in Lake City, Iowa, where she runs her own marketing/communications company. She assists clients in agriculture and other industries with magazine articles, sales materials, newsletters, website articles, photography and more. Darcy, who is also an avid home cook, invites you to follow her food and ag updates on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/darcy.maulsby and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/darcymaulsby.

Check out Darcy in “Eat, Pray, Farm : Women in Ag”
Team Latham

January 13, 2012

General, Pork, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Sweeney Takes the Bull by the Horns

David and Annette Sweeney were married December 1, 1985, during a 26-inch blizzard and at the height of the farm crisis. They weathered these storms and also raised their family in the same house where Annette was raised. Their oldest son, Jim, graduated in December from Iowa State University with a degree in Agricultural Engineering, and this month he began working with Energy Panel Systems in Graetttinger. Their youngest son, Joe, is a member of the 2010-2011 Iowa FFA officer team. He’s a junior at Iowa State University, double-majoring in Agricultural Business and Ag Economics.

“Taking the bull by the horns” is modus operandi for Annette Sweeney, a native of Buckeye, Iowa. This third generation farmer and cattle producer has developed a reputation for researching issues and addressing problems in a straightforward manner. She’s passionate, caring and compassionate to boot. As a result, Annette Sweeney has become one of Iowa agriculture’s biggest advocates.

“Agriculture is truly the backbone of many rural communities, and too many people have the wrong impression of farmers,” says the 56-year-old wife, mother, entrepreneur and former teacher. “I want to provide a voice for agriculture, rural areas and small schools. I also want to make sure decisions are based on science.”

She’s taking her convictions to the Hill. When the Iowa Legislature convenes on Jan. 9, 2012, Rep. Annette Sweeney will resume her duties as chair of the House Agriculture Committee. She says the Legislature’s priorities are jobs and budgets, and she wants to make sure agriculture is at the forefront of those discussions.

“We need to remember that agriculture is a business – a $77 billion dollar business for Iowa. It’s too important to overlook,” says Annette, who learned the business of farming first-hand – literally – through blood and sweat and a few tears.

After the untimely death of her father in 1983, Annette moved from Illinois where she was teaching middle school English and speech/drama, to her native Iowa. She took over the family’s 1,350-acre row crop and purebred Charolais cow/calf operation.

“I put my nose to the grindstone and did everything I could to keep our farm afloat. I was driven to succeed because I didn’t want to have to sell off anything that my family had worked for,” she explains. “My dad didn’t have any life insurance, and at the time of his death, there was no spousal exclusion. The tax burden was horrendous. We had 90 head of seedstock, and the crop needed to get planted. The spring of 1984, I literally grabbed the owner’s manual off the shelf for the planter and headed for the field.”

Fortunately, the determined 26-year-old was blessed by help and counsel from trusted family friends and advisors. Steve Mayo, manager of the elevator at Buckeye, graciously spent three days teaching Annette the basics of grain marketing. Attorney Carl Letz of Eldora spent another week – free of charge – going over tax codes and giving tips. A CPA friend helped Annette understand W2’s and other employment forms. Dr. Gerald McDaniel from Radcliffe didn’t charge to teach her how to vaccinate cattle. In addition, Annette went to school and learned how to AI (artificially inseminate) cows.

With experiences like this, it’s no wonder Annette relates so well with Iowa farmers!

“I’m really enjoying my position as House Ag Chair and the opportunity to meet more farmers across the state,” says Annette, who’s running for re-election in House District 44. “It continues to amaze me how many Iowans have a drive to succeed, not only for themselves, for the benefit of their communities and for their state.”

For updates from the Iowa Statehouse, “like” Rep. Sweeney’s legislative Facebook page. It will help keep you updated on issues affecting the state of Iowa, as well as some issues across the nation as Annette Sweeney is representing Iowa agriculture on the national level.

When her schedule allows, Annette enjoys gathering with family and friends around the kitchen table. The Sweeney family’s favorite meals are beef roast with vegetables or steak on the grill. But in honor of January Soup Month, today Annette shares one of her family’s favorite chowder recipes.

Team Latham

January 6, 2012

Agriculture, General, Industry News, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Ring in the New Year with Fire Crackers and Iced Cranberries
After years of the same New Year’s Resolutions making American’s Top 10 List, Parade magazine is offering 55 ideas to switch up things for 2021. Idea number one is to “focus on a passion not your looks” followed by “workout to feel good not to become thinner.”

