Category: Recreation

How to pack your cooler

Marcia Steed

Summertime often means picnic, beach, and car trip time for us! We often take a cooler with us in the car for snacks and beverages. It is important to keep foods cold and that is best achieved with a full cooler. If your cooler is not full you may want to consider adding extra ice cubes to fill it up. If your cooler doesn’t have a thick well-insulated lid you may also want to consider packing a thick towel on top of everything under the lid. If you can chill your cooler ahead of time that will help keep cold foods cold longer. If you do not have time to chill it, room temperature is more helpful than packing a warm cooler you have just retrieved from your garage or attic.
Place your food and drinks, which should be in leak-proof resealable containers or plastic bags in the bottom of the cooler first then put the ice on top. You should plan on about 1/2 pound of ice for every quart your cooler holds. Foods and drinks should be packed pre-chilled.
As the ice melts you may be tempted to drain the water out of the cooler but there is no need to do that as the cold water will also help keep the contents of the cooler chilled.
Summer is my favorite season and I am looking forward to packing up a cooler and heading out many days!

Marcia Steed

I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Home Economics Education. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and traveling.

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Food Safety, Recreation
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Tips for a safe picnic

Liz Meimann

I’m just back from a camping trip and at the State Park we stayed at there were several large picnic areas. I was wondering just how full those picnic areas would be over the Fourth of July. That got me to thinking about picnics and food safety. This is a perfect time to think about planning a safe holiday picnic.

Here are my tips for a fun, safe picnic:

Start with clean hands, cutting boards, and utensils. Soap and water are still the best way to clean your hands, utensils, and cutting boards. Remember that washing your hands with soap and water, rubbing between fingers, and washing up the arm a bit will ensure clean hands. Sing the Happy Birthday song twice or recite the alphabet so that you know you have washed them long enough. If you find yourself at an area without running water be sure to pack antibacterial wipes for hand cleaning. Hand sanitizer is not a good option, especially if your hands are soiled.

Always wash your hands after using the restroom, changing a diaper, handling garbage, touching raw meat, blowing your nose, or playing fetch with your pet.

Keep everything that touches food clean. Keep all utensils, bowls, and cutting boards clean. Use separate boards for raw meat and raw vegetables. Always use a clean plate for cooked meat; never use the same plate you used to put the raw meat on the grill to serve the cooked meat. Before you leave home, be sure to scrub all items that will touch or contain food. Wash in hot water and use an abrasive cloth (think terry cloth) or brush. Rinse well with hot water. You can sanitize with a solution made of 2 teaspoons of fresh chlorine bleach in a quart of cool water. You can put this in a spray bottle and spray the sanitizer on the items. Let the sanitizer solution sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off. Then let the items air dry.

Stay out of the danger zone. The danger zone is between 40°F and 140°F. In that temperature range, bacteria can grow exponentially. Thaw your picnic foods safely by using the refrigerator for thawing. Keep foods cold by putting dishes of salads or other foods that are temperature sensitive into a larger bowl containing ice. Keeping foods in an ice chest until you are ready to eat will also help keep food safe. Remember to get those leftovers back into the ice chest within an hour or so, depending on how hot it is the day of the picnic. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Use an instant read thermometer to know when grilled meat is safe to eat.

Follow these tips for a safer picnic this summer.

 

 

Liz Meimann

I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Food Science at Iowa State University. I love to quilt, sew, cook, and bake. I spent many years gardening, canning, and preserving food for my family when my children were at home.

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Food Safety, Holiday ideas, Recreation
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First Aid tips for kids

Liz Meimann 4 Comments

A friend’s grandchild was recently injured in a fall. Since the wound was to the mouth, there was a lot of blood involved. Accidents happen so quickly and sometimes adults are not present at the scene of the accident. As summer begins, it may be a good idea to review some basic first aid tips with your child.

A really important skill for a child is the ability to call 911 effectively that has the best crew to do first aid and CPR on the spot. The child needs to know their numbers, in order to recognize 9-1-1. You can also pre-program the number into your phone but make sure the child understands how to use the pre-programmed feature of your phone. The child also needs to be able to speak to the operator and describe the problem. It is even better if the child knows their address or the address of the accident.

In addition to knowing how to call for emergency services, it is also important to have a well-stocked first aid kit readily available. As a parent, you can create a kid-friendly first aid kit that includes essentials such as band-aids, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, and tweezers. You can also add some extra items such as ice packs, disposable gloves, and a thermometer to be better prepared for any situation. At eFirstAidSupplies, you can find a variety of first-aid kits that cater to different needs and situations. Having a well-prepared first aid kit can be ensuring that your child receives the necessary care before medical help arrives.

