Seymour Public Library to host Tiny Food Explorers April 8

SEYMOUR - Join Tiny Food Explorers at 11 a.m. Wednesday for an hour of food fun and exploration! 

Bring your tiniest chefs, picky eaters, and great eaters and create a delicious snack together. Recipes are nut free but may contain dairy, eggs, and gluten.

Best for children ages 3-6. Registration is required and limited.

Seymour Public Library is at 46 Church St. 

Shared from a Facebook event page.

First United Methodist Church in Ansonia to host Holiday Cookie Swap

ANSONIA - Members of First United Methodist Church are serving up a Holiday Cookie Swap on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m.

Bring your favorite cookies and recipe to swap!

The church is at 47 Franklin St.

This is shared from the church's Facebook page.

Tiny Food Explorers to learn to cook at Seymour Public Library

 

SEYMOUR - Join Tiny Food Explorers at 11 a.m. Oct. 22 at Seymour Public Library for an hour of food fun and exploration! 

Bring your tiniest chefs, picky eaters and great eaters and create a delicious snack together.

Food Explorers classes provide a no-pressure environment for our littlest eaters to explore food and new flavors. Recipes are nut free but may contain dairy, eggs and gluten.

Best for children ages 3-6. Registration is required and limited.

For more information or to register, please call the library at 203-888-3903. The Library is at 46 Church St.

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Seymour Public Library to serve up fun for kids to learn about food

SEYMOUR - Join Tiny Food Explorers at 11 a.m. Oct. 1 at Seymour Public Library for an hour of food, fun, and exploration! 

Bring your tiniest chefs, picky eaters and great eaters and create a delicious snack together.

Food Explorers classes provide a no-pressure environment for our littlest eaters to explore food and new flavors. Recipes are nut free but may contain dairy, eggs, and gluten.

Best for children ages 3-6. Registration is required and limited. The Library is at 46 Church St.

For more information or to register, please call the library at 203-888-3903.

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Children to learn cooking at Plumb Memorial Library event in Shelton

Book Bites

Ages: Grades 5 and 6
Day/Date: Saturday, May 11
Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Location: Plumb Memorial Library, 65 Wooster St., Shelton

Join Miss Maura as we make culinary cuisine based on a book we read!
May's monthly book is: This Is How I Roll by Debbi Michoko Florence. 

Once your child has registered, please borrow a copy of our book to read at home. Then the day of our program, we will discuss the book and try to make sushi with veggies, rice and shrimp, and also candy sushi too!

This is a hands-on food program at the library. Recipes, food, cooking instruments and direction will be provided. Caregivers must remain in Plumb Memorial Library during this hands-on food program.

Register online https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=2661&EventID=519016&PK=
or call 203-924-1580 ext. 5108.

This is shared from the Shelton Library System
Facebook page.

First United Methodist Church in Ansonia to host holiday cookie tasting

ANSONIA - Bring a batch or two of your favorite cookies to First United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. Sunday with the recipe to share.

The church is at 47 Franklin St. 

Holiday lights, decorations, music, hot cocoa, and an ornament to make are all for free!
Santa pictures for all ages for free at 2:30 p.m.

There will be old and new trinkets to buy for yourself and loved ones on your list.

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Seymour Community Center to host healthy cooking workshop

 

Valley Health District to visit Ansonia Library in February for heart health month

 

Learn summer recipes from dietitian's presentation at Derby Neck Library

 

Derby Neck Library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave., Derby.

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Seymour Public Library to host The Grounded Goodwife's DIY program on Zoom

 

SEYMOUR - Seymour Public Library will host the Grounded Goodwife team, Velya & Ehris, when they make kimchi via Zoom from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 22.

Participants will learn to create their own jar of kimchi. They need to provide the jar and ingredients. 

Fermented foods, which are loaded with good bacteria, can give your immune system a boost!

Jar: half-gallon or two 32 ounce.

