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Eat a rainbow… April, May, June 2019

SMARxT Prescription Drug Disposal Is your medicine cabinet filled with expired drugs or medications you no longer use? How should you dispose of them? What way is safe for the environment and prevents others from using them without a prescription? These are just of the few questions you may have about how to properly get rid of your leftover drugs. Fortunately, there is an answer to this problem. First of all, follow your medication providers’ instructions and use all medications as instructed. If you do not use all of your prescribed or over-the-counter medication, you can take a few small steps to make an impact in safeguarding lives and protecting the environment by disposing of unused medicines properly: 1) DO NOT FLUSH unused medications and DO NOT POUR them down a sink or drain. 2) Be proactive and dispose of unused medication in household trash. When discarding unused medications, ensure you protect children and pets from potentially negative effects:

• Pour medication into a sealable plastic bag. If medication is a solid (pill, liquid capsule, etc.), crush it or add water to dissolve it.

• Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds (or any material that mixes with the medication and makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat) to the plastic bag.

• Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash.

• Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription label) from all medication containers before recycling them or throwing them into the trash.

3) Check for approved state and local collection programs. Another option is to check for approved state and local collection alternatives such as community based household hazardous waste collection programs.

Reprinted from: smarxtdisposal.net

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Adding Cabbage to Your Meals

eatsmartmd.blogspot.com/2019/03/adding-cabbage-to-your-meals.html

Cabbage has a simple taste, but it can still add some life to

your meals! Packed with vitamins and available in white,

green, and red color varieties, cabbage is a great veggie to

have in a healthy diet. Cabbage is not very expensive and you

get a nice bang for your buck - one head of cabbage can

easily make two meals! Need some ideas on how to eat

cabbage? Check out this list below:

Wrap n’ Roll

Cabbage can be used to make delicious wraps and rolls. Use raw cabbage leaves or boil them for

about 2-4 minutes to soften them. Pile beans, brown rice, and a variety of veggies on the cabbage

leaf, then roll it up! This makes for a tasty lunch or a hearty snack.

Switch Up Your Salads

Add some extra crunch to your usual salad by tossing in some shredded cabbage. You can also chop

your cabbage into larger pieces to use as your salad base. Use purple cabbage in a bright and

tasty Rainbow Salad or swap out lettuce for green cabbage in a fruity Sunshine Salad.

Colorful Coleslaw

Coleslaw is a side dish that can add freshness and flavor to any meal. Cut red and green cabbage up

into thin slices. Add in some other finely chopped veggies and finish with a low-fat salad dressing. For

a unique twist, the usual creamy dressing can be swapped for a vinaigrette. For color and crunch, try

a Confetti Apple Slaw recipe (pictures included at eatsmartmd.blogspot.com/2019/03/adding-

cabbage-to-your-meals.html).

Stir it Up

Cabbage makes a great base for stir-fry. Add a tablespoon or two of vegetable oil to a frying pan over

medium to high heat, add in a head of shredded cabbage and other tasty veggies, then finish with

your favorite herbs and spices. This makes for a great side dish by itself or placed on top of brown

rice. Try a simple Cabbage Stir-Fry recipe or bring the heat with a Spicy Cabbage and Carrots dish.

(eatsmartmd.blogspot.com/2019/03/adding-cabbage-to-your-meals.html)

Cabbage stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, but can last up to 4 weeks in the freezer. Be

sure to wash your cabbage before using!

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Active Body, Healthy Mind

eatsmartmd.blogspot.com/2019/04/active-body-healthy-mind.html

Now that the weather is getting warmer, it is easier

to become more active. Physical activity is very

important to keep people of all ages healthy! Being

active can even make for a healthier brain. That is

why it is key for kids to enjoy recess and other

physical activity in and out of school.

For schools, springtime is also standardized test

season. Encourage your child’s teacher to add in

extra physical activity to help kids stay focused. In

addition to extra recess, teachers can help kids be more active with indoor recess or brain breaks. The

ideas in this blog have been taken from the FSNE Toolkit, which lists several physical activity resources

for teachers. Parent volunteers can help lead and organize these activities too! Most of these activity

ideas take 3-5 minutes each. Choose more than one activity if there’s enough time.

• Take a 5-minute walk before a test.

• Ask students True/False questions. Assign a movement for each answer. For example, jump in

place for 15 seconds if the answer is true. Touch toes for 15 seconds if false.

• Roll an activity die. Each number can represent a movement, such as jumping jacks, running in

place, etc. Do the activity for 30 seconds, then roll again.

• Play a kid’s dance video.

• Divide into groups of 3-4 students and have them create and

perform a touchdown dance.

