Materials for the January major lesson "Healthy Desserts" are ready. This is a packet lesson, meaning there will not be any local leader training. There are several recipes with this lesson so if you would like to have this material prior to Christmas (in the event you would like to try a new or healthier dessert) you are welcome to come by the Extension office to pick up your copy. However, we suggest that unit members check with your local leader in the event they may have picked them up for your unit. Unit Lesson Leaders – This is your notice that the lesson packets are ready, no cards will be sent.

Everyone goes through times when they might feel down or blue, but what can we do about it? Find out at the training for the February Major Lesson on "Blues, Blahs and Bouncing Back" to be held Monday, January 14, at 9:00 a.m. in the Extension office meeting room. Katie Zuber, the new Family Life educator in the Effingham Extension Center, will cover the difference between regular "blues" versus depression, techniques for bouncing back, and insights on helping others.

All unit lesson leaders should be present to understand more fully the information to be taught to their unit members. If you have a conflict, please contact another unit member to attend in your place. These trainings add a great deal to our members' enjoyment of lesson materials.

Five new members signed up at the Holiday Bazaar. We welcome Barbara Thomann to Noble Homemakers, Marie Wagner to Victory Unit, Joan Petty, Amber Nelson, and Kate Shoulders as mailbox members. Our membership consists of 86 members within 11 units and 60 mailbox members for a total of 146. Of these, 4 are Charter members and 3 are Honorary members.

Linda Allison, Membership

Letter from Hancock County, Mississippi, Extension Service thanking HEA members of Richland County for the box of cookbooks sent down. They still have a great need for many things due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina 2 years ago. Barb Roberts graciously provided the shipping charges for the books.

Richland County Homemakers Extension Association would like to thank everyone who made the Holiday Bazaar held on November 3, 2007 a success. Thanks to all who worked many hours in preparation and the day of the event for all your time and effort. Thank you to all who came and supported us that day, to all the businesses, individuals and HEA units who donated prizes for the drawings. It was the help of all involved that made the bazaar successful. Following is a listing of the various winners.

Rich. Co. HEA................Dresden Plate Quilt.....Elizabeth Coan

First National Bank............................$25.00......Jackie Doser

Louis Ochs Chev-Olds-Buick................$12.50......Freda Runyon

Wash-N-Go........................2 $5.00 Coupons...... Louise Fritschle

Tin Cup............................$20.00 Certificate...... Tammy Steckler

King's Furniture...Island Pleasures Potpourri Box.... Laura Geier

Heritage Bank........................Collector Coin..... Julia Hawkins

Subway...........................2 6" Sub Coupons....... Marjorie Philips

Eagleson G.M. Center..1 free Lube & Oil Change..... Andrew Ochs

Olney Daily Mail.................1 Ad $35.00 value..... Jeff Skelton

Louis Ochs Chev-Olds-Buick.................$12.50.....Jennifer Beagle

First Financial Bank...............Silver Eagle Coin.... Carla Volk

Miller Office Supply......................Calculator..... Virginia Resor

Monical's Pizza....Coupon Large Family Pleaser..... Frances Young

Doll's Inc........................................$25.00..... Linda Blank

Linders Farm Supply.............$10.00 Certificate..... Geneva Geier

Olney Daily Mail..................1 Ad $35.00value..... Frances Young

Domino's Pizza...............Coupon 1 Large Pizza..... Geneva Geier

Sears............Craftsman 5-piece Screwdriver Set.... Frances Young

Tin Cup.............................$20.00 Certificate.... Chalen Bean

Pizza Fast..........2 Coupons Free Buffet & Drink..... Tom Coan

First National Bank............................$25.00..... Nancy Pitts

Ty's Family Buffet............2 Buffet Certificates .... Norma Kinkade

Wooden Key.............................Nature's Bird.... B. Kinkade

Browns Furniture Store.............Chenille Throw..... Mary Kessler

KFC..............................2 Buffet Certificates.... Louise Fritschle

Trend Setters...$25.00Certificate (products or services).... Virginia Resor

Pizza Fast...........2 Coupons Free Buffet & Drink.... Rita M. Kocher

Appliance Store...Kitchen Aid 5-Piece Mixing Set... Helen Hoffmann

Olney Daily Mail..................1 Ad $35.00 value... Don Foll

Subway.............................3 6" Sub Coupons..... Janet Jones

Wash-N-Go.........................3 $5.00 Coupons..... Lavera Bryan

Monical's Pizza........................1 Large Pizza..... Donna Hoskinson

Ty's Family Buffet...............2 Buffet Coupons...... Nancy Pitts

Domino's Pizza...............Coupon 1 Large Pizza.... Gladys Sterchi

TrustBank...........................Silver Eagle Coin.... Erma Means

Pizza Fast..........2 Coupons Free Buffet & Drink.... Donna Hoskinson

Ivy's Cottage LLC.....Thanksgiving Arrangement..... Barb Roberts

Domino's Pizza...............Coupon 1 Large Pizza.... Cindy Huchel

Midway Unit........Set of 3 Lined Storage Baskets.... Mary Kessler

Rural King...........................$25.00 Gift Card.... Charlotte Lynn

Serenity Escape (Lynn Tolliver)......................

