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Living Well
Living Well --
January 8, 2010
-- New!
In South Dakota, we have to plan for
two different kinds of emergency kits. One kit should be ready to
go with you when you have to leave your house at a moment’s notice.
For example, fire, flood, tornado, etc. The other kind of kit is
for those times when you just have to “hunker down” for an extended
period of time due to extreme cold, blowing snow, or loss of
electricity.
More...
Living Well --
December 31, 2009
-- New!
Some years, winter teases us a little
bit with some snow and ice – it drags on a while – but finally
spring appears again. This year, winter skipped the teasing and
slapped us with two feet of snow. I don’t know about you, but I
have the funniest feeling that the same snow is going to be looking
at us in March. More...
Living Well --
December 23, 2009
A very popular Christmas gift is a
homemade ice cream maker. It creates a treat that everyone likes
and it can be a family affair to make the ice cream. I want to
suggest you try a recipe this year that does not use raw eggs. I
know many of you grew up making ice cream using your farm produced
cream and eggs, but now we have to consider the risk of salmonella
poisoning from uncooked eggs. More...
Living Well --
December 18, 2009
A popular
way to celebrate holidays or any party occasion is to invite friends
and family to a buffet. However, this type of food service, where
foods are left out for long periods leaves the door open for
uninvited guests -- bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Festive
times for giving and sharing should not include sharing foodborne
illness. Here are some food-handling tips to help you have a safe
holiday party.
More...
Living Well --
December 11, 2009
Can you name the one Christmas treat
that you cannot resist? I know it is different for everyone – some
can’t resist the fudge, others might say the frosted sugar cookies,
and for others it might be the caramel corn. But however you look
at it, there are lots of treats that are hard to resist. It is
never fun to deal with those extra pounds in January, so I’m going
to share with you a few tips to lighten up your holidays.
More...
Living Well --
December 3, 2009
“Can
I use oil instead of shortening in my cookie recipe?” “Can I use
whipped margarine in my pie crust?” “When can I substitute oil for
shortening in my recipes?” These are some of the questions that come
up when baking. Here are some tips for successfully using different
types of fat. More...
Living Well --
November 24, 2009
The pressure on rural families
facing delays in their row crops harvest can add stress, and it can
cause misunderstandings. That’s according to South Dakota
Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Educator Nancy
Pauly, who reminds farm families of the importance of considering
how we talk and listen during times of stress.
More...
Living Well --
November 19, 2009
One
of my favorite foods during the holiday season, or any time of the
year, is the sweet potato. And I don’t care how it is prepared –
baked, boiled, roasted, fried – it all tastes good to me. Sweet
potatoes are one of the native American foods discovered by Columbus
and his crew.
More...
Living Well --
November 12, 2009
This is a message from the Attorney
General explaining the scam and some ways to keep your credit or
debit card secure. Law enforcement statewide has reported complaints
from consumers who have been receiving fraudulent phone calls. These
calls come from individuals alleging to be an employee of either
their bank or their credit card company. More...
Living Well --
November 5, 2009
Did you know that your own
refrigerators can contribute to an increased potential for food
borne illness occurring in your own home? Besides keeping it clean,
pay attention to the temperature. You’re not alone if you don’t
know the recommended temperature for your refrigerator.
More...
Living Well --
October 30, 2009
The
results looked "berry" good for berries in 2004 when United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers released a list of the
top 20 antioxidant-rich foods in a study of over 100 commonly
consumed foods tested (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,
June 9, 2004).
More...
Living Well --
October 23, 2009
Apples ready to harvest in the fall make for tasty
juice and robust cider, popular treats this time of year.
People have been enjoying
cider since at least 55 BC, when Romans arrived in England and found
locals drinking a cider-like liquid. Later, English settlers
introduced cider to America by bringing apple seeds specifically for
cider production. More...
Living Well --
October 8, 2009
Turner
County 4-H clubs will be celebrating Character Counts! Week during
October 18-24, 2009. This program has been used successfully with
4-H members, schools, after-school programs, businesses, etc. since
it began over ten years ago. The week is a special time to reflect
on our own character and what we can teach others about the
importance of having good character. More...
Living Well --
October 1, 2009
October is traditionally Indoor Air
Quality month. It is a timely topic, because the cool fall winds
have caused us to close up our houses and rely on furnace heat to
keep us warm. Because our homes are built tighter than in the past,
we have to pay close attention to the air we are breathing. More...
Living Well --
September 25, 2009
I spent
last week at Birmingham, Alabama for the National Extension
Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) conference.
It’s always fun and educational to attend these conferences, but
this was a special one, as 2009 is their 75th
anniversary. So it wasn’t the silver anniversary, or the golden
anniversary, but the diamond anniversary! The executive
board had several special events planned for the celebration. More...
Living Well --
September 10, 2009
It’s time for a chocolate fix! Have
you ever noticed that chocolate seems to possess the power to lift
your spirits? While the pleasure of eating chocolate is extremely
enjoyable for many people, just remember to practice moderation and
not to eat too much.
