An emergency kit doesn t have to be expensive. You can easily build one on a budget.

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1 Sept-Oct 2018 STRENGTHENING OKLAHOMA FAMILIES Family and Consumer Science News Prepare now before an emergency or disaster strikes Preparing before an emergency or disaster strikes is the kind of task that easy falls to the bottom of the priority list and stays there. But, taking the time to get ready ahead of time reduces the chances you or your family is hurt. Oklahoma is well known for its tornadoes and severe storms. But, we experience other emergencies and disasters such as heat and drought, earthquakes, winter storms and wildfires. We have to be ready for anything. September is National Preparedness Month. Now is the perfect time to do some advance planning or review your family s emergency plans. The idea of trying to prepare for every potential disaster or emergency can be overwhelming, not to mention impossible. You can start by identifying the types of disasters or emergencies most likely to occur and signing up to receive local weather and emergency alerts on your phone or other devices. Then, put together a basic emergency kit and create a family emergency plan. A basic emergency kit should include supplies such as three days worth of water and nonperishable food, a first aid kit, flashlight and extra batteries, a battery-operated radio, closed-toe shoes and a change of clothes appropriate for the current season. Be sure to add prescription medicines, hearing aids, baby formula and other unique needs of family members. Also, do not forget to set aside items for pets. An emergency kit doesn t have to be expensive. You can easily build one on a budget. Begin by searching your house for the items you need. Broker trades with friends and other family members for supplies both of you need to complete your kits. Fill in any remaining gaps with things you pick up on sale or at garage sales. Your family may not be together when an emergency or disaster happens. That is one reason a family emergency plan is so important. A family emergency plan helps keep your family safe by making sure everyone knows exactly what to do and where to go if something occurs. You should update and practice the plan at least once a year so the details stay fresh in everyone s mind. Ellis County Extension Office Address PO Box S Washington Arnett, OK Phone FAX Lynda Latta Lynda.latta@okstate.edu Website Social Media Facebook: Ellis County OSU Extension In this issue Knowing when to use a fire extinguisher Cozy up to cold weather by preparing your home for fall and winter Don t get spooked by candy consumption at Halloween Recipe: Savory Dutch Baby Pancakes

2 Knowing when to use a fire extinguisher It only takes a short, few minutes for a spark to grow into a blaze. Knowing when and how to use a fire extinguisher can help save lives and property. Fire extinguishers can be helpful in small fires but encouraged people to get properly trained on how to use the apparatus. Contact your local fire department for training on how to use and maintain fire extinguishers. September is National Preparedness Month, which makes now a good time to learn and refresh key safety skills. Generally, there are five main types of fire extinguishers, Classes A-D and K. Each is designed to be effective in a different kind of fire. For instance, Class A fire extinguishers are labeled for use with ordinary materials such as cloth, wood and paper. Meanwhile, Class B apparatuses can be used with combustible and flammable liquids such as grease, gasoline or oil. Class C extinguishers are marked for use with electrical equipment such as appliances or tools. There also are multipurpose extinguishers, which could be labeled B- C or A-B-C. These can be purchased in most home improvement stores. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, a good way to remember how to use a fire extinguisher is to think of the word PASS. Pull the pin and point the nozzle away from the user. Aim low toward the base of the fire. Squeeze the lever slowly and steadily. Sweep the nozzle from side to side. Finally, maintaining a fire extinguisher so it is in proper working order is important. The apparatus should be stored in an easy-to-reach location and kept free of dust and oil. Regularly check all the fire extinguishers in your hose to make sure they are at the correct pressure levels and none of the parts are broken, rusted or damaged. Some fire extinguishers need to be shaken monthly, while others should be pressure tested every few years. Cozy up to cold weather by preparing your home for fall and winter It should not be too long until Oklahomans feel that distinct crispness in the air, which points to the arrival of college football season, otherwise known as fall. As conscientious consumers, homeowners can help ensure their homes are snug and warm this winter. A drafty home wastes energy In Oklahoma, consumers spend about half of their energy dollars on heating and cooling. Concentrating efforts on increasing efficiency will go a long way toward saving big energy dollars. Things to consider include controlling the thermostat, sealing air leaks, having adequate insulation, having the HVAC system serviced and making certain that ductwork is not leaking. The easiest thing to do is control the temperature with the thermostat. Set it up a little higher in the morning while you are getting ready for work or school, then have it automatically reset to a cooler temperature while everyone is gone for the day. Consumers can switch it manually, or you can consider getting a programmable thermostat, which is a tool homeowners can use to regulate energy use in their homes. A programmable thermostat can be a little bit of an investment initially but can save you money each year on your heating and cooling bills. Whether you control the temperature manually or with a programmable unit, set the thermostat at a comfortable temperature when you re awake at home, then set it to turn back 10 to 15 degrees when you go to work or to bed. Next, seal the air leaks in your home. Making sure there are not any air leaks in the home is so important for energy savings. Use caulk and foaming insulation to seal cracks and openings in your home. Weather stripping can be used around windows and doors. While drafty windows and doors often come to mind, did you know you can lose valuable energy via cut-throughs for pipes, gaps around chimneys and recessed lighting, as well as unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets? Expansion foam can be used in holes where pipes go through walls to cut down on lost air. One potential air leak area is the fireplace. Many people enjoy curling up to a blazing fire in the fireplace, but homeowners may be losing energy. Keep the fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning to avoid warm air escaping up the chimney. Also, using tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room can help cut energy costs.