For young children accidents often involve bleeding. Whether a scraped knee, nosebleed, or a cut, bleeding can be a bit frightening for younger children. Teach them that when they see blood, they should apply pressure. Then they are likely to stop the bleeding before an adult can help. Teach them to use a clean cloth, if available, but if not available a bare hand will work. If they have the injured friend apply the pressure to themselves then your child will be free to go for help.

Teach the child that treating a burn means getting to some water to cool the burn. They should run cool water over the burn. Later, an adult can clean the wound and bandage it if necessary.

Review these first aid techniques with your child or grandchild so they will be prepared for the bumps and bruises of summer.

Liz Meimann

I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Food Science at Iowa State University. I love to quilt, sew, cook, and bake. I spent many years gardening, canning, and preserving food for my family when my children were at home.

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Child Development, Recreation, Safety around the home
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Time saver meals

Liz Meimann

As we spring morphs into summer, one of the things that seems to disappear is time. Kids’ track meets, sports practices, and ballgames become more frequent and family dinner time seems impossible.  We all know that a drive-thru dinner is not good for our health or our wallet. At AnswerLine, we looked at the subscription meal services as an option and we know that various grocery stores are offering help making freezer meals.  The trick is to find something that works well for your family and the time you have available.

One summer the parents of my daughters softball teammates banded together to make pot luck dinners. She had a game nearly every weeknight and Saturday.  The JV team had to be there by 5:30 pm. which didn’t leave much time to get the family fed and our daughter ready and to the ball diamond.  Our solution was to take meals to the ball diamond that parents and siblings of the players could enjoy before the games.  Parents took turns providing the main dish and side dishes.  It wasn’t too hard to make one dish or to pack the portable gas grill on game days.  Everyone enjoyed the meals because when you only need to prepare one dish it is easier to make something special.  But even a simple picnic can be packed when the timing of a game or practice makes meals at home impossible.  Enjoying a meal together, even just sandwiches and fruit, after a game or practice can make it seem special.

Another possibility would be to make a list of the quick and easy meals that your family enjoys. Some families love the breakfast at dinner time meals.  It doesn’t take long to scramble some eggs or make omelets.  Add some fruit, vegetables, or toast and you can have a balanced meal ready in a flash.  If you make a list of the simple meals you enjoy, you are able to shop so that the ingredients you need to have on hand will be there when you need them.

You can also take advantage of some quick tips to make preparing those meals faster. Consider chopping and freezing some onions in advance.  The thawed onions will be soft and really best used in cooked dishes, but if you chop and freeze them in thin layers in a freezer bag, they will be easy to measure and use when cooking in a hurry.  You can also double the amount you make on a night when time isn’t a factor and freeze the extra.  Defrost in the refrigerator during the work day and enjoy on a busy night.

Don’t forget the slow cooker during the spring or summer either. Sometimes we think it is only for making some great soup or stew on those cold winter days.  The crock pot can make your dinner while you and the family are out for the day and it can keep the house cooler when used instead of the stove.  Our friends at Spend Smart. Eat Smart. have some great recipes. Check out their entire website for some great information.  They even have an app for your smart phone to make grocery shopping easier.

Just a little bit of planning in advance can keep your family and your wallet healthier. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liz Meimann

I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Food Science at Iowa State University. I love to quilt, sew, cook, and bake. I spent many years gardening, canning, and preserving food for my family when my children were at home.

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Food Preparation, recipes, Recreation
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Visit an Iowa Farm

Marlene Geiger 1 Comment
Photo courtesy of and permission by Bloomsbury Farm, Atkins, Ia

Would your family enjoy visiting an operating farm?  A farm visit can be a tremendous learning experience and also great family fun.  Seeing how a farm operates and the effort that goes into growing crops or raising livestock provides appreciation for the food we consume daily or becomes an eye-opening experience on seeing non-traditional crops being grown.  Further its a great opportunity to try new products, foods and beverages produced from those crops.

If this sounds like something you’d like to do, check out Visit Iowa Farms at www.visitiowafarms.org where you will find a listing of farms across the state willing to host visitors.  The Visit Iowa Farms program is administered by the Value Added Agriculture Program of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Users of the site can find a farm by adventure type, county, or distance from a specific location.  Agritourism has continued to grow in Iowa and according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, there were 275 farms in the state open to the public.  Agritourism in Iowa has been growing steadily.

The site is also useful to farmers wanting to list their operation on the Visit Iowa Farms website.  Besides registering, there are also resources for business planning, marketing, and legal and regulation considerations as they set up and publicize their agritourism operation.

