by Judy Corbus | Mar 25, 2013
Dye one set of eggs for hiding and another set for eating.
If an Easter egg hunt is on your calendar for the holiday weekend, follow these tips for safe, quality hard cooked eggs. Dr. Amy Simonne, University of Florida/IFAS Food Safety Specialist, recommends choosing Grade A or AA eggs with clean, uncracked shells. Store eggs in the carton in the main compartment of the refrigerator, not the door, to maintain freshness. It is not necessary to wash eggs before coloring but inspect and discard any that are unclean, cracked, broken, or leaking.
To prepare hard cooked eggs, place eggs in a single layer in a saucepan. Add enough tap water to cover eggs by at least one inch. Cover and quickly bring just to boiling. Turn off heat and, if necessary, remove the pan from the burner to prevent further boiling. Let eggs stand, covered, in the hot water about 18 minutes for extra-large eggs, 15 minutes for large eggs, and 12 minutes for medium eggs. Immediately run cold water over eggs or place them in iced water until completely cooked. To remove shell, crackle it by tapping gently all over. Roll egg between hands to loosen shell. Peel, starting at the large end. Hold egg under running cold water or dip in a bowl of water to help ease off the shell. Eggshells usually come off much more easily, without tearing the whites, when they are in small pieces rather than large chunks. Very fresh eggs may be difficult to peel. The fresher the egg, the more the shell membrane clings to the shell. For best results, buy and refrigerate eggs seven to ten days before hard cooking. This brief “breather” allows the eggs to take in air, which helps separate the membrane from the shell.
When coloring eggs, use only food-grade dyes or natural color from vegetables such as beets, cranberries, and blueberries. Hard-cooked eggs will keep in the refrigerator for one week. Like leftover turkey at Thanksgiving, colored eggs are great for sandwiches, either sliced or in egg salad.
Since eggs receive a lot of handling during a hunt, cracks are common. This allows bacteria from hands and the hiding places to seep through the shell, contaminating the inside. After the hunt, discard any with cracked shells. Discard also any eggs that have been out of the refrigerator for more than two hours. Re-refrigerate the “found” eggs until they are eaten. To reduce the risk of foodborne illness, consider coloring one batch for hunting and another for eating. An even safer option is to use plastic eggs for your hunt. For more fun, add a candy or trinket surprise inside each egg.
Be careful when preparing dishes calling for raw eggs. Many recipes for bunny-shaped cakes call for using a raw egg white in the frosting. However, this poses a risk for salmonella food poisoning. To be safe, use a frosting recipe that uses hot syrup and egg white. If the egg white mixture reaches 160 degrees F on a thermometer, it should be safe. You also may be able to use a pasteurized powdered meringue available where cake decorating supplies are sold.
Sources: FAR8702 Egg Safety, Dr. A. Simonne, University of Florida/IFAS Extension.
Traditional Spring Food: Its History and Safe Handling Today, L. Fox, USDA.
Egg Tips for Easter, Muriel Turner, University of Florida/IFAS Extension.
by Elaine Courtney | Feb 18, 2013
Saving money can be easy or it can be extremely difficult. Why should you save? To set aside money you could spend today…so you can spend it tomorrow! Ask yourself some hard questions:
What would happen if…
- You lost your job?
- You got sick?
- You had an emergency?
How will you pay for big purchases? Will you be able to retire?
What makes the difference? Understanding the Keys to Successful Savings! The theme for Saves Week focuses on these three key components of savings: Set a Goal, Make a Plan, Save Automatically.
Today let’s focus on the first part of Successful Saving–Set a Goal.
What do you want? Are you searching for ways to save money to pay off late bills or keep up with this month? Do you need to go to the dentist, buy or fix things for your home and family, pay for day care, or train for a better job? Do you want to buy a bicycle for your kids and/or send them to college? Without clear goals, you don’t know where you’re going.
Financial goals identify what you want to do with your money. Goals give you direction. They give you a purpose for the way you spend your money
What constitutes a goal? A statement such as “I want to save money” is too vague. It becomes a realistic financial goal by adding a dollar amount, and a time frame. For instance, “I want to save $25 a week for 12 months”. An actual goal, however, would depend on an individual’s or family’s income and values.
Make your goals SMART! Creating SMART goals gives us an action plan for reaching the goals we set.
Specific -Write down exactly what it is you want to accomplish. For example, instead of writing “I want to pay off credit card debt,” write, “I want to pay off the $5000 balance on my Visa Card.” Instead of writing, “I want to start an emergency fund,” write, “I want to save $1000 in an emergency fund.
