FCS February 2025
February 2025 Edition
Family & Consumer SciencesView Newsletter
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FCS – February
DATES
February 14
Happy Valentine's Day!
February 17
Tune into WBKR
February 22
Get the Tea on Cancer fundraiser
February 25
Cook Once, Eat Twice Cooking Class
February 27
Wits Workout
March 9
Spring Forward!
March 17
Tune into WBKR
March 18
Homemaker Lesson Training-Daviess County
March 19
Homemaker Lesson Training-Henderson County
March 28
Lesson Ballots Due
WBKR
Be sure to tune in to WBKR 92.5 FM to hear about the monthly SNAP recipe and hear reviews from the on-air taste testing.
February 17th - Split Pea Soup
March 17th - Crunchy Air Fryer Fish
Type 2 Diabetes Support Group
Come learn more about managing your diabetes and to meet others dealing with diabetes. Meetings are the third Tuesday of the month at noon in Healthpark Classroom B.
For more information please call 270-688-4804 or email DiabetesEducation@OwensboroHealth.org
Cook Once, Eat Twice Cooking Class
Join the Healthpark dieticians at the UK Cooperative Extension Office. Learn meal preparation tips and tricks that save both time and money. Recipes and tasty samples will be provided.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
UK Extension Office, 4800A New Hartford Rd
Call 270-685-8480 to register
Get the “Tea” on Cancer
Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
At the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Office
Event includes special speakers from the Kentucky Cancer Program and the University of Kentucky.
Tickets $10 each. Stop by the Extension Office for tickets.
Proceeds benefit UK Ovarian Cancer Research
Slow Cooker Tips for Warm Winter Soups and Stews
Source: Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Extension Specialist for Food and Nutrition
Slow cookers are electric appliances that are easy and convenient. You can use them to make soups and stews which are budget-friendly dishes you can stretch over several meals or feed a larger crowd. Use smaller slow cookers, in the range of 2 to 4 quarts, to feed one or two people. Larger slow cookers, 5 to 6 quarts, can feed larger families or gatherings. When preparing a soup or stew, make sure to fill the slow cooker at least halfway but no more than three-fourths full. This helps food cook evenly and reduces food safety concerns. Use the following tips and tricks to build a soup or stew with common items you might already have in your home.
· Chop vegetables into similarly sized pieces to ensure even cooking. Vegetables that cook well within the slow cooker are onions, carrots, potatoes, parsnips, celery, and green beans.
· Add vegetables to the slow cooker first. They cook slowly and need direct contact with the heat.
· If adding animal protein, trim the fat from the meat and cut into smaller, evenly sized pieces. Consider tougher cuts of meat that may be on sale such as chuck roast, stew meat, brisket, shoulder, or ribs. The ideal cut of poultry for a slow cooker soup or stew is chicken thighs. Place the meat or poultry on top of the vegetables.
· When adding liquid, make sure to cover all the vegetables. The fluid level should almost cover the meat entirely to ensure heat transfer and thorough cooking. Common liquids used in soups and stews are water, chicken broth, beef broth, and vegetable stock.
· For soups and stews that have pasta in them, add the dry pasta about 30 minutes before serving time. This will cook your pasta without making it too mushy.
· Rinsed, canned beans, lentils, and chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are a budget-friendly and nutritious protein source that you can add to a soup or stew at the beginning of the cooking time.
· Don’t forget to add flavor and depth using dried herbs and spices. Bay leaves, parsley, and oregano are common in slow cooker meals. Dried herbs will handle the heat of the slow cooker better over a longer period of time compared to fresh herbs. If you’re making a soup or stew with no recipe, it may take trial and error to find the level of flavor that you enjoy.
· If you’re adding cream or a dairy product to the soup or stew, add it within the last hour of the cooking time. This will preserve the texture and creaminess of the soup or stew.
Serve your soup or stew with whole-grain crackers or toast and a side of fruit for a well-balanced and nutritious meal. With a little information, you can take several items you have on hand and pull together a hearty, nutritious winter meal that requires little time and attention. For more information about slow cookers, recipes, and food safety, connect with your local County Extension Office.
Wits Workout: An engaging, interactive, and educational brain health program. Come join us for FUN and FREE activities.
Location: Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica Street Owensboro, KY 42301
Time: 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Dates: February 27
March 6, 13, 20, 27
April 10, 17, 24
May 1
All participants must register through the library.
Call 270-684-0211 ext. 3, or stop by the library.
Presented by: Katie Alexander, Daviess County Family &
Consumer Sciences Extension Agent
TYPE 1 DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP
Do you have Type 1 diabetes or are you a parent or caregiver of a child with diabetes? Do you or your child often feel alone in managing diabetes?
Meetings are held at 5 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Healthpark in Classroom B. There are break-out groups for children, adults, and caregivers. Please call 270-688-4858 or email jenny.young@OwensboroHealth.org to register or if you have any questions.
HOMEMAKER HAPPENINGS
Lesson for the Month
Creating Welcoming Communities - An International Lesson
Roll Call
Have you ever participated in a race or contest? What happened?
Thought of the Month
“On your marks, get set, go.”
—(Bicycle Race), Queen - 1978
Lesson Ballot
The rest of the newsletter is the lesson topic ballot for next year. You can complete this individually or as a club. Select up to 8 lesson topics and return to your Extension Office by March 28, 2025.
Foyer Decorations
Homespun did a great job reminding us of the fun we can have in the snow. March’s foyer will be decorated by South Hampton Homemakers
Ag Expo
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to see us at Ag Expo. We had a great day and loved seeing all of you!
