•April 28, 2021•
Slicing into the first tomato of the season is a much anticipated moment for gardeners. Tomatoes are among the most popular fruit or vegetable plants grown in home gardens. Much of that popularity may be credited to the fact that red, ripe tomatoes have a delicious, juicy flavor that serves as the basis for all sorts of recipes. And since tomatoes can just as easily be grown in a full backyard garden or in a container on a patio or balcony, tomatoes appeal to gardeners regardless of their living situations.
While tomatoes are relatively easy to grow, they are prone to certain problems and pests. Knowledge of what to expect when planting tomatoes and how to start off on the right footing can help produce a season’s worth of delicious bounty.
· Wait until after the last average frost date. Tomatoes can be grown from seeds outdoors in warm areas, but tomato gardeners often find success starting seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date. Gradually introduce seedlings to the elements for a few hours each day, increasing the duration of time outside. Then they can be transplanted outdoors when temperatures are consistently over 60 F. Read More

•April 28, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

A co-worker who fancies himself a gastronome posted a photo and description of his dinner the other night on Facebook.
The heart of his meal was a “rib-eye marinaded overnight in 2tbsp olive oil, fresh garlic, oregano, salt and pepper, finished with butter on the grill.”
Sounds scrumptious, but one of our copy editors posted: “Mmmmm, marinated steak.”
I inquired whether use of “marinated” was a passive-aggressive spelling correction.
Her response: “Nope. I love marinated steak and steak with marinade equally.”
So diplomatic. She clearly won that battle of quips.
It should be noted “marinade” traditionally was a noun and “marinate” the verb form, but in the past decade or so “marinade” has been gaining acceptance as a verb. Read More

•April 28, 2021•
Cinco de Mayo gives people an opportunity to celebrate Mexican culture, throw a party, or at the very least, go out and indulge in Mexican food.
Cinco de Mayo is mistakenly believed to honor Mexican independence, but Mexico actually celebrates its independence in September. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza during the Franco-Mexican war. A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo has nonetheless become a global phenomenon.
Cinco de Mayo falls on a Tuesday this year. That means Cinco de Mayo coordinates perfectly with the observance of “Taco Tuesday®.” For the past 30 years, the “Taco Tuesday” trademark has belonged to Taco John’s, a Wyoming-based fast-food chain. However, the Taco Tuesday phenomenon has spread, and now Taco Tuesday is a weekly occurrence across the country, and a big marketing opportunity for many regional restaurants - not to mention a perfect chance for families to gather around the dinner table to enjoy some tacos. Read More

•April 28, 2021•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator

During the Covid pandemic, households have been and still are spending more time together at home yet may not be having as much interaction with other extended family members and friends. Some families are experiencing additional stressors, while others may be enjoying a slower pace with less outside activities. Read More