3 Make certain your home has adequate insulation. Start in the attic. If you can see the rafters, you need to add more insulation. Insulation can shift and settle over time, so it is important to make certain you have enough. Consider having your HVAC system serviced before it turns cold. It will help maintain the system s efficiency and help prolong the lifespan. Once your heating system has been checked out, it will be time to get your ducts in a row. Most people probably don t think twice about the ductwork to their heating and cooling systems. It s tucked away in the attic or under the floor, forgotten. Homeowners don t realize they can easily lose the conditioned air that moves through the duct system. Make sure the ducts are properly sealed and insulated to help conserve energy. Homeowners and renters can enjoy another energy saving tip: open the curtains on south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home. Be sure to close the curtains at night. Finally, even though it is still a bit early to talk about Christmas lights for some people anyway use LED holiday light strings because they are more energy efficient. Many people will appreciate being able to save a little money on the utility bill during the holidays. Just look for manufacturers and brands of ENERGY STAR-certified light strings. Don t get spooked by candy consumption at Halloween It will not be long until your neighborhood is filled with ghosts, super heroes, princesses, pirates, skeletons and witches. Halloween can bring out the kid in all of us and it is fun to dress up, parade around the neighborhood or go to a costume party. In keeping with tradition, sugary treats tend to go hand-in-hand with Halloween. However, parents should not get spooked by their child s candy consumption. Halloween is a great time to reinforce the importance of healthy eating to your child. Talk about what it feels like to savor their favorite treats and how they might feel if they eat too much candy at once. The best approach is to go through all the treats collected and remove your favorites. Those special treats can be divided up and distributed over time. One suggestion may be donating the rest of the treats to a local shelter or giving them to an organization making care packages to send overseas to military personnel. When shopping for your own treats to hand out to the little spooks who ring your doorbell, parents can do their part by purchasing healthier options and those that contain less sugar. Some ideas include packages of cheese and crackers, microwave popcorn, 100 percent juice boxes, trail mix, single containers of macaroni, fruit snacks made with 100 percent fruit and added vitamin C, animal crackers, individual fruit cups, mini bags of pretzels, low-fat pudding cups or cheese sticks. Avoid handing out treats that contain nuts. This is helpful to children who have allergies to nut products. Your Halloween treats don t always have to be edible. You also can hand out Halloween pencils, stickers, spider rings or temporary tattoos. Before leaving the house to canvass the neighborhood, make sure your children eat a snack or meal. This will help to keep them from digging into their bag of goodies before they get home. Also, establish some rules for the neighborhood. No running, especially if your child s costume is long or has an accessory that can be easily tripped over. If your child is trick-or-treating with a group, make sure everyone sticks together and stays in a designated area. Reinforce the importance of crossing the street at the corners of the block and to watch out for traffic. It s important to tell your children to not eat any of the treats they collect while trickor-treating. Parents need to inspect the treats when the kids get home to help ensure everything is sealed and in its original packaging. If you receive homemade goodies but don t know who handed them out, it s best to throw them out. Hosting a party can help reduce safety concerns for your child and their friends. Get with some other parents to see if they can help with planning games and bringing goodies. Halloween can be a lot of fun for those of all ages. Sticking to a few rules and safety tips can help ensure everyone has a great time. Also, be sure your little ghosts or goblins brush their teeth before going to bed.

