Fall is a great time to plant trees. If you are wondering which trees grow best in Kansas, watch this K-State Garden Hour Webinar. Dr. Jason Griffin explains trees that are best suited for Kansas and do well with minimal care.
By: Cassie Thiessen
Category: 2022
Food Thermometers – A Must Have in the Kitchen
Where food safety is concerned, a food thermometer is a must-have, multi-use
tool in the kitchen.
It is one of the most important tools consumers can use to know when food is cooked properly for safe consumption. It’s useful for meat items, casseroles and even baked goods. Using a subjective method – such as ground meat color – can be misleading and lead to foodborne illness. It can help with assuring the quality of a food item and reduce over-cooking.
For consumers who need to buy a food thermometer, the digital type is recommended. Digital food thermometers read the temperature at the tip of the temperature probe. They also read temperature quickly, and come in a simple handheld design.
Consumers who already own a food thermometer can calibrate them routinely to make sure they are still giving accurate readings. The best method is to calibrate your thermometer using ice water and boiling water to check cold and hot readings. Dial faced thermometers can be adjusted if needed. Digital thermometers should be replaced unless it came with instructions on how to adjust.
Along with food thermometers, place an appliance thermometer inside your refrigerator and freezer to monitor temperatures in those appliances. These can be helpful during a power outage to determine the safety of your food. Another suggestion is an oven thermometer to know if your oven is heating properly.
By: Brenda Langdon
Roasting Pumpkin Seeds
After you carve those Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns, you may be wondering what to do with all the “guts” and seeds. Consider roasting the seeds for a healthy and tasty snack. Seeds should be washed and dried and the “guts” discarded. Toss the seeds with a little oil before roasting.
Flavor can be enhanced by adding a sprinkling of salt to the oiled seeds. Seeds can then be spread on a cookie sheet and roasted for about 25 minutes at 325 degrees F. Times may vary depending on the size and moisture content of the seed. Seeds are done when they turn a golden brown. If seeds are not eaten immediately, store in a zip closure bag in the refrigerator.
By: Cassie Thiessen
Financial Calendar
Fall is a good time to look back at the year and evaluate your financial
planning and then use that knowledge to plan for next year. One way to assess your progress since January is to compare how much debt you owed at the beginning of the year to now. Do you owe more or less overall? Another is to compare your net worth (assets minus liabilities). Are you worth more now than you were at the first of the year?
Set up alerts for your bank and credit card accounts. Many institutions offer free alerts when suspicious spending occurs, but you may still need to opt-in to those services.
Invest some time to learn more about smart money management. Read a book, attend a class, or listen to a podcast.
By: Brenda Langdon
Personal Hygiene Matters
Taking the time to use good personal hygiene can not only help reduce illnesses, but also reduce the amount of absenteeism in many areas such as school, work and other activities. The 20 seconds of time it takes to wash your hands or doing daily personal hygiene practices are beneficial to your health.
When preparing meals, good hygiene begins before food is cooked, served or eaten. Not washing hands before preparing or eating food is a common mistake that consumers make. This simple habit can help reduce many illnesses, not just foodborne illness.
On average, people touch their face 23 times per hour. Your facial area includes your teeth, mouth, eyes and ears. Nails and skin can harbor bacteria which is why it is so important to thoroughly wash hands before handling food.
Wash hands after handling any animal or animal food, as these sources can harbor bacteria that can make humans sick. Clean your kitchen as you cook. Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned more often, such as countertops, handles, and light switches. After preparing food, always clean equipment and countertops to remove spills or any other visibly dirty areas.
By: Brenda Langdon
Tips To Save Money On Your Energy Bill
As rising costs continue to hit Americans’ pocketbooks, some common-sense measures can help homeowners save on their energy bill. A good place to start is knowing what your costs are, and also monitoring how much you use those household items that are major energy draws, including:
- Air conditioner
- Stove and oven
- Incandescent lights
- Televisions
- Furnace (during the winter)
The geographical location of the home also has an impact on the energy bill. In a rural area, your house will be isolated, which allows it to be more affected by the environment. In an urban area you are more protected and, if you live in an apartment, you can benefit from the floor above or beneath you.
Tips to help save energy and money include:
- Keep items that draw electricity turned off as long as possible.
- Use automatic settings to turn appliances on and off.
- Install LED lights instead of incandescent.
- Turn the lights off when not using them.
- Use fans to circulate cool air.
- Install and use a programmable thermostat.
- Install insulation or weather-stripping around doors and windows.
By: Brenda Langdon
Divide Perennial Plants in the Fall
Fall is the best time to divide plants like daylilies, irises, and peonies. This video demonstrates how to properly divide perennials flowers in your landscape. Dividing plants is actually beneficial for flowering and gives you more plants for your own garden or to share with a friend!
By: Cassie Thiessen
