May 2024 Edition

Family & Consumer Sciences
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Homemaker Newsletter - May 2024

 

Thought of the Month:  Every life matters. Be like Mother Nature and love everyone without judging.  – Debasish Mridha 
Roll Call:   In May, we celebrate mothers. Share a favorite memory with your mother. 

 

May Homemaker Council Meeting Rescheduled for June 3rd

Due to Memorial Day, the May Homemaker Extension Council Meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, June 3rd, at 5 P.M. We look forward to seeing you!  The Russell County Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 25th, at the Health Department. The theme this year is “Bigger, Better, and Brighter” to celebrate the growth and prosperity of Homemakers this year! Sherry Daniels will be catering the event this year, please let us know if you have any food allergens when you call to RSVP.  The cost will be $15 a person, with RSVP and payment required by June 7th.

 

Community Service Projects
The Russell County Extension Homemakers raised $1,260 through the donation drawing on the basketball autographed by Coach Calipari.  We are very proud of your efforts in raising donations for the scholarship and general homemaker fund!  The Russell County Extension Homemaker Quilt Guild donated a beautiful quilt to the Russell County Hospital to be mounted in the hospital’s chapel. Their donation was highlighted in the April 11th edition of the Times Journal. As we wrap up this fiscal year as Homemakers, please let us know what type of projects you would like to work on next year! 

 

Russell County Homemaker Scholarship 
The Russell County Extension Homemaker Scholarship Committee has met and reviewed the 19 scholarship applications.  After careful deliberation, a selection was made for the 2024-2025 academic year. The scholarship presentation will be on Sunday, May 19th, at 2 p.m. at the ANC. 

 

Club Meeting Information

Homemakers on the Go - The Homemakers on the Go invite you to join them on Thursday, May 23rd, to visit the Expressions Tea Room in Somerset, KY. The cost will be $24.99 to be paid at the tea room. Those looking to carpool are to meet at the Ext. Office at 10 AM CST.   Please RSVP by May 9th. If you plan to attend, please call the Extension Office at 270-866-4477.

Homemakers by Heart - Homemakers by Heart will meet on May 20th at the Russell County Extension Office at 6 p.m. to learn about biscuit making! FCS Agent Megan Gullett will talk about how to make homemade biscuits and give you hands-on experience in making them. Please RSVP by calling Caitlyn Helm or the Russell County Extension Office by May 13th. 270-866-4477.

Sunset Club - The Sunset Club will meet on May 14th at 6 p.m. at the Extension Office. The club will offer a lesson, a craft, and a potluck. No RSVP is required for this meeting.

The Piecemakers Quilt Guild - The Quilt Guild be meeting on Monday, May 13th, at the Russell County Community Room starting at 8:00 a.m. for a retreat. Please contact Cindy Mills for more information. There will not be a 2nd meeting this month.  

Crafty Bees - The Crafty Bees will meet on May 28th at 5:30 p.m. in the Gray Space. The craft is basic crocheting.  Please bring a skein of lightweight yarn, with a crochet hook the skein recommends on the packaging.  

 

Cottage Cheese, Please!
Source:  Arrington J. Wright, Undergraduate Dietetics Students, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Extension Specialist for Food and Nutrition

     Cottage cheese is a type of cheese that you can find in the dairy section of most grocery stores and has recently gained popularity as an addition to recipes. Cottage cheese is considered a fresh cheese because it doesn’t go through an aging process like other cheeses. It looks soft, white, and creamy and has a mild, slightly tangy flavor.
You might wonder why cottage cheese has a chunky texture. The process of making cottage cheese involves adding an acid, like vinegar, to warm milk. This acid makes the milk curdle, which means it separates into lumps called curds. These curds give cottage cheese its lumpy appearance. You can find cottage cheese with small or large curds at the store, and it’s usually affordable. It has a shelf life in the refrigerator similar to milk and yogurt.
     Cottage cheese is becoming popular as a source of protein in people’s diets. Just half a cup of cottage cheese has 12 grams of protein, which is similar to the protein in two scrambled eggs. This protein can help balance your blood sugar and support muscle development. Besides protein, cottage cheese also provides other important nutrients that support good health. It has phosphorous and calcium, which help keep your bones healthy. Additionally, cottage cheese may contain probiotics, which are good for your gut.
     If you don’t like cottage cheese, there are still ways to get the nutritional benefits without the taste or texture. You can blend cottage cheese with other foods to make it smoother and hide the flavor. For example, if you are making pasta, you can blend cottage cheese with ricotta cheese to make a creamy sauce that’s packed with protein. There are many other ways to include cottage cheese in your diet, such as adding it to smoothies with fruits and vegetables, using it as a dip or topping for toast, combining it with bold flavors like tomatoes or pineapple, mixing it into pancake or waffle batter, or whisking it into eggs before you scramble them.
     It's important to know that cottage cheese contains lactose, so if you’re lactose intolerant, be careful. Also, it’s best to choose cottage cheese with low added sugar and low to no sodium, if possible. If it is not already on the list, consider whether you want to add cottage cheese to your next grocery list before you head to the store.

Reference:  Cottage Cheese Health Benefits & Nutrition Facts: American Dairy Association NE. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.americandairy.com/health-wellness/benefits-of-dairy/cottage-cheese/#:~:text=Nutrition%20Profile,calcium%2C%20and%20vitamin%20B12

 

Cranberry-Orange Relish

Makes:  2.5 cups                                Source:  Oregon State University Extension, Foodhero.org

Ingredients:

• 1 medium orange (any type)
• 12 ounces cranberries (fresh or frozen)
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Remove the colored outside peel of the orange (known as zest) with a grater.
3. Peel and section the orange.  Put the orange zest, orange sections, cranberries, sugar and cinnamon in a food processor or blender. Pulse until chopped into small pieces.
4. Move the mixture to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes:

• Serve with roasted meats, sandwiches or quesadillas. Use as a topping for yogurt, pancakes or hot cereal.
• Try other spices such as nutmeg or cardamom.
• If using frozen cranberries, let them thaw about 5 minutes before chopping.

 

Megan Gullett

CEA for Family & Consumer Sciences