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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

  • A woman sits in a chair outside.

    How to Build Your Body’s Natural Defenses with Food

  • A family eats at a picnic table in the park.

    How to Keep Food Safe in a Cooler

    During your outdoor outings, you'll want to take some steps to ensure your food doesn't spoil in the cooler.

  • fruit salad with whipped topping in a clear glass bowl

    The Food Factor: Red, White, and Blue Salad

    Fresh, cold fruit and creamy, fat-free topping make this Red, White, & Blue Salad the perfect treat to beat the heat at your next summer gathering. A little bit of lime juice will keep the bananas from browning and adds that zesty citrus flavor I love so much!

  • Water poured over brown eggs in an electric pressure cooker.

    The Food Factor: How to Boil Eggs in an Electric Pressure Cooker

    Hard-boiled eggs are a quick, affordable, and protein-filled snack. They are the foundation for egg salad and deviled eggs and are tasty in a variety of salads. So use your electric pressure cooker to make easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs!

  • Watering colorful flowers with a blue watering can.

    Gardening Tips for July

    And just like that, we’re over halfway through the year. How is that possible? I have spent more time at my home over the past few months than I have in a long time!

  • A poison ivy vine.

    Poison Ivy vs. Virginia Creeper

    With many summer attractions closed or limited due to COVID-19, people are heading into the great outdoors. As you’re exploring nature, you don’t want to have a run-in with the dreaded poison ivy.  

  • A mixture of spices and salt in a clear glass bowl

    The Food Factor: Italian Dressing Mix

    Making your own mixes is a favorite topic here on The Food Factor. We’ve shared recipes for Ranch Dressing Mix, Taco Seasoning Mix, and Magic Meat Mixes. Today we’ve got a recipe for Italian Dressing Mix!

    True confession: I don’t usually make this dressing mix for salads. I put it in the slow cooker with roast beef, onions, and peppers for a delicious alternative to traditional pot roast.

  • A close-up of a white-tail deer's face.

    Top Deer Resistant Plants

    Oh, deer! White-tailed deer can be quite the nuisance in the garden. It’s disheartening to see deer ate the flowers in your back yard for a snack. 

  • A person off-camera pours water into a glass.

    How to Get More Water in Your Diet

    Staying hydrated plays a key role in keeping our body systems working. How much water should you drink daily?

Mississippi State University Extension 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762