THE IOWA DISH

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It’s hard to believe we’re only a few days away from the start of the Iowa State Fair, football season and the first day of school.

If you’re like most Iowans, you don’t leave the grocery store without a gallon of milk in your cart.

For many busy families, a favorite on-the-go healthy breakfast is whole grain cereal.

The Iowa State Fair is the place to feed our love of high-quality, Iowa-raised meats and to recognize the Iowa farm families who work year-round to provide nutritious, safe and protein-rich food for all.

We love our crops in Iowa; we're number one in corn and soybeans, after all. But we're also a top meat-producing state, and that's good for the economy and consumers. We explore why meat is an essential part of your diet.

If reducing your exposure to trace amounts of pesticides is important to you, then organic foods may be an option, says Joel Coats, a professor of entomology and expert on toxicology at Iowa State University.

From the Iowa Pork Producers Association, www.iowapork.org

I know it’s officially summertime when RVs roll through town on their way to Saylorville Lake; cyclists return to the nearby High Trestle Trail; and our neighborhood ice cream shop, the Filling Station in Madrid, opens for the season.

There’s nothing better in the summer than a Prime steak or an all-beef burger on the grill.

Enjoying the view from the indoor patio at the Oskaloosa Public Golf Course, Wood Iron Grille diners bask in the atmosphere and the culinary experience, including Iowa’s 2019 Best Burger.

A gentle breeze caresses a warm summer night. The sky fills with pigment-rich hues as the sun sets over the Iowa cornfield. The crack of a bat against a ball echoes through the prairie stillness.

From cover crops to terraces, Iowa farmers use many techniques to protect the water and soil, and Iowa is the only state to thoroughly track those practices.

You may have heard that grass-fed beef is better for the environment than conventionally raised, grain-fed beef.

Recipe from Wisconsin Cheese, www.wisconsincheese.com

Like many Iowans, I’m looking forward to spending more time outside as the weather warms up this spring. Most days, you can find me either walking or biking on the High Trestle Trail in central Iowa.

As if nutrition advice isn’t confusing enough, there’s a new dietary trend that focuses more on the health of our planet than on the health of our bodies.

One of Iowans’ favorite signs of spring, iconic monarch butterfly, is also showing early signs of growth and recovery.

Just like how we need to fuel up our cars with gas and our bodies with caffeine before hitting the road, monarch butterflies need a place to refuel before embarking on their cross-continent journey.

Fruits and veggies are important, but if you skip out on meat you're missing essential amino acids and not getting complete, high-quality protein in your diet.

It’s a myth that cow farts are a major cause of global warming.

From www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

What’s your favorite treat to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Sure, you could give your sweetheart flowers, chocolate-covered strawberries or, better yet, a spring break trip to Hawaii. (We can all dream about tropical weather, right?)

If you’ve been watching what you eat over worries about cholesterol and heart health, you don’t have to only eat boneless, skinless chicken breast, nutrition experts say.

If you’ve struggled with a sinus infection or bronchitis this cold and flu season, then you may have gone to the doctor and received a prescription for antibiotics so you can feel better.

A small-town grocery store is more than a place to buy food. It’s where people gather, share the news of the day and revel in being part of a community.

Learn more about the Iowa Farm Animal Care Coalition, which was created to answer the questions farmers and consumers have about livestock care.

When shopping at the meat counter, you might notice some meat and poultry products labeled “antibiotic-free” or “raised without antibiotics.”

From www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

I must admit, I caught the holiday spirit a little early this year. I started listening to Christmas music the morning after Halloween, and my freezer is filling up with holiday cookies I’m baking ahead of time.

If you’re hosting a holiday dinner this year, or if you’re bringing a favorite side dish to the festivities, it is only natural to want the meal to turn out as near to perfect as possible.

When the calendar flips to January 2019 and we start regretting all the cookies and huge meals we enjoyed over the holidays, it’s tempting to make a New Year’s resolution to get serious about losing weight.

While you can find more meat and dairy alternatives in the grocery store today, most Iowans still prefer to buy real meat and dairy foods, according to the latest Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index®.

Take a look back and discover why U.S. News and World Report named Iowa the best state in the nation in 2018.

Food industry insiders predict that lab-grown, or cell-cultured, meats will appear on restaurant menus and in grocery stores in the future.

From www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

Here in Iowa, kids learn early on that it doesn’t matter how much they love their Halloween costumes, moms usually will make them cover up the superhero capes and princess dresses with a huge, warm coat for chilly trick-or-treat nights.

