HEA Newsletter, May/June 2009
Clinton County Homemakers Extension Association
1163 N. 4th St. Breese, Il. 62230
Phone: 618-526-4551 FAX: 618-526-4597
Email: blammers@uiuc.edu
www.extension.uiuc.edu/clinton
May/June 2009
Newsletter
ANNUAL MEETING
The 64th HEA Annual meeting has come and gone. Thank you St. Rose Unit for hosting this years' event. I think everyone enjoyed Ruth Bickline and her aprons. Debbie Borries our new District Director gave a short update on what is happening with HEA on the state level and also installed the officers for 2009-2010. Officers are Elvira (Toots) Tebbe, Chairman; Pat Spihlman, 1st Vice Chairman; Carol Petermeyer, 2nd Vice Chairman; Betty Beckemeyer, Secretary; Doris Diekemper, Treasurer; Ann Mondt, Cultural Enrichment and Family Enrichment; Becky Hughes, Young Homemaker; Cindy Niemeyer, Public Information; Annie Duing, International; Marilyn Schneider, Citizenship and Safety.
A GREAT BIG thank you goes out to Mary Schmeink, who has decided to retire from the board. Mary has served many, many years on the board in various capacities, most recently as Special Activities Chairman. We all wish Mary the best.
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If you have young children or grandchildren that enjoy the computer there is a food website that they can visit to learn about many different foods through puzzles, games and coloring sheets. It is called "Food Fun from Apples to Zucchini." Go to: www.urbanext.illinois.edu/foodfun/ |
Summer Youth Cooking Schools
Summer cooking schools are for youth 8 to 12 years of age and will be held in 4 locations this summer. I have also added an advanced cooking school for 12 to 14 year olds. I have the locations and times set. If any of the dates and times work for you, I am in need of adult volunteers to help the schools go smoothly.
June 10-11 – Central High School
June 16-17 – Germantown Elem
June 30/July 1 – Trenton UCC
July 9-10 – Central High School
July 21-22 – Aviston Elem
Cooking school hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00p.m.
For all the ladies that have already signed up to help, I will be sending a sign up sheet to you in a week or so with dates and locations.
Be Ready for Power Outages
Spring storms often result in power outages. And, sometimes, the power is out for an extended period of time. Your best defense in a power outage is to be prepared. Take steps now to make sure you are ready.
Be Prepared:
→Have a refrigerator thermometer.
→Find out where you can get dry ice.
→Stock up on non-perishable, ready-to-eat foods that do not have to be cooked or kept cold.
When the Power Goes Out:
→Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
→The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened.
→Refrigerator temperature needs to be 40°F or below for proper storage.
Once the Power is Restored:
→Check the temperature inside your refrigerator and freezer.
→If an appliance thermometer was kept in the freezer, check the temperature when the power comes back on. If the freezer thermometer reads 40°F or below the food is safe and may be refrozen.
→If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. You can't rely on appearance or odor. If the food still contains ice crystals, or is 40°F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.
→Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power was out for no more than 4 hours. Keep the door closed as much as possible.
→Discard perishable foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or leftovers that have been above 40°F for two hours or more.
Are Hot Flashes Getting the Best of You?
It may not work for everyone, but in three small studies, this simple breathing exercise helped:
•In comfortable clothing, sit in a quiet room. Do not lie down.
•Inhale slowly and deeply through the nose for 5 seconds. Exhale slowly through pursed lips for 8 seconds. Focus on the breathing. Your belly should expand as you breathe in and contract as you breathe out.
•Repeat for 15 minutes each in the morning and afternoon. You can also do the exercise when you feel a hot flash coming on.
Don't Become an Isolated Caregiver
Caring for someone with an illness can be challenging and lonely. And when caregivers don't get support early on in the care giving process, they can easily become isolated. Isolation contributes to feelings of burden and depression, especially when it comes on gradually.
When caregivers are isolated in their roles, several factors can contribute to their overwhelming feelings. One study found that in addition to social isolation, caregivers can be affected by physical, emotional and financial isolation.
Researchers also found that caregivers who did not get supportive help and knowledge of the caregiving task early on experienced isolation that intensified their burden.
When these comments are made, isolation may be an issue:
*I never know what eruptive behavior might occur from my spouse, so we stopped eating out.
*I feel guilty leaving him behind to go to social events that we used to attend. It's easier to just stay home.
*He doesn't want anyone else to take care of him, so I don't ask for help.
*We didn't look into assisted living because I don't think we could afford it.
*I'm so overwhelmed that I just didn't know where to start in asking for help And, I really didn't want to concern others.
