BC Home and Health Newsletter July/August Edition

Barren County's

HOME AND HEALTH NEWSLETTER : JULY/AUGUST 2020

IN THIS ISSUE Rinse Produce Before Eating Leftovers and Food Safety Where is your money going?

PIUKP Featured Recipe Kentucky Zucchini

LaToya's Comments: Summer veggie season is in full effect. I personally am excited to have access to an abundance of affordable fresh fruits and veggies from our local farmers market and

Encourage Intuitive Eating

Homemaker Highlights

my little container garden. If you haven't visited the Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market this year, I urge you to check it out and take advantage of the open-air shopping experience. Squash, tomatoes, and other veggies are plenty. Stop by the market on Saturday's located at the Extension Service parking lot from 8 am- noon.

Reach out for recipes featuring in-season veggies!

LaToya Drake, MS Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences

You might have leftovers from the takeout you ordered or after all the family dinners you’ve cooked this week. Whatever the case, proper handling of leftovers is essential to avoid any risk of foodborne illness. You should refrigerate leftover food as soon as possible and reheat it to a safe temperature before eating again.

Follow the guidelines below to ensure the safety of your leftovers.

Refrigerate or freeze quickly. Do not allow leftovers to sit at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. This includes travel time from the restaurant. Throw out any food that has been sitting out for longer than 2 hours.

Wrap well. Cover leftovers tightly with plastic wrap or store them in airtight containers.This will help keep bacteria out and maintain the best quality.

Reheat safely. Reheat leftovers to 165 degrees F. Always use a food thermometer to make sure the food has reached this temperature. You can reheat in the microwave, on the stove-top, or in the oven.You can safely reheat frozen leftovers without thawing first, just allow for a little longer cooking time.

Microwave reheating – cover food when reheating in the microwave in order to maintain moisture. You may even want to add a little water or broth to improve quality. Rotate and stir the food midway through cooking to ensure even heating. Allow the food to rest for at least a minute before checking the temperature.

Stove-top reheating – cover food to help retain moisture. Bring soups, sauces, and gravies to a rolling boil before eating. Adding liquid may improve quality.

Store safely. You should eat leftover food stored in the refrigerator within 3 to 4 days. You should eat frozen leftovers within 3 to 4 months. Be sure to label and date before storing. When in doubt, throw it out.

Source: Annhall Norris, Food Safety and Preservation Extension Specialist

Leftov ers and fo od safety

For recipes and info related to cooking at home check out...

Homemaker Highlights Enclosed in our large Newsletter Packet you will find an envelope addressed to County treasurer, Brenda Leftwich. For your convenience send your dues and included form(s) in the addressed and stamped envelope. Dues are $9.

Also be sure to mail back the completed forms detailing your personal and club accomplishments including volunteer nominations.

Submit your 20-21 program ideas or volunteer to serve on a program planning committee by contacting County President, Cynthia Rowland.

The County Extension office is open on a limited access and by appointment; masks are required while in the building per UK policy.

Follow us on Facebook @BarrenCountyCES or @SokyHomeandHealth to stay up to date about distance learning opportunities and staying healthy at home.

Join our new Barren County Extension Homemakers Facebook group!

Upcoming large Homemaker Events are cancelled until further notice (Contact Cynthia with questions). - This includes County Annual Day, Cultural Arts and Area Annual Day. There are still a few Homemaker shirts for sale! Be ready for Homemaker events and purchase your Caligraphy Creations in KY (Kaleigh Gibson) produced shirt! ($14, S-XL; $15, XXL) See guidance regarding homemaker meetings on back.