More than 6,000 votes were cast in the Iowa Pork Producer’s Association Pulled Pork Madness Facebook competition last March, bestowing Moo’s BBQ Burgers and Catering in Newton with the winning honors.

As parents, it’s difficult to set limits on how much candy our children eat when they come home from trick-or-treating with literally a bucket full of chocolate, licorice and lollipops.

It’s time to come clean: Do you (or your family members) always remember to wash your hands when cooking at home?

The Iowa Farm Animal Care Coalition was created to answer the questions farmers and consumers have about livestock care.

You can help make sure that children with food allergies don’t miss out all on the Halloween fun.

Place the pieces of pork shoulder and BBQ sauce into the slow cooker. Cover and place on low heat for 8 hours.

On my commute home this summer, I drive by three sweet-corn stands, including one in a farmer’s yard, where customers can buy corn straight from the field.

It’s an unavoidable problem if you’re an Iowa homeowner, gardener or farmer: Pests and weeds will attack your favorite plants or invade your house and yard.

More than 1 million people pass through the gates of the Iowa State Fair each year. Tasting the culinary specialties is part of the adventure, and there is no shortage of options.

National Farmers Market Week runs from Aug. 5 to 11, and Iowans are encouraged to take advantage of the fresh fruits and vegetables available at more than 220 farmers markets throughout the state.

Iowa pig farmers are using electrostatic fences to catch dust and reduce odors from their pig barns using electromagnetism.

In addition to strict regulations to apply pesticides, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) tests our food to ensure that pesticide residues don’t exceed a safe level.

From www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

Now that my daughter is a dancing, running, growing toddler, my family goes through at least 2 gallons of milk each week.

Going for a “milk run” to the grocery store isn’t as simple nowadays. In the dairy aisle, you likely will find a variety of new products, such as almond, cashew and coconut drinks plus other plant-based beverages.

When shopping at your favorite grocery store, you may notice that some of the beef at the meat counter is labeled “no hormones” or “raised without hormones.”

The winner of the 2018 Iowa’s Best Burger contest brought Iowa-raised Certified Angus Beef and an international flair to the competition and walked away with the gold cup.

Bicycling in Iowa is all about enjoying the great outdoors. It's also a great way to learn about how Iowa's farmers are keeping the outdoors great. Learn more by watching the new edition of the Iowa Minute!

Milk is the one of the most rigorously tested, regulated and controlled foods in the United States, says Alyson Fendrick, a registered dietitian with Midwest Dairy in Ankeny.

In a large bowl, marinate tortellini in Italian dressing for 30 minutes in refrigerator.

Spring is by far my favorite time of year. The birds are chirping, the grass is greening up - and eggs are on sale for the season.

One of today’s trendiest ingredients on restaurant menus and on Instagram is likely already nestled in your fridge.

Before spring planting begins, now is a great time to start the prep work to plant habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators, experts say.

The hottest new appliance in Iowa kitchens right now is the Instant Pot, or electric pressure cooker.

See all the reasons U.S. News and World Report recently named Iowa the "best state" in the nation in 2018!

Fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables all count toward the recommended five fruits and vegetables a day, says Rachel Wall, registered dietitian and human sciences specialist in nutrition and wellness with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

From Incredible Edible Egg, www.incredibleegg.org

Are you ready for some football – and a plate full of buffalo wings? I’m already planning my Super Bowl menu, although I’m not sure if I have the talent to make a giant snackadium.

It’s cold and flu season here in Iowa, and many of us will need to take antibiotics to fight off bronchitis or sinus and ear infections. Farm animals also get sick sometimes.

To achieve your healthy-eating goals, it’s important to include foods that you enjoy in your diet, says Rochelle Gilman, a registered dietitian with the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party this year and planning to score points with your famous chili recipe, don’t get a penalty for ignoring food safety.

Today's responsible livestock farmers, like Carroll County young farmer Ben Klocke, are always looking for better ways to raise animals.

Food safety remains a top priority for everyone involved in raising farm animals - from the farmer to the veterinarian, said Dr. Steve Larsen, a veterinarian and assistant vice president of science and technology with the National Pork Board based in Clive.

Combine any combination of the following ingredients in a snack-size plastic bag: bite-size beef jerky pieces, peanuts (honey & lightly salted dry roasted), pecan pieces, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, golden raisins and semi-sweet chocolate chunks.

