Cooperative Extension Service

Christian County

2850 Pembroke Rd.

Hopkinsville KY 42240-6802

(270) 886-6328

Fax: (270) 886-6320

tiffany.bolinger.uky.edu

christiancountyextension.com

Christian County

Homemaker Newsletter Oct. 2017

Dear Extension Homemakers—Happy Fall! I hope by now you are enjoying

cooler temperatures, pretty fall colors, and the tastes and smells of fall. I know

I am! This is a very busy time of year for most of us. Make sure to keep Home-

maker activities in mind when you are planning your calendar for

October. Make plans to attend the Area Meeting in Elkton to hear

Amy Watson and the various other trainings and meetings for the

month. And remember to enjoy Autumn!

How to Save Money on Halloween

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent $8.4 billion on Halloween in 2016. It is estimated that 117 mil-lion Americans will spend nearly $83 million per person in 2017. Halloween is the third most expensive holiday, following Christ-mas and Valentine’s Day. Use the following tips for a more

budget friendly Halloween experience.

Costumes

Consider re-using or re-purposing old costumes. If you (or the kids) insist on new costumes, take last year’s costumes to a consignment shop or sell them online to offset the cost

of the new ones.

Swap costumes with friends so that you can have something

new without spending money.

Get crafty and make your own! You can find lots of ideas online for fun and inexpensive do-it-yourself Halloween cos-

tumes.

Candy

Wait to buy your candy. Stores will often start to lower pric-

es on candy a few days before Halloween.

Candy is often cheaper to buy at a warehouse club where

items are sold in bulk.

Instead of candy, consider buying inexpensive non-candy

items such as erasers or spider rings.

Decorations

Check dollar stores, consignment shops and thrift stores before purchasing new decora-

tions.

Craft your own decorations. You can still have great decorations if you make them your-self. Get the kids or friends involved and have

some fun!

Wait to buy a pumpkin until a couple days before Halloween when many pumpkin patches will have

reduced their prices.

Resource: https://nrf.com/, National Retail Federation Source: Jennifer L. Hunter, Extension Specialist

for Family Financial Management and Caitlin Grasson, Masters Student, Department of Family Sciences,

University of Kentucky; College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Adults Need Vaccines Too!

Many adults may think that vaccines are only for children. But did you know there are several vaccines that adults should get as well? It is recommended that adults get the flu vaccine every year. This vaccine

helps protect adults against the seasonal flu and can lessen the symptoms if the flu is caught. It is also recommended that adults get the Td/Tdap vaccine. This is a vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Pertussis is also

known as “whooping cough.”

Additionally, depending on

(Vaccinations, cont. from page 1)

the age of a person and their health conditions there may need additional vaccines and boosters

such as:

Chickenpox

Shingles

MMR

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Pneumococcal

If you will be travelling to places overseas, you also may need vac-

cines.

Vaccines are needed throughout life, not just as a child. Talk to your healthcare provider today to see if there are vaccines that you

may need.

Reference: CDC http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/adults/

downloads/fs-three-reasons.pdf

Source: Nicole Peritore, Extension Specialist for Family

Health; University of Kentucky; College of Agriculture, Food and

Environment

Winter Squash

Winter squash come in many shapes, sizes and colors. They are packed with antioxidants and vitamins. They don’t have any fats and can be prepared sweet or savory. The different varieties of winter squash may be substituted for each other in many recipes. Don’t be afraid to get crea-tive. Acorn squash are small, round and shaped like an acorn. They are a great all-around squash. They have a moist, sweet, tender flesh. Acorn squash are great for baking, roasting, steaming and sautéing. Butternut squash are more popular than ever. They are beige colored and shaped like a bell. Butternut squash are the sweetest winter squash. They roast and sauté well. Best of all, they mash and puree smoothly making them perfect for soups. See recipe below. Other varie-ties of winter squash include Delicata Squash, which have a nice earthy flavor much like corn; blue hubbard squash, have a sweet flavor; spaghetti squash, whose flesh resembles ‘strings’,

have a mildly nutty flavor; and turban squash taste like hazelnut.

Perfect Butternut Squash Soup

2 large butternut squash, (about 4½ pounds) or 4 pounds peeled and cubed butternut squash 2 medium onions 3 cloves garlic (optional) 3 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil ½ teaspoon fine sea salt (or more to taste)

8 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth

Directions

1. Halve, seed, peel and cube the butternut

squash. Set aside.

2. Peel and chop the onion. Mince the garlic.

3. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the butter or oil and the chopped onion. Sprin-

kle with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, about 3 minutes.

4. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

5. Add the squash and broth. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until

the squash is very tender, about 20 minutes.

6. Transfer small batches to a blender. Hold a kitchen towel over the top (to prevent burns) and

whirl until completely smooth, 2-3 minutes per batch. \

Return the soup to the pot and add more salt to taste.

Prep time 15 minutes Cook time 35 minutes Yield 6 servings

Nutrition Information (per serving): 309 calories, 7g fat, 53g carbohydrate, 7g protein, 6g fiber

Whatever squash you choose, be sure to pick firm, well-shaped squash that are heavy for their size and have a hard, tough skin with an intact stem. Avoid squash with sunken spots, blemishes or cuts in the skin. Winter squash should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location between 45-50 degrees F. Check on a regular basis and use within 3-6 months. Cooked squash (flesh only) can be stored frozen until needed. Reference: What’s Cooking America. (n.d). Types of Squash – Summer and Winter Squash. Retrieved October 19, 2016 from https://whatscookingamerica.net/squash.htm.

Source: Annhall Norris, Extension Associate for Food Safety and Preservation; University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to

myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”

Henry David Thoreau

9:30 a.m. Registration 10:00 a.m. Program begins

Elkton Baptist Church 301 East Main Street Elkton, Kentucky

$10 registration fee Includes lunch Entertainment: Todd Central Jazz Band Deadline: October 10, 2017 to Christian County Extension Office

HM Leader Lesson

Date Change for

November.

It will now be Nov. 3rd

at 2:00pm instead of

Nov. 1st.

County dues and Coins for Change due

to office on Novem-

ber 1.

Do you have a friend

who might enjoy be-

ing a Mailbox mem-

ber of Homemakers? Call the office to

give that person the gift of an $8 Mail-

box membership! 270-886-6328

Community Reader Day (Nov.3rd

for K-6th grades; Nov.4th for pre-K

& daycares).. Call the Literacy

Council to volunteer to read. 270-

962-7114

Thanksgiving Day—November 23

(Extension Office closed 23rd &

24th)