by Johanna Hicks
September Brings “Cooking Well”
While autumn is rapidly approaching, I’m happy to announce the fall “Cooking Well with Diabetes” series! If you or a loved one might have concerns about managing diabetes while still enjoying tasty, nutritious foods, this series is for you! “Cooking Well” is a 4-lesson series that will provide information on the following topics:
1) Carbohydrate Foods: This session will cover meal planning, foods that are high and low in carbohydrates, non-nutritive sweeteners, and preparing foods and adapting recipes to contain fewer carbohydrates.
2) Making Recipes with Fat Better for You: This session will cover ways to reduce fat while maintaining good flavor, recognizing the good fats, and substituting other ingredients for fat.
3) Double-Pleasure Side Dishes – Reducing Sodium and Increasing Fiber: This session will cover identifying sodium and fiber on food labels, tips to reduce sodium, flavoring foods the health way, and tips to increase fiber consumption.
4) Celebrating Sensibly with Diabetes: This session will include modifying recipes, planning ahead for parties and/or dining out, fitting in sweets, and tips and tricks to avoid overindulgence when celebrating.
Each session will also include cooking demonstrations and sampling, along with great handouts and recipes to keep!
The series is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, September 12, 14, 19 and 21, at 1:30 and repeated at 6:00 p.m., so pick the time that best fits your schedule. You are not locked in to the specific time – you may mix and match if necessary. Because this series includes a notebook full of great recipes and handouts, as well as recipe sampling, I DO request that interested individuals contact our office to sign up in order to make adequate preparations. Please give us your name, address, phone number and indicate which time you prefer to attend by calling 903-885-3443.
This series is a must if you enjoy cooking, but want to provide healthy options for a person with diabetes. At the conclusion of the series, all individuals who have attended all four sessions will receive a recipe booklet with pull-out, full-color recipe cards. I’ll also have other “graduation” goodies to encourage you on the journey to good diabetes management!
Pictured are the adult 2016 Fall Festival Best of Show Creative Arts Contest recipients.
2017 Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest
It might seem a little early, but actually this is the time to prepare your entries for the 2017 Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest! As chairperson for this event, my goal is to meet or exceed 250 entries this year. There is an age division for everybody, and with 12 different entry categories, I’m sure everyone can find a category that fits!
Look at the list below, and see which ones you would like to enter!
- Art (10 entry classes)
- Bake Show (5 entry classes) – these will be tasted by judges
III. Clothing (5 entry classes)
- Creative Crafts (5 entry classes)
- Decorated Cakes (will NOT be cut or tasted – judged on appearance, difficulty, originality, and workmanship)
- Food Preservation (11 entry classes) – please note that official canning jars with 2-piece lids must be used. Foods processed in mayonnaise, pickle, or other glass jars will be disqualified.
VII. Handiwork (7 entry classes)
VIII. Holiday/Season Corner (5 entry classes)
- Horticulture (8 entry classes)
- Photography (9 entry classes) – no professional entries allowed, except for exhibit only
- Quilts/quilted items (5 entry classes)
XII. Woodworking (11 entry classes)
We also have a category for residents in Assisted Living and nursing home facilities. Entries will be accepted starting on October 23, with preferred registration beginning on Thursday, October 26, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. or Friday, October 27, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Sulphur Springs High School Conference Center. Entries will be judged on Friday, October 27 starting at 10:00 a.m. and will be on display to the public at approximately 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. that afternoon, and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 28. Best of Show winners will have pictures taken at 1:30 on Saturday, after which all entries may be picked up.
For a full list of all categories and classes, go to https://hopkins.agrilife.org and click on ‘publications’. From there, you’ll see the guidelines and entry categories. We also have copies at our office, or you may go to the Hopkins County Fall Festival website to download the information.
Be sure to stay posted for more exciting events this fall! You won’t be disappointed!
Closing Thought
Do something for the kid in you every day.
