*Disclaimer: This is not a complete list of all of the arguments in favor of and against GMOs. I have several classes this semester that will be discussing this topic and it just happened to be on my mind when I sat down to blog today. Genetically Modified Organisms- GMOs for short- have been stirring a lot of controversy lately. But what are they and why are they so scary?…
Less Food Labeling?
December 4, 2013In November, the Wall Street Journal published an article entitled “Some Food Companies Ditch ‘Natural’ Food Label”. While this has not necessarily been the center of attention lately, especially not in Central Illinois with the recent tornado damage, it is relevant to everyone who eats food that comes from the grocery store. Basically, many food companies are choosing to remove the “natural” label from their products (think Naked juice or Goldfish). There have been lawsuits over the “natural” claim that…
Are Organic Foods Really Pesticide-Free?
November 5, 2013I’m a teaching assistant (aka- student grader) for one of the Agriculture and the Environment classes offered at Illinois State University, and today we went over organic farming, touching on the topic of pesticides used in the organic farming industry. Wait, what? Pesticides? I thought organic farming meant that there were no pesticides used? As it turns out, pesticides are used in organic farming. But they’re a different kind of pesticide than what is used in conventional farming. Organic farmers are…
#1 Fall Favorite: S’more Mix
October 31, 2013With Halloween being in just a few short hours, I decided last minute to make a whole bunch of s’more mix and package it in cute Halloween bags I had leftover….you know, in the 1 in 5,000 chance I might have a trick-or-treater knock on the door to my college apartment. I’m guessing that my roommates and co-workers will be enjoying all of it on Friday.…
College Diet: Black Bean Soup
October 24, 2013One of my favorite leftovers is this black bean soup recipe. It’s a classic that my mom used to make and submitted in a variety of our church and school cookbooks. I’ll give you the “official” recipe, and then the college student version. 🙂 BLACK BEAN SOUP:…
Country Skies vs. City Lights
October 18, 2013Being the crazy person that I am, I drove across town the other day just to take a picture of a field (#agmajorprobs!). Anyway, what was so special about this particular field that I drove across town to take a picture? I see fields all the time, and there are several relatively close to my apartment that I could have visited. Take a look at this picture of the soybean field. See anything out of the ordinary?…
Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
October 10, 2013Not only do I love agriculture, but I love to be in the kitchen. School has definitely been kicking my butt this semester, but I still find some time to relax and de-stress in the kitchen. I made these cute pumpkin rice krispie treats today for a club meeting. I saw pictures on Pinterest but couldn’t find a recipe, so I made my own. Enjoy!…
Happy Fall, Y’all!
September 19, 2013Fall is in the air at Illinois State! Even though fall doesn’t technically start until this weekend, leaves have begun to change color, the weather is cooler (seriously, I went from using the air conditioner one night to having winter blankets out the next), pumpkin everything is officially available in stores and coffee shops, and farmers are counting down the days until harvest. My favorite part of fall is definitely the agriculture. Think about it. Ag is everywhere during this…
Are We OVER-Labeling?
September 3, 2013So as I was enjoying my bowl (okay… bag) of lightly-buttered popcorn and M&Ms this evening and contemplating what I should blog about, I noticed an oval shape on the popcorn box bearing the words “WHOLE GRAIN”. The statement directly blow it says “Made with 100% whole grain popcorn”. Seriously? The manufacturer found it necessary to tell me that my popcorn was whole grain? What has this world come to?…
The Fortune of Having Problems
August 27, 2013I heard a really great quote in class today, and wanted to share. It’s really thought-provoking and makes you realize what you take for granted each and every day. For one, I am constantly stressing about assignments and assessments for class, being on time for a club meeting, or freaking out about how much I’ve committed to for the upcoming week. But I take simple, necessary things for granted. I have a car and am able to afford gas (in…