Spring Newsletter

Ashe County Center
Family Finances
“Take Control” of
Your Finances
Protect Your
Investment
Enjoy Your Colors at
Mealtime
Creamy Broccoli Soup
Recipe
Kentucky Sweet Potato
Pie Recipe
Do Food Choices
Affect Your Mood?
Using Preserved
Produce
Keep Stress Under
Control
Chocolate Angel Food
Cake Recipe
Do You Have Heat and
Enough to Eat?
Hand Washing
Confused by Food
Dates?
Smart Uses for Your
Tax Refund
Build An Emergency
Cash Reserve
Home Food
Preservation Workshops and Pressure
Canner Clinics
Planned
Calendar of Events
North Carolina Cooperative
Extension, Ashe County Center
134 Government Circle, Suite 202
Jefferson, NC 28640
Phone: (336) 846-5850
Fax:
(336) 846-5882
http://ashe.ces.ncsu.edu/
Distributed in furtherance of the acts of
Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North
Carolina State University and North Carolina
A&T State University commit themselves to
positive action to secure equal opportunity
regardless of race, color, creed, national
origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or
disability. In addition, the two
Universities welcome all persons without regard to
sexual orientation. North Carolina State
University, North Carolina A&T State
University, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
and local governments cooperating.
Spring 2012
Over 8 million Americans fell victim to
identity theft in 2010. Don’t let it
happen to you. Follow these tips to
prevent identity theft:
Review your bills and bank statements promptly. If you find any charges or debts
that you never made, contact the bank or company immediately.
Monitor your debts online frequently. You can discover problems more quickly
than if you wait for bills or statements to come in the mail.
Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates,
employ outside help, or are having service work done in your home.
Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name,
or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Protect yourself against loss by removing any card from your wallet that you
don’t use on a regular basis. This way, if you have a theft, you won’t have to
notify as many entities.
Put as little information as you can on your checks. Never put your Social
Security number, and use a post office box instead of a physical address if
possible.
Do not have new checks mailed to your home. Send them to your bank instead.
Identity thieves think they’ve hit the jackpot when they find a box of checks in
the mailbox.
Keeping charge receipts in your car is asking for trouble. Identity thieves would
much rather have your personal account information than your car stereo.
The country's economic downturn has left many families scrambling to deal with personal and
financial crises. To help, North Carolina Cooperative Extension has developed a Web site,
"Take Control," that provides peer-reviewed fact sheets offering a number of suggestions on
how to cope with economic hardship.
The fact sheets, available on the Web site www.nctakecontrol.com, were developed by N.C.
Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Specialists in the College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences at N.C. State University. The fact sheets include tips on saving money, talking
to children about the economy, shopping for healthy foods on a tight budget, avoiding home
foreclosure and many other timely topics.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Ashe County Center
Your home may be your biggest lifetime
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investment. Taking steps to maintain and
protect it is important to assure that your
investment maintains its value. Consider the
following as you plan for upkeep of your home:
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Are your weep holes working? While many
homeowners may not know they have such holes in
their home, weep holes are small holes left in the outer
wall of masonry construction. If your home’s outside
is bricked or rocked, look for small holes every four to
six feet just above the home’s foundation. These holes
provide ventilation and an outlet for water/moisture
that can accumulate inside a masonry wall; they
provide a drain to the outside that allow water to
evaporate. They also equalize air pressure on both
sides of the wall. Keeping weep holes unobstructed
will help prevent water damage to your home. Check
the level of dirt or landscaping materials around your
home. Over time, these can build up and cover weep
holes. Overgrown shrubbery can also block weep
holes and prevent them from working properly. Weep
holes that are blocked/obstructed can cause water
retention along the floor joists and interior wall
framing; over time this will result in wood rot.
Warped, discolored or rotted baseboards, water stained
dry wall along baseboards, or swelling of baseboards
are signs of weep hole obstruction. These conditions
result in wood rot, mold and attract insects. Termites
and carpenter ants are attracted to the moisture in the
wall and to the wood that is weakened as a result of
the moisture. Prevent raising the level of the
landscaping around your home and keep shrubbery
trimmed to keep your weep holes open.
When it rains, where does the water go at your home?
