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Farmer’s Dinner Theatre

Cooperative Extension Service

“Kentucky Landscape” 1832 James Pierce Barton

This project was created a few years ago in Kentucky to bring awareness to farm safety  through a dinner theatre is continuing to gain momentum in rural communities. The focus now is more on farm mental health and wellness. 

https://youtu.be/ztDxdsWW4q0?si=qaQ6OTpKSSP2mMY3

Standards Kentucky


Morrill Land Grant Act

This program has been adopted or implemented by extension services and related organizations in several other states. This initiative uses short plays performed during a community dinner to educate farmers and their families on health, safety, mental health, and farm-related issues in an engaging, non-traditional way:

  • Nebraska — Cooperative Extension services have hosted events as part of the program’s expansion.
  • North Carolina — The program is active through local extension efforts.
  • Tennessee — Events have been held, often in collaboration with extension agents.
  • Virginia — Particularly notable in the Shenandoah Valley, where Virginia Cooperative Extension offices (e.g., in Rockingham County) partnered with local groups like Valley Urgent Care and Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters to organize Farm Safety Dinner Theaters, adapting the UK model for community-based participatory approaches.

The program is designed to be replicable nationwide. The University of Kentucky provides an online Farmers Dinner Theater Toolkit for any cooperative extension service, community group, or organization to stage their own events, customizing scripts to local needs. This has enabled wider adoption beyond the original sites. These efforts focus on helping farmers by addressing critical topics like injury prevention, hearing loss, skin cancer, stress, and suicide awareness in a social, farmer-friendly setting that encourages discussion and behavior change.

Split Pea Soup & Ham

Oklahoma Commercial Kitchen Requirements

Ingredients:

1 pound dried split peas, rinsed and picked over
1 ham hock, ham bone, or 1 pound diced ham
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: thyme, parsley, or other herbs for flavor

Instructions:

Prepare the ingredients: Rinse the split peas under cold water and pick out any debris. Chop the onion, carrots, and celery. Mince the garlic.

Sauté aromatic vegetables: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.

Add split peas and broth: Add the rinsed split peas to the pot, along with the ham hock, ham bone, or diced ham. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth. Add bay leaves and any other herbs you’re using.

Simmer the soup: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the split peas are tender and the soup has thickened, about 1 to 1.5 hours. If using a ham hock or bone, remove it from the soup once the meat is falling off the bone; shred the meat and return it to the pot.

Season to taste: Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as needed. Adjust any other seasonings to your liking.

Serve: Remove the bay leaves before serving. Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy hot. Optionally, you can garnish with chopped fresh parsley or a drizzle of olive oil.


Tips:

You can customize the soup by adding other vegetables like potatoes or leeks.
For a vegetarian version, omit the ham and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Split pea soup tends to thicken as it sits, so you may need to add more broth or water when reheating leftovers.

Standards Oklahoma

Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

Standards Wyoming

 

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1 pound beef stewing meat trimmed and cut into inch cubes
  • 5 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 3 1/2 cups beef broth homemade or low-sodium canned
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 medium onion peeled and chopped
  • 5 medium carrots peeled and cut into 1/4 inch rounds
  • 2 large baking potatoes peeled and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Instructions

  • Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

  • Combine the flour and pepper in a bowl, add the beef and toss to coat well. Heat 3 teaspoons of the oil in a large pot. Add the beef a few pieces at a time; do not overcrowd. Cook, turning the pieces until beef is browned on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch; add more oil as needed between batches.

  • Wash the counter and utensils that touched the raw meat. Wash hands with soap and water after handling raw meat.

  • Remove the beef from the pot and add the vinegar and wine. Cook over medium-high heat, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Add the beef, beef broth, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer.

  • Cover the pot and cook, skimming broth from time to time, until the beef is tender, about 1 1/2 hours.

  • While the beef is cooking, scrub the onion, carrots, and potatoes with a clean vegetable brush under cold running water. Prepare vegetables as directed in the ingredients.

  • Add the onions and carrots to the pot and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Add the potatoes and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes more. Add broth or water if the stew is dry. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Serve immediately.

Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

Wyoming

Meatloaf

Standards Illinois

Meatloaf is traced back to ancient times when people started combining ground meat with other ingredients for a more economical and substantial meal.