Other Top 10 Resolutions for your consideration include:
- Start each day with gratitude. (Latham’s Marketing Team members begin its weekly meeting by expressing something for which they are grateful. It helps set the tone for a great meeting!)
- Give one compliment a day. (Learn how to graciously accept a compliment.)
- Do a random act of kindness weekly.
- Read one book each month.
- Go someplace you’ve never been.
- Travel on a small budget.
- Drink more water.
Ten resolutions sounds lofty, doesn’t it? Perhaps that’s why only 50% of people who make resolutions are successful after six months. Sometimes less is more; fewer is better.

There are a few, simple practices you can put into place to increase the likelihood of achieving success. University of Scranton psychology Professor John Norcross, in a special story to CNN, offered these evidence-based tips for making and keeping your New Year’s resolutions:
- Make short, attainable goals.
- Develop a specific action plan.
- Publicly declare your resolutions to hold yourself accountable.
To hold herself accountable, one of my friends reviews her resolutions daily. She prints her annual goals on an interesting piece of paper and places them in a cute frame beside her bathroom sink. Then each morning she reflects upon her list and decides what she needs to do to continue to work toward achieving her goals. She is truly one of the most productive and successful people I know.

In the short term, my holiday weekend goals are to “Eat. Drink. Be Merry.” That’s why today I’m sharing with you two of my favorite recipes from my mom’s recipe box. Cranberry Slush has been a holiday tradition for more than 30 years. The Fire Hot Crackers are always a hit. Try topping these crackers with summer sausage and cheese.

Happy New Year!

Related posts:
Fire Crackers

Ingredients:
- 1¼ c. oil
- 1 T. garlic powder
- 16 oz. box of Keebler® Club Crackers
- 1 T. red pepper flakes (double the flakes for a little more “fire”)
- ½ T. onion powder
- 1 pkg. dry Ranch dressing mix
Directions:
1. Mix oil garlic and onion powder, crushed pepper, and dressing mix. Pour into a 2-gallon bag. Add crackers and carefully shake bag so that crackers get coated. Let the bag set for 15 minutes and then shake it again. Pour onto paper towels and let dry. (COOK’S TIP: Top with paper towels, as well, to remove excess oil.) Store in airtight container.
Team Latham

December 30, 2011

Desserts, General, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Corwith Farm Service Gives New Meaning to “Full Service”
Latham® dealers Pete and Bonnie Wilhite of Corwith, Iowa, give “full service” new meaning. When customers stop by Corwith Farm Service on Main Street, they can pick up everything from alfalfa pellets (yes, rabbit food) to fresh ground hamburger. Patrons can also enjoy a cup of fresh-brewed coffee, play a game of cards and place their seed orders for the year.

The Wilhites bought the town’s grocery store, formerly known as Ron’s Food Center, in April 2010. The previous owners, Ron and Mary Cronin, had operated the store since August 1975 and were looking to sell once Ron was diagnosed with cancer. The sale of the business to someone locally – and to a friend no less – helped bring some peace of mind to the Cronins and community members alike since an independent grocery store is the heart of a small town.

After purchasing the grocery store, the Wilhites made a few changes. They added a coffee corner and began selling deli sandwiches for people in need of “grab and go” lunches. They also added more fresh fruits and vegetables to their product offering.

There was a learning curve, admits Bonnie. It’s hard to gauge what will be a good seller, so sometimes the family’s meals are based on what needs to move from the grocery store shelves. Corwith Farm Services cuts its own meat, so Pete had to learn how to operate the saws and grinders. Fortunately, the same person who had been working at Ron’s Food Center for the past 10 years continued working when the store changed hands. The Wilhites also added an additional employee to the payroll.

Pete works at the store each week day from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. He carries out groceries, and if need be, he’ll make deliveries. Bonnie spends Fridays at the store, after working 40 hours from Monday through Thursday as the operating room and emergency room supervisor for Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

“Corwith Farm Services isn’t a job to me,” says Bonnie with her ever-present smile. “All week I’m helping with surgeries and dealing with emergencies, so the grocery store is really an outlet for me. On Fridays I get to catch up with friends and with bookwork.”

In addition to their “day jobs,” Pete and Bonnie farm. They raise corn and soybeans plus have cows and calves on pasture from spring to fall. Both of their children were active in 4-H and showed cattle at the county fair.

“We love living in the country and are glad we were able to raise our kids on the farm,” says Bonnie. “There is always something to do. When our kids were younger, I didn’t have to worry about where they were because they couldn’t go anywhere without us driving them!”