I get a kick out of hearing what other Iowa families serve at their holiday tables each year.

The winters in northern Iowa can bring miserable weather for people and animals alike — gusty winds, blowing snow and freezing temperatures.

If you’re hosting Christmas dinner this year, you don’t have to go it alone if you run into a last-minute cooking dilemma.

Nearly all Iowa households eat meat, and their meat purchase decisions are driven primarily by freshness, price and taste more than how or where the meat or poultry was raised, according to the latest Iowa Farm Bureau Food & Farm Index®, which was released last month.

The Iowa Farm Animal Care Coalition was created to answer the questions farmers and consumers have about livestock care.

The holidays are a beautiful, blessed, glorious time filled with delicious food, family gatherings, thoughtful shopping — and stress.

Submitted by Karen Harrington, Plymouth County Farm Bureau

My 1-year-old daughter is on the verge of what her doctor calls a “language explosion.” Every day it seems she learns a new word. Last week, her favorite word was “apple” after we visited a local orchard to sample this year’s crop.

When you’re shopping at the grocery store, you will likely find many foods nowadays labeled “natural,” “simply” or “honest” to capture your attention while speeding through the aisles.

It’s pork month, and it’s time to hit the Tenderloin Trail. Fourteen establishments and 14 delectable pieces of pork — all yours for the sampling — and a T-shirt at the end to boot.

Bryan Etchen grew up picking apples on his family’s orchard, which back in the 1970s was out in the country northwest of Des Moines. Over the last 40-plus years, the city has grown around the orchard. Yet Etchen’s orchard kept growing apples.

Greenway played linebacker for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2002 to 2005, and during his tenure was named first-team All-American by Pro Football Weekly, first-team All-Big Ten and Iowa Hawkeye Special Teams Player of the Year.

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t define the term “natural” as a food label

Recipe from the National Pork Producers Council

As much as I love the lazy days of summer in Iowa, I can’t wait for the return of fall, when our favorite high school and college football teams kickoff the new season.

Maybe you’re grilling pork chops for a quick after-work dinner. Or perhaps you're hosting a tailgating party with burgers or brats when football season begins in a few weeks.

There are few food experts as discerning as the bacon connoisseur. Fried up crispy or limp next to eggs, nestled between ample layers of Iowa-grown lettuce and tomatoes, covered with chocolate, or used for added flavor in, well, just about anything, bacon lovers know their bacon.

After driving past cattle pastures and farm ponds in rural Davis County, Heath Greiner stops his truck outside a 7-foot deer fence that surrounds a scenic farm near Bloomfield.

Iowa is known for growing corn and beans. But hops? Oh, yes! There's a growing demand for Iowa-grown hops as more and more people are embracing the local craft brew craze. So now, "brewed in Iowa" means "grown in Iowa."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service is responsible for inspecting meat and poultry at processing plants to ensure the safety and wholesomeness of meat, poultry and processed egg products and that they are accurately labeled, explains Argyris Magoulas, a food safety specialist at the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline.

Scott Degeneffe, Boone County, first place in combo/specialty at 2016 Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest

I’ve long had a fascination with dairy farmers, and not just because I keep my fridge stocked with yogurt, cheese, milk and ice cream at all times.

When shopping at the grocery store, you may have noticed that the meat counter offers grass-fed beef as an alternative to conventional beef.

Farm Bureau members Jolene Pisel and her husband, Kirk, launched JoKir’s Wild Beef to sell their premium, Iowa corn-fed beef directly to customers.

On sunny summer days, customers line up outside the doors of Dan & Debbie’s Creamery in Ely, stopping for an ice cream cone and going home with a bag of cheese curds and a gallon of chocolate milk.

Thanks to livestock farmers in the area, a new business is coming to Eagle Grove, Iowa, along with 250 new families. Learn more in this edition of the Iowa Minute!

Milk is the one of the most rigorously tested, regulated and controlled foods in the United States, next to seafood, says Stephanie Clark, an associate professor and dairy food scientist at Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames.

For sandwiches, preheat a large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Butter one side each of two slices of bread. Turn buttered slices over, buttered side down, and spread jam over the second side of each bread slice.

Now that spring is finally here, I’m planning to spend as much time as possible in the garden and on my bike. So I’m trying my best to keep my energy level up by getting enough sleep, taking the time to exercise most days and making a few healthy changes in my diet.

High-protein diets remain a big trend in the health and fitness world, and for good reason.

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