LiveWell Vermont

Are you looking for a healthy side dish for Thanksgiving dinner? This salad pairs well with many fall and winter dishes or on it's own with added protein!   Kale, Butternut Squash, and Apple Salad with Maple Dressing Ingredients: Salad 8 cups chopped kale leaves 1 apple cut into matchsticks 1 cup cubed and roasted butternut squash, cooled 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion 1/3 cup crumbled feta (optional) 1/4 cup chopped pecans, roasted Dressing 2 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar 2 tsp Pure maple syrup 1Tbsp Dijon mustard Salt and Pepper Directions In a large bowl, toss kale with half the dressing. Add remaining ingredients and toss with the rest of the dressing. Serve immediately.

Sweet Potato Muffins Ingredients: 1/2 cup raisins 1/3 cup apple cider or juice 1 medium sweet potato peeled 1 medium tart apple peeled 2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup or sweetener of choice 2 tsp baking soda 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp salt 3 large eggs, beaten 3/4 cup coconut oil 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut  1/4 cup rolled oats Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Warm up juice or cider and add raisins on stove or in the microwave. Once the cider is warm, plump the raisins by adding them to the cider and setting aside.  Grate the sweet potato and apple and set aside.  Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs, coconut oil, vanilla, raisins, and juice. Fold in the sweet potato, apple, walnuts, and coconut.  Spoon batter into lined muffin pans. Sprinkl...

Fall is the time of year to pick your own apples. Choosing your favorite to bring home is truly based upon how you want to enjoy them. Check out the many varieties below to get the most out of this year's apple season! MCINTOSH This is a crispy red apple with bright white flesh and a refreshing sweet flavor. It is the number I selling apple in the northeast. The apple is crispy and filled with juice making it the perfect snack for the fall. McIntosh apples originated from Saint Lawrence valley of Canada Introduced in 1820 Bright red skin with a bit of green and a bright white flesh Fruit size is small, medium, and large Great for fresh eating, and cooking It will store for a month or more when kept cool Harvest in mid to late season C ORTLAND One of the more successful McIntosh off springs. Cortland has all the usual characteristics, including sweetness and marvelous flavor. Nice colorful apple that is crispy and filled with juice making it perfect for snacks for the fall. Cort...

If you think back about last spring, it started early after a mild winter and the spring changed to a summer that was hot, humid and dry. Now fall is almost here and the weather continues to stay mild, so entomologists from across the nation are finding that the tick population is still building--and that could mean major problems for next year. Because it got so warm so early, the ticks came out of dormancy early and have had extra time to mature, mate, and prepare for the egg-laying season for next spring. Right now, the adult ticks are still feeding in preparation for a long winter sleep to prepare for the egg laying in the spring. Because of the mild year, few ticks have died due to weather conditions, and populations have soared to record highs. Here is the life cycle of a tick and how it can affect you and your pets this fall and next spring. Ticks have three primary stages of development: larval, nymphal, and adult. Each stage requires a special host to feed on to move on ...