• Play Aerobic Rock, Paper, Scissors

Bring these ideas home! Physical activity after school also helps kids focus better on homework and

sleep.

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Un"BEET"able Recipes

eatsmartmd.blogspot.com/2019/02/unbeetable-recipes.html

When you think of beets, what comes to mind? Maybe a not-so-fond childhood memory? Well, think

again, because beets are one of the trendiest veggies around! There are many new ways to cook and

eat beets that will surprise your tastebuds. In addition to tasting so good, beets are also great sources

of fiber, folate, and vitamin C. Keep reading for some great ways to add beets to your meals.

Beets can be bought fresh, canned, pickled, occasionally frozen, and even juiced. If you buy fresh

beets, green leaves might still be attached to the beet root. Don’t throw them out! Beet greens are

delicious and can be used like spinach in many recipes. Beet greens are a good source of fiber and

have no cholesterol. Try them in your next salad or in the Greens & Beans recipe.

For fresh beets you should use a produce-scrub

brush to help remove soil when washing beets under

water. A vegetable peeler can remove the thick skin

before cooking or eating beets raw. Another trick to

remove the skin is to cook it first, let it cool, then use

a paper towel to rub the skin right off.

If you like your beets cooked, there are three main

ways to cook beets: boiled, steamed, and roasted. After boiling or steaming beets, they could be

added to the ingredients to make Hummus, creating a bright purple dip! Another yummy recipe

is Beet and Tomato Soup, for a cold winter day.

Roasting beets is a great way to bring out their natural sweetness. Try this recipe, Roasted Root

Vegetables with Maple Glaze (eatsmartmd.blogspot.com/2019/02/unbeetable-recipes.html). You can

even add your other favorite root vegetables like sweet potatoes to this dish. Roasted beets can turn

any salad into a star. Add beets to a spinach and beet green salad, then top with orange segments

and chopped nuts. Or mix the roasted veggies from the above recipe with cooked grains like whole

grain rice or barley, dried cranberries, and mixed greens for a filling lunch bowl.

While beets are fantastic cooked, some recipes use beets raw after cutting them very thin, like the

recipe for Rootin' Tootin' Ribbon Salad. If you’d like to try a similar recipe that’s a little more savory,

mix the same amount of carrots and beets with a vinaigrette dressing. Get creative with your beets!

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Terry Serio Virginia Brown, DrPH Shauna C. Henley, PhD Extension Educator Extension Educator Extension Educator Food Stamp Nutrition Education Family & Consumer Sciences Family & Consumer Sciences Family & Consumer Sciences Carroll County Baltimore County Carroll County University of Maryland Extension-Carroll County Phone: 410-386-2760 700 Agriculture Center Toll-Free: 888-326-9645 Westminster, MD 21157-5700 Fax: 410-876-0132 If you have a disability that requires special assistance for your participation in a program, please contact the Carroll County Extension Office at 410-386-2760; fax 410-876-0132, two (2) weeks prior to the program. The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by University of Maryland Extension is implied.

Please visit us online at http://extension.umd.edu/carroll-county

Census 2020 Kickoff…One Year Untilthe Census Begins

Westminster, MD, Monday, April 1, 2019 – The Carroll County Board ofCommissioners (BOC) is pleased to announce the one year notice for Census Day2020, starting on April 1, 2020. Census 2020 is a bipartisan initiative which affects allcitizens. Also, today the 2020 Maryland Complete Count Committee held its firstmeeting one year in advance of Census Day.

A Carroll County Complete Count Committee (CCC) is currently being appointed.Numerous activities will be planned for the next twelve months leading up to theCensus count. The CCC is a volunteer committee established by the county toincrease awareness and motivate residents to respond to the 2020 Census. CCCsserve as a county’s “census ambassador” and play an integral part in ensuring acomplete and accurate count of the community. Success of the census depends oncommunity involvement at every level. The U.S. Census Bureau cannot conduct the2020 Census alone and success cannot be achieved without local involvement fromCarroll County’s respected leaders.

The county is also excited to announce its award of a $40,000 state grant to help withmarketing and outreach. Efforts are beginning and will continue until the Census isconcluded in June 2020. County outreach efforts include: part-time contractual staffdedicated to the 2020 Census; internet kiosks with iPads located at town offices, clinicsand shelters to reach those without access to technology; volunteer and staff training;advertising, giveaways, materials and staffing for events. Emphasis will be placed onreaching historically hard-to-count areas and populations.

