Volume 5 June 2005

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Welcome to TAKE-A-MOMENT!

The Take-A-Moment newsletters strive to provide quick-to-read content to improve and enhance the quality of life at home and in the work place...for when you can "take-a-moment" from your hectic schedule. Take-a-Moment is provided by the Louisville Area Cooperative Extension Agents. When you have "more-than-a-moment" visit our web site for expanded articles, article archives, sign-up and contact information, and links to other web sites of interest.

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Did You Know...?

C O N T E N T S

Stain Removal -- Grass Stains
Financial Fitness -- Money Management For Young Adults
Family Life -- Get Plenty Of Rest
Nutrition & What's Cooking -- Getting The Thrill Of Grilling
Home Tips -- Be My Guest
Ways to Wellness -- June is Dairy Month!  Milk Can Help You Lose Pounds
In The Work Place -- Timely Tips

STAIN REMOVAL
GRASS STAINS
stainremoval@take-a-moment.com

Use enzyme presoak as directed on label or rub with detergent. Rinse. Launder with bleach that is safe for fabric. If stain remains, apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide or sponge with rubbing alcohol. Use one part alcohol to two parts water for acetate fabrics.

FINANCIAL FITNESS
MONEY MANAGEMENT FOR YOUNG ADULTS
finances@take-a-moment.com

The latest FDIC Consumer News helps young adults (including those just beginning a career or family and others still in school) learn how to save and manage money. Information includes common mistakes young adults make with money and how to avoid them. These errors include buying unnecessary items, failing to consider the cost of interest charges and other fees, getting too deeply in debt, paying bills late or otherwise tarnishing their credit record, having too many credit cards, and not saving enough for the future (including retirement). The guide offers ideas young people can consider during high school, during college, when starting a career, and when starting a family.

Other topics include ways to protect against identity theft and other fraud, five things to know about credit cards and checking accounts, electronic banking services that young people might find attractive, the right way to fix a problem with a financial institution (including why to put a complaint in writing and to act as soon as possible), and basic information about FDIC insurance coverage. "Taking Control of Your Finances: A Special Guide for Young Adults," has been posted to the FDIC Web site at: http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnspr05/index.html.

FAMILY LIFE
GET PLENTY OF REST
familylife@take-a-moment.com

A little more sleep could help cure a lot of our problems.  Think how lack of rest affects our relationships. When we are weary, it's so much harder to be sensitive to others. When family members are tired, fights are more likely to break out, children are more irritable, discipline becomes more of a problem, and the healing power of laughter is heard less frequently.

When we go to work with insufficient sleep, our productivity drops. Similarly, lack of rest takes an enormous toll on school performance. And how do you think lack of rest affects judgment, our immune systems, our creativity?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that simply getting enough rest could drastically improve our individual and collective well-being. So turn off those lights a little earlier, and if you haven't already discovered the benefits of a daytime nap, try it the next time you're feeling tired.

Source: Sam Quick

NUTRITION & WHAT'S COOKING
GETTING THE THRILL OF GRILLING
whatscooking@take-a-moment.com

Summertime brings the tantalizing aroma of outdoor grilled hamburgers, barbecued chicken or vegetables throughout the neighborhood, reminding us of the thrill of grilling out.

Just about any food that can be broiled or roasted can be cooked on a grill.

Put foods that cook quickly directly on the grid above medium coals or heat. You can leave the grill open or closed when using this cooking method. Use the indirect method to cook roasts and large foods that require a longer cooking time at a lower temperature. Put a drip plan with coals on each side of the pan beneath the grid; then put the food on the grid above this pan. Cover the grill and cook with vents open.

Meats and poultry tend to brown quickly on the outside, but may not be thoroughly cooked on the inside. Use a thermometer to ensure foods have reached a safe internal temperature.

Whole poultry should reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit; breasts, 170 degrees F. Poultry flesh should not be pink and juices should be clear. Hamburgers should reach 160 degrees F, or be brown in the center with no pink juices. All pork cuts should reach 160 degrees F. Beef, veal and lamb steaks, roasts and chops should be cooked to 145 degrees F.

Here are some more grilling tips.

• Keep the grill grate clean by scrubbing with a wire brush after each use.

• Oil the grill grate and lightly spray non-marinated food with nonfat cooking spray to reduce the likelihood of food sticking. Don’t use aerosol spray while the grill is lit, because the can might explode.

• Have the grate hot before putting steaks and hamburgers on the grill. Sear foods that need to retain their juices over a fairly hot fire; then cover them to finish cooking on lower heat.

