Extension for Real Life

Description

Extension for Real Life is a product of the MSU Extension Service’s Office of Agricultural Communications.

That’s a long way of saying we are professional communicators who get to talk about food, families, 4-H, flowers, and farming for a living.

Blog content is created by a core team of communicators, including Susan Collins-Smith, Ellen Graves, Natasha Haynes, Qula Madkin, Michaela Parker, and Jonathan Parrish. But we get by with a lot of help from our friends in Ag Comm and Extension!

You can reach us at 662-325-2262 or extreallife@msstate.edu

  • A close-up of a large brown Russet potato on a green plate with a white rim inside a microwave oven.

    How to Make Microwave Baked Potatoes

    When the weather begins to cool down, I start thinking of wintery foods. But let’s face it: in Mississippi, it’s not going to be cold for a while! Instead of heating up the oven, you can save time by making a “baked” potato in the microwave! (Photo by Jonathan Parrish)
  • A brown bamboo bowl filled with fried rice made with brown rice, scrambled egg, and mixed vegetables including green beans, peas, carrots and corn.

    The Food Factor | Fried Rice Makeover

    Leftover rice – whether you’ve brought it home from a local restaurant or cooked it yourself – is the perfect foundation for a fun and easy weeknight supper: fried rice. But if you’re not careful, fried rice can be chock full of calories and sodium.

    Here are some tips for making your fried rice healthier! (Photo by Jonathan Parrish)
  • A grouping of various kinds of cast-iron cookware sit on a kitchen counter.

    How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet

    Here in the South, a good cast iron skillet will never go out of style. Before using a new skillet, follow these steps to season it.
    (Photo by Jonathan Parrish.)
  • Close-up view of an ear of field corn encased in brown husk ready for harvest.

    Is this Corn Dead?

    Field corn is harvested after it has dried sufficiently, which means the husks are brown, not green like the husks of fresh sweet corn. (Photo by Kevin Hudson)
  • The ingredients and equipment to make honey lemon vinaigrette are displayed on a kitchen table, including honey, olive oil, half of a lemon, salt, pepper, minced garlic, a small glass bowl, a stainless steel whisk, and a citrus juicer.

    The Food Factor | Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

    Summertime means eating more salads. So have you ever eaten a salad and thought about changing the dressing to fit your taste? It’s easy and fun to do. And the good news is, you don’t have to make a lot to try new flavor combinations. (Photo by Jonathan Parrish/Cindy Callahan)
  • Four browned, seasoned catfish fillets on a white plate garnished with lime wedges.

    How to Make Skillet Catfish

    August is Catfish Month and when you need a quick meal on the table in no time, catfish is your friend! With some cornmeal, spices, and some olive or vegetable oil, you can pan fry some Mississippi farm-raised catfish to have supper ready in 20 minutes or less. (Photo by Jonathan Parrish/Cindy Callahan)
  • A pepper plant is shown in the garden.

    Fall and Winter Gardens Keep Produce Coming

    Your summer vegetable garden is likely winding down, but you still have time for another round of fresh vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers. (File photo by MSU Extension Service)
  • Children stand around a large garbage can while they shuck the husks and silks from ears of corn.

    Tips for Gardening with Children

    Gardens are great outdoor classrooms, and schools are increasingly embracing gardens to enhance their students’ learning. Home gardens are also perfect for hands-on outdoor experiences that are both fun and educational.  
  • Colored pencils, paper clips, tacks, markers, a ruler, scissors, and a pencil rest at the top of a chalkboard with Back-to-School Lunch Tips written on it in white chalk.

    Tips to Make Back-to-School Lunches Easy

    Students will be headed back to the classroom this month, and it’s important to make sure they have the proper nutrition to fuel their learning. (Photo by Jonathan Parrish/Cindy Callahan)
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Extension for Real Life