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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Celebrating a Merry (Not Scary) Halloween
One of the things I enjoy most about being a parent is the opportunity to relive all of my favorite memories from my own childhood. When I think about “Halloween pasts,” I remember how much excitement I felt about choosing my costume and going trick-or-treating with my cousins. Each week I religiously read TV Guide to see when “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” was going to air and marked my calendar so I’d be sure not to miss it. And Halloween preparations also meant my mom and I would be busy in the kitchen.

Making “Great Pumpkin Cookies” became an annual tradition. This tradition lives on, and this week my son spent some time after school baking up these delicious holiday treats in my mom’s kitchen. Because they’re as fun to eat as they are to make, we’d like to share our treasured recipe with you. I’m also including the “Charlie Brown theme song” in case you need a little background music as you bake.

What are your family’s Halloween traditions?

P.S. While the cookies are baking, your aspiring artists can try their hand at making jack-o-lantern or Frankenstein luminaries. This also makes a great “rainy day” activity. Check out this Website for more ideas to fight boredom when kids are stuck inside: http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/bored.htm#in

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT WITH HALLOWEEN LUMINARIES

Materials
- Glass jar of any size
- Paint brush or 1” foam brush
- Tissue paper, cut into approximately ½” wide strips
- Black and white construction paper (other colors as desired)
- Paper maché paste or wallpaper paste
- Electric candle
Instructions

Coat the jar with paste and smooth on tissue paper. Don’t worry about making all of the strips nice and neat; it actually makes a neat effect when strips are placed every which way. Cut out eyes, nose and mouth; adhere to jar with another coat of paste. Put on one final coat of paste, making sure all of the tissue strips are covered. You’ll see that we also used a glue gun to adhere bolts to Frankenstein’s head. Last fall my daughter and I made jack-o-lantern luminaries. For directions on how to make these, click here: http://www.craftideas.info/html/recycled_jar_pumpkin_b.html
Team Latham

October 29, 2010

Desserts, General, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

What Kind of Nut Are You?

I’m a big fan of the seeds covered with hard shells in all varieties — as a sundae topping, in baked goods, or simply by themselves! (You probably thought I was going to talk about how I’m a raving fan of Latham Seeds, eh? Instead I’m taking a break from promoting our company’s products to talk about nuts.)

National Nut Day is celebrated annually on Oct. 22. So, today I decided to devote a little time to studying this topic. I learned that people around the globe are encouraged to celebrate National Nut Day by eating large quantities of baked goods, nuts or snacks. Any holiday that encourages you to eat baked goods is worth celebrating.

Sound nutty to you? Well, I’ll admit it — I’m a nut! According to a Fisher^® Nuts personality quiz, I’m an almond to be exact. You can take this short quiz, too: http://www.fishernuts.com/fisher/press_pdfs/nut_quiz.pdf.

The Fisher® Nuts Website also includes a link to all the nut recipes you could ever dream of. For some reason, I’m drawn to the Almond Cookie Bites …

What kind of nut are you?

Team Latham

October 23, 2010

Desserts, General, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

The Joys of Country Living and Country Cooking

This week for National Pork Month we’re honoring the Gansen family – proud Iowa pork producers.

Ken and Jamie Gansen farm near Elma, Iowa, in the northeast corner of the state. They’re two youngest children, son Joey and daughter Josie, are their farming operation’s biggest advocates. Joey simply loves everything about farming, and his favorite role is serving as “resident expert” for all things related to machinery. He’s been fortunate to learn all about the original farm equipment from Grandpa Joe Gansen. Plus, young Joey is knowledgeable enough to teach his grandpa about the operation’s new technologies and is quick to offer his opinion on what equipment is “needed” to make chores easier or more efficient.

Josie’s favorite thing about living on a farm is having pets. She loves all animals, big and small. For Christmas last year, she asked Santa Claus for a house dog and/or a bottle calf. Josie must have been a good girl because Santa delivered her a Pomapoo house dog named “Buddy.” Her second wish was granted this summer when her dad brought home a bottle calf that she named “Tipper.” I can just imagine how Josie felt when Buddy – and Tipper, too – arrived. When I was 10 years old, Santa brought me a goat named “Merry” to wish me a Merry Christmas. Although that’s been more years ago than I care to admit, I can still remember how excited I was that Christmas morning!