• Trim visible fat that could make the fire flame up and char food.

• Raise the cooking level of the grill to reduce the risk of charring food.

• You can pre-cook foods in the microwave to reduce grilling time.

• Grill chicken or fish on low heat.

• Since barbecue sauce burns easily, use it only during the last few minutes of cooking.

• Marinades add flavor and can tenderize some meats. Marinate foods from six to 12 hours. To add flavor, marinade for 15 minutes to two hours; the thicker the meat, the longer you’ll need to marinate. Always marinate food in the refrigerator in a covered container. Before putting food in a marinade, save some for later use to baste or as a sauce. Don’t reuse marinades without first bringing them to a steady boil.

• Some studies have indicated a possible cancer risk from eating food cooked by high-heat methods such as grilling, frying or broiling. However research shows that eating moderate amounts of grilled fish, meat and poultry cooked to a medium temperature without charring does not pose a health risk.

Follow these food safety principles when grilling out to ensure a fun experience for everyone.

• Use separate platters and utensils for raw and for cooked meats. Never put cooked meats on an unwashed platter previously used to hold raw meats.

• Keep grilled meats and poultry hot until you serve them. You can put them to the side of chafing dish, slow cooker, or on a warming tray.

HOME TIPS
BE MY GUEST
hometips@take-a-moment.com

Whether you've got a room set aside exclusively for guests or one that serves multiple functions, chances are good that it needs some sprucing up before company arrives this summer. With time-saving products and these easy tips you'll get the job done, with plenty of time and energy leftover to enjoy your guests!

Rest Easy

• Strip down. Under regular circumstances, pillows should be laundered weekly; blankets, monthly. But even unused bedding can get dusty and musty. So, strip that bed and head for the washing machine.

• Freshen up. Vacuum the mattress, and then give it the spa treatment with a spray fabric refresher. To eliminate odor-causing bacteria, choose an antimicrobial version. Let throw rugs and window treatments in on the action by laundering the washables or vacuuming and spraying non-washables.

Dust Up

• Bust dust. Pre-moistened furniture wipes clean and shines without leaving waxy residue.

• Aim high. Disposable, electrostatic dusters with extendable handles and pivoting heads capture dust in hard-to-reach places.

• Make scents. Wipes, cloths, dust mitts, and dusters come in scented and unscented versions.

Window Watch

• Dry smart. Newspapers make great cleaning towels. Using rubber gloves as you wipe will keep the ink off your hands.

• Avoid smears. Ignore the little drips of water that remain at the edge of the window. Wiping them will cause smears. Let them dry on their own!·

• Touch up. Smudges can be banished on the spot thanks to pre-moistened wipes designed for use on glass and mirrors.

WAYS TO WELLNESS
JUNE IS DAIRY MONTH-MILK CAN HELP YOU LOSE POUNDS
wellness@take-a-moment.com

It's time to include dairy foods as part of a healthy diet to get enough calcium and to help you lose weight. A growing body of evidence shows that when people have 3 servings a day of low- or fat-free milk as part of a reduced-calorie diet, the milk appears to help shed the pounds. Researchers compared consuming 24 ounces of milk in 24 hours as part of a weight reduction plan to an equivalent amount of calcium from supplements, about 1,200 milligrams. The milk drinkers lost significantly more weight, an average of 24 pounds in 24 weeks. The research findings suggest that the mix of nutrients in milk, like protein, calcium, and vitamins, may help improve the body's ability to burn fat, especially around the waist line. One study found that eating 3 servings of yogurt has a similar positive influence on body weight. So if you're trying to shed some pounds, keep milk and yogurt around.

Source: Consumer Tips, University of Kentucky

IN THE WORK PLACE
TIMELY TIPS
workplace@take-a-moment.com

Try some of these ideas to “free up” time for your personal life:

*  Learn to plan. List things you need to do. Arrange activities so they will flow well. Plan all the errands that need to be done in one shopping center and do them in a single trip.

*  Barter. Swap jobs with a friend or family member.

*  Use services that for you are a good value. Hire someone to clean your windows or mow the lawn.

*  Use waiting time. Write notes to friends or your children, plan your upcoming weekend, or read a magazine you carry with you for just such opportunities.

*  Clear the clutter. Every unnecessary accessory, toy, or piece of furniture takes time and attention. Eliminate anything you don’t use or value.

*  Learn to say “no”. Plan your commitments carefully so that you have time for yourself.