The Story of Your Dinner

Each year 1 in 6 people get sick from foodborne illness.  Visit this link to view an informative video that will provide useful tips to keep yourself and your family healthy.

January is National Radon Action Month

January is National Radon Action Month, which means you should test your home for the colorless, odorless gas, which is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers.

 

Radon is found in every state of the country.  It is a radioactive gas which is emitted as uranium, which is found in soil, decays. The gas rises through the ground reaching the air above through cracks in your home’s foundation where it becomes trapped and builds up within the walls of your house. Any home, new or old, with or without a basement, can test high for radon.

It is important that residents of Alleghany County check their Radon levels due to the county’s geologic makeup.  We are categorized as a Zone 1 which means on average, the county has a high potential for having homes with that would need mitigation.  

A limited number of kits are available FREE OF CHARGE at the Alleghany Extension Office, 90 S Main St, Sparta.  For more information contact the office at (336) 372-5597.  

NC Agritunity Conference & Tradeshow

NC Agritunity Conference & Tradeshow

Saturday, March 4th, 2017

Iredell County Agricultural Center

444 Bristol Drive, Statesville, NC 28677

Registration starts 7:30am

Programs from 8:30am-4:00pm

NC Agritunity is a one-day educational conference and vendor trade show for large and small farmers. Large commodity producers, livestock producers, small farm managers, beginning farmers, and anyone just interested in agriculture are welcome to attend.  Continuing education credits (CEUs) and pesticide training credits will be available in some of the presentations for existing license holders.  Our Keynote speaker this year will be Dr. Rich Bonanno, Associate Dean, CALS and Director, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.  To learn more about the educational sessions and featured vendors, please visit the NC Agritunity webpage or contact your local Cooperative Extension Center. 

The event is free and open to the public. 

To register as a participant: You can sign up via the 2017 NC Agritunity registration form or call the Iredell County Cooperative Extension Center at 704-873-0507. Walk-in registration may be limited. 

To register as a vendor: Please contact Danelle Cutting at (704) 216-8970 or Lenny Rogers at (828)632-4451 or via our exhibitor application. For additional information on how to be a vendor please visit our exhibitor website. 

Fruitcake 101

Photo credit: Jonathunder, via Wikimedia Commons

As we approach the holidays, fruitcake may be on the menu.  Can you keep a fruitcake for extended time and it still be safe to eat?  Find the answer below.  

More on fruitcake safety here: https://news.ncsu.edu/2014/12/wms-fruitcake/



By: Matt Shipman
NC State News

The Art of Making Cheese

Interested in learning more about making cheese?  Visit the links below to learn more.  Great information and lessons for kids and adults.

 The age level each resource is geared towards is included as well as a content overview:

• Milk and Cheese higher education lesson plan (Level: Higher ED/Adult): http://www.foodmaster.org/documents/HE_Labs_7.pdf 
• from FoodMASTER College (USDA and NIFA), curriculum used at Eastern Carolina University for FCS and Nutrition and Dietetics students http://www.foodmaster.org/higher-ed.html#.WFsYrKIrIcg 
• Milk and Cheese youth lesson plan (grades 3-5): http://www.agclassroom.org/teacher/matrix/lessonplan.cfm?lpid=260
• from science of cooking resources from National Agriculture in the Classroom sponsored by NIFA
• Cheese Science Lesson Plans from Utah Education Network (K-12): http://www.uen.org/tv/cheese/lessons.php
• Cheese Making Lesson Plan from Science Friday (youth, all grade levels): http://www.sciencefriday.com/educational-resources/get-cheesy-make-curds-and-mozzarella/
• Cheese resources from Minnesota Extension (Not about teaching cheese making, but some interesting resources particularly on the history of cheese and cheesemaking) http://www.extension.umn.edu/food/farm-to-school/procurement/foodservice/fruits-vegs/cheese/

Compiled by: Zandra Alford

Extension Associate, Foods and Nutrition

Youth, Family, and Community Sciences 

NC State University 

zaalford@ncsu.edu

Gluten Free & Sugar Free Baking Options

Looking for some Gluten Free and Sugar Free Options?  Visit the links below

One resource that focuses on gluten-free baking and provides a suggested substitute for sugar is BeyondCeliac.org. They offer gluten-free baking videos, tips & tricks, and recipes (http://www.beyondceliac.org/gluten-free-diet/baking/). For sugar substitution they suggest, "3/4 cup honey can be substituted for 1 cup of granulated or brown sugar, if liquid in the recipe is reduced by 1/4 cup.  Maple syrup, brown rice syrup and agave can also be used instead of honey." (from http://www.beyondceliac.org/gluten-free-diet/baking/tips-tricks/).

In regards to gluten-free baking in general, this resource out of Oregon Coop Ext. provides some helpful tips (http://oregonstate.edu/dept/kbrec/sites/default/files/gluten-free_baking.pdf).

In regards to sugar-free baking, these resource provides some insight into substituting sugar with different sugar-substitutes (http://extension.illinois.edu/diabetes2/subsection.cfm?SubSectionID=34, http://extension.psu.edu/health/functional-foods/health-nutrition-fact-sheets/sugar-substitutes, http://extension.missouri.edu/johnson/documents/Baking%20with%20Sugar%20Substitutes.pdf).

Diabetes Today / Healthy Holiday Side Dishes

Make plans to join us at the Alleghany Wellness Center on Monday, November 7th from 12 - 1 pm as we learn about eating healthy during the holidays.  There will be delicious recipes and free food samples will be provided.  Please register by calling 336-372-5597.