Handmade Knitted Scarf... Janet Nix

Olney Pizza Hut...............Coupon 1 Large Pizza... Frances Young

Movie Gallery.........................$5.00 Gift Card... Rita Fehrenbacher

Mary Jo Zuber-AVON..Conair Mirror & Brush Set... Jackie Goble

Olney Green House................Farm Scene Light... Donald Doser

Olde Tyme SteakHaus..............2 Lunch Specials... Mary Zwilling

Uptown Girls Salon...................................

Redken Silky Hair Solution Kit..... Donna Hoskinson

Citizens National Bank...............Collector Coin.... Vickey Murphy

Jennings Pharmacy...............Blood Pressure Kit....Mason Russell

Olney Green House.......................Wall Angel..... Diana Schmidt

Ophelia's Cup.......................Gourmet Coffee..... Vicki Lobacz

Valley Town & Country................Bird Feeder..... Jane Smith

Anonymous..... Wooden Towel Holder & Towels.... Beth Saler

Judy Smith............Floral/Wicker Horn of Plenty.... Paula Gay

Country Sisters.............Fall Floral in Green Pot..... Mary Kessler

Ruby Skelton..................Pilgrim Center Piece...... Geneva Geier

Ruby Skelton..............Square Fall Centerpiece...... Mary Bryan

Memory Makers..............Fall Horn of Plenty.......Virginia Resor

Ruby Skelton...........................Fall Basket.......Jane Wingert

Anonymous....................Decorative Squash........Frances Young

Door Prize was a birdhouse in design of a Church donated by Tony Prosser and won by Rachel Runyon

50/50 drawing was won by Jane Wingert

Free membership for July 2008-June 30, 2009, was won by Kate Shoulders (chosen from new members joining at the bazaar on Nov. 3, 2007)

Theme Baskets

Donated by: Theme Winner

Noble Homemakers Birds & Bloom Lela Runyon

Sunnyside Friendly Fall Arrangement Roberta Coldwell

Harriett Huff Children's Basket Paula Gay

Memory Makers Basket for Scrapbooking Sue Ritter

Victory To Store and/or Protect Loretta Steber

Midway Brunch Gift Basket Virginia Weiler

Town & Country Pancake mix, syrup, marmalade,

oven mitt, towel etc. Paula Gay

Decker Garden Basket Joan Petty

Country Sisters Tea Time Eleanor Lobacz

Pleasant Grove Baby Basket Sharon Kurtz

Wendelin Day Holiday Baking Basket Austin Runyon

A bus trip to Beef & Boards in Indianapolis, Indiana, is planned for April 17, 2008. "Show Boat" will be the featured play. A buffet luncheon will be served at 11:45 a.m., with the show set to begin at 1:00 p.m. Seats in the middle section have been reserved for our group. The cost, which includes the bus, buffet and show, is $67 for HEA members and $70 for non-members. Paid reservations must be sent to LaVinia Hundley, 1939 E. Deer Farm Lane, Olney, IL 62450 by March 14, 2008. Checks should be made out to Richland County HEA.

The bus will leave the old Wal-Mart parking lot at 7:15 a.m. (IL time) and arrive in Indianapolis at 11:15 a.m. (Indiana time). The show is approximately 2 hours long, so we should be arriving back home about 5:30 p.m. (IL time).

Check your calendars, invite a neighbor, and enjoy a live show and good eating while having a day out with friends.

LaVinia Hundley

Cultural Enrichment

618-752-5386

I do hope everyone had a Blessed Thanksgiving with their families and friends. Of course there was probably plenty of food.

I know everyone gets busy at this time of the year. I want to THANK everyone for making the Blanket Brigade a wonderful outreach again this year. Our total number of blankets delivered is 147 in 2007, with the grand total of 1424 blankets delivered since the beginning in 2001. This past October we also, with the help of Girl Scouts and Jr. Girl Scouts made 70 neck cooler ties for the men and women in the military. We are thankful for each and everyone participating with this project. It takes a team to get it all done.

We will not have a workshop in December. Watch the paper for the date on the next one.

Let's not forget to collect our recycle items. This is a great help

and just takes a minute to cut out that stamp, cut off the soup label,

cut out the 'Labels for Education' label from the package. Get your

stamps turned in soon as we will be sending a package off soon.

Also we are collecting cookbooks. Some have already been sent

down and reports of how much they are appreciated have been

received.

These are items that do not cost you an extra penny but will help

someone else.

Everyone have a HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY. Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year to All!!!