More...
Living Well --
September 1, 2009
Are you looking for some creative
ways to bake with fruit? Maybe you want some different ideas for
bread? This week’s recipes provide a great combination of applesauce
or bananas with bread to form a new snack that your family will
devour in minutes.
More...
Living Well --
August 27, 2009
Start up your ovens and bread
machines! The aroma of homemade bread is a welcome greeting in any
kitchen, but sometimes it involves a great deal of labor. Now, with
the advent of bread machines, it doesn’t need to be such a big task.
If you want to bake bread the traditional way, that is an option,
too.
More...
Living Well --
August 21, 2009
The 2009 Turner County Fair is
history, except for the bragging rights. Many awards were given out
in 4-H and open class. It is always fun to watch the 4-H members
bring Mom & Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, and whoever else they can
find, into the 4-H building to see their projects and the ribbons
they earned.
More...
Living Well --
August 12, 2009
“I pledge
my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands
to larger service and my health to better living for my club, my
community, my country and my world.” This week at the Turner County
Fair, rather than just recite the pledge, approximately 200 4-H
members will get a chance to put the words of the 4-H pledge into
action.
More...
Living Well --
August 6, 2009
Cookies
baking in the oven, craft projects strewn across the table, clothing
being hemmed for the third time, and calves getting washed and
fitted…it must be time for the Turner County Fair.
More...
Living Well -- July
31, 2009
With
summer schedules beginning to wind down somewhat, many families are
able to find more time for sit-down meals together. Besides just
giving people a chance to reconnect at the dinner table, family
meals offer a variety of other advantages.
More...
Living Well -- July
23, 2009
Hot,
spicy Mexican food is a favorite for many, whether in the form of
burritos, tacos or quesadillas. In an article by Lisa Mosing for
LifeScript called “Ethnic Eats: Mexican Food Facts,” she discusses
how to embrace the quickly growing popularity of Mexican food, while
still getting the nutrients needed for a healthy diet.
More...
Living Well -- July
16, 2009
Two weeks ago, the 4-H Special Foods
contest was held, and nine members from Turner County made delicious
dishes. We will be featuring their recipes here and encourage you to
try them at home. This week’s food focus is breakfast, featuring
French toast, omelets and even smoothies.
More...
Living Well -- July
10, 2009
Summertime means being outside for barbecues and
other activities, but it also means the risk of getting bitten by
mosquitoes. With many areas of the state receiving heavy rainfall,
an increased mosquito population is likely.
More...
Living Well -- June
11, 2009
I have
scheduled a class on canning for Monday, July 13th from
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sharon Guthmiller, Yankton County Extension
Educator, and I will teach a class on water bath canning and
pressure canning at the Turner County Courthouse community room. We
will cover high acid foods like jams and pickles and low acid foods
like green beans and meat. We will also cover tomato products which
can be canned with either method. More...
Living Well -- June
4, 2009
June is traditionally known as Dairy
Month. This was developed to celebrate the dairy industry and its
many contributions to our society and originated in 1937. During its
first two years, 1937 and 1938, it was called National Milk Month
and ran from June 10 to July 10. It eventually was changed to an
entire month, but June has held constant. More...
Living Well -- May
28, 2009
I
want to talk about the Ball canning jar. Did you know that this
simple jar is celebrating its 125th anniversary? The
iconic Ball jar was named after the five Ball brothers from New York
that were the first to manufacture a glass fruit jar for home
canning. More...
Living Well -- May
19, 2009
I want to talk a little bit about the cost of fruits and
vegetables. Are they too expensive for you to purchase on a regular
basis? Do you skip over that aisle at the grocery store? Let’s
reconsider. More...
Living Well -- May
14, 2009
For those of you that are lucky
enough to have extra asparagus, you might want to try freezing it.
More...
Living Well -- May
7, 2009
Back at home, I
am happy to report it is officially asparagus season! I will never
understand why asparagus is so difficult for me to grow. I have a
bed where I have planted roots many, many times. Each plant that I
can get to grow is a true triumph.
More...
Living Well --
April 29, 2009
As I listen to the rain this morning,
I can only think of the May flowers that this April shower will
bring. The weather is warm enough to be optimistic of an upcoming
growing season, but still cool enough that the furnace runs. That
sounds like a South Dakota spring to me.
More...
Living Well --
April 15, 2009
My new venture
for this year is the Master Gardener’s class. I have wanted to try
that class for many years now, and I guess the time is right. I have
always loved to play in the dirt so now I will learn the right way
of doing things, rather than the way things seem to happen at my
house.
More...
Living Well --
April 9, 2009
I’m looking for
a few good judges. Actually I’m looking for several good judges.
That is one part of my job responsibility that goes year-round.
Everywhere I go, I’m scoping out people that could potentially judge
4-H exhibits. It seems that most people have an interest, passion,
or talent that fits into some 4-H project area.