Ingredient list:

· 5 pounds napa cabbage (approx 2.5 cabbages) cut into 1-inch, bite-sized pieces
· ½ cup coarse sea salt

· 1 cup water (preferably non-chlorinated—chlorinated water can inhibit fermentation)

· ½ medium onion

· 5-6 garlic cloves, peeled

· ¼ cup water (preferably non-chlorinated—chlorinated water can inhibit fermentation)

· 1/4 cup red pepper powder

· 1 bundle green onions/scallions, julienned

Link will be provided closer to the event.

This information is shared from a Facebook event post.

Seymour Public Library to host Grounded Goodwife's DIY Kombucha on Zoom

SEYMOUR - Seymour Public Library will host The Grounded Goodwife on Zoom as the team presents DIY Kombucha at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 1.

Learn how to make your own Kombucha, and the importance of adding fermented foods to your diet.

Materials list:

Kombucha

14 cups water
1 cup white sugar (required for the fermentation process)
8 tea bags of black tea OR 2 tablespoons loose black tea
2 cups “starter tea” — homemade or store-bought unpasteurized plain kombucha, OR 1 ¾ cup water + ¼ cup white vinegar (not apple cider vinegar)
1 SCOBY per jar

We recommend getting your SCOBY here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/520691012/organic-kombucha-scoby-shipped-bpa-free?ref=listing-shop-header-0

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82680778758?pwd=enF1OTh2TWJyMjN0d2Vmb1ZEdGRYdz09

Meeting ID: 826 8077 8758

Password: 549905 

This information is shared from the Library's Facebook event post.

Derby Public Library to host online Grounded Goodwife class

DERBY - Feeling alone-a because of Corona? Take a mental break from quarantine at 6:30 p.m. Monday with the Grounded Goodwife dynamic duo!
All you need is yourself, a computer (no webcam required), and a simple list of ingredients.
Ehris and Velya will be teaching us two fun DIY recipes, virtually, with their signature flair. You'll definitely want to keep making these recipes, even after quarantine ends!

Register now to receive access to the virtual class.
Check out the ingredients lists below, so that you can come prepared.
“Gingerly Adjust to a New Normal” DIY Ginger Ale
1 inch ginger root
2 tablespoons lemon juice
¾ cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon active dry yeast
water
2-liter container (preferably glass)
Extract me from this pandemic!
DIY Vanilla & Almond Extract
6 vanilla beans
12 almonds (with or without skins – skins make the extract a little bitter, so your choice!)
16 ounces alcohol (we recommend vodka, brandy, bourbon, or rum)
two 8-ounce glass jars

Optional, to make lemon extract:
1 lemon
Additional 8-ounce glass jar
8 ounces alcohol

Residents, chef at Wesley Heights in Shelton share recipes, bake

Wesley Heights resident and baking club member Libby Floroski makes cookies./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - A group of six residents and Chef Richard Scaife of Wesley Heights, met on a recent Monday morning to mix up a Snickerdoodle recipe for their unique baking club.

“This recipe was one of my son’s favorites. My son is in his 70s, so I’ve been making Snickerdoodles for 70 years,” said Florence Chicos, a resident. 

Florence Chicos

The residents meet on a regular basis and share their own recipes and ideas with one another.  
Scaife supplies the ingredients, equipment, and space to make the process easier and more accessible for residents. 
Once the mixing of batter is complete and the cookies are placed on baking sheets, Scaife puts them in an industrial oven to bake. “Once everything is made, I package up the cookies, go to the residents' apartments and bring them what they made,” said Scaife. 

The Baker's Bakers club began as an initiative to reignite a shared passion for baking, by bringing people together and celebrating their heritage and traditions. 
“You name it and I must’ve tried it once,” said Chicos. “I used to love making wedding cakes. I made all of my boys’ wedding cakes and my nieces and nephews.” 

Many residents grew up in households where they learned cooking and baking skills at a young age and provided their families with special desserts or simply enjoyed baking as a hobby. 

“When I was 13, I was cooking for the family- I would make dinner. I was about the only one who would make a dessert. I would make pudding cake-just simple stuff,” said resident Libby Floroski. 