The Gansen family wouldn’t be complete without their two Golden Retrievers, several farm cats, three horses, one pony, and a guinea pig. Joey is now in 4-H and using it as way to “plot” (as his mom would say) to add rabbits and chickens to their farm’s animal lineup. As a kid, I too plotted for rabbits and actually showed California Whites as a 4-H project. (Keep with it, Joey. Persistence pays!)

In addition to having a passion for living the country life, the Gansens have a passion for country cooking. Jamie has been serving home-made meals in the renovated farm house that has become the clubhouse at Maple Heights Golf & Country Club (www.golfelma.com), which she and Ken purchased fully in 1998.

The future site of Maple Heights Golf & Country Club in 1989.

They cater everything from wedding rehearsal dinners to birthday parties. With all of Jamie’s catering expertise, I was especially eager to see what kind of recipe she would share with me. She was generous enough to share her Pulled Pork recipe, which is a favorite at home and at the country club. Plus, she says any pulled pork that is leftover from supper makes a great harvest lunch for Ken the next day.

Jamie’s recipe is included below. I’m licking my lips already!

What’s your family’s favorite way to enjoy pork?

Team Latham

October 15, 2010

General, Pork, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

From their Family Farm to Your Family’s Table
In the tradition of celebrating National Pork Month, this week we’re honoring another Iowa farm family with a proud tradition of raising quality pork — the Wyatts, who have been a Latham® dealer for 15 years.

Frank and Susan Wyatt of Hudson, Iowa, started farming in 1970 when they purchased farm land that had been owned at one time by Frank’s grandfather. They started raising hogs by farrowing about 14 sows in a little chicken house right next to their home. Over time, they updated and expanded their farrow-to-finish operation. In 1981, Frank earned the Master Pork Producer distinction, and in 1984, he was awarded the district Hog Wild Award for outstanding promotion and support of Iowa pork.

Susan grew up a “town girl” in Reinbeck and readily admits she didn’t know much about raising hogs when she and Frank married. With her experience as a registered nurse, however, Susan offered to help with the piglets. She attended a six-week course at Hawkeye Institute of Technology where she learned how to cut tails and prevent infection, clip eye teeth and give injections.

The Wyatts are the proud parents of two married sons and the proud grandparents to six grandchildren. They’re also proud of their family tradition of raising quality pork. Susan says, “We want others to know that Iowa pork producers are committed to producing safe, wholesome food for our families and yours. We’re responsible caretakers of our animals with safeguards in place to protect the food supply. Our farms meet or exceed all environmental standards to protect the air and water in our local communities.”

Susan shared a long-time favorite recipe for ham balls with me that she says her grandchildren are always begging her to make when they visit. If kids like them, you know they’re delicious! Another one of her favorites is Orange-Glazed Pork Medallions. Both recipes are included below.

How are you celebrating National Pork Month? Feel free to leave your comments below.

Orange Glazed Pork Medallions

Serves 8

Ingredients:
- 3, 1-lb. pork tenderloins
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 2 rounded tsp. ground garlic
Directions:
1. Slash the tops of the loins diagonally (about 1/2 inch deep).
2. In a small bowl mix together salt, thyme, ginger, pepper and garlic.
3. Rub the mixture into the tops of the loins, catching the slashes.
4. Place the loins in a zip lock bag and refrigerate (night before or early in the day).
5. Heat oven to 325 degrees.
6. Place meat on rack in roasting pan and cover with foil.
7. Roast for 45 minutes.
8. While meat is roasting prepare glaze.
Glaze:

Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 T. cornstarch
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 T. flour
- 2 T. yellow mustard
- 1 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 T. soy sauce
- 2 tsp. grated orange rind
Directions:
1. Mix together in medium saucepan: sugar, cornstarch, flour, orange rind, orange juice, mustard, lemon juice, soy sauce and water. (Mix dry sugar, cornstarch and flour together before adding any liquid to avoid lumps.)
2. Stir over medium heat until thick, smooth and boiling.
3. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 1-2 minutes.
4. At the end of the first 45 minutes of baking the loins, brush meat with some of the glaze.
5. Roast another 45 minutes uncovered.
6. Remove loins to platter and cover loosely with foil for 10 minutes.
7. Slice into 1-inch medallions and serve with remaining glaze as a topping on each serving.
Team Latham

October 8, 2010

Pork, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Picking and a Grinning: Apple Harvest
This week our kids were assigned homework that our entire family enjoyed: picking apples. Fortunately, my parents’ Red Delicious tree was especially productive this year and the apples were ripe for picking. To make it even better, we were harvesting apples on a beautiful fall afternoon with blue skies, sunshine and temperatures in the upper 70s. Our energetic nine-year-olds spent as much – if not more – time climbing the tree than they did picking the fruit but that’s how the best memories are made.