If you or someone you know is a caregiver, set limits or boundaries on how much you can do – before you get to "a point of crisis." Your own physical and emotional health have to be a priority in order for you to be able to take care of your loved one.
The next step is to ask for help and support. Seek help from family and friends, a caregiver support group, and healthcare and service providers. Check with your local Area Agency on Aging for more information about services.
FOR SALE: Canning Jars, quart and pint – good condition. Maybe you are a pro at canning and running out of jars, or perhaps you are just getting started and need jars. Call Lois Clark at 224-7653 (home) or 406-1565 (cell)
Money-Saving, Eco-Friendly Things You Can Do With Salt
Since green is all about saving money, your health and the planet, it makes sense to consider these things you can do with a jar of eco-friendly, common salt.
- Freshen your waste disposal:
Pour 1 cup of salt into the unit, run cold water and start the motor The salt will dislodge grimy deposits.
- Prevent grease from splashing:
If you throw a few pinches of salt into the frying pan before frying fatty foods such as bacon, you'll prevent having to clean up all that grease.
- Mold prevention:
In these tough economic times, we can't afford to let anything go to waste, especially an expensive piece of cheese. Prevent a hunk from going moldy by wrapping it in a napkin that has been soaked in salt-water.
- Ditch the stain remover:
Many stain removing sticks can be toxic. Instead make a solution with 4 tablespoons of salt in 2 cups of hot water. This is especially good on yellow perspiration stains. Simply sponge the solution onto the stain and rub until the yellow disappears. Wash as normal.
- Mouthwash:
Most drugstore mouthwashes are expensive and contain dye, alcohol and sweeteners. Do it the old-fashioned way by mixing 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water. You can also add 5 drops of tea tree oil if you like the taste.
- Salt Rub:
Forego the expensive body scrubs and give yourself a homemade salt rub at home. Just dip your mitts into a large tub of sea salt and massage while your skin is wet and then shower off.
- Remove baked-on food:
When you are facing the awful task of scrubbing out a roasting pan, dampen the pan and sprinkle salt all over. The salt will lift off the baked on food.
- Spruce up your mop:
To prevent you having to run out and buy a replacement mop head, soak your mop in a bucket of water with 1 cup of salt overnight.
Reference: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/money-saving-salt-tips
From Mommy To Mom To Mother
Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.
Real mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask "Why me?" and get their answer when a little voice says, "Because I love you best."
Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade—It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother.
Favorite Recipes of Illinois 4-H Through the Years…
Remember snickerdoodles, wheat bread, funny cake, or chocolate crinkles? Do you remember these goodies from your 4-H experience? These and many more recipes from 14 University of Illinois Extension 4-H foods project books can be found in a new "favorites" cookbook available through the Illinois 4-H Foundation.
More than 150 of your old favorites from 4-H foods project books such as You Learn to Bake, ABC's of Food, Adventures in Cooking, It's fun to Cook, Milk and Eggs, Meat in Your Meals, Pastry in Your Meals and Yeast Breads in Your Meals, are included in this 8 ½ x 11" spiral bound cookbook. Recipes are listed by 4-H project book, alphabetically and by food category for easy reference. To get your copy stop by the Extension Office, recipe books are available for $15.00.
Is Organic Healthier?
One of today's grocery store options is whether to buy organic or traditionally grown food. Organic refers to a method of farming that is environmentally friendly and is an alternative to conventional farming methods. In 2005, the organic food industry had $14 billion in sales. Predictions are that organic food sales will continue to increase.
Prices may be higher because organic food is produced on a smaller scale, and it may need to be milled or processed separately. There is also an increase in shipping costs from more centralized production in otherwise regional markets. In the case of dairy and eggs, the animal's requirements, such as the number of animals that can be raised per acre or the breed of animal and its feed conversion ration, affect the cost.
It is not necessarily true that all organic foods are more nutritious.
Scientific research on organic foods has not been abundant. But, we are starting to see more research that compares traditionally grown foods with the organically grown. Ten new scientific studies have been published since March 2008.
This new research is showing that, on average, organic foods, when compared to conventionally grown foods, rate higher in nutrient content, especially vitamin and phytochemical content, and are lower in pesticide residues. However, the government has mandated safety tolerance levels on traditional foods.
If you select organic foods, look for the certification as well as the product label. Be sure you understand what you are buying.
The bottom line is simple. Choose healthy foods for your family. Remember, organic has more to do with the way the food is grown than with the nutrients inside.
Happy Mother's Day
To all of our
HEA Mothers