What makes this baking program so special is it allows residents the opportunity to bake for fun. “I’ve always like to bake and through the holidays I baked cookies. I made a platter for each person and in order to do that you had to make a lot of cookies. So, I would start baking three weeks before the holiday.  Everybody had a favorite cookie,” she said. 

Residents can enjoy the process of making cakes, bread, and cookies with others and not be overwhelmed by the prepping, organizing, and cleaning that goes along with it. 

The Wesley Village Campus is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. It includes: Crosby Commons Independent/Assisted Living Community, Wesley Heights Independent/Assisted Living Community, Lifestyle Transitions Assisted Living/Memory Support Community, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center. 

The campus is owned and operated by UMH, a local, mission-based, not-for-profit organization. 

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to offer tips on diabetes management in summer

Griffin Hospital is offering a free talk June 11 on tips to manage diabetes./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host two free presentations with tips on managing diabetes throughout summer June 11 at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the hospital.

Certified Diabetes Educator Mary Swansiger, BSN, MPH, will host “Managing Your Diabetes Throughout the Summer,” an open discussion of what individuals with diabetes need to know for summer, including choosing wisely at barbeques and parties, healthier recipes and food swaps, skin care, travel tips, and emergency preparedness.

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September - June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend.

No registration is required. 

For more information, call Mary Swansiger, 203-732-1137. The hospital is at 130 Division St.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Massaro Community Farm to host potluck at Woodbridge Town Library

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host healthy holiday eating presentations

The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host free talks on healthy eating for the holidays./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host two free presentations about healthy eating for the holidays Nov. 13 at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. 

The hospital is at 130 Division St.

Certified Diabetes Educator Mary Swansiger, will lead “Eat, Drink & Be Healthy to Survive and Thrive through the Holidays,” an open discussion of tips and techniques for finding and maintaining balance, including recipe makeovers, finding time for physical activity, managing stress, and dealing with the “diabetes police.”

The presentations will be in the hospital’s Childbirth Education Classroom A.

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September-June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend.

No registration is required. For more information call Mary Swansiger, 203-732-1137.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Valley United Way offers 'grow your own' gardening in Ansonia

Valley United Way helps residents in two Ansonia neighborhoods plant and tend to vegetable gardens./ Contributed photo

ANSONIA - ​The​ ​enthusiasm​ ​was​ ​infectious​ ​and​ ​tangible​ ​as​ ​neighborhood residents​ ​came​ ​together​ recent​ly ​to​ ​celebrate​ ​​flourishing​ ​community​ ​gardens​ ​planted​ ​in​ ​May.  
The​ ​Valley​ ​United​ ​Way’s​ ​program,​ ​“Grow​ ​Your​ ​Own”​ ​spearheaded​ ​by​ ​Susan​ ​Meek​ ​and​ ​followed by​ ​Brian​ ​Rich,​ ​consists​ ​of​ ​numerous​ ​garden​ ​beds surrounded​ ​by​ ​picket​ ​fences in​ ​Gatison​ ​Park​ ​and​ ​Pine Lot.

These​ ​neighborhoods​ ​were​ ​chosen​ ​as​ ​an​ ​ongoing​ ​effort​ ​to​ ​help​ ​low-income residents​ ​fight​ ​food​ ​insecurity​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Valley​ ​and​ ​provide​ nutritious​ ​food​ ​for​ ​their​ ​families. 

​Valley​ ​United​ ​Way​ ​President​ ​Sharon​ ​Gibson​ ​said,​ ​“Valley​ ​United Way​ ​is​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​the​ ​garden​ ​program​ ​to​ ​our​ ​Valley​ ​communities.” 

