Living Well In Yalobusha County

Members of the 4-H FCS Club had a delicious time experimenting with muffin recipes during their March meeting. The youth made three different versions of chocolate chip muffins. With each recipe they did something a little different (first recipe was control recipe, second recipe was over mixed and third recipe the baking powder was intentionally left out). 

What did our experiment show us?  We learned how important baking powder is!  And we learned that if you spray too much oil on your pan it will cause your muffins to brown too much.  We also learned what the outside and inside appearance of a muffin should look like and how we can achieve it.  

What was our favorite recipe? Actually batch #2, the over mixed recipe! We really like the color of this batch- it was golden, we also liked that the tops were gently rounded and the amount of rise that it had. However, we did notice that the tops were smooth instead of pebbly and when we cut the muffin in half we noticed the air tunnels which both indicate that it had been over mixed. But even with these two things it still was moist and delicious!  

Which Salt is 

Right for You?

While we used to not pay much attention to salt, there are now numerous types of salt available in the market, each one presenting itself as the very best choice. Salt is a combination of 40% sodium and 60% chloride, minerals that are naturally present in the ocean and in the ground. Salt is either harvested from salt mines or evaporated from salty sea water. Let’s look at some of the  most common types of this flavoring agent…

Types of Salt

Table salt is refined into small crystals that dissolve easily. During processing, any additional minerals that are naturally present in the salt are removed and often a flaking agent is added to prevent clumping. Most table salt is fortified with iodine, an essential mineral that is crucial for the production of thyroid hormones. Low levels of iodine in our diet can lead to hypothyroidism, goiter, and neurocognitive impairments.

Kosher salt has a larger flake size than table salt and does not contain added iodine. It dissolves quickly and provides the same taste as refined salt. Since the larger flakes make it easier to pick up with our fingers, kosher salt can easily be sprinkled over foods.

Sea salt is a broad term for salt harvested by evaporating ocean water. Sea salt is usually not as finely ground as table salt, producing a coarse crystal and more of a burst of flavor. The amount of sodium, chloride, iodine, and other minerals in sea salt varies depending on where it’s produced. However, due to ocean pollution, sea salt can also contain trace amounts of heavy metals like lead that are dangerous to health.

Pink Himalayan salt is harvested from a large salt mine in Pakistan. The pink color is due to iron oxide in the salt. This salt also contains trace amounts of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. 

Grey salt is often called Celtic sea salt because it’s hand-raked from the seashore in Brittany, France where the grey clay and sand create  mineral-rich crystals.

Fleur de sel is a more expensive version of Celtic sea salt, because for every 40 kilograms (kg) of grey salt produced, only 1.5 kg of fleur de sel is harvested. It’s a light and flaky salt usually used for finishing foods. This is the salt of choice for most chefs.

Save The Date

The United Y.C. MHV invites the public to attend a horticulture program presented by Betty Baker Thomas, MHV member and member of The Garden Club of Water Valley.  The program will be presented at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16.  Refreshments will be served after the program. The business meeting will be held at 9 a.m. 

The Create Club will meet on Wednesday, April 10 at 10 a.m.  This month’s project leader is Marilyn Haynes. Participants will make a Mississippi Wood Door Hanger (size 23” x 14 “).  All supplies will be provided for a cost of $4.

Join Mrs. Pat Rodrigue on April 11, 2019 at 4 p.m. at the Extension Office for 4-H Art Workshops where she will be working with 4-Hers on art entries for several upcoming contests.  If you plan to come contact Extension office know so Mrs. Pat will know how many to prepare for.  

The North Central Area MHV meeting will be held on Thursday, April 11, in Carroll County at the Shongaolo Presbyterian Church is Vaiden.  This meeting is free and open to all Yalobusha County MHV members.  For more information please call the Extension office at 675-2730.

The 4-H North Half Cookout contest will be held here in Yalobusha County on Tuesday, June 25.  Volunteers are needed to help recruit and train youth for this contest!  If you are interested in volunteering, please join us for a training on Thursday, April 11, at 5:30 p.m. at the Extension office.  We will go over contest rules, food categories, food safety and grilling safety.  Call 675-2730 to register for the training.

Sewing for Service will meet on Monday, April 15 at 10 a.m. until noon at the Extension office.  We have the equipment we just need volunteers to help sew.

The Looped with Love Crochet MHV Club will meet on Thursday, April 18, at 10 a.m.  If you have been wanting to learn a new hobby, this is a great place to start. This club is open to the public and meets twice a month.  

The Healthy You Exercise class meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m. at the Multi-Purpose Building in Coffeeville. The class is free. Make sure to wear cool, comfortable clothes, good walking shoes and bring water to drink.  The class will not meet on Friday, April 19th due to Good Friday holiday.