For more on what to do and see in rural Iowa, download the Iowa Tour Guide (2015) which gives many ideas and even planned tours through the state to see agriculture in many different forms.  Agritourism is all about connecting travelers or curiosity seekers to life down on the farm.  Check out the opportunities!  You’ll be amazed!

Photo courtesy of Jean Marie Martin and provided with permission by Loess Hills Lavender Farm, Missouri Valley, IA

Marlene Geiger

I am a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a BS in Home Economics Education and Extension and from Colorado State University with a MS in Textiles and Clothing. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, gardening, quilting, cooking, sewing, and sharing knowledge and experience with others.

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Plants to avoid this summer

Beth Marrs 2 Comments

Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are all things that we want to avoid when spending time hiking, camping or even golfing (can you tell I have looked for a few golf balls in the woods). The first and most important part of prevention is learning to identify the plants. The attached links show what these plants look like to help you to know which ones to avoid when you are out having fun!

Here are some things to remember if you come in contact with any of these plants.

  • It is important to wash the oil off as quickly as possible with soap and water. The oil enters the skin quickly and can leave skin with an itchy red rash with bumps or blisters. Make sure that you pay attention to your fingernails as well.
  • The rash does not spread by the fluid from the blisters. Once the urushiol oil has been washed off the skin it will not spread from person to person.
  • Most people don’t react to the urushiol immediately. It can vary from 6-8 hours or it may even be days before you see the rash develop.
  • All items that have come in contact with the plant oil need to be cleaned well. The oil remains on tools, clothing, shoes and pets for a very long time. If you come in contact with those items in the future it can cause the rash to return if it was not cleaned off.
  • Keep your pets from coming in contact with these plants so the urushiol doesn’t stick to their fur which can spread to you. If you think your pet has been exposed give your pet a bath and use long rubber gloves to keep from spreading it to your arms.
  • Wash all of your clothes immediately in your washing machine. Be careful to not have the clothes touch the outside part of your washing machine or the floor. If you feel those areas may have been exposed wash with soap and water. Remember to wash sleeping bags, jewelry, gloves or anything that may have come in contact with the oil.
  • Wear long sleeves, long pants and socks when you are walking in areas that may have these plants.
  • Do NOT burn poison ivy, oak or sumac to get rid of it. The resins can be spread in the smoke and anyone breathing it could have severe reactions. See a medical professional immediately if you are having trouble breathing and you think you may have been exposed to smoke from the burning of these plants.

Being out in the woods is a fun summer activity but being aware of your surroundings and able to identify these plants is important. Teach yourselves and your kids what to look for and what to do if you are exposed.

Beth Marrs

I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Adult Home Economics Education. I love to cook and entertain and spend time with my family.

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Campfire Safety Tips

Marlene Geiger 2 Comments

Campfire SafetySummer fun often includes hiking, camping, and campfires. There’s nothing like sitting around an open campfire with family and friends, roasting hot dogs on a stick, toasting marshmallows for one more s‘more, and swapping stores or singing as the evening darkens.   Keep in mind, that while it is a magical and memorable activity, it is also an activity that poses dangers.  Campfire safety is of utmost importance.

With that in mind, here are 10 great campfire safety tips provided by the US Forest Service and the American Burn Association:

  • Choose a protected spot noting the direction of the wind and fire restrictions
  • Build fires in a designated ring/pit at least 15 feet away from all flammable objects or materials
  • Keep children and pets at a safe distance with a “circle of safety” at 3 feet from the fire’s edge
  • Use long sticks or skewers to roast hotdogs and marshmallows
  • Have water and a shovel nearby
  • Keep the fire small
  • Never leave a fire unattended
  • Gather tinder, kindling, and approved firewood to start your fire; never use a flammable liquid
  • Talk to children about campfire safety
  • Completely extinguish the fire with WATER

While all of the tips are important, extinguishing the fire properly is of upmost importance. According to the US Forest Service, it is the least adhered to rule and is the leading cause of injury and destruction.  Follow Smokey Bear’s  Drown-Stir-Drown-Feel method to make sure it is done right:

  • Drown the campfire with lots water; never bury a fire with dirt or sand
  • Stir the ashes and drown with water again
  • Check to make sure the campfire is cold by holding your bare hands just above the wet ashes
  • If you feel heat, stir again and drown with water

Discover more by visiting these websites: Smokey Bear’s Campfire Safety Guide or the American Burn Association’s Campfire Safety: Cool the Coals.

 

Marlene Geiger

I am a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a BS in Home Economics Education and Extension and from Colorado State University with a MS in Textiles and Clothing. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, gardening, quilting, cooking, sewing, and sharing knowledge and experience with others.

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Recreation
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