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Friday, August 06 2010 3:24 pm |
Robin Danto shares canning tip... HOLLY TOWNSHIP, Michigan - Local gardeners got some timely details from Robin Danto, a food safety specialist with Michigan State University Cooperative Extension during a presentation at the Holly Township Library on Aug. 2. Sponsored by the Friends of the Holly Township Library, the program covered key information for at-home food preservation.
With a wide range of methods for freezing, pickling, canning and drying foods, Danto provided recommendations for the right types of equipment to use, what some of the most suitable fruits and vegetables for preserving are, and guidelines for the shelf life of home-preserved foods. Improper preparation and storage frequently results in food poisoning that can be as common as an upset stomach – or as deadly as botulism.
“Personalized recipes or the addition of secret ingredients are the primary reasons for food poisoning,” Danto said. “Even minor adjustments can change the pH level.” Danto said those who home-pickle should be sure to check the label on the vinegar, ensuring that it is 5 percent acetic acid. Additionally, Danto said the solution should never be diluted.
Blanching before freezing any vegetable is a standard requirement to stop the enzyme action that continues cellular break down (rot) even in the freezer. Peppers are an exception to this rule and they can be easily sliced or diced and frozen on a cookie sheet.
Those interested in canning the garden bounty must be sure their “labor of love” doesn’t result in something that will take the recipients to the hospital.
Danto said boiling water canning and pressure canning are two distinctly different processing methods. The maximum temperature achieved during boiling water canning is 212 degrees Fahrenheit – a method that is fine for acidic foods such as fruits, pickled vegetables or acidified tomatoes which typically spoil due to yeasts and mold. However, the micro organisms that cause spoilage and food-borne illness in low acid foods cannot be destroyed unless the product is brought to a temperature of 240 degrees Fahrenheit for a specific amount of time. To avoid contamination and sickness, it is critical to follow directions and use a pressure canner for the correct time, temperature and pressure required for processing any low acid foods such as vegetables, tomatoes, meats, poultry and fish.
As for shelf life – canned items produced in 2008 or earlier should be discarded. Danto said if the product isn’t visibly rotten, it’s certainly suspect by then, and that canners should use a 12 month timeframe as a general rule of thumb for usage.
For more food preservation tips, visit the MSU Cooperative Extension Web site at http://www.msue.msu.edu/portal/.
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Wednesday, July 14 2010 10:11 am |
Holly DDA purchased a new outd... HOLLY, Michigan – Holly area families won’t have to make a long drive to the movies this summer as the Holly Downtown Development Authority and the Holly Area Youth Coalition are teaming up to bring movies to downtown Holly.
Last month, the DDA approved $3,369 in funding for an outdoor theatre system, complete with a 16 by 9-foot inflatable screen, projector and sound system. In return, the Holly Area Youth Coalition has budgeted up to $1,500 in funding for movies to be shown this summer.
DDA Promotions Committee Chair, Kel Leigh Coale said “Movie Nights in Downtown Holly” will kick off on Saturday, July 24, featuring the classic film, “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial.” All films throughout the summer will be shown at dusk on the corner of Saginaw Street and Civic Drive, adjacent to the village offices.
Coale said movie nights will be held on selected Saturdays through October, and will include Bee Movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Love Bug, and the Wizard of Oz.
Movies are absolutely free, and on-site concessions will be available. “It’s an opportunity to enjoy a great family activity at no cost with the convenience of on-site concessions,” Coale said. Coale said families can spend a little time perusing the downtown shops prior to setting up their lawn chairs and spreading their blankets for the show.
For a complete schedule of movies, visit www.mainstreetholly.com or contact Coale via email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Monday, May 24 2010 9:46 am |
Horses and tractors both helpe... HOLLY TOWNSHIP, Michigan – Plow Dayz organizers promised a bigger and better event this year, and on Saturday, May 22, they delivered.
Overcast skies and patchy rain didn’t keep the visitors away as antique tractors and teams of horses plowed a 6-acre plot of fertile ground north of the historic farm located at 13465 N. Holly Road.
In addition to the hands-on tractor and horse demonstration, visitors could look at antique engines, see how rope is made, learn about the intricacies of honey making from Davisburg’s Blanche Barber, check out various farm animals, and even see how a buzz saw operates.
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Sunday, May 16 2010 4:39 pm |
Katy Hughes and Janet Leslie ... HOLLY, Michigan – Despite having a lighter turnout than anticipated, Holly Retro Prom organizers Janet Leslie and Katy Hughes say they have absolutely no regrets about the event that went off without a hitch at Heather Highlands Golf Course on Saturday, May 15.
All proceeds from the prom will bolster fundraising efforts for this year’s Carry Nation Festival scheduled for August.
Beehive hairdos, funky 60s, 70s and 80s prom dresses and tuxedoes from yesteryear added to the “Sea of Love” theme party.
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Sunday, May 02 2010 8:51 am |
Kathy Carter has been involve... DAVISBURG, Michigan – Kathy Carter sought the help of Pretty Pony Pastures in 2004, looking for an activity that would help her regain the balance she lost after suffering a debilitating stroke a year earlier. Over the years, Carter, 66 has gained a great deal more than balance, recently having had the necessary expertise and confidence to participate in her first-ever Midwest Dressage Association Schooling Dressage Show held at the Windsong Equestrian Center, 2315 E. Rattalee Lake Road, Holly on April 25.
Dressage is a considered by many equestrians to be the most advanced form of riding, as it requires years of training on the part of both horse and rider. During a dressage routine, horse and rider will perform a series of complex maneuvers in a ring while they are graded by judges on their form. To the untrained eye, dressage resembles dancing, especially when performed by a highly trained horse and rider team, appearing to move effortlessly and in a relaxed fashion through the ring while carrying out complex and physically demanding tasks. The rider communicates with the horse in a series of subtle motions and shifts in weight which are almost imperceptible to the observer.
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Holly Area Economic Development Task Fo...
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Holly village to pitch shared services p...
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