Santa Visits Camp Fire Kids
December 24, 2016
Santa Claus recently paid a very special visit to the Camp Fire USA Learning Center in Century to take some last minute Christmas wishes. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UF/IFAS: Baking Blunders To Avoid
December 24, 2016
The way people get cooking advice has changed a lot over the years, due in no small part to the Internet, said Heidi Copeland, family and consumer sciences agent with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension.
“Before the Internet, people often took to calling their local Extension office for culinary advice, especially during the frenzy of holiday cooking,” Copeland said. “Fortunately, people still come to family and consumer sciences agents like myself to get answers to their culinary questions.”
“Folks are frequently concerned about baking,” Copeland said. “Many often wonder why their product isn’t turning out.”
Copeland has these tips for avoiding common baking blunders:
1. Take care with substitutions. “Baking isn’t as forgiving as cooking. Using the right ingredients is important because they strongly affect the taste and texture of baked goods,” Copeland explained. “For example, if a recipe calls for butter, don’t substitute a spread. Typical butter is 80 percent fat and 20 percent water, whereas a spread can be as little as 60 percent fat and 40 percent water,” Copeland said. “That bit of extra liquid in something like a pie crust could mean the difference between something deliciously flakey and a soggy mess.”
2. Measure it right. “Your measuring tools —cups and spoons— and how you measure can impact the final product,” Copeland said. “Flour, for instance, should be fluffed up a little with a spoon, swooped into a measuring cup and leveled with a knife or other straight-edged utensil—not packed and pounded into a cup. Brown sugar, on the other hand, should be packed into a measuring cup.”
3. Know your dimensions. “A recipe will tell you which pan size to use. Keep in mind that the recipe is design to fill pans of particular dimensions. For examples, the volume of a nine-inch cake pan is six cups, but that of a 10-inch baking pan is 11 cups,” said Copeland.
4. Get the right flour. “Which flour is best? It depends on what you’re making,” Copeland said. “Whole grain flours are higher in dietary fiber and overall nutrient content than white flour, but whole grain flours are not the norm for most traditional holiday recipes, nor is self-rising flour, which already has baking powder and salt added. All-purpose flour is the key to most basic recipes.”
5. When it comes to eggs, go large. “Unless otherwise noted, assume a recipe with eggs is calling for large chicken eggs at room temperature,” Copeland advised. “If a cookie recipe calls for two large eggs (about four ounces) and two jumbo eggs (about five ounces) are used, the cookies may turn out softer than desired.”
Jay Art Dept. Presents The Elf Shop Painting Party
December 24, 2016
The Jay High School Art Department recently hosted their first-ever “The Elf Shop Painting Party”.
Nearly 30 adults were assisted by Jay art students throughout the event. The students decorated, prepped canvases and all supplies, creating the culinary art refreshments, and assisted the participants. The Royal Outfitter Store, owned and operated by Jay Art Department, created a goody jar for each participant with their personalized vinyl initial.
The Jay Art Department is planning another painting party called “Spring Into Art 2017“, with two sessions available on March 4 and March 11, 2017. For more information, contact Teresa Dobson, Jay Art Department, at (850) 675-4507 in early January.
For more photos from “The Elf Shop Painting Party”, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cook Up A Christmas Gift Idea
December 23, 2016
by Dorothy Lee, Escambia Extension Agent
Christmas is a joyous season. It’s a time to remember friends and neighbors with small tokens of your love and appreciation.
Every holiday season is magical, but can also be a perplexing time. How do you choose gifts for your friends and loved ones that are unique, and sure to be cherished?
Remember Christmas when you were young? How the simplest projects—stringing lights, hanging icicles, baking cookies, gathering pine cones, or making ornaments for the tree—filled the season with fun and excitement. Bring back that special magic with your own holiday projects. These holiday projects are gifts from the heart.
If you have spent many hours in past seasons trying to find the answer to the perplexing question of what to give, perhaps this year you can find the answer in your own kitchen. Flavorful gifts you can create in an evening or two at home might be the just the solution. Most of us like to follow the pleasure of cooking with sharing the scrumptious results. So this holiday season prepare some delicious food gifts for friends and relatives.
A jar of homemade jam or jelly conveys a welcome sign of friendship to neighbors or coworkers. Besides being fun to make and share, oven-baked goods, snacks, and other savory items are attractive and often cost less than those that are store-bought. This is a gift that comes from the heart without breaking the bank. For a holiday touch, add a pretty ribbon or a note from a square of wrapping paper.
Fresh from the oven, a batch of pumpkin muffins or a loaf of whole grain bread will send warm holiday greeting to friends. Decorated with raisins and nuts, gingerbread men will appeal to anyone who fancies the spicy flavors of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. When invited to festive dinners take along a basket filled with your own gift assortment of cookies packaged in inexpensive containers with recipes and a personalized message included. You will find these gifts easy to transport and the hostess is sure to appreciate the gesture.
Another gourmet goodies idea to consider is sharing a decorative jar or tin packed with flavorful popcorn or a nutritious trail mix. Top a decorative tray with herbed cheese rounds. Herbs offer a delicious alternative to salt. Herb seasoning mixes can be packaged in a decorative glass jar or bottle and tied with festive ribbon. Be sure to attach a label with instructions for serving and a recipe for making more.
When making these gourmet goodies, you might want to prepare an additional batch so you will have a last minute gift on hand. The additional jar of jam or jelly can make a special gift for last minute visitors. These gifts are seen as thoughtful and well-prepared when they are in reality a last minute thought.
