Lehman’s Country Life

Apples are possibly fall's most versatile fruit.

One of the things I really enjoy about fall is the time in the evenings to do a little more cooking. Apples, pumpkins, squash and even tomatoes are still available in local produce markets for us to partake of.   Each year more than 100 million bushels of apples are produced in Ohio during the fall season, featuring about 40 different varieties.  There are many farms open to pick your own, take a hayride and maybe get your pumpkins too!

Apples are a wonderful addition to a meal or for a quick snack.  They provide us with vitamin A and C, along with fiber, and other phytonutrients to keep us healthy.  They are low in fat and sodium, which makes them a perfect choice with only 75-80 calories for a medium apple.
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As we start and end the day with cooler temperatures, the garden’s bounty is dwindling also.  I’m guessing you still have lots of zucchini and many tomatoes if you are like many of the callers I hear from on a daily basis.  Tomatoes are the most frequently home canned product in the United States.  If this is your practice, here are a couple of tips to make your job easier.
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How does your garden grow? If you are harvesting more than you can eat right now, why not put some away to enjoy when the season is past?

When freezing vegetables choose fresh produce (for best results 2-3 hours from harvest to freezing.) To prevent freezer burn, use moisture-proof, vapor-proof packaging designed for freezing. Pack blanched vegetables tightly in freezer bags or rigid containers. Squeeze air from bags before sealing. Leave ½ inch space for expansion. For a loose pack, freeze items in a single layer on a cookie sheet until nearly solid. Package at once. Label, seal and freeze – and remember to date all of your packages.

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The flowerbeds are bright with colors that paint a pallet of brilliance for us to enjoy as we rush hither, thither and beyond.  Just for a moment, stop and absorb the beauty around and may it nourish your soul.

As the colors may revive our spirits, the vegetables that are planted will soon be ready to nourish our bodies.  Be sure to check out the web site at the University of Georgia to see the National Center for Home Food Preservation (www.ugs.edu/nchfp ).  They have many tested recipes and answers to commonly asked questions.  If you have a gauge style pressure canner, check with your local Extension Office to see if they will be doing any classes or testing calibration this season.  Canners need to be checked on a yearly bases to assure their accuracy as you are doing home canning.

How’s your food budget doing, during these difficult times?  Growing a few things might be a way to stretch your food dollars and encourage children to learn in the process.  Patio and container gardens can easily provide lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, and even zucchini or cucumbers if you desire.  These gardens are easy to grow and provide great learning opportunities for children.
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Spring has blessed us with some warm days, gentle rains and beautiful colors to enjoy. The days are slipping by and summer activities will be here before we know it. What are your plans for summer? Hopefully the calendar has been marked for a few days of vacation or family fun days. Having something to look forward to is important for adults and children. The planning, saving and anticipation is part of the journey, as is the feeling of fulfillment after the event is over.

As a parent, trying to keep a routine is important. It provides structure and helps children and adults be productive. Brainstorm with your family, what kind of chores can be done through the day or in the evening? Who wants to do what? What can we do when the work is done? The short term things that need daily and weekly attention are a great way to get the kids involved and moving. It is also a great way to improve family communication and relationships, being together doesn’t have to be all fun, working is a wonderful way to share your values and listen to your children.
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Spring is looking better than ever after the cold winter we had.  I’m so ready for the color, the warmth and the time to be outside.  We know that there may still be some windy, chilly days ahead and to avoid the ’spring fever’ grumbling, here are a few ideas to engage children in fun learning activities.

• Have a picnic outside if it’s nice, inside if it’s not.  Grab a couple of books, a blanket and enjoy a relaxing lunch on the floor.  Make it a color picnic if you wish, and incorporate all the foods, clothes, and walk looking for items of a specific color.
• Rice or beans are a great sensory items for children to play with in a small tote or container.  Place it on a tablecloth or sheet for easy clean up and allow them to pour, fill, dump and measure with different containers.
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This year it seems everyone has money on their minds. In order to make the most of yours, a spending plan will help you pay the bills and realize your goals. How do you start? Here’s some steps to take to begin. Realize that it’s a plan and if you don’t follow it the first time, keep trying till you succeed. In the end, you will be glad you did.

Here are some other tips to make managing money in your home a little easier:
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As we see the snowflakes fall and feel the winter weather take hold, I hope that you can take advantage of some family time together. Sometimes it’s hard after all the preparation for the holidays to get back into the swing of things for the new year. As we enter into the winter months sometimes it’s hard to have something to look forward to. Here are some ideas that might spark an interest and you may consider during your winter evenings at home.
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October is Work and Family month, and as a working mom some days are easier than others to get a nutritious meal on the table that works with everyone’s schedules. This is the time of year I love to pull out the crockpot and get a main dish going in the morning so  when I get home at night all I need to do is add a salad or side dish and we are ready to eat.

Soups and stews are a great way to lower fat in your diet, extend the protein and save money! Recipes can easily be altered to include more vegetables and less meat and not lose flavor. In addition, high fiber items like barley, couscous and dried lentils can be included to increase the nutritive value. Remember, to make your dish as healthy as possible, refrigerate the finished soup overnight in a shallow container (no more that 3 inches deep) which will cause the fat to rise to the surface and solidify, making it easy to remove the unwanted fat.
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Dear Readers,
It’s almost time for back to school! Whether you are relaxing together or working together, time spent with your children talking and listening, is essential when they are young so that as they grow up, they feel they can still come and talk to you about the everyday things (plus the really important decisions they must make). Make sure you take time to hear about their day, any challenges they’ve had and support to get their homework done. Work on building a good routine these first couple of weeks and the rest of the year will go much smoother.

One of the things I look forward to this time of year is working together in food preservation. Breaking beans, husking corn and picking tomatoes have been a regular task done by my mother, my aunt and myself. It’s a lot of work and I appreciate more each year the time and effort that many of you spend to enjoy your results when the snow is flying. I’ve received several calls on tomatoes, specifically on salsa recipes, and thought you might enjoy the following information I found from a co-worker in Huron County, Ohio, Deb Angell.

Tomatoes have long been recognized as a fairly good source of vitamin C and they contain a smidgen of beta carotene. But until recently, we didn’t realize the antioxidants that make them a favored commodity for fighting many diseases. Experts urge people to eat more tomatoes and tomato products, at least 5 servings per week. The key is lycopene and you get the best results from this anitioxidant when it is heated or cooked to release its best form.
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