Halloween

If you haven’t discovered the joy of making pâte à choux yet, let me introduce you to your new holiday best friend. This pastry dough is not only simple to master, but incredibly versatile.

As Halloween approaches and the ghosts begin to roam, why not conjure up a wickedly delicious twist on a classic treat? Let’s take deviled eggs and dress them up for Halloween — Deviled Monster Eggs.

Despite the antiquated greeting and old-fashioned art style, this card has familiar Halloween icons you might see on today’s decorations: a child in costume, jack-o’-lanterns, an owl, black cats and a full moon.

It has been quite a run. This harvest is going to go in the history books for the ease of getting things done. By Halloween, there won’t’ be much left around here.

We hosted a farm and mill tour as part of our county’s Farm Stroll. The local University of Illinois Extension office coordinates the day with small farms and more in Boone County participating.

When the alarm goes off at 3 o’clock in the morning, volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians answer the call. They roll out of bed, pull on their clothes and speed to the fire station.

The mill and store are very busy getting ready for Small Business Saturday. This special shopping day is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It is a chance to support local businesses.

My philosophy is I need something to get me motivated every morning. What do all you grain farmers use as motivation after harvest?

On my way to Kansas City a couple of weeks ago, I stopped at a Dollar General store to pick up some Halloween candy for the kids that come by our stalls at the American Royal cattle show.

It’s been really pretty good harvest weather. On Oct. 9 and 10, it rained about two-tenths and that let everybody stop for a day and get caught up with maintenance and hauling some grain and that kind of stuff.

As the autumn air turns cool and crisp, it’s time to warm your soul with a hearty bowl of Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili.

When Halloween approaches, it’s time to look into the spooky side of antiques. While there are plenty of antique decorations and toys made specifically for Halloween, you can see related symbols in more everyday pieces.

Shining red and yellow eyes peer from the dancing shadows. This could be a scene from a haunted forest — or a cozy living room fireplace.

As a leader in the ag community, Mark Hines has witnessed farmers’ ability to mobilize and help others many times. But he has an even greater appreciation for such care after an unfortunate harvest accident landed the McLean County Farm Bureau president in the hospital.

With Halloween and the midterm election in the rearview, I’m ready for the holiday season to begin! There is much for which to be grateful this Thanksgiving. I love the holiday season first and foremost because Christmas celebrates the birth of my Savior.

Meringue is a light, airy and beautifully sweet French dessert made from stiffly whipped egg whites and sugar. Many people think it’s a very difficult and temperamental technique, yet it’s actually quite simple.

National reports of fungus and wet weather threatening U.S. pumpkin crops had pumpkin lovers spooked ahead of Halloween and Thanksgiving. But pumpkin farmers and experts said there is nothing to fear locally.

Weather is still the main topic of my article this week. We’ve seen more rain move in across our area, dumping several inches of rain throughout our geography again. It’s becoming a real worry for us and a lot of surrounding farmers in our area about the uncertainty around getting crops out.

It’s a continuing hot trend in easy holiday entertaining — charcuterie boards overflowing with wonderful nibbly-noshy goodies. A charcuterie board is essentially a lavish meat, cheese and cracker board.

From pumpkin and apple picking to chats with Santa, fall and winter is a great time to visit Fair Oaks Farms.

Kids everywhere love just about anything that’s gooey, slithery and slimy. That’s probably why this recipe for “gooey goop” is such a crowd pleaser when you get together with friends, especially at a Halloween party. It’s quick, easy and creates lots of laughter. What could be better?

Halloween is becoming one of the most popular holidays for collectors. Of course, children still dress in costumes and go door to door for treats, but the holiday items collectors are more interested in are the decorations that are created each year.

It’s that time of year when pumpkins are being harvested and readying to carve. And while carving a pumpkin can be a fun, festive, fall family event — as long as you know what you’re doing — it’s important to do so safely.