As summer winds down and fall subtly begins to makes its presence known, many of us begin to take to indoor retreat of our kitchens — the place where rich aromas fill the air, recipes that have been passed down through generations are perfected and hobby meets nourishment for the mind, body and soul. Truth...
Deb Winter had inspiration strike when she launched Deb’s Brewtopia in Elkader, Iowa. Creating her dream was a leap of faith, and the business is becoming a unique feature of the community. “The funny thing is I never intended to open a taproom,” Winter said. “I have never been fond of ‘bars’ and the shenanigans...
One of the most important and many responsibilities in caregiving is to make certain that you optimize your loved one’s enjoyment in food, and ultimately, impact their favorable nutrition. Your loved one might be experiencing some changes with their appetite, and/or a health condition might be interfering with their desire to eat. The secret to...
Proper diet isn’t just about what we’re eating. It’s about everything that we’re consuming in our lives, from the way we move to our relationships, satisfaction with career, spirituality and our connectedness to the world around us. I’ve spoken with many women who know what they should be eating and how they should be moving...
Did you know that our ancestors did not eat every two hours? Did you know that they did not eat low-carb, low fat, low this and low that diets? No, they didn’t. And you can look back at pictures from the old days and see how most of them do not have much extra weight...
I had such high hopes for my garden this summer. At the end of April, I planted six little spinach plants in pots on my second-floor apartment porch, marking the beginning of my third summer of container gardening. After a mostly successful growing season last year, I was feeling good about this year’s crops. I...
A large amount of food in the U.S. is never eaten. However, there are many easy ways families and communities can eliminate food waste in their daily lives, while also protecting the environment. Each year, more than 66 trillion gallons of water is used to produce food that is estimated to be lost or wasted....
When it comes to getting your hands dirty in the kitchen, the good news is that with today’s kitchen tools, you don’t always have to. We took a spin to Galena, Ill.’s The Grateful Gourmet to check out what’s hot in the world of cooking utensils and tools. Here are nine customer and store favorites...
I’ve written a lot here in the past about not only about food, but the ways food fits into our society and plays a role in our lives. I am a deep believer in this aspect of food: How slowing down, taking the time to prepare and enjoy a meal together can truly enrich our...
There is much to desire about late summer and early fall — particularly when it comes to the vegetables in season, ripe for harvest. “My favorite thing about late summer and fall, (in relation to farming) is the first big pepper harvest,” said Andie Donnan, co-operator of Sandhill Farm with Ashley Neises. “Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers...
It was never Kimberly Thompson’s lifelong ambition to one day own a store. It was only after she moved to Galena, Ill., and started working in a retail setting that she realized that was what she wanted to do. More than 20 years later, the Grateful Gourmet continues to grow. “I moved to Galena and...
Love to chow down? Check out a few of the great foodie offerings on tap this fall in the tri-states: Wingfest 2019 Time/date: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14. Site: Farley (Iowa) City Park, 604 Seventh Ave. NE. Cost: Free, with food available for purchase. What to expect: Twelve competitors will be cooking more than...
Now that you’ve gotten through all the wine tastings and vineyard tours that have been all the rage throughout the past few years, are you ready to take your new love of wine to the next level? By now, you probably have determined which wines are your favorites, which are not and those that you...
Foods can be very comforting at times, both for their deliciousness and sentimentality. We asked readers for examples of their favorite comfort foods and received three special submissions. Grandma Bread If you have ever been to the Galena (Ill.) farmers market, you would find “Susie breads.“ This rising bread story started more than 25 years...
There’s a touch of New England that can be found in the unlikeliest of locations in downtown Dubuque. Nestled in a quiet nook on West First Street is a building that boasts red brick walls, wood floors, tin ceilings, quaint cafe tables and a blue velvet couch that perfectly ties it all together. On given...
You’ve decided that’s it’s time to buy your first home. Congratulations. You are on your way to fulfilling your dreams. Before you start house hunting though, you should have a number of things in place. You should be saving for the down payment (a down payment can be about 20% of the price of the...