The​ ​key​ ​word​ ​is​ ​“community”​ ​as​ ​residents​ ​came​ ​out​ ​in​ ​droves - many​ ​discovering​ ​the​ ​gardens​ ​and produce​ ​were​ ​for​ ​them​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time.​ ​Wide​ ​eyes​ ​and​ ​big​ ​smiles​ ​became​ ​commonplace​ ​as​ ​the​ ​news spread.​ 
​Many​ ​residents​ ​asked​ ​for​ ​tours​ ​and​ ​were​ ​given​ ​bags​ ​to​ ​search​ ​for​ ​fresh​ ​veggies​ ​that​ ​were​ ​ripe​ ​for picking:​ ​cherry​ ​tomatoes;​ ​lettuce;​ ​green​ ​peppers;​ ​squash;​ ​chard;​ ​cabbage; cucumbers;​ ​eggplant;​ ​and​ ​​more,​ ​plus​ ​herbs​ to flavor ​their​ ​meals.

“I​ ​live​ ​right​ ​next​ ​to​ ​Pine​ ​Lot​ ​and​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​this​ ​garden​ ​was​ ​just​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Boys​ ​and​ ​Girls​ ​Club.​ ​I clicked​ ​like​ ​and​ ​share​ ​on​ ​Facebook​ ​and​ ​headed​ ​down​ ​here​ ​right​ ​away,”​ ​said​ ​Rhonda​ ​Rossik.​ 
“I​ ​can​ ​get​ ​the​ Girl​ ​Scouts​ ​involved​ ​too!”​ ​as​ ​she​ ​walked​ ​through​ ​the​ ​garden​ ​sharing​ ​her​ ​knowledge​ ​and enthusiasm​ ​with​ ​others​ ​who​ ​were​ ​deciding​ ​what​ ​they​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​pick​ ​for​ ​dinner.  

Cherry​ ​tomatoes​ ​were​ ​by​ ​far​ ​the​ ​most​ ​popular​ ​vegetable.​ ​
At​ ​Gatison​ ​Park,​ ​Maya,​ ​her​ ​two​ ​sisters Ramona​ ​and​ ​Tiffany​ ​Wright​ ​and​ ​their​ ​children​ ​come​ ​to​ ​the​ ​garden​ ​often.​ ​“We​ ​go​ ​here​ ​everyday​ ​picking carrots​ ​and​ ​grape​ ​tomatoes​ ​and​ ​eating​ ​them,”​ ​she​ ​said.​ 
​Jazmiah,​ ​Ramona’s​ ​7-year-old​ ​daughter​ ​“loves vegetables”​ ​and​ ​Tiffany’s​ ​daughter,​ ​5-year-old​ ​Kaylynn​ ​“loves​ ​gazpacho,” they said.

Another​ ​Gatison​ ​Park​ ​resident​ ​who​ ​frequents​ ​the​ ​garden​ ​is​ ​Malika​ ​Mosley.​ ​
She​ ​has​ ​an 11-year-old​ ​daughter​ ​and​ ​walks​ ​by​ ​in​ ​the​ ​morning,​ ​afternoon, ​and​ ​the​ ​evening​ ​on​ ​her​ ​way​ ​home​ ​from work.​ ​“I​ ​usually​ ​look​ ​for​ ​the​ ​lettuce,​ ​cucumbers,​ ​and​ ​tomatoes,”​ ​Mosley​ ​said. 

And​ ​what​ ​would​ ​a​ ​block​ ​party​ ​be​ ​without​ ​Domino’s​ ​pizza,​ ​an​ ​ice​ ​cream​ ​truck​ ​and​ ​a​ ​special​ ​arts and​ ​crafts​ ​project​ ​for​ ​the​ ​children?​ ​

Chef provides samples, recipes
Also on hand was chef​ ​Audra​ ​Weisel,​ ​who​ ​had​ ​stiff​ ​competition​ ​from​ ​the​ ​pizza​ ​and ice​ ​cream,​ ​but​ ​was​ ​up​ ​to​ ​the​ ​task.​ ​Happily​ ​she​ ​handed​ ​out​ ​samples​ ​of​ ​her​ ​healthy​ ​cooked​ ​tomatoes, asparagus,​ ​zucchini,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​fresh​ ​veggies​ ​along​ ​with​ ​the​ ​recipes​ ​for​ ​cooking​ ​them​ ​in​ ​their​ ​own​ ​homes. 