The Wilhites’ kids are on the go now. Their 21-year-old daughter, Chelcee, is in her final semester at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids. She is working at the medical clinic in Britt before returning to the classroom in February. In May, she will complete her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN). Lucas, age 20, is a sophomore at Iowa State University in Ames where he’s majoring in business. (Lucas is also seeking a summer internship, so you know whom to call if you’re looking to hire!)

While their college kids are home on break, Bonnie is sure to mix up a few of their favorite foods including homemade pizza and Mexican Corn Dip. This dip, along with Cyclone-colored tortilla chips, is on the menu for Dec. 30 when Iowa State takes on Rutgers during the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium.

Easy Homemade Pizza

Ingredients:
- 1 package yeast
- 1- 1/4 c. warm water
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 to 4 c. flour
Directions:
1. Mix and knead. (The more you knead, the lighter the dough is.)
2. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
3. Put in pizza pans and top with your favorite toppings.
4. Bake 375° until it appears done.
Team Latham

December 23, 2011

Beef, General, Pork, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Preparing for Christmas
Traditional German advent calendars, like this one, were a part of my childhood Christmases. Today the tradition continues as each season my mom buys a new calendar – the ones with a chocolate behind each number – for my children.

Those who know me best know how much I love a theme! So right after Thanksgiving, I greatly enjoy transforming our living room to reflect “Christmas Around the World.” Our tree is adorned with decorations that pay tribute to our heritage including a Danish paper heart ornament to honor Grandma Latham, a Belleek china ornament that my mother-in-law brought from Ireland and hand-blown glass ornaments from Germany to honor both sides of my family, as well as wooden ornaments from Russia.

In addition to these beautiful worldly ornaments, our tree includes precious decorations our children have made throughout the years. As I hang each one, I fondly remember their little faces as they eagerly waited for me to unwrap the ornaments they had made in school. My favorite decorations are those that include their school picture from that year. My kids and I have also had fun making many of the ornaments together. Later this month I’m looking forward to making pinecone ornaments with my Junior Girl Scout troop and decorating cookies for shut-ins.

For me, Christmas is a time of year to honor traditions and create new ones. One tradition that I’ve enjoyed since moving to Sheffield is our church’s annual Advent by Candlelight program. It’s a great way to kickoff the holiday season by preparing our hearts and minds for the season. This year I had the honor of hosting a table of girlfriends for dessert prior to the program. I had so much fun decorating the table, including making the cake. (Confession time: The reason my cake looked beautiful is because I made it during a three-hour cake decorating class. That class was one of the best birthday presents I’ve ever received!)

This homemade, white cake with raspberry filling was topped with a delicious Italian butter cream frosting. The frosting recipe, however, is the pastry chef’s trademark secret.

Thankfully, Latham’s graphic designer, Amy Hild saved the day by sharing one of her family’s favorite recipes for Christmas cake. Unlike me, Amy’s mom really gets all the credit for making this beautiful cake. Amy gets the credit for helping decorate the table and taking the beautiful photographs.

It’s become a tradition for the Hilds to enjoy this melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cake topped with cherries each Christmas Eve. What foods does your family traditionally serve on Christmas Eve or Christmas day?

Related Posts
- “Sharing a little Christmas Magic”
- “Sharing Christmas Traditions”
Team Latham

December 2, 2011

Desserts, General, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Inside or Out, Children Want to Help

As a child, the highlight of making the 45-minute trip to visit my paternal grandmother in Howard County, Iowa, was a chance to drive around the beautiful countryside and watch the Amish tend to their livestock and care for their crops. I was intrigued by their commitment to family and their sense of duty.

Each member of the family plays a part in the family’s economic survival, says Dr. John Hostetler in his book, Amish Society. He writes:

“Like most parents in American society, the Amish recognize the teen period as critical. The Amish family needs the help of its teen-age child more than the typical American family, and the child feels the family’s need of him. The young person who works on the farm can understand and feel the contribution he is making to his family.”

On a farm, your work directly affects you and your family. You are a member of this company (the family), and you have your job responsibilities. In simple terms, the cows have to be fed and milked so that food and shelter can be provided for the family. Your paycheck comes daily in the form of food, clothing, shelter and affection.

Children see their parents working hard every day and children want to help… I once saw a four-year-old Amish boy cry when he could not go along and help father in the field.

Amish children are needed to help inside the house, too. When a family has eight or nine children, there is a lot of food to be prepared. It’s no wonder that Amish women often get together for a frolic, or a work event that combines socializing with a practical goal. Common frolics include quilting, canning, pie baking and apple sauce making.

