Pumpkin Bars – A Party-Friendly Alternative to Pumpkin Pie!

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

Fall is always my favorite time to make desserts. I love the spicy, cinnamony smell that fills the house every time my mom and I bake pumpkin pies and other sweets. While baking anything is always fun, one of my favorite recipes to make is pumpkin bars.

These are basically pumpkin pie in cake form with a cream cheese frosting, and they can be cut up so nicely into individual bars which makes them perfect for passing around to lots of guests at holiday gatherings!

Apple Annie’s Fall Pumpkin Celebration in Willcox, AZ:
Old-fashioned family fun picking your own pumpkins fall vegetables, and apples.
The times and dates of events vary, so for information call 520.384.4685 or visit AppleAnnies.com

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

 

Bars:

  • 4 Eggs
  • 1 & 2/3 C. Sugar
  • 1 C. Canola Oil
  • 15 oz Can of Pumpkin Puree
  • 2 C. Flour
  • 2 tsp. Baking Powder
  • 2 tsp. Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • 1 tsp. Baking Soda

In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients and then add to pumpkin mixture and beat until smooth. Bake in a greased 9 X 13 pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool completely and cut into bars before frosting.

Frosting:

  • 8 oz Cream Cheese
  • 1/2 C. Softened Butter
  • 2 C. Powder Sugar
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla

Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla. Can either be spread on top of the bars or piped on using a piping bag and tip.

There are lots of other fall articles and delicious fall recipes on the Fill Your Plate website! Check them out here!

Share This:
Posted in Fill Your Plate, In Season | Tagged | Leave a comment

Pumpkin Patches in Arizona!

Posted on September 25, 2023 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

There’s no better way to get into the fall mood and enjoy the cooler temperatures outside than to go to a pumpkin patch. From fresh pumpkins and other produce to hayrides, and corn mazes, to cute photo opportunities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

October is just around the corner so it’s time to plan your weekend outings now.

Arizona has lots of local pumpkin patches all over the state. Here are a few you might consider checking out!

Arizona In Season Produce

Check out this list of pumpkin patches this October along with our delicious recipes on Fill Your Plate (photo credit:BigStockPhoto.com)

 

There are so many opportunities to experience all that Arizona agriculture has to offer, pumpkin patches being one of them! For more on fall activities as well as Arizona agriculture, check out the Fill Your Plate website!

Share This:
Posted in Fill Your Plate, In Season, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Tips For Exercising in the Heat

Posted on September 22, 2023 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

When it comes to exercise, one of my favorite things to do is to go on a walk or a run in the mornings before I have to leave for work. Usually, the weather is pretty nice that early in the day. But as we’ve gotten into the summer months, it seems no matter how early you get up, it’s always hot outside, which can put a little damper on your exercise goals and can put you at risk for overheating your body. So, here are a few tips on how to keep exercising, but also stay cool at the same time!

Try early morning in Arizona or when the sun is setting to try an avoid the heat of the day.

Before and During Your Workout:

  • Stay well-nourished and hydrated
  • Dress in loose, light clothing
  • Choose a workout time when the sun is either rising or setting

After Your Workout:

  • Stretch
  • Breathe
  • Take a cold shower
  • Re-fuel your body with a snack

Just because it’s warm outside doesn’t mean we have to give up entirely on getting out outdoor exercise in! Just take a few extra steps to make sure that you are able to stay comfortable and healthy as you burn those calories!

For more articles on exercise, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!

Share This:
Posted in Health Tips | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Composting is an Easy Way to Reduce Food Waste!

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

On farm operations, composting becomes more and more valuable.

When you peel vegetables or cut up fruits, do you ever feel bad about all the peels and cuttings just going into the trash can? It can feel wasteful not to put them to another use. One way to keep your food scraps from ending up in the trash can is to compost them and use the compost for gardening!

Composting is the process where food scraps, leaves, and other organic materials decompose into the soil. The result is rich, nutrient-filled soil that helps plants to thrive. It is surprisingly simple to do and doesn’t require many supplies, as all you really do is create a pile and keep adding to it. Depending on the amount of space that you must dedicate to your compost, you can either just create a pile directly on the ground or use a bin to keep it more contained. Just make sure that wherever you put it has partial shade and plenty of drainage.

After you create your pile, all you must do to maintain it is to keep a balance of brown material such as leaves and twigs, and green materials such as fruit and veggie scraps. It’s also important to keep it moist and give it a stir regularly, about every 4-7 days!

Here are some ideas of good things to add to your compost:

  • Fruit and veggies scraps
  • Rotten fruits and veggies
  • Paper products
  • Eggshells
  • Leaves and grass
  • Tea bags and coffee grounds

When it comes to using your compost, you can sprinkle it over your plants, mix it into the soil, or use it in place of mulch! My mom loves to garden and is a big proponent of composting and using it for her plants. It’s a cool process to watch scraps be used to grow fresh, delicious produce!

The University of Arizona Extension program in all our Arizona counties offers Master Gardener courses that include composting practices. Additionally, composting resources can be found on its websites.

For more articles on gardening, reducing food waste, and produce, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!

Share This:
Posted in Health Tips | Tagged | Leave a comment

Exercise is an Effective Treatment for Mental Health Conditions

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

We’ve long known that getting adequate exercise is vital to our overall health. But did you know that the benefits of lifting weights, running, stretching, and more go further than just improving our physique? It has been shown that exercise is an amazing treatment for mental health issues, possibly even the best option available.

physical exercise

Get physical to stay mentally healthy as well as physically healthy.  (photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com)

Researchers looked at the results of almost 100 different studies that have been done previously on exercise and its impact on mental health. After comparing the findings of each individual study in this meta-analysis, researchers concluded that exercise is very effective, if not the most effective at treating mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

Interestingly, specific exercises help with specific mental health conditions. For example, resistance training is great at treating depression, while more focused exercise such as yoga is better for anxiety.  They also found that shorter sessions of moderate to high-intensity exercise were most effective for the overall treatment of mental health issues rather than long and slow sessions.

So, grab a set of weights or throw on some running shoes and get moving! Not only will your physical health benefit from it, but also your mental health.

For more articles about exercise, check out the following from the Fill Your Plate blog!

  1. The Weekend Exercise Warrior: It’s Better than Nothing – Fill Your Plate Blog
  2. Cardio: The Best Exercise – Fill Your Plate Blog
  3. Fun Ways to Exercise This Summer (For All Ages!) – Fill Your Plate Blog
  4. Exercise and Alzheimer’s – Fill Your Plate Blog
Share This:
Posted in Health Tips | Tagged , | Leave a comment