2022 Newsletter - January
Ripley Housing Authority - January 2022
Happy New Year!
Your Community Team
Justin Jones
Executive Director
Joyce Edwards
Finance Director
Jeffrey Conrad
Facilities Director
Bronca Caldwell
Leasing Coordinator
Kimberly Taylor
Executive Assistant
Aylissa Taylor
Administrative Assistant
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Contact Directory
Main Office
731.635.1901
Office Fax
731.635.1948
Emergency Contact
731.413.5665
Bagels - Not Just for Breakfast!
A bagel may be the breakfast bread of champions, but there are a "hole" lot of ways to eat them for every meal:
Sandwiches: Upgrade lunchtime by stacking meat, veggies and condiments on a bagel or making a bagel PB&J. Take burgers to the next level by subbing bagels for your usual buns. Make a bagel grilled cheese or add leftover meatballs to a toasted bagel.
Snacks: Transform mini bagels into bagel chips by slicing them thinly, tossing in olive oil and seasoning, then baking on a sheet until crisp.
Pizza: Bagel bites, anyone? Create personal pizzas on sliced bagels by adding sauce, cheese, and toppings. Bake on a sheet pan until bagels are crispy.
Dessert: Add sweet toppings to a bagel for an instant dessert. Try chocolate hazelnut spread, cream cheese, peanut butter, or caramel sauce. Garnish with some fresh fruit.
Go with Your Gut
Did you know there are more than 100 million nerve cells in the walls of your digestive system? If you've ever felt butterflies in your stomach or had a gut feeling about something, then you understand why some scientists call the belly the body's "little brain." The medical name from this "brain" is the enteric nervous system, and its main role is to control digestion. But researchers have discovered that this system has a major link to the brain, affecting our thoughts and mood. This connection is helping doctors understand better ways to treat both mental and physical health problems.
"Ap-peel-ing" Ideas
Citrus fruits are abundant this time of year. Make good use of the rinds with these ideas:
Grate lemon, lime, and orange peels, and freeze the zest in a zip-top bag so you'll have it on hand for recipes.
Cut the rinds into strips and candy them in boiling water and sugar for a sweet-and-sour snack.
Add citrus peels and other aromatics, such as cinnamon sticks and whole cloves, to a slow cooker with some water. Turn the appliance to low to make your home smell great.
Make an all-purpose cleaner by soaking citrus peels in white vinegar for 2 weeks. Remove the peels, dilute the solution with an equal amount of water, and pour the cleaner into a spray bottle.
Regal Bedbird
A common sight throughout the year, the bright red feathers of the male cardinal make this bird one of the most recognizable species in North America. Females are tan or light gray, with a slightly less prominent crest than males. Both males and females announce their presence by making a piercing "tweet-tweet-tweet" whistle. Also called the redbird, the cardinal is a popular sports team mascot and the official bird of seven U.S. states.
Hobbies You Can Start Right Now
Anytime is a good time to start a new hobby, so let that time be today! January is especially ideal, since learning something new is a popular New Year's resolution. Plus, if chilly weather keeps you indoors, most of these hobbies can be done at home.
Sharpen Your Chef Skills
This could be the year of delicious meals. Pick a new recipe to try, perhaps with one or two unfamiliar ingredients, and give it a go! If you want to get better at general cooking, tying a meal subscription service can help train you on how to season food and what kind of dishes you like.
Explore New Exercises
Making fitness goals and finding various ways to move your body is excellent motivation to get or stay in shape. Pick a type of exercise that's different than what you usually do, and search online for instruction videos or borrow a DVD from the library. Trying a new workout at home may be more comfortable than taking a class with strangers.
Get Crafty and Creative
Needlework projects, such as knitting, crocheting, and embroidering, are as popular as ever. Websites and library books have loads of tutorials and free patterns, and you can start with the most basic materials until you know if you're going to stick with them. Or maybe another artistic outlet speaks to you - painting, calligraphy, origami, or makeup? Pull up a video online and follow along as you explore your creativity.
Nurture Your Love for Nature
At first glance, the outside world doesn't look very lively in the winter. But pay attention to the birds outside your window or the stars gleaming in the twilight sky. You can keep a log of the species you see in a notebook or mobile app, or look up star charts to identify constellations. Got green thumb goals? Houseplants and kitchen herbs can be grown year-round, and bringing greenery into your home can lift you from the winter blues.
Recipe: Corn Chowder
This simple soup is hearty and comforting on a chilly winter day.
Ingredients:
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 pound russet potatoes, cubed
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 cups frozen corn
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper
Directions:
In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat, add onions, and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add potatoes and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
In a small bowl, whisk flour into milk. Add mixture to pot. Add corn, heavy cream, cheese, and most of the bacon, reserving some for topping. Bring soup to a boil and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until cheese is melted.
Season with salt and pepper and garnish with crumbled bacon.
Trivia: Happy "New" Year!
- How many U.S. states have the word "new" in their name?
- Newfoundland dogs were originally trained as working animals for what profession?
- What was boy band New Kids on the Block's first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart?
- Which moon phase comes after a new moon?
- What subtitle was later added to the first "Star Wars" film, released in 1977?
Think you know the answers?
Email your answers with "Trivia: Happy "New" Year!" in the subject line to Trivia Master for your chance to win cool stuff! The deadline for this entry is January 31, 2022. Five winners will be selected by February 15, 2022, and notified via email.
(Last month's "The Amazing Arctic" answered: 1. Bear; 2. Caribou; 3. Eight; 4. Narwhal' 5. False)