The United States Constitution mandates that every 10 years the federal governmentcount all persons living in the country through the decennial census. The goal of thecensus is to count everybody, count them only once, and count them in the right placeon Census Day. Information gathered in the census helps determine funding decisionsfor the rest of the decade for a variety of programs including public health,neighborhood improvements, transportation, education, senior services and muchmore. The count also determines which states gain or lose representation in Congressand determines the amount of state and federal funding communities receive over thecourse of the decade. The Census is required by law and all responses to the CensusBureau are confidential.

More information about Carroll County Census 2020 activities will be issued shortlywith updates provided over the next year.

For more information about the United States 2020 Census, visit www.census.gov.

For additional information, contact:Chris Winebrenner

410-386-2043

The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to the Carroll County Government and its programs, services, activities, and facilities.Anyone requiring an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or who has a complaint should contact The Department ofCitizen Services, 410.386.3600 or 1.888.302.8978 or MD Relay 7-1-1/1.800.735.2258 or email ada@ccg.carr.org as soon as possiblebut no later than 72 hours before the scheduled event.

Legend

Locations with Grow It • Eat It programs

Locations with Grow It • Eat It • Preserve It Programs

This list does not include youth food preservation through 4-H, please contact your local Extension offi ce to learn more.

FIND EVENTS AND SERVICES

UME FCS Educators coordinate various events and services throughout the year.

To access information about upcoming events go to extension.umd.edu/foodpreservationEvent Calendar

DO YOU HAVE GARDENING QUESTIONS?

We have answers! Visit our website

extension.umd.edu/hgic

• Click on LEARN to browse our content

• Click on GET HELP to browse answers to speciifi c problems.

• Send your question directly to our Certifi ed Professional

Horticulturists for an answer via email.

extension.umd.edu/learn/ask-gardening

Allegany(301) 724-3320

Anne Arundel (410) 222-3900

Baltimore City(410) 856-1850 x121 Baltimore(410) 887-8090

Calvert(410) 535-3662

Carroll(410) 386-2760

Cecil(410) 996-5280

Charles(301) 934-5403

Dorchester(410) 228-8800

Frederick(301) 600-1596

Garrett(301) 334-6960

Harford (410) 638-3255

Howard(410) 313-2707

Montgomery(301) 590-9638

Prince George’s(301) 868-8781

Queen Anne’s(410) 758-0166

St. Mary’s(301) 475-4120

Talbot(410) 822-1244

Washington(301) 791-1304

Wicomico(410) 749-6141

State Offi ce(410) 531-5557

COUNTY/CITY EXTENSION OFFICES

The University of Maryland Extension is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Equal Access Programs

Presents

extension.umd.edu/foodsafety

In partnership with

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION (UME)

MISSION

Our educational programs and problem-solving assistance are available to citizens and are based on the research and experience of land grant universities such as the University of Maryland, College Park.

OUR HISTORY

Since the 1900’s Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) educators have taught how to safely preserve food, whether it was canning, drying, or freezing using USDA home food preservation guidelines.

OUR VISION

UME Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs) educate residents how to grow food in home, community, and school gardens. MGVs and help thousands of individual groups each year start and improve food gardens.

OUR PARTNERSHIP

UME Master Gardeners (MGVs) teach people how to grow produce through the Grow It Eat It (GIEI) program, and FCS educators teach people how to safely preserve their harvest through the Grow It Eat It Preserve It program (GIEIPI).

FCS EDUCATORS CAN ADVISE YOU

Canning

We teach others how to safely can: Jams, jellies, and butters Pickled & fermented products High acid foods (peaches) Tomatoes Low acid foods (green beans)

Freezing

We teach evidence-based information on safely freezing foods at home.

Dehydration

We teach evidence-based information on safely drying foods at home.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are family, cookbooks, and Internet

recipes safe?

Contact your FCS educator to fi nd safe food preservation resources and recipes, such as the National Center for Home Food Preservation and the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning.

I want to change the recipe?

No, recipes should not be changed. Recipes will ensure consistency, quality, and safety.

Are all tomatoes okay to can?

Select only disease-free, preferably vine-ripened, fi rm tomatoes for canning. Green tomatoes are more acidic than ripened tomatoes and can be canned safely with any of the following recommendations.

Caution: Do not can tomatoes from dead or frost-killed vines.

Is it okay to process two layers of jars in

a canner at one time?

Yes, two layers can be processed at one time, in either the boiling water bath or pressure canner. Place a small wire rack between the layers so water or steam will circulate around each jar.

How much is it to have my dial checked?

Free, contact your FCS educator to make an appointment. Remember, it is best to get the dial check yearly.

Find your UME FCS Educator (pg 4).

Source: https://nchfp.uga.edu