Weisel​ ​has​ ​a​ ​long​ ​history​ ​of​ ​helping​ ​out​ ​low-income​ ​families​ ​and​ ​started​ ​digging​ ​and​ ​planting​ ​for “Grow​ ​Your​ ​Own“​ ​this​ ​past​ ​May.​ ​“I’m​ ​happy​ ​to​ ​lend​ ​my​ ​expertise​​ ​i​n​ ​any​ ​way,​ ​shape ​ ​or​ ​form,”​ ​she​ ​said. Quickly​ ​adding​ ​whether​ ​that​ ​means,”teaching​ ​them​ ​how​ ​to​ ​can​ ​their​ ​vegetables​ ​or​ ​learning​ ​how​ ​to​ ​cook them.”​ ​She​ ​is​ ​hoping​ ​“they​ ​will​ ​try​ ​something​ ​new​ ​…​ ​and​ ​like​ ​it.”  

“Grow​ ​Your​ ​Own”​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​Valley​ ​United​ ​Way’s​ ​projects.​ ​
With​ ​a​ ​third​ ​garden planted​ ​at Irving​ ​School​ ​in​ ​Derby,​ ​the​ ​program​ ​is​ ​expected​ ​to​ ​expand​ ​next​ ​year,​ ​including​ ​more​ ​locations​ ​and getting​ ​more​ community members​ ​involved.​ ​
This​ ​project is​ ​possible​ ​thanks​ ​to​ ​the​ ​generosity​ ​of​ ​​​premiere sponsor,​ ​Avan​ ​Grid,​ ​Newtown​ ​Savings​ ​Bank,​ ​and​ the ​Lavietes​ ​Foundation. 

To​ ​volunteer​ ​or​ ​get​ ​involved​ ​with​ ​Valley​ ​United​ ​Way,​ ​​contact​ Patricia​ ​Tarasovic,​ ​Vice President​ ​of​ ​Community​ ​Engagement, ​203-​926-9478​ ​or​ ​visit:​ ​​www.valleyunitedway.org​. 


This was written by Lori Singer, volunteer writer, Valley United Way.

Pumpkin is theme of next Cookbook Club at Derby Public Library

DERBY -The Derby Public Library’s Cookbook Book Club meets on the first Monday of every month.  

A different theme is picked for each month. 
Participants select a cookbook from the 

Library’s large collection to peruse and choose an enticing recipe.  

They then select one recipe to make and bring to the meeting for all to share.  
After eating, the group rates the recipes and reviews the cookbooks.  

The theme for November is Pumpkins: More Than Just for Pies.  
If you love browsing through cookbooks and trying new recipes, then this is the club for you! 
The Library will provide beverages and all paper products and utensils.  
Registration is required.
For more information, stop by the Library, 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.  

This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

Derby Public Library discussion to focus on memoir about love, cooking

DERBY - The Derby Public Library's next Lunchtime Book Discussion will be at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 30.  
The selected title is the pleasurable memoir Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard.  

In Paris for a weekend, Bard sat down to lunch with a handsome Frenchman, and never went home again.  

This is the chronicle of a young American woman caught up in two passionate love affairs – one with her new beau, and the other with French cuisine.  
It is a great, light read that lovers of food and romance will relish.  

Dessert and beverages will be provided.  

Registration is requested.  
For more information, stop by the Library, 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

Cookbook Book Club to talk BBQ at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library’s Cookbook Book Club meets on the first Monday of every month.  

A different theme is picked for each month. 

Participants select a cookbook from the Library’s large collection to peruse and choose an enticing recipe.  

They then select one recipe to make and bring to the meeting for all to share.  
After eating, the group rates the recipes and reviews the cookbooks.  
The theme for August is Anything BBQ.  
If you love browsing through cookbooks and trying new recipes, then this is the club for you! 

The Library will provide beverages and all paper products and utensils.  
Registration is required. For information, stop by the Library, 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.      

This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.