4 Pancakes are the next fetish carb. What does that mean exactly? A food fetish is not like a trend; it s an everyday indulgence, all gussied up. It s considered a splurge to indulge and create distinctive and unique pancakes. Load them up with fruit, chocolate, nuts, any variation of toppings and have fun. Pancakes are the perfect grainbased vehicle to play with and get creative. With the evolution of consumers varied dining patterns, departure from traditional mealtimes, and Millennials love of brunch, pancakes are not just served in the morning anymore. All Day Breakfast has inspired new menu trends that appeal throughout the day, according to Packaged Facts new breakfast trends report. Consumers have turned their flair for food innovation and desire for the latest culinary experience to biscuits, donuts, and now pancakes. You can t just have traditional pancakes when it s not breakfast time - it has to be something special. Dutch baby pancakes, also known as German pancakes, are like popovers with an eggy texture. They are made with eggs, milk, flour, and butter, and savory recipes are usually combined with cheeses, herbs, vegetables, and spices. With the continued appeal of increased protein in foods, it is no surprise protein pancakes remain popular. Pancake recipes already contain eggs which are a great protein source. Ingredients 1/2 cup whole milk 3 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt teaspoon black pepper 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled 2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, or cheese of choice 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, for greasing pan Toppings: 1 medium zucchini, quartered 8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced 4 oz Italian chicken sausage, sliced shaved cheese, to garnish fresh thyme, to garnish Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Using a blender (or hand immersion blender), combine milk, eggs, salt, pepper, and melted butter until smooth. Add cheese and flour. Blend together until there are no longer and dry streaks of flour. Scrape down the sides of the blender as needed to ensure thorough mixing. 2. Set 9-inch cast iron skillet (or other oven safe pan) over medium heat. Add butter and melt until mixture starts to foam, or bubble. Pour in batter and immediately place in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 F and continue to bake for another minutes until the pancake starts to pull away from the sides of the pan. 3. Remove from the oven and top with cooked veggies and sausage. Garnish with additional shaved cheese and herbs. Serve immediately. Toppings: 1. Zucchini: Set skillet over medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons oil. Add zucchinis and saute for 3-5 minutes until zucchini is tender. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. 2. Mushrooms: Add another 2 teaspoons of oil to skillet. Add mushrooms and saute for 5-7 minutes. Mushrooms will expel a lot of moisture. Continue to cook until mushrooms are tender and most of the moisture has cooked off. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to another a bowl. 3. Italian Chicken Sausage: Add 1 teaspoon of oil to skillet. Add sliced chicken sausage. Cook until browned and warmed throughout. Transfer to another bowl.

5 Heart Healthy Eating Managing Heart Disease through Diet Learn how to eat for a Cardiac Diet! Including topics such as: Benefits to a Low-Salt Diet What Affects Cholesterol and Lipid Levels How to Control your Weight October 8, 11, 12, :30 pm Ellis County Fair Building Shattuck, OK Call the Ellis County Extension to register: Instructor: Ruth Ann Givens, MS, RD/LD Conducted by: Ellis County OSU Extension Service Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran and is an Equal Opportunity Employer

6 This Newsletter is published monthly by the Ellis County OSU Extension Center, P.O. Box 157, Arnett, OK (580) This Newsletter is one way of communicating educational information to the interested citizens of Ellis County. The information is given for educational purpose only. References to commercial products or trade names are made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied. Editor: Lynda Latta Extension Educator/FCS/4-H/CED Extension Educator/FCS/4-H Youth Development/CED Ellis County OSU Extension Center The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its Programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, veteran status, age, disability or status as a veteran and is an equal opportunity employer. Ellis County Cooperative Extension Service Oklahoma State University PO Box 157 Arnett OK 73832