Measurable –Financial goals are measured by a dollar amount, and you want to be able to see the progress you are making toward your goal. In the example we used before, if I want to pay off $5000 in credit card debt, I need to figure out how much money I need to pay per month, based on my deadline (this is the Time-Bound part- we’ll get to it shortly). If I wanted to pay it off in 12 months, I would need to pay around $420 per month (plus a little extra to cover interest and fees). Each month, I will see measurable progress toward my goal as my balance decreases.
Adaptable –With finances, we always need to be adaptable. Things change, life happens, emergencies come up, and we have to change our plans. Make sure that your goals are adaptable for changes in your financial situation. For instance, if you figure out that you want to pay $300 per month toward paying down your credit card debt, but then you have some unexpected expenses one month, you may have to pay less this month and either make up for it next month or stretch out your timeline.
Realistic –One of the biggest reasons we do not reach our financial goals is because we set the bar too high. If I only have $100 extra dollars in my budget, but I commit to paying $300 toward my credit card bill, I am setting myself up for failure. I could make this goal more realistic by 1) lowering the amount I plan to pay toward my credit card bill and stretching out the time I will be paying it down or 2) looking for other places in my budget where I can cut expenses in order to make this payment possible.
Time-Bound –Set deadlines for your financial goals! If you are anything like me, tasks without deadlines get pushed farther and farther down my to-do list. If you are serious about meeting your financial goals, set deadlines by which you want to accomplish them. This will also help you to determine how to measure your goals (see making your goals measurable above.
The second key to successful savings is to MAKE A PLAN. No matter what your financial goals are, it is important to map out a plan for achieving success.
The final key is to SAVE AUTOMATICALLY. Have part of your paycheck deposited into savings or transferred from checking to savings. You can also participate in retirement accounts that have automatic deposits made each pay period. This makes it easy to save and removes the temptation of having that money easily accessible.
As part of SAVES WEEK, there will be an on-line presentation and discussion about the Keys to Successful Saving on Tuesday, February 26, 11:30-12:30 CST. This might be just the motivation you need to get started saving!
February 26
3 Keys to Successful Savings –Create SMART goals, find money to save, make a savings plan, and choose the right savings accounts to reach your goals. http://bit.ly/3KeySaves. Participating is easy and free! We will send you a reminder email and the login instructions! Hope you’ll join me!
Don’t forget to join other savers…Become an Okaloosa Saver http://bit.ly/Al9BuH or Florida Saver at http://fycs.ifas.ufl.edu/Extension/FinancialManagement/FloridaSaves/Florida_Saves_Enrollment_Form.pdf.
Additional webinars will be held during Saves Week (all times are 11:30-12:30 CST):
February 27
Goal – Based Investing – Learn how to use a goal-based investment strategy to achieve financial goals. Learn to effectively develop a financial plan and choose investment accounts that work for particular goals. http://bit.ly/UFINVest
February 28
Tips for Tax Preparation & Filing – Review options for free tax filing, tax credits & tax deductions. Tips to analyze returns to help with financial decisions. http://bit.ly/TaxFil
Prepared by: Elaine A. Courtney
Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agent
UF/IFAS Extension-Okaloosa County
850-683-8431
ecourtne@ufl.edu
by Elaine Courtney | Feb 18, 2013
Setting a goal is the first step in taking charge of your finances. However, staying on track to meet that goal can be hard! The America Saves Challenge will help you meet your goals by providing daily encouragement and challenge!
The 2013 America Saves Challenge is part of America Saves Week (February 25-March 2, 2013), a time set aside annually to promote good savings behavior. The “2013 America Saves Challenge” is a free five-week program, held from Sunday, February 24, through Saturday, March 30, 2013. There will be weekly prizes and final challenge awards at the end of program.
You may enroll online at http://rutgers.ancc.net/ (Rutgers Cooperative Extension Small Steps to Health and Wealth™ Challenge Web site)
- Set up a user name and password and
- Download a one-page user’s guide with instructions about how to proceed.
- Enroll in the Challenge titled “2013 America Saves Challenge.” This challenge will be among a list of names of online challenges that are currently available.
When people track their behavior and measure how they are doing, they are often inspired to do better and achieve positive results. Participants in the America Saves Challenge are “on their honor” to report their activities accurately. If they “cheat” on reporting their points, they are only cheating themselves by not following the recommended financial practices.
The America Saves Challenge is based on the performance of ten recommended financial practices. Ten points are given for performing each one. (Maximum of 700 points per week) “The Challenge is a great way to convert personal financial goals, like saving money and learning about investing, into daily action steps,” notes Dr. Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management for Rutgers.
Participants will receive daily motivational messages. Paper tracking forms are available to keep track of daily activities.
Doing even one of the ten recommended daily financial practices is a great way to get started on your financial goals. The more America Saves Challenge activities you do, the better your financial progress.
To participate in the America Saves Challenge, visit http://rutgers.ancc.net/, register an account, and enroll in the “2013 America Saves Challenge.”