If the water spills over gutters, this is an indication that
gutters and downspouts are full and need to be
cleaned. The purpose of guttering is to carry water
away from your home. When they do not work
properly, water can dam up in and around the home’s
structure, causing extensive damage to your
investment.
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Planting new
shrubs? The
recommended closest placement of shrubs and other
landscape plants to the home is six feet away from the
structure. When choosing what to plant, consider the
size it will be when full grown. Your home needs air
circulation on and around outside walls. Keep older
overgrown plants and shrubs trimmed. Lack of air
circulation can cause moisture damage inside and
outside your home.
Routinely inspect plumbing for leaks. Tiny pin holes
in pipes that go undetected, over time, will cause
expensive repair. Repair leaks in or around sink
fixtures, the problem may only need a washer, an
inexpensive repair that will prevent expensive water
damage over time.
Inspect the roof to check for missing or damaged
shingles, and repair as soon as possible.
Be wary of using mulch against the outside of the
home’s structure. Decayed wood (mulch) attracts
termites and carpenter ants to your investment. Mulch
commonly causes problems with the cannon fungus,
which causes small black specks on outside walls,
windows, porches and patio furniture. Often mistaken
as insect stains, the black dots are very difficult to
remove. Vinyl siding can develop permanent stains
from the fungus that lives in mulch and explodes,
hence the name “cannon fungus.”
Maintain your basement’s relative humidity level at
50% or less. If the air has a higher level of moisture in
it, mold and mildew can grow and flourish in your
basement. Investing in a digital hygrometer to monitor
the humidity level can prevent moisture damage.
Investing in a dehumidifier may be a wise investment
to maintain your basement’s relative humidity at or
below 50%. Basements with no leaks that are closed
up with little ventilation can develop moisture
problems. Opening windows and doors to allow air
circulation on a regular basis in warm weather can be
helpful. However, during the hot summer days when
the basement is cool, the difference in the outside and
inside temperatures can cause condensation to form in
the basement.
Home equity is the greatest source of wealth for
most consumers, caring for your home with these
simple steps will protect your investment.
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North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Ashe County Center
Enjoy Your Colors at Mealtime
March is National Nutrition Month and the theme for 2012 is “Eat Right With Color.” Choosing fruits and
vegetables with a variety of colors provides the most health benefits. Many of these colorful Fruits and Vegetables
are considered “super foods.” Why? These foods contain higher amounts of phytochemicals, like antioxidants and
anthocyanins (the natural compounds that give these foods their red, blue or purplish color). These can help reduce
your risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. The combination of these compounds and the basic vitamins and
minerals are found in most fresh produce. Fruits and vegetables considered super foods include beans, blueberries,
broccoli, leafy greens, oranges, pumpkins, tomatoes and sweet potatoes. The following are recipes that will help you
incorporate more “super foods” into your meals.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons onion, minced
3 tablespoons margarine
4 1/2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups skim milk
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups fresh broccoli or 10 ounces frozen package,
chopped (thawed and drained)
1 cup raw carrot, shredded
1/2 cup cheese, shredded
Instructions:
Sauce onion in margarine in heavy saucepan until
tender. Stir in flour and salt. Gradually add milk,
stirring constantly. Bring to a boil. Add broth, broccoli,
and carrot. Cook over low heat for 25 minutes or until
carrot is tender. Do not boil. Stir occasionally. Add
cheese and serve. For variation, add 1 cup instant rice
after cooking and let stand for 5 minutes. Yield: 8
servings. 130 calories per serving, 6 g fat, 850 mg.
sodium.
Ingredients:
1 cup baking mix (reduced fat, if available)
1/4 cup cornmeal mix
1/3 cup water
2 cups sweet potato, mashed (fresh or canned)
1 can sweetened condensed milk (skim, if available)
2 eggs
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, combine
baking mix, cornmeal mix, and water. Beat with spoon
20 times. Coat hands with oil or vegetable spray and pat
dough with hands into a greased pie pan to form crust.
Set aside. In a medium, bowl, stir together sweet potato,
sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and cinnamon. Pour
filling into crust. Bake pie in preheated oven for 45
minutes. Yield: 8 servings. 275 calories per slice, 3 g
fat, 270 mg sodium.
Are you looking for an easy tasty way to enjoy frozen
berries? Try this refreshing, quick and easy smoothie.
