by Guest | Aug 18, 2021 | Recipes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup vinegar (any type)
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 to 4 teaspoons sugar
- 1 to 2 Tablespoons seasonings (see Notes)
- 1 1/2 cups cucumber slices
Directions
- In a small saucepan, heat the vinegar, water, salt and sugar until the mixture simmers. Stir until the salt and sugar are dissolved and remove from heat.
- Place the seasonings in the bottom of a clean pint-sized glass jar. Add the cucumber slices, packing them closely together. Leave about 1/2 inch space at the top of the jar.
- Fill the jar with the warm vinegar mixture to cover the cucumbers. Close the jar with a clean lid and refrigerate for 1 to 3 days to allow flavors to develop.
- Store pickles in the refrigerator. Use within 3 months.
Notes
- Ideas for fresh seasonings: basil, cilantro, dill, garlic, ginger, hot pepper, onion, oregano, thyme.
- Ideas for dry seasonings: bay leaf, celery, cumin or dill seed, dried chili, peppercorn, pickling spice, tumeric
- Try this: 1 clove garlic, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon dill seed.
Photo and Recipe Source: https://www.foodhero.org/recipes/refrigerator-pickled-cucumbers
by Guest | Aug 18, 2021 | Eat Well
‘Tis the season of garden bounties. From tangled plants with large ripe squash to towering tomato plants studded with fruit, this time of year always seems to produce more than one can keep up with. With a bit of time and some prep, you can preserve your summer’s bounty so that it lasts all year long without going to waste. Here are a few of our favorite ways to preserve the fruit of our labor for months on end:
Freeze!
Simple as that. Most produce from your garden can be prepped and kept in your freezer. Some fruits and veggies do best blanched prior to being frozen like peaches, rhubarb, or tomatoes. This helps maintain the flavor, color, and texture. Fruits like apples and pears do best sliced before being frozen, and berries, even cherries, do best stored in the freezer as whole.
Pickle
When you think of pickles, you often think of the green crunchy slices that top your burger or sandwich, but any fruit or vegetable can be pickled. Some tasty and unexpected pickled items include carrots, zucchini and even blueberries and peaches. If you’re in a rush, you can also quick pickle items with some vinegar and salt which lengthens their shelf just a tad.
Can
If you have the right equipment, canning is an excellent way to preserve the life of your summer crops. Our friends at the OSU Extension Services are hosting a Canning Pickles, Tomatoes and Salsa workshop on Thursday, August 26 and Saturday, August 28 for those looking for a lesson. The course costs $15. More details and the sign up can be found on their website here.
Freezer Jam
Freezer jam is the easier version of jam-making and doesn’t require sterilizing jars and equipment. Typically made with fruit, sugar, water, and pectin, freezer jam is quick and easy to make and yields delicious results that you can enjoy on toast or share with friends (it makes a great gift!).
Sauce It
You can make all sorts of delicious sauces that can be stored for long periods of time. A garden tomato sauce or marinara is delicious in the colder winter months and can be frozen, or if canned, stored in a cool dark place. Apple sauce is another great staple to have around for months and allows you to enjoy your fruit all year long.
Helpful Resources:
4 Easy Ways to Preserve Fruit & Vegetables at Home | The Old Farmer’s Almanac
General Tips for Freezing Fresh Produce and Meat | Better Homes & Gardens (bhg.com)
Pickled Fruit – Waves in the Kitchen
AUTHOR: Elizabeth Parker, Tillamook Creamery Marketing, Communications, and Brand Manager
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
by Guest | Aug 11, 2021 | Recipes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups corn, (fresh cooked, frozen or canned and drained)
- 3 small tomatoes, diced (1 1/2 cups)
- ⅓ cup fat-free Italian salad dressing
- ¼ cup minced fresh basil
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Serve at room temperature or chilled.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes
- One large ear of corn makes about 1 cup of cut corn.
- Try cilantro instead of basil. Add chopped green or red peppers or zucchini.
- Serve this salad as a side dish or use as a filling for tacos, burritos or wraps.
- No basil? Try chopped cilantro.
- Make your own nonfat salad dressing by placing the ingredients below in a jar. Cover jar and shake well before adding to salad:
Dressing
- 5 Tablespoons apple juice
- 2 Tablespoons wine or cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon each: onion powder, dried basil and dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon brown or yellow mustard
Photo & Recipe Source: https://www.foodhero.org/recipes/corn-tomato-salad
by Guest | Aug 4, 2021 | Recipes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cold water
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 4 cups berries, fresh or frozen (blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, sliced strawberries or a mixture)
Directions
1. Wash hands with soap and water
2. In a medium saucepan, mix together sugar, cornstarch, water and 2 cups of berries. Mash berries if desired.
3. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until sauce starts to thicken.
4. Remove from heat and stir in remaining berries. Mash if desired.
5. Serve over pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, or yogurt.
6. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes
- Serve with Favorite Pancakes or Applesauce French Toast.
- Leftover sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
- To freeze the sauce, replace the cornstarch in the recipe with Clearjel or Clear Jel, a special type of cornstarch.
Photo & Recipe Source: https://www.foodhero.org/recipes/any-berry-sauce
by Guest | Aug 4, 2021 | Move Well
It’s no secret. Tillamook County is on the map for outdoor recreation – literally. If you are wanting to get outside for some summertime fun, the Tillamook County Trails & Recreation Map is for you!
The beauty of our natural surroundings isn’t just for visitors. It’s for the people who live here to enjoy year-round. Looking for seashells, wading in rivers and streams or walking through forest paths are all great ways to spend quality family time or for personal relaxation. Any of these activities can have the healing effects of lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and boosting happy hormones. Best of all, it costs very little to reap the restorative benefits from being out in nature.
It might surprise people to learn that many families living in Tillamook County have never been to the beach or on a local hiking trail. The reasons for this can be lack of time, transportation, or interest but often it comes down to lack of information. When we don’t have all the information we need to try something new, it can keep us from taking that first step. We may know it’s there and want to explore it but little things make the difference of actually making that happen. Is there going to be a place to park? Is the trail steep and rocky or smooth and flat? Are there bathrooms? Can I take my dog? My kids? If the answer to those questions is “I don’t know,” then we often just won’t go.
To address this need, Tillamook County Wellness worked closely with partners to create a comprehensive trails & recreation map that answers those questions. With this map, people can plan their outings in advance and feel more confident about exploring new places and activities. In addition to providing good information, the map can also help disperse activity by introducing people to new locations and recreational opportunities.
A goal of the map is to also be able to share information about areas getting too much love and attention so we can protect them from overuse. Another goal is to equip local residents with the tools to effectively communicate to visitors about safety and stewardship so everyone can enjoy their experiences safely and with the least possible impact on the natural environment. Links to resources with those messages can be found at Tillamook Coast Pledge and Visit Responsibly – Oregon Coast .
Donating and volunteering are other great ways to support protection of our natural environment. Many organizations offer work parties and giving opportunities. For more information, visit Get Involved – Trailkeepers of Oregon, Take Action – Oregon Coast Trail or Volunteer Opportunities – Oregon Coast . Tillamook County Parks also has a 501c3 foundation that accepts donations at PO Box 453, Tillamook, OR 97141.
To learn more about the map and how to use it, check out this review from the Tillamook County Pioneer’s own Outback with Backman series writer, Don Backman, who found the map to be easy to use and very informative. OUTBACK WITH BACKMAN: Tillamook County Trails & Recreation Map Winner, Handy Resource – Tillamook County Pioneer
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
