December-January 2025 Homemaker News
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Thoughts from Ronda…
Hello All,
I hope all is well with you and your families. This newsletter will cover both December 2024 and January 2025. We are winding down for the Holidays and I am so proud of all the work that you as Homemakers have done for our community. The Peony Festival 5K Fun Run/Walk Fundraiser, the Fair Open Class Exhibits, the Ice Cream Social, Cultural Arts, the County Annual Meeting and the Area Annual meeting have all been huge successes because of YOU! You represented our county well! And let’s not forget, we now have a Proclamation declaring Gallatin County Homemaker Week as the second full week of October each year. So put on your thinking caps and let’s find a way to celebrate next October. We are looking forward the Holiday Treasure Hunters Fundraiser coming up December 7th (flyer included in this newsletter). Please remember…if you are a paid Gallatin County Homemaker, you can bring in your items on Friday, December 6th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No cloth items PLEASE! No clothes, bedding, pillows of any kind, shoes or any other household cloth items.
On another note, I have a request. I am in need of about 10-12 Sensory Lap Quilts. I need them for an existing collaboration at the Middle School for January or later. I have photos of examples here at the Extension Office. If you are interested in helping with this project, please call or text me. Thank you!
Until next time, Be Healthy and Safe!
And, Happy Holidays!
Important Dates To Remember!
December 5: 9:00am-4:00pm—The Sit, Sew & Socialize Club will meet at the Extension Office
December 7: 9:00 am—1:00 pm—Treasure Hunt at the Extension Office. See enclosed Flyer
December 8: Napoleon Homemakers—3:00pm—will meet at Cracker Barrel in Dry Ridge
December 10: Fun Time Quilters—9:00am- 4:00pm—will meet at the Extension Office
December 10: Back to Basics Homemakers—6:00pm—will meet at the Extension Office
December 11: 10:30am—The Cross County Homemakers—will meet at the Extension Office
December 24-January 2, 2025—The Extension Office will be closed for the Holidays. The Office will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025. Happy Holidays from the Gallatin County Cooperative Extension Service!
January 23—1:00pm—The Artful Palette— will be at the Boone County Enrichment Center. See Enclosed Flyer for more information or to register.
2025 Homemaker Council Dates
January 13, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.
April 14, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.
July 14, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.
October 13, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.
All meetings will be held at the Gallatin County Extension Office
Monthly Organizational Tips!
Beginning in January 2025, each month in the Newsletter, I will share one of my tips for Organizing. One of my assets is that I am an organized person. I take great pride in being organized and it helps me with my mental and physical health.
Being organized helps us with time management, stress management and helps us save money. I am actually reading a new book about Organizing. And just when I thought I had read them all….LOL. If you are interested in the book, I am happy to share it with you.
January’s Organizing Tip is: Make Your Bed every day! This takes seconds to minutes to complete, and it is the day’s first accomplishment.
Cooking Through the Calendar
December: Slow Cooker Navy Bean Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. dried navy beans
- 1 smoked ham hock
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 3 medium stalks celery, diced
- 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp. salt-free garlic and herb seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp. salt
Directions:
Wash hands, with warm water and soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.
Rinse and sort beans, removing dirt, rocks, and other debris that might be present. Choose from the quick soak or overnight soak methods below:
Quick soak: Place the beans in a pot large enough for them to double in size. Add 6 cups of water for every 2 cups of dry beans. Next place the pot on medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Boil beans for 2 to 3 minutes in uncovered pan. Remove from heat. Cover pan and let soak for 1 hour before cooking.
Overnight soak: Place the beans in a pot large enough for them to double in size. Add enough water to have at least 1 inch over the beans. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
Cooking:
- Wash hands with warm water and soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.
- Wash fresh produce under cool running water, using a vegetable brush to scrub veggies with a firm surface. Dry and cut to prepare for this recipe.
- Rinse and drain the soaked beans and place them in the bottom of a large (7-8 quart) slow cooker. Add the ham hock, carrots, celery, chicken broth, seasoning and bay leaves.
- Cover with lid and cook on low for 7-9 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until the beans are tender. Add salt.
- Remove ham hock and bay leaves from soup. Separate meat from the skin and bone of the ham hock and return it to the soup. Discard the bone, skin and bay leaves.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
- Note: Substitute ham hock with 2 cups diced ham, or a leftover ham bone.
Makes 12 servings
Cost per recipe: $ 7.18
Cost per serving: $ 0.60
Nutrition facts per serving: 220 calories; 5g total fat; 4.5g saturated fat; 0g trans fat; 25mg cholesterol; 540mg sodium; 28g total carbohydrate; 6g dietary fiber; 2g total sugars; 0g added sugars; 19g protein; 0% Daily Value of vitamin D; 6% Daily Value of calcium; 15% Daily Value of iron; 15% Daily Value of potassium.
Source: Jen Robinson, NEP Area Nutrition Agent; and Brooke Jenkins, Extension Specialist, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Reasonable accommodation of disability may be available with prior notice. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportunity Office, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Room S-105, Agriculture Science Building, North Lexington, Kentucky 40546, the UK Office of Equal Opportunity, 13 Main Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0032 or US Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410.
