Cooperative Extension Service Russell County 2688 S. Hwy. 127 Russell Springs, KY 42642 (270) 866-4477 Fax: (270) 866-8645 extension.ca.uky.edu

Announcements…

Lesson Leader Training

“Tackling Your Laundry” February 16 12:00 noon

Instructor: Audrey Myers

Homemaker Council February 16

1:00 p.m.

Members-at-Large Your February lesson is enclosed in this mailing.

Creative Writing Contests Entries are due by March 1 to the KEHA Cultural Arts chairperson.

Rules and information are available on our website and in

your homemaker handbook.

To file a complaint of discrimination, contact Tim West, UK College of

Agriculture, 859-257-3879; Terry Allen or Patty Bender, UK Office of Institutional

Equity and Equal Opportunity, 859-257-8927; or the USDA, Director

Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Bldg., 14th & Independence Ave.

SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 (202-720-5964).

What You Need to Know About Using Tax Software

With tax season fast approaching, you may be wondering about the

best way to file your taxes. You will see many advertisements for

local tax companies offering their expertise, as well as a number of

television and online advertisements for online tax software. Some

individuals filing their taxes prefer using tax software because of its

convenience — you can work on filing your taxes from home at your

own pace. If you are considering using tax software this season, here

are a few things to keep in mind:

Shop around. Like any product, there are a number of tax

software programs that are designed to assist you in filing your

taxes. Shop around! Be sure to look at the software program’s

base price as well as any additional costs for options and up-

grades. For instance, if you have state taxes to file, is the cost of

doing so included in the base price?

Know the program. Before beginning to work on your taxes, get

used to the tax software program that you have chosen. Some

programs will offer helpful hints throughout while other

programs offer online assistance – know what to expect from the

program before beginning. Also, be sure to know how to save your

progress, chances are that you will be completing your tax

returns in several sessions.

Always use the review feature. Before submitting your final

tax return at either the federal or state level, be sure to look over

your tax return. Most tax software programs will tell you to do so.

Looking over your return will help you lessen the chances of

submitting a return with an error.

Source: Janet Kurzynske, Extension Specialist for Food and Nutrition and Jean

Najor, Extension Associate, University of Kentucky; College of Agriculture, Food

and Environment

Family & Consumer Sciences Newsletter

February 2017

Upcoming Extension Events All events will be held at the Russell County

Extension Office unless otherwise noted. January 30 - February 3 - Cultural Arts entries may be dropped off. February 2 - 4:30 p.m. - Guys & Gals Just Cooking Club February 6 - Cultural Arts Judging February 7 - 12:00 p.m. - Health & Wellness Club 6:00 p.m. - 4-H Sheep & Goat Club February 9 - 6:00 p.m. - Sheep & Goat Producers February 13 - 6:00 p.m. - R.C. Beekeepers February 14 - 6:00 p.m. - 4-H Livestock Club February 16 - 12:00 p.m. - Lesson Leader Training “Tackling Your Laundry”; Instructor: Audrey Myers, Taylor Co. FCS Agent 1:00 p.m. - Homemaker Council February 23 - 5:30 p.m. - 4-H Horse Club

Cultural Arts Contest

Judging will take place on Monday, February 6th.

Results will be posted on our website - http://russell.ca.uky.edu.

Blue ribbon entries will go on to the area contest which will be held on March 7th in Cumberland

County.

Those entries not receiving blue ribbons may be picked up on Tuesday, February 7th.

Sweet Treats for Your Valentine

Most of us want to treat a loved one to

a special treat for Valentine’s Day but

we may not want to show our love with

candy. Look for chocolate dipped

strawberries or a fresh fruit bouquet

to give your dearest some good

nutrition. Homemade banana or pumpkin

bread might be a good way to show that

you care. If candy is a must, look for

dark chocolate with a high percentage

of cacao, which provides anti-

oxidants. Some dark chocolate candies

also have healthy fruits, like

blueberries or cranberries, added.

Spending some time walking and

listening to your beloved is a sure way

to please your sweetheart. Hitting the

dance floor to a song that brings back

memories will keep the romance alive.

Sharing your life with someone you

love can improve health and wellbeing,

and may prolong the years you spend

together. Be sure to share some

Valentine’s Day cheer with anyone who

may be lonely this year. A healthy

treat or card can let them know you are

thinking of them.

Source: Janet Mullins, Extension Specialist for

Food and Nutrition, University Of Kentucky;

College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Be Safe when Heating Your Home

During the winter there are many different ways

that you can keep your home warm. No matter the

way you choose, do it safely! Here are some tips for

staying safe all winter long:

You should have your furnace examined by a

qualified technician each year.

If you use a fireplace or wood stove, make sure

that there is ventilation which will guide the

smoke outside and not leak gas into the home.

You should not burn paper in the fireplace.

If your heater uses a certain type of fuel, make

sure that you use that fuel and do not substitute.

