July Calendar

• 2nd - Farm to Table on KARD TV 14's Louisiana Living at 4:30pm
• 8th - Grilling Safety/Knife Skills - Union Parish Library at 6pm
• 10th - Taste of Herb Spice on Dill - Union General Hospital at 2pm
• 10th-12th - Walking Nutrition Education Youth Workshop - West Carroll Parish Extension Office at 10am
• 16th - KidChef Adventures in Cooking - Crowville - Call 318-623-5217
• 16th - Kitchen Safety for Teens - Carver McDonald Library in Monroe at 11am
• 17th - Morehouse Parish Visioning Session
• 18th - Fruit Refresher Demonstration - Farmers' Market in Crowville
• 18th - Germy Germs Program - Children's Museum in Monroe from 10am to 1pm
• 18th - Bread Making Workshop for Adults - West Carroll Parish Extension Office at 5:30pm
• 20th - Super Saturday - Children's Coalition Family Garden from 10am to Noon
• 24th - Plant Powered Meals - Ollie Burns Library in Monroe at 10am
• 24th - Mediterranean Diet - Union Parish Library at 11am
• 25th - KidChef Day Camp - Baskin - Call 318-623-5217
• 25th - Taste of Herb & Spice on Dill - Louise Williams Library in Ouachita at 1pm
• 29th-31st - Friends of Crowville Kids Camp - Call 318-547-4303
• 29th-Aug 1st - CHEF Camp, Delhi Civic Center from 10am to 1pm
• 30th - Bread in a Bag for Teens - Carver McDonald Library in Monroe at 11am

Recipe of the Month

by Quincy Vidrine

Black Eyed Pea Salsa

Ingredients:

• 2 cans Bleck Eyed Peas (15-ounce), drained and rinsed
• 2 cans diced tomatoes with green chiles (14.5-ounce)
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons diced jalapenos
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
• 1 teaspoon no-sodium taco/southwest seasoning blend
• 1/2 teaspoon no-sodium garlic & herb seasoning

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a medium size bowl. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve with whole grain tortilla chips or whole grain crackers.

Hydrate with Infused Water

by Cathy Agan

You can easily make your own infused water at home. If you choose to do so, make sure the fruits and vegetables you are using are fresh and free from spoilage or bruises. Wash and scrub produce as you would for any fruit or vegetable you are eating. It is best to allow flavors to infuse in the refrigerator rather than room temperature for food safety. Infused water should be kept in the refrigerator or iced down to keep the temperature at 40 degrees or below. Refrigerate any leftovers within 2 hours and date the container. Fruits and vegetables in leftover water may break down and decompose quickly, so drink the leftovers within 2 to 3 days. If you want to give infused water a try, you can start by adding fresh fruit, herbs, or vegetables of your choice or by experimenting with these combinations:

Kids Corner

by Ana Gouge

Daily Fitness Challenge

Spell a family member's name each day for the month for some fitness fun!

Success Story

by Jocinda Jackson-Jones

Exciting news from Kendall's Park in East Carroll Parish! The park is officially complete and ready for some serious fun. Youth members put their hearts and muscles into the project, working tirelessly over three days to bring the park to life. Both alumni Youth HYPE members and new recruits joined forces to work on the surfacing, with a helping hand from Dr. Mary Beth Lima and the East Carroll Parish Sheriff's Department. This project was a big deal for the youth group, who chose to focus on promoting physical activity in their community. Their ideas not only improved Kendall's Park but also strengthened the bond with the local police jury. And the good news doesn't stop there! The police jury is gearing up to make even more enhancements to the park, including a splash pad, extra playground equipment, and a new walking trail in the works. Kendall's Park is becoming a hub for community connection, conveniently located near the only public middle and elementary schools in East Carroll Parish. Keep an eye out for the official ribbon-cutting event that's on the horizon. The youth in East Carroll Parish are feeling grateful for the friendships they've built and are pumped to tackle more exciting projects in the future. Stay tuned for more updates on the fantastic work happening at Kendall's Park!