As much as I love the natural goodness of a crisp apple, I have to admit that I enjoy eating them more with a little dip! Last week while I was making farm visits in northeast Iowa, I had the pleasure of also visiting with one our salesmen’s wives. She had just whipped up some dip for their kids’ afternoon snack, so I requested it for my blog. While Meg got this recipe from a Cooking Light magazine, she admits to liberally sprinkling additional toffee bits on top of the dip – more chocolate is always better, right? Her family also likes this dip with graham cracker sticks and/or animal crackers.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy apples?

Apple Fun Facts
- Apples come in all shades of reds, greens, yellows.
- Apples are grown in all 50 states.
- Apples are grown commercially in 36 states.
- 100 varieties of apples are grown commercially in the United States.
- 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States.
- 7,500 varieties of apples are grown throughout the world.
http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/National_apple_month.html
Team Latham

September 17, 2010

Desserts, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Cool, Fall Days Call for Apple Crisp

As I walked our dog along the creek, I couldn’t help but think of all the things I love about early fall. I love how the morning air is crisp and cool but the afternoon temperatures are pleasantly warm without all of the humidity we experience in the heat of summer. I get a kick out of watching children play touch football in our backyard. I enjoy decorating for fall and picking pumpkins. I marvel at the number of Monarchs resting on my flowers and delight when I find their eggs on the backside of leaves. I find beauty in the countryside as crops mature and leaves begin to turn color.

Most of all, I enjoy the fruits of this season. There’s nothing better than fresh apple cider and all of the wonderful home-made treats that are synonymous (at least to me) with fall harvest. My mom made the following recipe last weekend, and I thought it was simply delicious. I hope you’ll agree!

What do you enjoy most about fall?

Team Latham

September 10, 2010

Desserts, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes

Labor Day Weekend and large gatherings? Back-to-school snacks? End-of-the-summer bounty?

It was tough choosing just one of these topics to feature in my weekly recipe blog until I looked through an old Taste of Home magazine. I was searching for a new idea on how to put my family’s bountiful zucchini to good use when a photograph of a delectable-looking chocolate cupcake with a pull-quote caught my attention. The lady who submitted the recipe wrote, “I’m always asked for this recipe, which makes a tasty treat after school, after lunch or after supper. My grandkids love these cupcakes and don’t believe there are veggies in them!”

With Labor Day and family get-togethers around the corner, I thought cupcakes would be the perfect addition to a family picnic. Not to mention, getting kids to eat veggies without even knowing it is like a dream come to true! I thought to myself, “I don’t even have to count this as a dessert. Why these cupcakes really count as a serving of vegetables rather than a dessert. Perhaps I could eat two of them – one from the fruit/vegetable group and one as dessert.” (How’s that for rationalization, ladies? Of course, I won’t share this thought with my kids!)

What’s your favorite way to sneak veggies to your kids?

Team Latham

September 3, 2010

Desserts, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Savoring the Last of Summer
Our two children headed back to school on Monday, which always signals that summer is coming to an end. This weekend our family will savor as much summer-time fun as possible. With Saturday’s forecast calling for sunshine and 85 degrees, we’ll make one last trip to a nearby water park. I’ll marinate some Iowa chops, so they’re ready to grill that evening. (See marinade recipe below.) I’m also looking forward a little “me time” in the kitchen during the early morning hours, so I can make one of my all-time, favorite desserts: Colorado Peach Pie.

One reason this recipe is one of my favorites is because it’s so delicious. It’s unlike most peach pies because it has a sour cream filling. It tastes so creamy and delicious (in my humble opinion). Another reason I love this recipe is because I can “cheat” on the pie crust. There’s no need to roll out a pie crust, yet one can savor a flakey crust.

Just thinking about Saturday’s meal is making my mouth water. Perhaps I need to change my plan … I could leave work early today and have fresh peach pie for supper tonight!

How does your family savor what’s left of summer?

