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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

  • Closeup of someone spraying mosquito repellent on their arm.

    How to Manage Mosquitoes Around Your Home

    With all the rain we’ve had this year, mosquitoes have plenty of places to breed. But you can take some easy steps to keep their numbers down.
  • Bright green sedums displayed in a gold picture frame.

    How to Make a Sedum Wall Hanging

    If you’re looking for an easy garden project this summer, look no further! Sedums, commonly referred to as succulents, are popular because they are relatively easy to care for. 
  • An Asian hornet on a rock.

    Is That a Murder Hornet?

    No, that’s not a murder hornet. But you may have seen one of these four look-alikes that do live in Mississippi.
  • Baked boneless porkchops on sliced sweet potatoes topped with orange slices in a glass baking dish

    The Food Factor: Orange Sweet Potato Pork Chops

    If you are cooking for just one or two, this recipe is for you! It features one of our favorite ingredients – Mississippi-grown sweet potatoes. You can expand this recipe as needed for a larger crowd.

    You’ll want to save this recipe for a weeknight when you have a little extra time or cook it on the weekend, as it requires browning the pork chops first, then baking them.

    I love the combination of tangy, sweet, and savory flavors! While the recipe doesn’t specify an order, The Food Factor crew put the sweet potatoes on the bottom of the baking dish with a sprinkle of cinnamon, then we topped the potatoes with the chops. Sprinkle the meat with a bit of salt and pepper before the orange slices.
  • A bowl of blueberry baked oatmeal.

    Breakfast Recipe Roundup

    My husband and I cook dinner at home 99 percent of the time. Now that we are practicing social distancing under the governor’s safer-at-home order, our kitchen is really getting a workout.
  • Hands typing on laptop keyboard

    5 Tips to Help Manage Personal Finances During COVID-19

    If social distancing measures and the shelter-in-place order have left you with reduced income or without a paycheck, we have some tips to help you take control of your finances.
  • A group of purple, yellow, and red petunias.

    Gardening Tasks for May

    With so many Mississippians staying at home more than usual, it’s the perfect time to start planning your summer landscape. 
  • A pile of blueberries

    Tips for Harvesting Blueberries

    Blueberries are a nutrient- and antioxidant-rich food. Harvesting them at the peak of ripeness ensures you get the greatest health benefits and the best taste.
  • slices of French toast on a colorful plate

    The Food Factor Makeover: French Toast

    Traditionally, French toast recipes include white bread, eggs, butter and/or oil, and maple syrup. This French toast makeover substitutes whole wheat bread for white bread, mashed banana for the egg, and cooking spray for the oil. As long as you top it with fruit instead of butter and maple syrup, this French toast has a fraction of the calories compared to the traditional option.
Mississippi State University Extension 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762

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