Frozen Fruit Blast Smoothie
New research has found that of 12,000 people who took
part in a study, those whose daily food choices included
processed foods, drive through fast food, baked foods
containing transfats had a 48% increased risk for
depression. Those who ate foods with olive oil and
polyunsaturated fats (including fish and vegetable oils)
were less likely to have the blues.
1 cup frozen fruit (such as blueberries, peaches or
strawberries)
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt or plain yogurt
1 teaspoon honey
Place all ingredients in a blender and process until
smooth. 2 servings.
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North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Ashe County Center
What’s the link between stress and heart disease? Stress sets off a chain of events. First, you have a stressful situation
that’s usually upsetting but not harmful. The body reacts to it by releasing a hormone, adrenaline, that causes your
breathing and heart rate to speed up and your blood pressure to rise. These physical reactions prepare you to deal with the
situation by confronting it or by running away from it—the “fight or flight” response. If stress is constant in your life,
your body remains in high gear off and on for days or weeks at a time. Chronic stress that causes an increase in heart rate
and blood pressure may damage artery walls.
Healthy habits can protect you from the harmful effects of stress. Here are 10 positive healthy habits you may want to
develop:
Talk with family and friends. Share your feelings, hopes, and joys. A daily dose of friendship is good medicine.
Be physically active. Physically active adults have lower risk of depression and loss of mental functioning.
Accept the things you cannot change.
Remember to laugh.
Give up the bad habits. Too much alcohol, cigarettes, or caffeine can increase stress.
Slow down. Try to “pace” instead of “race”. Plan ahead and allow enough time to get the most important things done.
Get enough sleep. Try to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
Get organized. Approach big tasks one step at a time. For example, start by organizing just one part of your life—your
car, kitchen, closet, cupboard, drawer.
9) Practice giving back. Volunteer. Helping others helps you.
10) Try not to worry. The world won’t end if your grass isn’t mowed or your kitchen isn’t cleaned.
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Help Your Children Deal With Stress:
The ability to deal with everyday stress is an important life skill. Parents need to understand that stress can affect
children as well as adults. That’s why it’s important to help children develop healthy ways of coping with stress.
A few simple strategies can help your children handle stress:
Establish and maintain a daily routine.
Have family conversations where all members of the family can discuss their experiences
and feelings.
Keep family traditions, and create new traditions.
Help family members adjust to life events by being responsive and supportive.
Stay in contact with family members through phone, e-mail, or texting.
If you think you or your children need extra help, seek support from school and
community organizations.
Here’s an easy healthier way to enjoy the flavor of
chocolate. The instant coffee intensifies the flavor of
the cocoa.
Ingredients:
1 package angel food cake mix
2 teaspoons powdered instant coffee
1/3 cup cocoa
Per serving: 155 calories, less than 1 g of fat,
0 cholesterol, 11 mg sodium.
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Follow directions on angel
food mix package. Stir coffee and cocoa into mixture.
Beat 1 minute, scraping bowl often. Spoon batter into an
un-oiled tube pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 375
degrees F. Remove from oven when top is cracked and
dry. Invert and allow to cool. Serves 12.
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North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Ashe County Center
When was the last time you were hungry or cold? Really hungry or cold?
The nation has been touched by hard economic times and Ashe County has not escaped the cold hand of need. While we
often think of hunger as being a problem in other countries, hunger is real in Ashe County. Often many children have
food to eat only while they are at school. Families with excessive medical bills make choices of whether to buy medicine,
heat or food. Agencies working with these families have seen these situations recently in our county.
What can you do? Ashe Outreach Ministries is encouraging all of us to help. This is the time of year when gardeners
begin planning for their vegetable gardens. If you are a gardener, think about planting extra seeds and plants to share with
families in our county who do not have enough food to eat. During harvest season, several drop off points are being
planned for convenience for those who are willing to share their garden’s bounty.
Another growing need in Ashe County is fuel assistance for families. The winter has been mild but there is still a great
need for energy assistance donations in Ashe County due to rising fuel costs and cuts in energy fuel assistance monies.
Many families who once made contributions to Ashe County Department of Social Services Energy Assistance program
are now asking for help themselves. Again, there are many families in Ashe County who have to make choices every day
between necessities that many of us take
Ashe County Outreach Ministries
for granted.
