December 2022 Edition

Family & Consumer Sciences
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Updates from Homemaker Council

Holiday Gathering:

December 5th from 4:30 PM-7:00 PM. Come join the Homemakers for an evening of make and takes and enjoy hearty food. Gift Wrapping Demo at 6 PM– Bring a hard to wrap gift to get some one on one help! Cake Walk at 6:30 PM.

*Please call the Extension Office to register ASAP! * If you would like to bring finger foods, corn bread, small sandwiches  a dessert, or a cake for the cake walk, please let Patricia know when you call.

 

Food Drive for God’s Food Pantry:

From January 3rd—20th, please bring non-perishable food to the Extension Office to be donated to the local food pantry.

 

Warm the Children Winter Drive Update:

All of the donated winter items were well received by the Russell County Schools’ Family Resource team! The items donated will go a long way in helping students in need stay warm this winter. 

 

Fundraiser Update:

Members raised $556.80 in selling pecans this year, way to go! 

Homemakers On the Go’s painting fundraiser brought in $181 for the association as well!

 

Thought for the Month:  “Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold!”

Josephine Dodge Baskam Bacon

 

Roll Call:  December is the holiday season.  What is your favorite holiday tradition?

 

Council Meeting

Monday, January 23rd - 5:00 p.m.

 

RCEO Closed 12/26-1/2

 

Christmas Tree Safety

The feel of the cold brisk air, the crackle of a fire, the glow of twinkle lights, and the smell of fresh cut pine trees are all signs of my favorite time of year … Christmas. Christmas is a time of memory-making with family and friends, but it is also a time when avoidable accidents happen.

Did you know each year, more than 200 house fires occur during the holiday season, injure 2,600 individuals, and cause over $930 million in damage, according to the United States Fire Administration? Fires are extremely dangerous, costly, and at times even fatal.

So here are some tips to follow so your Christmas is not a crispy one.

· When selecting a live tree be sure to pick a freshly cut tree, as they are less likely than older cut trees to catch fire. Look for a tree with bright green needles that don’t break off easily. Your tree should not be losing its needles.

· Avoid standing your tree near a heating source such as a fireplace, heat vent, electric or kerosene heaters, radiators, or candles.

· Water your tree daily to prevent your tree from drying out before the season is over. Some trees might not need water each day, but checking each day is a good idea.

· Make sure the lights you put on your tree are UL or ETL/ITSNA tested and approved for safety. Do not reuse damaged lights.

· Turn your Christmas lights off when you leave the house, and when you go to bed.

It’s important to remember that artificial trees also catch fire, so the above tips apply for all Christmas trees. So enjoy your fire in the fireplace this Christmas season and stay safe.

Source: David Weisenhorn, Ph.D., Specialist for Parenting and Child Development.

Resource: American Christmas Tree Association. (2016). Fire safety tips for your Christmas tree. Retrieved from https://www.christmastreeassociation.org/fire-safety-tips-for-your-christmas-tree/

 

Reminder: The RCEO will be closed 12/26-1/02!

 

December 2022

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				1	2	3
4	5 Homemaker Holiday Gather 4:30-7 PM	6	7	8	9	10
11	12 Cooking the Low-Fat Way 5 PM	13	14	15	16	17
18	19 Corn and Cheese Chowder Demo 5 PM	20	21	22	23	24 CHRISTMAS EVE
25 CHRISTMAS DAY	26 Office Closed	27 Office Closed	28 Office Closed	29 Office Closed	30 Office Closed	31 NEW YEAR’s EVE

 

Slow Cooker Chicken Santa Fe Soup

Servings:  8           Serving Size:  2 cups

Source: Connie Duncan, Fayette County Extension Volunteer

Ingredients:

·  4 thawed boneless, skinless chicken breasts 

·  1 (7 ounce) can chopped green chilies

·  1 (8 ounce) bag frozen corn

·  1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, no salt added

·  1 (15 ounce) can black beans

·  1 (14 ounce) can or box vegetable broth, no salt added

·  1 (32 ounce) box low-sodium chicken broth

·  3 tablespoons low sodium chili seasoning mix

Directions:

1.  Place all ingredients in slow cooker and simmer on low 6-8 hours or 3-4 hours on high.

2. Remove cooked chicken and shred with two forks.  Return chicken to soup and it is ready-to-serve

Make it a Meal

· Slow Cooker Santa Fe Soup

· Add Fresh orange

· Add Crusty French bread

· Add Low-fat milk to Drink

Tips

· Eat about 5 cups of red, orange and dark-green vegetables each week.

· Tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli and leafy dark green vegetables, such as kale and spinach, are good choices.

· Vegetable broth can be replaced with chicken broth.

Nutrition facts per serving: 180 calories; 2.5g total fat; 0.5g saturated fat; 0g trans fat; 35mg cholesterol; 740mg sodium; 23g carbohydrate; 4g fiber; 6g sugar; 17g protein; 10% Daily Value of vitamin A; 15% Daily Value of vitamin C; 4% Daily Value of calcium; 8% Daily Value of iron

 

Megan Gullett

Russell County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences