Food Protection Management Course

Food Service Managers are encouraged to attend a food safety training program Wednesday, August 1 and Thursday, August 2 beginning at 8 am at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Wise County office, located at 206 S. State Street in Decatur.  This program includes training, materials, and the state approved food manager certification examination (ServeSafe).  Call 940/627-3341 for registration information.

The “Food Safety: It’s Our Business” course is designed to not only prepare food service managers to pass the certification examination; it will provide valuable education regarding the safe handling of food.  Almost 50 cents of every dollar Americans spend on food is spent on meals prepared away from home.  Therefore, careful attention to food safety will help keep customers safe and satisfied.

Food borne illnesses are estimated to cost thousands of dollars in lost wages, insurance, and medical bills.  With these statistics, knowledge of how to prevent food borne illness is essential.  The benefits of improved food safety include:

·                     Increased customer satisfaction

·                     Improved relationships with health officials

·                     Prevention of bad publicity and law suits due to food borne illness

By attending the course, food service managers will learn about:

·                     identifying potentially hazardous foods and common errors in food handling

·                     preventing contamination and cross-contamination of food

·                     teaching and encouraging personal hygiene for employees

·                     complying with government regulations

·                     maintaining clean utensils, equipment and surroundings

·                     controlling pests

Food borne illnesses can be prevented by following simple food safety practices.  For more information about the Food Manager Certification Training course of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service call the Extension office at 940/627-3411.  Registration is limited to the first 20 paid participants.

Last day to Register

Today is the last day to register for our 2 day event!! It is going to be a great way to network with other teachers from around the county as well as bring something new to your classroom!!! Please call the extension office for more information!

Celebrate Ice Cream Month!!!

 

Making Homemade Ice Cream Using Raw Eggs

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90% of the nation's population.

If you are planning to celebrate ice cream month with a batch of your favorite homemade ice cream it is important to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself from the danger of possible Salmonella infection by using a homemade ice cream recipe made with a cooked egg base, made without eggs or made with commercial PASTEURIZED egg substitutes. Egg mixtures used in making cooked bases for ice cream are safe if they reach 160 degrees F when tested with a thermometer. At this temperature, the mixture should coat a metal spoon.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration you can still enjoy homemade ice cream without the risk of Salmonella infection by substituting a pasteurized egg substitute, or pasteurized shell eggs for the raw eggs in your favorite recipe. Egg substitutes, which may be liquid or frozen, contain only the white of the egg, the part that doesn't have fat and cholesterol, and are readily available at most supermarkets. These eggs look and taste just like regular shell eggs, though the white may be slightly cloudy, and they are nutritionally equivalent to their unpasteurized counterparts.

Even when using pasteurized products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advise consumers to start with a cooked base for optimal safety, especially if serving people at high risk. Additionally, you should ensure that the dairy ingredients you use in homemade ice cream, such as milk and cream, are pasteurized.

If you are watching your weight and have put ice cream on your “don’t eat” list, think again! Instead of a big dish of ice cream topped by a handful of strawberries, enjoy a bowl of fruit topped with a small scoop (1/2 cup) of ice cream. One cup of strawberries provides about 50 calories and a generous amount of fiber, folate, potassium, vitamin C and antioxidants. A half cup of light ice cream adds about 100 calories, as well as calcium. With a total of around 150 calories for the fruit plus ice cream, your taste buds and your waistline can be happy.

For more information on preparing homemade ice cream, contact the Extension office at 940/627-3341.

Area 4-H’ers earn scholarships at state event

Lubbock – Jodie Wells, Wise County 4-H'er from Greenwood, was awarded a 2012 Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarship sponsored by Richard Walrath and a Texas Association of Extension Education Scholarship.

                                                       

            The scholarship was one of 251 totaling over $2 million awarded by the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation during the 2012 Opportunity Awards Ceremony June 11 in United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech University.

            The scholarship recipients were selected from 361 who applied, said Jim Reeves, Executive Director for the Foundation which is the organization responsible for coordinating the program and for resource development for the Texas 4-H program.  He said the scholarship application process began last January.

            The Foundation’s scholarship program has 50 donors including the Houston Livestock Show and  Rodeo, San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo, Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, Southwestern Exposition & Livestock Show, Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, and the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show along with the Richard Wallrath Educational Foundation, individuals, corporations, foundations, producer associations, Texas AgriLife Extension Service professional associations, individual honorary funds and individual bequests.

            Reeves said the donors share the Foundation’s vision of investing in the future of Texas youth by helping them pursue an education which in turn, should eventually benefit their communities, state, country and world.

            The scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000. Jodie received a total of $11,000.

                                                                                               

            "Scholarships are provided to assist 4-H members who will attend universities and colleges throughout the state," Reeves said. “The scholarship program is a celebration of achievement for 4-H members across Texas. It recognizes the development of qualities inherent to the Texas 4-H program -- personal responsibility, civic responsibility and leadership. The program rewards hard work and dedication of young people involved in 4-H.”

            The Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation Opportunity Scholarship Program is the nation’s largest 4-H scholarship program. It began as a single $1,000 scholarship given by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 1959. 

            The Opportunity Scholarship Program was a highlight of the 2012 Texas 4-H Roundup which was held on the Texas Tech Campus June 11 - 14.  This was the first time Texas 4-H Roundup was held at a location other than College Station in the 65 year history of Roundup.

            The Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose members promote and support youth development in leadership, vocational skills, social skills and citizenship.  The Foundation’s Board is a diverse group of 41 Trustees who share a common passion for improving the lives of Texas youth.  Trustees work to secure private funding to support scholarships and programs for Texas 4-H youth.

GO RANGERS!!!!

What a great way to support Texas 4-H and the Rangers!! For a order form or more information please call the extension office!!

Mark your calendar for the Rancher's Gathering!!!

Have tree questions?

We were getting so many calls about trees dying or residents just plain concerned about the health of their trees, we decided to hold a seminar to answer all your questions and concerns. With the drought our trees have had a rough time bouncing back and hopefully we can help explain what our trees are going through.