December 2023 Edition

Family & Consumer Sciences
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Homemaker Newsletter - December 2023

 

Thought of the Month:  “Small cheer and great welcome make a merry feast.” –William Shakespeare 
Roll Call:   December is the holiday season. What is your favorite holiday tradition? 

 

Annual Christmas Event - December 5th

The annual Christmas Party will be on Tuesday, December 5th, at 5 p.m. We will have the event at the Russell County Public Library’s Community Room. 

• Potato Bar
• Ornament Exchange
• Mug Exchange: Gag Gift or Simple Gift that will fit into a mug
• Cake Walk

The Council is requesting that guests call the Extension Office to sign up to bring different potato toppings, beverages, or a dessert. 

 

Psst!  Hold the Date!

Russell County ANR and FCS agents will be hosting an Estate Planning Series on March 18th and 21st at 6 PM. This is a FREE program and UK Specialists and an attorney will be present to answer your questions.

 

Update on Fundraisers & Community Service Events

Pecans for Sale!  We still have Pecan pieces for sale at the Extension Office, $12 a bag!

March Madness is Coming Early!  Donation raffles of tickets will begin on Dec. 5th through March Madness for a chance to win a signed basketball by Coach Cal from the U.K. Wildcats! Tickets 1 for $5 or 5 for $ 20! Proceeds will go to the Homemaker budget and the Scholarship Fund. 

Quilt Guild Selling Quilt for Scholarship Fund  The PIECEMAKERS Quilt Guild is selling this quilt for the Scholarship Fund. They are asking $300 for this queen size quilt-size 88x99”. Contact Melonie Eubank at 270-507-6331 if you are interested in buying “The Carpenters Star”.

Donations for the Senior Center Now through January 26th Homemakers are accepting donations for seniors in need at the Senior Center. Donations can include hygiene items and shelf-stable/non-perishable items.

Deodorant     Shampoo     Body Wash      Body Wipes     Long Handled Brushes      Tooth Paste     Tooth Brushes        Toilet Paper   Nail Clippers     Granola Bars     Rice      Crackers      Pasta      Tuna Fish      Canned Fruit, Vegetables, Meat

 

Rada Products still For Sale   Homemakers are now selling Rada products! We have 5 catalogs, and there is an online option to sell as well. To share the link, search radafundraising.com, and then type in Russell County Extension 
Homemakers in the search box. 

Online link:  https://radafundraising.com/pages/select-your-fundraising-group

 

Community Service Projects

Celebrating Veterans - Homemakers collected items for veterans at the local nursing home for Veteran’s Day. We were able to provide 10 bags to veterans. 

Warm the Children - Homemakers collected winter clothing items for children in need. The items were picked up
by Russell County’s Family Resource Counselors Danielle Helm and Sherry Coffey. 

Ham Donation to the Jaycees' Auction - The Homemakers voted to purchase a $100 ham package, from Penn’s Hams in Campbellsville, KY to enter into the Jaycees' annual auction. The money brought in by the auctions goes towards a children's toy drive this winter. The item sold for $100. 

 

New Twists for Traditional Holiday Me als
SOU RC E : COU R T N E Y L U E CK I NG , E X T E N S I ON S P E C I A L I S T F OR NU T R I T I ON AND H E A L T H
     Holiday celebrations often include special people and specific foods. Who is usually gathered around your table? Where do you meet? What is on your holiday menu? The holidays this year will likely be or at least will feel different from holidays past. We might not be able to host meals or visit with loved ones in ways we are used to. Although with a little creativity and compassion, we can create memorable holiday meal experiences that provide joy and pleasure.
     Plan a special meal. Select a day and time for your holiday meal. You get to decide what special looks like. It could be a recreation of all the family favorites, take out from a local restaurant, or a typical weekday meal that includes music or decorations.
     Recreate family recipes at your house. If you will not be dining with the family chefs, ask if they will share the recipe. Spending time in the kitchen with those you live with can be a fun and educational experience for all.
     Find or create new family recipes. Vegetables and fruit that are in season in late fall are a wonderful way to add flavor and color to your holiday meals. Try a new recipe featuring apples, greens, lettuce, peas, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, turnips, or carrots. Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud has many recipes featuring these foods. Eating local foods may provide a sense of connection with your community and could quickly become a family favorite or staple for future holiday meals.
     Bring the family to the table. When you cannot be physically together, consider a virtual or phone experience. A video chat or putting people on speaker phone can help you connect during a meal or maybe even for a game. You could also have family members send letters and read them during the meal or holiday season.
     Finally, whether we feel we have a little or a lot to be thankful for, expressing gratitude yields physical and mental health benefits. Instead of limiting this practice to the Thanksgiving holiday, find small ways throughout the season to acknowledge who and what you are grateful for. These daily celebrations of gratitude may leave you feeling happier about the holiday season.
Reference:  University of Kentucky Family & Consumer Sciences Extension. (2020) Plate it Up Recipes by Season. https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/content/plate-it-recipes-season
NIH News in Health. (March 2019). Practicing Gratitude: Ways to Improve Positivity.
https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2019/03/practicing-
gratitude#:~:text=Taking%20the%20time%20to%20feel,fewer%20signs%20of%20heart%20disease .

 

Broccoli Cornbread

S E R V I NG S : 1 2    S E R V I NG S I Z E : 3 - I NCH SQUA R E

L E A P . . . F OR H E A L T H : RO S I E A L L E N , A R E A  NU T R I T I ON  AG E N T , U . K . COOP E R A T I V E        E X T E N S I ON  S E R V I C E

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup margarine, melted  
• ⅓ cup onion, chopped  
• ½ teaspoon salt
•  ¾ cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 1½ cups fresh or cooked frozen broccoli, finely chopped
• 4 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 (8.5-ounce) box quick corn muffin mix

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, blend melted margarine, onion, salt, cheese, broccoli, and eggs. Stir in the muffin mix.

2.  Pour into a greased 9-by-13-inch pan.

3.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Cool and cut into squares.

Notes:  For thicker bread bake in a 9-inch round pan and add 5-7 minutes to the suggested cooking time.

90 calories; 6g total fat; 1.5g saturated fat; 0.5g trans fat; 60mg cholesterol; 240g sodium; 5g carbohydrate; 1g fiber; 2g sugar; 4g protein; 10% Daily Value of vitamin A; 20% Daily Value of vitamin C; 4% Daily Value of calcium; 2% Daily Value of iron

 

Megan Gullett, CEA for Family & Consumer Sciences