Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Articles written by Vicki Hayman


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  • UW Extension

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

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Jan 18, 2024

    A meal of chicken and dumplings creates a sense of coziness. Chicken and dumplings combine cooked chicken simmered with dumplings in a flavorful, creamy broth. Additional vegetables, like carrots, onion, and celery, are also routinely part of the recipe, adding savoriness. Herbs and seasonings are also often added to brighten the flavor. Avoid flavorless chicken and doughy dumplings. With these top tips, you can ensure your chicken and dumplings are a phenomenal meal. Chicken – Rather than usi...

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Dec 21, 2023

    Prime rib roast is the undisputed king when it comes to a large cut of beef. Prime rib is a spectacular centerpiece for a holiday dinner. Prime rib is expensive because it’s a highly desirable, delectable meat cut known for being juicy, flavorful and tender. However, if you have ever had a well-cooked cut of prime rib, you know it is worth every penny for this beautiful, show-stopping piece of meat. The prime rib is a tender, flavorful roast cut from the center of the rib section of the animal. It is incredibly flavorful and juicy because it...

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, Community Vitality and Health Educator|Nov 2, 2023

    Gumbo isn’t that just Jambalaya? Gumbo is not the same as Jambalaya, the main difference is the use of rice in each dish. Gumbo is a soup or stew over rice while Jambalaya is cooked with the rice in the dish. Gumbo should be less rice than liquid and Jambalaya should not be mushy or liquid. Gumbo is a Cajun and Creole specialty throughout the state of Louisiana. Gumbo is a stew made from seafood, meat or vegetables that is served over hot rice. It can be made thicker with okra, filé or a roux. The best part about Gumbo is that it can be...

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman|Oct 12, 2023

    CHOP SUEY Chop suey is a classic American Chinese-style stir-fry dish. It is an excellent recipe for beginner cooks looking to prepare Chinese food at home or cooks who want to experiment with flavors and ingredients. Chop suey is an incredibly versatile meal, and you can easily substitute your favorite ingredients, making it inexpensive, flexible, and always delicious! In several Chinese dialects, chop suey can be translated to “odds and ends.” Chop suey traditionally features meat, eggs, and leafy or green vegetables like cabbage and...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • Talking Thanksgiving turkey

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension Educator|Nov 18, 2021

    There is no doubt that a turkey is the symbol of Thanksgiving. I have a number of safe shortcuts you can take in preparing your holiday turkey and can decrease the time spent in preparation. Use these tips to prepare a turkey that guests will gobble up! When shopping for your turkey, decide on fresh or frozen. Buy a frozen turkey early to thaw it. Keep it frozen at 0°F until ready to thaw for use. To save the time and effort required to thaw a turkey, order or purchase a fresh bird ahead of time and pick it up one or two days before you’ll...

  • No milk? Milk substitutes

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension|May 7, 2020

    As people practice self-isolation amid the pandemic and stores run low on certain foods, you may find yourself without baking and cooking staples. What do you do if you don’t have milk? If you are making a recipe that calls for milk, you need to find a substitute for it. You have options. 10 Milk Substitutes 1. Evaporated milk To use it in place of milk, mix with an equal amount of water in a 1:1 ratio. Evaporated milk is shelf-stable canned cow milk that has about 60 percent of the water removed. When evaporated milk is mixed with water, it...

  • UW Extension

    Vicki Hayman, UW Extension Food and Nutrition|Oct 10, 2019

    Forget everything you think you know about tacos! In honor of National Taco Day, October 4, let’s look at the history of tacos, what makes an authentic taco, and consider the limitless variations of this delicious food. Some historians say the Spanish introduced tacos to Mexico, but anthropologists say there is evidence of people in Mexico eating tacos filled with small fish, locusts, and snails before the 16th century. Authentic, traditional tacos are almost always served in soft tortillas. The hard shell taco Americans know today was...

  • Storing bread for maximum freshness

    Submitted by Vicki Hayman, UW Extension Food and Nutrition|Jun 6, 2019

    Do you enjoy fresh bakery bread or making it yourself? A loaf of bread purchased at a supermarket is made with preservatives, which serve to prolong the product shelf life. Homemade bread made without added preservatives will grow mold quicker than a store-bought one. Today, I will share tips on how to store bread, how to freeze bread, and how to refresh bread so that it tastes fresh baked. Bread usually tastes best the day it is made. How to store bread Allow freshly baked bread to cool completely to room temperature before slicing or...

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