Have a fire extinguisher nearby the area that

has a heater.

If you are using space heaters to warm your home,

there are additional safety tips:

You should not put the space heater within 3

feet of anything that could catch fire. This

includes furniture, drapes, bedding or linens.

A space heater should never be placed on top of

furniture.

A space heater should not be placed near water.

Children should not be near a space heater

without adult supervision.

Watch out where you place the cord. You do not

want it to trip someone but it should not be

placed under a rug either.

You should not to use extension cords with a

space heater.

Stay warm this winter, but also stay safe!

Reference: CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/

duringstorm/indoorsafety.html

Source: Nicole Peritore, Extension Specialist for Family

Health; University of Kentucky; College of Agriculture, Food

and Environment

Does Honey Help A Sore Throat?

There are many over-the-counter products that help

with coughs that typically occur during this time of

year. It is not uncommon to hear the suggestion of

drinking warm tea or warm water with lemon and

honey when a person has a sore throat. A study has

found that the honey may act as cough relief as

well. For children in the study, 2 teaspoons of

honey seemed to help reduce night coughing. The

use of honey was compared to a common cough

medicine ingredient. Because honey is so easily

available it may be a good alternative for some

people.

Please remember however, that honey should never

be given to a child under the age of one. Children at

this age risk very serious food poisoning from honey.

Remember that coughing is sometimes good for

you. Your body needs to cough sometime to move

any mucus that may be in the airway. For most

people, there is usually no need to be concerned with

coughing. The next time you have a cough and are

considering what type of cough medicine to buy,

perhaps you will consider trying a spoonful of

honey.

Reference: Stecklberg, James. (2015). Is it true that honey

calms coughs better than cough medicine does? Mayo Clin-

ic. Accessed from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/honey/

AN01799

Source: Nicole Peritore, Extension Specialist for Family

Health; University of Kentucky; College of Agriculture, Food

and Environment

In December, the Russell

Springs Piece Makers Quilt

Guild donated quilts to the

Lake Cumberland Children’s

Advocacy Center and ARC

Pregnancy Center.

“Thank you, Russell Springs Piece Makers Quilt Guild!”

The Quilt Guild also made this quilt and donated it to

the Russell County Extension Office. You can see it

hanging in our meeting room.

Easy Italian Ziti

1 pound lean ground beef 1 (24 oz.) jar low-sodium spaghetti sauce

2 cups low-fat cottage cheese 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg, beaten 2 teaspoons dried parsley

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 8 ounces whole wheat ziti or penne pasta,

Cooking spray cooked according to package directions

1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a large skillet, sauté beef until it browns. Drain off the excess fat. Add spaghetti sauce and heat

through.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, and garlic powder.

Add cooked ziti and mix well.

4. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of spaghetti sauce in the bottom

of the dish. Spoon ziti mixture into the pan and top with remaining sauce and Mozzarella cheese.

5. Bake for 30 minutes uncovered. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes

Yield: 8 servings Serving size: 1/8 of prepared recipe

Cost per recipe: $14.10 Cost per serving: $1.69

Nutritional facts per serving: 310 calories; 9g fat; 3.5g saturated fat; 0g trans fat; 75mg cholesterol;

350mg sodium; 32g carbohydrate; 3g fiber; 9g sugar; 26g protein; 15% Daily Value of vitamin A; 4% Dai-

ly Value of vitamin C; 20% Daily Value of calcium; 15% Daily Value of iron.

Source: Sarah Brandl, Extension Specialist for Kentucky Nutrition Education Program, University of

Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service

Dates to Remember Thought for the Month: Love isn’t something your find. Love is something that finds you. Loretta Young Roll Call: What is your favorite Valentine’s Day gift you received or gave to someone? February 2 - Groundhog Day February 6 - County Cultural Arts Contest Judging February 14 - Valentine’s Day February 16 - Lesson Leader Training - 12:00 Homemaker Council - 1:00

February 20 - President’s Day Pam York

Russell County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent

This material was funded by the USDA’s SNAP-Ed program through the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

The Gluten Free Choice: Is it for Me?

Dates: March 2, 9, 16, 23

Time: 5:00 p.m.

Location: Russell County Extension Office (Kitchen)

2688 South Highway 127, Russell Springs, KY

Call 270-866-4477 for additional information and/or to register.

The gluten-free diet is emerging as one of the most popular trends on the market,

but gluten seems to be widely misunderstood. This series will define gluten, a

gluten-free diet, and who should follow this diet. Of course people who have been

diagnosed with Celiac Disease should follow a strict gluten-free diet but is it possible

that others who suffer from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable

Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease as well as other diagnoses can greatly benefit

from gluten-free as well? Each session will include an educational session and end

with a sampling of a gluten-free food item. Resources and recipes will be shared with

participants. Free incentives will be given out at each session.

Attend all four sessions and be eligible

to win a gift basket of gluten-free items with a $100 value.