WSU Extension Q&A: Add ingredient label to homemade food gifts
Q. I would like to give some homemade food gifts to friends and family for the holidays. Any suggestions on what would be helpful to include with the food item?
A. The main suggestion is to label your gifts with information that might be important to those receiving it. Today, there are lots of people on special diets, or with specific food allergies or a food intolerance. If you are giving home-canned gifts, include the source of the canning instructions and processing information in addition to the list of ingredients.
Q. Several of my recipes call for shallots. What are shallots?
A. Shallots are members of the onion family that are grown for their mild, garlic-flavored bulbs, but belong to a different horticultural group than the onion. Shallot bulbs are usually narrow, and the plant will grow to be about 18 inches tall and often bear white or violet flowers in the early summer.
Q. I would like to start a 4-H club in my neighborhood. What do I need to do first?
A. There are two requirements. First, all volunteers are screened through an application that is processed by the Washington State Patrol. Second, all main club leaders are required, during their first year of service, to attend a new leader training course. For more information, call the Franklin County Extension office at 509-545-3511.
Q. Is cheatgrass a good feed for beef cattle?
A. It can be, but there are limitations. Intentionally grazing cheatgrass (i.e. downy brome) is problematic for several reasons. First, when cheatgrass gets into your pasture it is a symptom of other problems such as overgrazing, lack of moisture, or inadequate weed control. Second, it requires fall moisture for the seeds in the soil to germinate and takes several weeks to get big enough to make it worthwhile to graze. Regrowth in the spring can provide some early season grazing. However, it is short lived, as cheatgrass heads early and becomes dry and unpalatable. Basing a grazing system around cheatgrass in pastures is not recommended. Proper management and reseeding of the pasture will result in far greater productivity.
Questions should be called in to the WSU Extension offices in Kennewick at 735-3551 or Pasco at 545-3511.
This story was originally published December 6, 2015 at 8:15 AM with the headline "WSU Extension Q&A: Add ingredient label to homemade food gifts."