If you would like more information
on how you can give contact
Ashe County Outreach Ministries
or Ashe County Department of
Social Services:
When it comes to hand washing, the experts agree: Hand
washing is the single most important thing you can do to
prevent the spread of infectious disease. In fact,
scheduled hand washing, at least four times per day, can
reduce the spread of illness by up to 50%!
At home or at school, encourage children and others to
follow these simple hand washing steps:
Wet hands with warm, running water before reaching
for soap.
P.O. Box 157
Creston, NC 28615
informationPhone:
on (336) 977-1377
Website: http://www.asheoutreach.org
Ashe County Department of Social Services
626 Ashe Central School Road, Unit 9
Jefferson, NC 28640
Phone: (336) 982-7800
Website: http://www.ashecountygov.com
Using liquid or bar soap, rub hands together to work
up a sudsy lather. Do this away from running water,
so the lather isn’t washed away.
Wash the front and back of hands, between fingers
and under nails. Continue to rub hands briskly for at
least 15 seconds.
Timing tip: Encourage young children to county slowly
to 15 or sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice. This
helps ensure that they’ve washed long enough!
Rinse hands well under warm, running water.
Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel or air dryer.
Tip: Waterless products, such as hand sanitizers and
antibacterial wipes, are useful alternatives when soap and
water are not available.
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North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Ashe County Center
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Have you ever been confused by the dates you see on food
products? It’s often easy to find and read the date on a
food package—but what does a food date tell you?
First it’s helpful to know that food products display four kinds of dates:
1) “Sell by” date: This date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product
before the sell-by date expires.
2) “Best before” date: The manufacturer recommends that you eat the food by this date to obtain the best flavor and
quality. This is not the date by which you should purchase the food; nor is it a safety date.
3) “Use by” date: This is the last date recommended for consumption of the product while at peak quality. The
use-by date, like the other dates, is determined by the manufacturer.
4) “Closed” or “coded” date: this type of date is stamped on a food package as part of a packing number used by
the manufacturer.
Many products will be safe to consume after their sell-by and best-before dates if they have been handled properly and
have been kept at a safe temperature (41° F or below for refrigerated products). However, you should use a food
product before its use-by date for both quality and safety reasons. This is especially true for people at high risk for
foodborne illness—such as pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems—who should eat
pre-cooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as possible after purchase.
You should also keep a close eye on foods that are at high risk for contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a
pathogenic bacterium that can grow at refrigerator temperatures and can make you sick if you consume it. Foods at
high risk for Listeria contamination include soft cheeses, unpasteurized (raw) milk and cheese, smoked seafood, and
deli meats that are not in sealed or prepackaged containers. Follow United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
refrigerator storage-time guidelines:
Hot dogs—Store opened packages in the refrigerator for no longer than one week, and store unopened packages in
the refrigerator for no longer than two weeks.
Luncheon and deli meat—Store opened packages and meat sliced at a local deli in the refrigerator for no longer
than three to five days. Store factory-sealed, unopened packages for no longer than two weeks.
For optimum food safety, follow these guidelines:
Purchase the product before the sell-by, best-before, or use-by date (whichever one is on the package).
Immediately after you purchase perishable food, take it home and refrigerate or freeze it.
Use a refrigerator thermometer to check the temperature inside your refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 41°F
or lower and the freezer should be 0°F or lower.
Once a product is frozen, it doesn’t matter whether its use-by date passes, because freezing stops the growth of
pathogenic bacteria.
Get the most out of your tax refund by developing a plan. Make a
commitment to enjoy part of the money. Be smart, and use the rest for
practical purposes. Allocate 80 percent of your refund for “smart uses”
and the remaining 20 percent as cash for enjoyment or to make a
special purchase.
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North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Ashe County Center
For longer-term
reserves, invest in a
market mutual fund or in
CDs with terms lasting
twelve, eighteen, or
twenty-four months.
Shop for the best
combination of initial
Most experts recommend having an emergency fund
deposit amount, interest
equal to three to six months of living expenses,
rate, compounding
including mortgage or rent payments, insurance
period, and yield. Be
premiums, utility bills, groceries, car payments,
student loans, and minimum payments on credit cards. sure to check whether
there are fees to redeem
a CD before its maturity
Begin building your emergency cash reserve by
putting 5 to 10 percent of your gross income in some date.
type of interest-bearing bank account every month.