Carol Bursott

GREEK CUISINE

Note from Alexis:

When I was in the Air Force a "few" years ago, we were stationed at Incirlik CDI in Turkey.Greece and Turkey are near to each other within the Mediterranean region andso their foods have a similar Middle Eastern flair. One cuisine that we ate while in Turkey can be a main dish or dessert of Stuffed Grape Leaves. These were so good and sweet. The rice and currants with the honey made a tasty dish. Here is a recipe for you to make that dish from our Greece lesson materials.

STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh or 1 tablespoon dried mint, divided
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 30 large bottled grape leaves or use fresh grape leaves - small size, blanched
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 ¾ cups finely chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
• 2 cups hot cooked rice
• ½ cup dried currants
• 1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried dill
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
• Vegetable Cooking spray

Preparation:

1. Combine the yogurt, 2 tablespoons mint, lemon rind, and honey in a small bowl; stir well. Cover and chill.
2. Rinse grape leaves under cold water; drain well, and pat dry with paper towels. Remove stems and discard.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion, and saute' 10 minutes. Add garlic, and saute'1 minute. Remove from heat, stir in remaining mint, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, rice and next 6 ingredients (rice through chickpeas).
4. Preheat oven to 350°. Spoon 1 rounded tablespoon of rice mixture onto center of each grape leaf. Bring 2 opposite points of leaf to center, and fold over filling. Beginning at 1 short side, roll up leaf tightly, jelly-roll fashion. Repeat procedure with remaining grape leaves.
5. Place stuffed grape leaves, seam sides down, in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Drizzle remaining lemon juice over leaves. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve warm or chilled with yogurt mixture.

Agriculturein Greece is 5.4% of its GDP. The main products they produce are: sugar beets, wheat, maize, tomatoes, olives, olive oil, grapes, raisins, wine, oranges, peaches, tobacco, cotton, livestock, and dairy products to include many kinds of cheeses. This makes it easy to see why the Greeks use as many parts of the agricultural process as possible within their foods.

Lemon is a Greek favorite with potatoes, and this quick and easy potato salad relies on the lemon to give it a touch of sharpness that goes well with many main dishes. With whatever else is on the table, have some Feta cheese nearby since potatoes and feta are a taste treat.

Potato Salad

In Greek: P a t a t o s a l a 't a (Pronounced pah-tah-toh-sal-LAH-tah)

INGREDIENTS:

• 5-6 medium-large potatoes
• ¾ cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup of lemon juice
• 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1 large white onion
• Sea salt
• Fresh ground pepper
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

PREPARATION:

1. Cut the onion into thin slices, then cut slices in half.
2. Peel the potatoes, cut into large bite-sized chunks of approximately the same size, and rinse well. Add potatoes to a pot of cold water to cover by 1 ½ inches, bring to a boil, and boil at medium-high heat. Test after 15 minutes for doneness - they should be easily pierced with a fork. Remove when done, drain, and place in a serving bowl or dish. Add onions and toss.
3. To make the Dressing: in a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper with a whisk.
4. Serve warm, at room temperature or chilled. When ready to serve, pour on the dressing, toss, and sprinkle with parsley.

Yield: serves 6.

DECEMBER UNIT MEETINGS

4 Country Clan Sue Hough 1:30

Country Sisters 1 Decker

13 Memory Makers Olde Tyme Steakhaus 7:00

12 Midway

Noble Homemakers

2 Pleasant Grove Ext. Mtg. Room 6:00

18 Sunnyside Friendly Marilyn Walker 1:30

18 Town & Country Eating Out 6:30 15 Victory Ext. Mtg. Room 6:15

Wendelin Day

MAJOR LESSON: County Wide – ABC's For the Holidays

MINOR LESSON: Unit's Choice

December

3 ABC's for the Holidays Ext. Mtg. Room 6:30

17 HEA Board Ext. Mtg. Room 6:30

24-31 EXTENSION OFFICE CLOSED – Happy Holidays

JANUARY UNIT MEETINGS

3 Country Clan Myrna Schonert 1:30

Country Sisters

8 Decker Charlotte Lynn 9:30

9 Midway Ext. Mtg. Room 1:30

24 Noble Homemakers Roberta Bursott 7:00

7 Pleasant Grove Eleanor Steber 7:30

22 Sunnyside Friendly Aileen Holstlaw 7:30

13 Town & Country Helen Hoffman 7:30

22 Victory Ext. Mtg. Room 7:30

16 Wendelin Day Georgianna Weber 1:00

MAJOR LESSON: Healthy Desserts

MINOR LESSON: International & Youth

January

1 EXTENSION OFFICE CLOSED - Happy New Year

14 Local Leader Training Ext. Mtg. Room 9:00 a.m.

21 EXTENSION OFFICE CLOSED –Martin Luther King Day

21 HEA Board Ext. Mtg. Room 7:00p.m.