Like the Amish, we can get a group of girlfriends together. A simple frolic can help us make multiple meals in short order while enjoying some “girl time.” That’s essentially what I did in September by hosting “Cook Once for a Bunch.” You could do something similar in your home, community center or even in your church’s kitchen – with friends or even your family.

Many recipes are simple enough for young children to make. Start by putting a new twist on Tator Tot Casserole from Freezer Chics, which one of my friends made when we got together in September. During this same get together, I picked up my new “go to” recipe for lasagna. I like this lasagna so much that I’m going to take it Sunday for our community’s annual Boy Scout Thanksgiving potluck. With browned hamburger in my freezer, prep time will be 15 minutes or less! That means I’ll have time to cut up veggies for this adorable Turkey Relish Tray, as well as organize this “notable” Turkey Craft.

Thanksgiving reminds me that I’m so thankful for family, friendships, food and freedom. (Notice that “football” doesn’t top my list.) I’m hopeful that I might enjoy a little quiet time right after dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Perhaps I’ll get a chance to curl up with a novel by one of my favorite Amish authors, Wanda Brunstetter or Beverly Lewis. Reading will remind me how much I really need some girl time. That will make me think about a frolic, which will prompt me to email my friends about a date to “Cook Once for a Bunch.” Yes, my wheels are already turning!

Team Latham

November 18, 2011

Beef, General, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Celebrating National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, Oct. 21
It’s funny how nostalgic something as simple as a pumpkin can be as people are reminded of Halloween and various other childhood memories. The smell of Pumpkin Pie Spice causes me to reminisce of Thanksgivings and Christmases from yesteryear.

I love pumpkin anything – except pumpkin pie. (I know, call me crazy!) This Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe is a great alternative to pie, especially for those cheesecake fans out there. Add a dollop of whipped cream to the top and you’re all set for a delicious treat.

PS. Since they’ve created a national holiday to celebrate National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, it has to be worth a try!

_______________________________________________________________________

If you’d rather watch your calories this season, Meg Benson of Clermont, Iowa, shares this Cooking Light recipe with only 256 calories per serving and less than 10 grams of fat. She says this cheesecake is also good with a graham cracker crust and recommends going heavy on the spices!

COOK’S TIP: Meg says it took almost 2 hours for the cheesecake to bake in her oven. She also notes that she bakes cheesecakes in a water bath and then lets them sit in the oven for an hour or so after turning off the oven off.

Light Ginger Pumpkin Cheesecake

Photo Source: MyRecipes.com
Yield: 12 slices

Ingredients

Crust:
- 56 reduced-fat vanilla wafers (about 8 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon butter or stick margarine, melted
- Cooking spray
Filling:
- 3 (8-ounce) blocks fat-free cream cheese, softened
- 2 (8-ounce) blocks 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Dash of allspice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
- 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. To prepare crust, place wafers in a food processor; pulse 2 to 3 times or until finely ground. Add butter; pulse 10 times or until mixture resembles coarse meal. Firmly press mixture into bottom of a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 8 minutes; cool on a wire rack.
3. Reduce oven temperature to 325°.
4. To prepare filling, beat cheeses with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and next 8 ingredients (granulated sugar through vanilla), beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add pumpkin; beat well.
5. Pour cheese mixture into prepared crust; bake at 325° for 1 1/2 hours or until almost set. (Cheesecake is done when the center barely moves when pan is touched.) Remove cheesecake from oven; run a knife around outside edge. Cool to room temperature; cover and chill at least 8 hours.
Larry Sailer, Musings of a Pig Farmer

October 21, 2011

Desserts, General, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Serve Up Soup for Supper This Season
Crock-pot meals are a favorite this time a year: they offer flexibility at meal time since you don’t have to worry about the pot roast burning or the soup boiling dry; you can make hearty meals that will help fuel a hardworking body for hours; and crock pot recipes usually require minimal prep time.

Minimizing time in the kitchen is key for busy farm wives, who drive the combine or haul grain carts during harvest and work in town. They’re also perfect for non-farming mamas like me, who are busy chauffeuring kids between football practice and gymnastics lessons, 4-H meetings and Scout activities.

So, you can imagine how delighted I was when I visited the Nelsen family last week in southern Minnesota last week and came home with two easy-to-make, nutrition-packed recipes. Pasta Fazula Soup is a Nelsen family favorite. Shirley Nelsen got the recipe a few winters ago while visiting her sister in Texas, and it’s become a go-to meal. This meal is such a hit that her son, Patrick, requested she “teach” his fiancée, Jody, how to make it.