Deposit money that will be needed immediately after
an emergency in an interest bearing checking, savings,
or money-market account. Money needed for three to
twelve months after an emergency can be placed in
short-term certificates of deposit (CDs) or six-month
Treasury bills.
An emergency cash reserve is money set aside to
cover changes in income or expenses that can arise
from a variety of situations, such as unemployment,
accidents or illnesses, or natural disasters. An
emergency fund also helps with such smaller
expenses as a flat tire or an appliance repair.
You are invited to the Agricultural Service Center to a home food
preservation workshop. The workshop will provide information and
demonstrations on freezing, canning and drying foods.
Home Food Preservation Workshop Dates:
(same workshop available at different times)
June 9, 2012—9:00 a.m. —Agricultural Service Center
Conference Room
June 23, 2012, 9:00 a.m. —Agricultural Service Center
Conference Room
Space is limited. Registration is required to ensure adequate seating
and materials. There is no charge to participate in the workshop.
To register for Home Food Preservation Workshops please call the
North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Ashe County Center at
(336) 846-5850 before June 5, 2012.
(dial face gauges only—please only
bring lid with gauge)
May 23, 2012—8:30 a.m.—2:00 p.m.,
Agricultural Service Center, Upstairs
May 31, 2012—8:30 a.m.—2:00 p.m.,
Agricultural Service Center, Upstairs
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North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Ashe County Center
April 4, 2012
Nathans Creek Extension and Community Association Club Meeting
12:00 noon; Smoky Mountain Barbecue Restaurant
April 17, 2012
Extension and Community Association Joint Club Meeting
10:00 a.m.; Agricultural Service Center Conference Room
Speaker—Louise Caudill will speak about services available at
Ashe Services for Aging
May 2, 2012
Extension and Community Association Trip to Bob Timberlake’s (more information will follow)
May 11, 2012
Jefferson Extension and Community Association Club Meeting
1:00 p.m.; Agricultural Service Center Conference Room
Speaker—Carolyn Shepherd, Ashe County Extension Director, will speak about
“Cook Smart, Eat Smart”
May 23, 2012
Pressure Canner Clinic (dial face gauges only—please only bring lid with gauge)
8:30 a.m.—2:00 p.m., Agricultural Service Center, Upstairs
May 31, 2012
Pressure Canner Clinic (dial face gauges only—please only bring lid with gauge)
8:30 a.m.—2:00 p.m. Agricultural Service Center, Upstairs
June 6, 2012
Nathans Creek Extension and Association Club Meeting
12:00 noon, Smoky Mountain Barbecue Restaurant
June 8, 2012
Jefferson Extension and Community Association Club Meeting
11:30 a.m.; Shatley Springs Restaurant
June 9, 2012
Food Preservation Workshop
9:00 a.m., Agricultural Service Center Conference Room
June 23, 2012
Food Preservation Workshop
9:00 a.m., Agricultural Service Center Conference Room
July 13, 2012
Jefferson Extension and Community Association Club Meeting
12:00 noon; New River State Park
Speaker—Park Ranger; Pot Luck Lunch; Bring Baby Items for the Ashe Pregnancy Care Center
August 9, 2012
Jefferson Extension and Community Association Club Meeting (tentative)
1:00 p.m.; Location To Be Announced
Speaker—Glenda Luther, Ashe County Volunteer Coordinator.
September 18, 2012
Extension and Community Association Joint Club Meeting
10:00 a.m.; Agricultural Service Center Conference Room
Jefferson Extension & Community Association will bring desserts and drinks. Bring your own lunch.
October 26, 2012
Ashe County Extension and Community Association Achievement Day
10:00 a.m.; Agricultural Service Center Conference Room
(Jefferson Extension and Community Association Business Meeting Following Achievement Day)
November 9, 2012
Jefferson Extension and Community Association Club Meeting
11:30 a.m.; Shatley Springs Restaurant
Program Topic: Fuel assistance funding for needy families
Sincerely,
December 7, 2012
Jefferson Extension and Community Association Club Meeting
11:30 a.m.; Winners Circle
Club members bring toiletries and physical hygiene items
Carolyn Shepherd
Ashe County Extension Director
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