Lemon Pepper Pork Chops

Ingredients
- 4 pork chops, cut 1½-inches thick
- ¼ c. red wine vinegar
- ¼ c. cooking oil
- 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp. lemon pepper
- ¼ tsp. garlic power
Directions
1. In a self-sealing plastic bag, combine vinegar, cooking oil, Worcestershire sauce, lemon pepper and garlic powder.
2. Use a fork to poke holes in the chops.
3. Next place the chops in the bag, seal and refrigerate them for a minimum of 30 minutes but overnight is even better.
4. Remove chops from marinade and grill.
5. Pork chops should be cooked to medium doneness of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Team Latham

August 27, 2010

Desserts, General, Pork, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Bridal Luncheon Favorites
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, which has been family-owned and operated for more than 60 years, is deeply rooted in tradition. Tradition, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is a customary pattern, thought, action or behavior that is handed down from generation to generation.

With this in mind, it’s only fitting that we would take time during the week of our annual dealer meeting to celebrate another time-honored tradition — a bridal shower. While it was a crazy week, I couldn’t think of a better reason to take some time to slow down and enjoy company. Okay, so slowing down wasn’t really in the picture as you can see by the number of recipes that I made, but I was in good company!

The guest of honor at our bridal luncheon was Laura Larson, marketing coordinator for Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. Laura was instrumental in helping plan the ladies programming during our Dealer Kickoff. When you consider she was working long hours planning company events all the while she was planning her own wedding, she definitely deserved some pampering.

Menu items at the shower included chicken salad sandwiches served on croissants, frozen fruit salad and a crisp vegetable salad. Recipes for all three are included below. We hope these perfect-for-summer foods will help create a few happy memories in your home!

Happy memories are also what we wish for Laura and her fiancé, a Latham^® dealer (further evidence that he’s one smart cookie!). The two of them will exchange their vows tomorrow. Congratulations and best wishes, Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham!

Summer Chicken Salad

Ingredients:
- 8 chicken breasts
- 2 c. bow tie pasta
- 2 c. seedless grapes
- 1 c. celery, diced
- ½ c. slivered almonds
- ½ c. shredded Parmesan
Dressing:
- ½ c. Miracle Whip
- ¼ c. Vidalia onion vinaigrette
- ¼ c. Ranch dressing
- 1 T. curry
Directions:
1. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic and then broil until done. Cut chicken into bite-sized chunks. Cook pasta according to directions. Mix chicken, pasta, grapes, celery, almonds and cheese.
2. Mix together salad dressing ingredients and toss in chicken mixture. You may need to add more dressing, depending on how big your chicken breasts were and how moist you like your chicken salad.
3. Top with a leaf of Romaine lettuce.
*For a new twist, try serving this chicken salad in a waffle cone. It also tastes delicious when served on a bagel or in a croissant.

Vegetable Salad

Ingredients:
- 1 bag of frozen California Mix vegetables, parboiled
- 1 can black olives, drained
- 1 can green olives, drained
- 1 can mushrooms, drained
- 1 c. diced tomatoes
- ½ c. chopped onion
Dressing:
- 1 package of dry Hidden Valley Ranch
- 2/3 c. oil
- ¼ c. vinegar
Directions:

Mix all of the vegetables together and pour dressing over the top. Refrigerate for two hours before serving.
Team Latham

August 13, 2010

General, Poultry, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Chocolate Zucchini Bread
One of my favorite things about summer is the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. I enjoy adjusting our menus to incorporate whatever is in season, and right now, that means zucchini! Try out this delicious recipe for Chocolate Zucchini Bread. While it’s baking, your kids can try out the Corn Putty recipe below for a few minutes of fun!

Corn Putty

Play with it like clay, then watch it become liquid again!
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water + 1 tablespoon water
- Food coloring
Blend mixture with fork. It should flow when the bowl is tipped but feel solid when you touch it. If it’s too thick, add a little water. If it’s too runny, add a little cornstarch.

Recipe provided by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.
Team Latham

August 6, 2010

Desserts, General, Recipes, Sides

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Celebrating a Merry (Not Scary) Halloween

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT WITH HALLOWEEN LUMINARIES

Materials

Instructions

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

What Kind of Nut Are You?

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

The Joys of Country Living and Country Cooking

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

From their Family Farm to Your Family’s Table

Orange Glazed Pork Medallions

Glaze:

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Picking and a Grinning: Apple Harvest

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Cool, Fall Days Call for Apple Crisp

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Savoring the Last of Summer

Lemon Pepper Pork Chops

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Bridal Luncheon Favorites

Summer Chicken Salad

Vegetable Salad

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Corn Putty

Recipe provided by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.