More...
Living Well --
April 2, 2009
Eggs are frequently handled at
Easter time and each handling occasion is one more chance that the
eggs might come into contact with bacteria. To avoid bacterial
contamination, wash your hands thoroughly before you handle eggs at
every step including cooking, cooling and dyeing.
More...
Living Well --
March 27, 2009
A South Dakota
Cooperative Extension Service Web site offers online training in
food safety and marketing strategies for foods that are grown and
marketed locally. The site is available to the general public.
More...
Living Well --
March 19, 2009
Food is nourishment, but beyond that food can also
strengthen the bonds between individuals. “Strengthen the bonds
between individuals is the underlying thought behind Bake and Take
Day,” says Mary Ellen Wagner, director of communications for the
South Dakota Wheat Commission.
More...
Living Well --
March 11, 2009
March is traditionally National Nutrition
Month. This month I will share some information from the American
Dietetic Association in honor of the special month. If you are
interested in an excellent source of nutrition information, check
out their website at www.eatright.org
More...
Living Well --
March 5, 2009
Let’s talk about one more
new food trend. As an adult, this one might have escaped you,
simply because you probably don’t spend much time scoping out the
candy aisles. Take a look around the next time you are shopping for
a snack at a convenience store or the supermarket. You will find
caffeine in all kinds of new forms. Apparently adults are
having a little trouble staying awake.
More...
Living Well --
February 25, 2009
Last week
I talked about food trends that you might find in your local grocery
store. This week, I’m going to talk about a different food trend as
identified by Dale Lindgren, horticulturist at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln. That food trend is vegetable gardening. I know it
is still a little early to plant your garden, but it’s not too early
to make plans for one.
More...
Living Well --
February 19, 2009
Why do you buy food? Price?
Convenience? You have a coupon? You're hungry? Perhaps you can
relate to one of these reasons. There a few new products that hit
the market that are quite trendy--fitting the buyer's needs to a
tee. Are you familiar with Activia, Steam ‘n Eat, Acai, caffeinated
sunflower seeds, or Kobe burgers? They are all examples of food
trends.
More...
Living Well --
February 12, 2009
New efforts to help individuals
improve their financial stability through better savings habits are
being launched this year in South Dakota. Due to catastrophic
financial conditions facing many consumers, South Dakota State
University Extension is partnering with Consumer Federation of
America in the South Dakota Saves Campaign.
More...
Living Well --
February 6, 2009
Valentine's Day is this weekend and
that is a traditional time to show love and caring for others. This
year, I’m suggesting you show love and respect for yourself in a
health-promoting way.
More...
Living Well --
January 29, 2009
I have talked about homemade soup in
past columns during this winter season. But what if your
cooking skills fall short of homemade soups? Or if you don’t
have the time or equipment to make homemade soups? Will canned
soups give you the same kind of “warm, fuzzy” feeling?
More...
Living Well --
January 22, 2009
Since
January is a time for organizing and reorganizing, I’m going to talk
about something so obvious that is often overlooked. That is your
purse or wallet. I’ve seen purses so heavy and over-loaded that
they must be burdensome to carry around. Besides the threat to
personal health, what if the purse is stolen or lost? Are there
more papers in there than what need to be?
More...
Living Well --
January 16, 2009
January is a time for
people to reflect on their finances. As one starts collecting
information to file tax returns, the age-old question arises “Where
did all the money go?” This year, more than other years, has
everyone cautious about their nation’s economy, their local economy,
and their personal economy. Here are some tips to rethink some of
your spending habits.
More...
Living Well --
January 9, 2009
Just as
December is traditionally a time of Christmas parties, family
events, and homemade goodies, January follows behind with seed
catalogs in the mail, a few extra pounds, and income tax papers.
While you are shuffling papers in your house, why don’t you take a
little extra time and organize your important papers? I don’t
necessarily mean just financial papers, but legal papers that are
important to your family, because you never know when you might need
them.
More...
Sandra Aamlid is the Family
and Consumer Sciences
Extension Educator in Minnehaha County.
Minnehaha County Extension Office
220 W. 6th St.
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: 605-367-7877
Fax: 605-367-4609
Email:
saamlid@minnehahacounty.org
Lavonne Meyer is the
Family and Consumer Sciences
Extension Educator in Turner County.
Turner County Extension Office
PO Box 490
400 S Main
Parker, SD 57053-0490
Phone: 605-297-3112
Fax: 605-297-5598
Email: lavonne.meyer@sdstate.edu
South Dakota State
University, South Dakota Counties and U.S. Department of Agriculture
Cooperating South Dakota State University is an Affirmative
Action/Equal Opportunity Employer (Male/Female) and offers all
benefits, services, and educational and employment opportunities
without regard for ancestry, age, race, citizenship, color, creed,
religion, gender, disability, national origin, sexual preference, or
Vietnam Era veteran status.
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