“There isn’t much to teaching someone how to make Pasta Fazula Soup,” says Shirley with a smile. “All you really do is dump a bunch of canned items – plus a few fresh ingredients – into a crock pot. It’s a great harvest-time recipe and also freezes well.”

Shirley, who has worked for 27 years at the Hy-Vee food store in Austin, Minn., also told me about a recipe that the store’s nutritionist recently shared with her for Sweet Potatoes with Black Bean Salad. It doesn’t sound like something a Midwest family would traditionally serve at mealtime, but it certainly sounds like a great way to (1) get out of a food rut and (2) provide a satisfying last-minute supper. For those two reasons alone, I believe it’s worth having a few sweet potatoes on hand.

“The fragrant filling of beans and tomatoes adds protein,” writes Jen Haugen, registered dietitian at the Hy-Vee store in Austin, Minn., in The Austin Daily Herald’s food column. “Be sure to eat the potato skin, which is full of fiber, as well.”

Sweet Potatoes with Warm Black Bean Salad

Photo Source: EatingWell.com

Serves 4 (1 potato each)
Active time: 15 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- 1, 15-oz. can black beans (rinsed)
- 2 medium tomatoes, diced
- 1 T. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 tsp. ground coriander
- ¾ tsp. salt
- ¼ c. reduced-fat sour cream
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Directions:
1. Prick sweet potatoes with a fork in several places.
2. Microwave on high until tender all the way to the center, 12 to 15 minutes. (Alternatively, bake at 425º for about 1 hour.)
3. Meanwhile, in a medium microwaveable bowl, combine beans, tomatoes, oil, cumin, coriander and salt; microwave on high until just heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. (Alternatively, heat in a small saucepan over medium heat.)
4. When cool enough to handle, slash each potato lengthwise.
5. Press open to make a well in the center and spoon the bean mixture into the well.
6. Top each with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cilantro.
Team Latham

October 14, 2011

Beef, General, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Cook Once for a Bunch!
Sticking with this month’s “pumpkin theme” for our recipes, today I’d like to share with you the amazing Pumpkin Cake Roll that Kaitlyn Bartling made when we got together a few weeks ago. I love this recipe because it’s delicious, looks gourmet but is actually quite easy to make.

Confession time: I have to admit that I never would’ve tried making a Pumpkin Cake Roll without Kaitlyn there to walk me through the steps. Now I’m looking forward to making it again soon, along with her wonderful Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole.

Cheesy Chicken & Rice is just one of the five new recipes I collected last month when I invited a group of ladies into my kitchen to “Cook Once for a Bunch.” I believe Kaitlyn actually coined this phrase to describe what happens when you get a group of friends together and prepare meals for the freezer.

Each participant brought copies of her recipe, along with enough ingredients to make that recipe six times. Then we set up an assembly line and put together meals in a matter of minutes. It helped that each person took the time to either pre-cook and cube chicken or brown hamburger ahead of time. In less than five hours, I had six different meals prepped for the freezer plus my friends had done all of my dishes and put them away. (How great is that? Kitchen cleanup is on my list of “things I really don’t enjoy.”) Some ladies chose to put the casseroles into two, 8×8 pans, which allowed them to have 12 freezer-ready meals.

Whether you’re a working wife, a farmer’s wife or stay-at-home mom, freezer-ready meals make dinner a snap. Kaitlyn, for example, enjoyed getting together before harvest began. This way she can heat up a good meal for her family without spending a lot of time in the kitchen during the busy harvest season.

What’s your favorite freezer-ready meal?

P.S. We featured Kaitlyn’s family and her recipe for Stuffed Pork Chops last October during our National Pork Month celebration. It’s a recipe worth repeating. 🙂

Wild & Cheesy Chicken

Ingredients:
- 1, 6-oz. box of long grain & wild rice with herbs, spices & seasoning packet
- 2 T. butter
- ½ c. celery, diced
- ½ c. onion, chopped
- 4 oz. fresh mushrooms, chopped
- 2/3 c. milk
- 1, 10.5-oz. can Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 2 c. cooked chicken
- 1 c. shredded cheddar
Directions:
1. Cook rice according to package.
2. Melt butter and sauté celery, onion & mushrooms until tender.
3. Mix everything together and pour into buttered casserole or 9×13 pan.
4. Bake 30 minutes at 425° if unfrozen.
5. Bake at 350° for 90 minutes to 2 hours and leave almonds off until last 30 minutes.
Great casserole to serve for company!
Team Latham

October 7, 2011

Desserts, General, Poultry, Recipes