For additional information, contact Elaine Courtney, University of Florida-IFAS/Okaloosa Extension @ 850-683-8431 or your local Cooperative Extension Office.
by Heidi Copeland | Feb 13, 2013
http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/healthyeating/pdfs/KTB Family Cookbook 2010.pdf
Download the deliciously healthy family meals cookbook
What timeless words of wisdom!
More recently, researchers at Rutgers University conducted a Meta study looking at 68 studies that examined the relationship between family meals, eating habits, and children’s health. Specifically, they wanted to know if there was a correlation between family meals and obesity.
Interestingly, because so many of the studies outcomes were in general agreement, it makes sense to keep them in mind. The data suggests that family mealtime does indeed have a wealth of benefits, especially for children.
When families make mealtimes more of a priority, they tend to pay more attention to what is served. Children who have more family meals get more of the nutrient-rich foods that build strong bodies and smart brains: more fruits, veggies, lean meats, and low-fat milk; fewer fried foods and soft drinks.
Additionally, researchers found that the quality time spent together during a family meal helps build relationships as well as foster healthy eating habits such as eating slowly, enjoying a variety of foods, and stopping when comfortably satisfied rather than overstuffed.
Remember, the research does not promise if your family eats together your children will be magically perfect; it is the sharing between family members that is important.
Make as many family meals as possible a priority. By making some healthy and realistic goals you have a plan for success. How?
Step 1: Get Ready
Involve all family members in the planning by allowing each person a chance to talk about their food preferences.
Step 2: Plan the main courses
Plan for a week the foods your family enjoys, your budget, the time you have to prepare it as well as nutrition.
Step 3: Stock the kitchen with staples
Stocking the pantry, refrigerator and freezer with essential ingredients makes it easy to prepare a quick and tasty meal.
Step 4: Make the cooking easy
Family meals do not have to be a formal dinner. Try strategies that work for you to spend less time preparing and more time enjoying a family meal.
Example: Save preparation time using ready-to-eat fresh vegetables or salads.
Make family mealtimes a normal part of your family life. This very simple activity can help to sustain a family’s health and culture, connect each generation to each other at the same time providing indispensable life skills, as well as the deeply rooted satisfaction in making something with your own family’s hands.
Try these websites for quick an easy family friendly recipes.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_healthcooking
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/kbrec/family-friendly-recipes
http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/healthyeating/pdfs/KTB_Family_Cookbook_2010.pdf
by Bill Mahan | Feb 4, 2013
Years ago when I adopted my first cats, my veterinarian told me that unlike dogs, cats do not get heartworms, so I didn’t need to give my cats any preventive medicine for them.
However, fast forward about 20 years and now veterinarians know that cats, too, can become infected with heartworm. In fact, recently, the number of feline heartworm cases was thought to be on the decline. However, over the past few years, the number of feline heartworm infections seems to be increasing. The jury is still out on if the increase in the number of cases is the result of an increased number of infections, or if veterinarians have become better at diagnosing heartworm in cats as they have learned more about the problem.
So what is heartworm? According to a recent report in the November 2012 issue of “Catnip,” a newsletter published by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, heartworm is caused by an infection of a parasitic worm named Dirfilia immitis. As it turns out, the disease is most commonly found in warm, muggy climates that are inhabited by mosquitoes that carry the heartworm larvae. As the mosquito flies from one animal to another, it bites and transfers the larvae to the animal, infecting it. The larva then develops and matures over a period of several months into worms that can grow to be nearly a foot long.
Eventually, the worms take up residence in the cat’s pulmonary arteries; these are the blood vessels that carry the blood from the heart to the lungs. In an advanced heartworm infection, the mature worms usually cause damage to the walls of the pulmonary arteries and also slow down the blood flow. This can cause abnormal strain on the cat’s heart with potentially fatal results.
Just like in dogs, heartworm is difficult to treat in cats and the treatment can be fatal. However, heartworm can be prevented. The key to prevention is to provide your cat year-round protection by giving them preventive medications such as selamectin, milbermycin, or ivermectin to all the cats you own. This is very important in our area because of our mosquito population.
If you have any questions about heartworms and your cat, please contact your local veterinarian for answers and advice. As always, before you give any kind of medication to your cat, check with your veterinarian for recommendations on the best products, dosage, and treatment schedule for your pet.
Wishing you, your family, and pets a Safe & Healthy 2013!!
References:
“Short Takes – Heartworm On the Rise,” in ‘Catnip, The Newsletter for Caring Cat Owners:’ written by Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. November 2012, Vol. 20, No. 11
(Bill Mahan is a FL Sea Grant Agent and Director of the Franklin UF-IFAS Extension Program. Contact him on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UFIFASFranklinExtension?ref=hl, via e-mail at bmahan@ufl.edu, or at (850) 653-9337, 697-2112 x 360.)