For more information, contact Dorothy Lee, UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County at (850) 475-5230 or email dclee@ufl.edu.
Peanut Butter Bounty Distributed To Local Food Banks
December 22, 2016
Over 4,000 jars of peanut butter collected during the UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension’s “Take a Bite out of Hunger” Peanut Butter Drive were delivered to 22 local food pantries this week.
The food drive asked residents to meet the challenge of donating 1,000 pounds of unopened jars of peanut butter at five drop-off locations in the county during the months of September and November. The goal was exceeded thanks to citizens and local peanut producers Rodney and Mike Helton, with 4,871 jars totaling 4,000 pounds collected — a 43 percent increase over the 2,800 jars collected in 2015.
The peanut butter was distributed to the following food pantries:
- Manna Food Pantries
- Mount Canaan Baptist Church
- EscaRosa Coalition for the Homeless
- St. James Missionary Baptist Church
- Myrtle Grove United Methodist Church
- Highland Baptist Church
- Salvation Army
- Carver Park Resource Center
- Abundant Life Assembly of God (Century Church)
- Perdido Bay United Methodist Church
- Alfred-Washburn Center
- Brentwood Assembly of God
- Allen Memorial United Methodist Church
- Aldersgate United Methodist Church Molino
- Gonzalez United Methodist Church
- Liberty Church North Campus
- First Baptist Church of Bratt
- Waterfront Rescue on Herman Street
- St. Monica’s Espical Church
- First Baptist Church of Flomaton
- Cathedral of Faith Church
- Marcus Pointe Baptist Church
This is the fourth year UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension has teamed up with the Florida Peanut Producers Association to participate in the peanut butter drive, with donations to food pantries being made in the month of December. As many families in our community experience food insecurities, they rely upon food pantries to supplement their family’s meals and reduce worries about running out of food. The donated peanut butter can help meet the need of providing healthy options for local residents in need.
Census Bureau: Florida Among Fastest Growing States
December 21, 2016
Florida trailed only Texas among the 50 states in attracting newcomers over the last year, as the Sunshine State placed fourth in the nation in its percentage growth rate, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday.
Florida had an estimated 20.6 million residents as of July 1, compared to California’s 39.3 million people and Texas’ population of 27.9 million.
Florida’s gain of 367,525 new residents topped California’s growth of 256,077 new residents; Texas led the nation with a gain of 432,957 people.
Meanwhile, Florida led the 10 largest states with a 1.82 percent annual growth rate, and ranked behind Utah (2.03 percent), Nevada (1.95 percent) and Idaho (1.83 percent) among all states.
Nationally, the population growth rate was 0.7 percent. Regionally, the West had the fastest annual growth rate at 1.08 percent, followed by the South at 1.06 percent. Midwestern states had a 0.15 percent growth rate, while the Northeast had only a 0.04 percent increase.
Florida remained the nation’s third-largest state and increased its population edge over fourth-ranked New York, with a margin of 867,150 residents in 2016 compared to 497,731 a year earlier.
by The News Service of Florida
Jim Allen Fourth Graders Donate Pet Food
December 20, 2016
Cheryl Massey’s fourth grade students at Jim Allen Elementary School collected pet food for the Pensacola Humane Society. This was the 10th year Massey has sponsored a pet food donation. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Record: Navy Federal Donates 1,600 Toys For Christmas
December 19, 2016
Employees and members of Navy Federal Credit Union are helping make the holidays brighter for children in Escambia County. Recently, members of the United States Marine Corps Reserve visited Navy Federal’s campus in Beulah to collect more than 1,600 toys and a dozen bicycles.
“I am so proud of our employees and members for continuing their generous tradition of donating so more children in our community can benefit from their kindness,” said Debbie Calder, executive vice president of Navy Federal’s Greater Pensacola Operations.
Navy Federal has been collecting the new, unwrapped gifts since November 14. In addition to the toys that were collected, Navy Federal donated $1,500 to the Toys for Tots foundation.
“This effort is the highlight of the Christmas season for me and many of our team members,” said Donald Belcher, Navy Federal training supervisor.
The primary goal of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program is to help less fortunate children experience the joy of Christmas. Once they are collected by the Marines, the toys are then distributed into the communities where the toys were collected.
In addition to its support of Toys for Tots, Navy Federal employees in Pensacola also donated more than 1,550 items to the Council on Aging’s “Adopt a Senior” program and employees are currently supporting the “Adopt a Family” program though the Escambia County School District.
Big On Christmas Spirit: Century’s Boats And Floats Parade (With Gallery)
December 18, 2016
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce’s 4th Annual Lighted Boats and Floats Parade may have been a little short in length Saturday night, but it was big on Christmas spirit. The parade traveled down North Century Boulevard from near the state line to Showalter Park where there was a free movie and other Christmas events.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Take The ‘Journey Through Bethlehem’ In Bratt (With Gallery)
December 18, 2016
The First Baptist Church of Bratt presented a live nativity event Saturday evening — Journey Through Bethlehem.
Hundreds of people were able to walk the road through Bethlehem and experience the Christmas story come to life as they were able to see the shepherds in the field, learn from the villagers, be turned away by the innkeeper that had no room and see the Holy Family in the stable.
There were also the sights and sounds of a real blacksmith shop, bakery and other shops that were found in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. Children were able to participate in craft activities to make the event come to life for them.
The journey through Bethlehem ended with a stop by the manger with baby Jesus.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