Colonial America: The concept of mixing ground meat with breadcrumbs or grains dates back to medieval Europe. When settlers arrived in North America, they adapted these techniques to the ingredients available to them, such as native grains and game meats.

19th Century: As meat grinders became more widely available in the 19th century, the preparation of ground meat dishes became easier. Meatloaf gained popularity during this time, with regional variations emerging across the United States. Families would incorporate various seasonings, herbs, and fillers based on local ingredients and preferences.

World War II and Post-War Era: Meatloaf became even more popular during World War II and the post-war era due to its affordability and versatility. Families could stretch a small amount of meat by combining it with breadcrumbs, rice, or oats, making it an economical choice during times of rationing.

1950s and 1960s: Meatloaf reached its peak of popularity in the mid-20th century, becoming a staple of American home cooking. The dish was often featured in cookbooks and advertisements, showcasing its versatility and ease of preparation.

Over time, meatloaf recipes have evolved with regional and personal preferences. Some variations include using different meats (beef, pork, veal, or a combination), adding vegetables, experimenting with various seasonings, and glazing with sauces.

 

Campus Dining recipe: Meatloaf

Ingredients:

Celery, chopped fine, 1 & 1/2 oz.
Yellow onions, chopped fine, 2 & 3/4 oz.
Ground beef, 2 lbs.
Eggs, 2 whole
Ketchup, 2 & 1/3 Tbsp.
Mustard, 2 3/8 tsp.
Worcestershire sauce, 1 1/8 tsp.
Italian seasoning, 5/8 tsp.
Bread crumbs, plain, 3 & 1/2 oz.
Kosher salt, 3/8 tsp.
Black pepper, 1/4 tsp.
Topping

Ketchup, 1 & 1/2 oz.
Water, 2 3/8 tsp.
Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Place ground beef in mixing bowl. Add eggs and combine.

Add ketchup (2 & 1/3 Tbsp.), mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, onions, celery, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine. Meatloaf should be firm. If mixture is not, add more bread crumbs.

Place meatloaf in a loaf pan. Make sure it is spread evenly.

Bake for about 45 minutes, uncovered. Remove from oven.

Combine ketchup (1 & 1/2 oz.) and water. Spread over meatloaf.

Return to oven for another 15-20 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 155 degrees.

Let the meatloaf rest for 30 minutes prior to cutting.

Illinois

Healthier Hot Chocolate Recipe (VGT, GF)

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Inglenook

K-12 Schools with Fireplaces as a Library Focal Point

The home is the empire! There is no peace more delightful than one's own fireplace. - Marcus Tullius Cicero

"Firelight magnifies the soul of a room, and it is there that life unfolds in its purest form" -- Thomas HardyRobert Frost: "Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice."

An inglenook is an intimate space typically found beside a fireplace. Inglenooks often have built-in seating or benches, providing a comfortable spot for people to gather around the warmth of the fire.  Originally inspired by cooking, but over time, they became more functional as spaces for relaxation, reflection, reading and socializing.

Today at the usual hour we examine that state of best practice literature for their safety and sustainability,

The codes, standards and guidelines that track accepted best practice:

ASME

ASME B31.9 – Building Services Piping

ASME B31.8 – Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems

ASTM

ASTM E2726 – Standard Terminology Relating to Chimneys and Ventilation Systems

ASTM E2558 – Standard Test Method for Determining Particulate Matter Emissions from Fires in Wood-Burning Fireplaces

AGA

Natural Gas Transmission & Distribution

Environmental Protection Agency

EPA Emission Standards (for Wood Stoves)

Compliance Requirements for Residential Wood Heaters

ICC

International Building Code: Chapter 21 Masonry

International Fuel Gas Code

IEEE

A Dynamic Equivalent Energy Storage Model of Natural Gas Networks for Joint Optimal Dispatch of Electricity-Gas Systems

NFPA

NFPA 221 Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances

NFPA 10 Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers

Underwriters Laboratories

UL 127 for factory-built fireplaces

UL 103 for chimney systems

United States Department of Energy

Fireplaces, Proper Ventilation for New Wood-Burning Fireplaces 

“Fire at Full Moon” 1933 | Paul Klee

Representative Specifications:

University of Vermont: Ignite Your Knowledge of Fireplace Safety

City of Chicago: Gas Distribution Piping Inside of Buildings

University of Rochester: Fire Place Safety

University of Michigan

Related:

Town Gas

 

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