June is Country Cooking Month

Elder Care in Shelter Island NY

Whoa doggies, June is Country Cooking Month. Get your taste buds ready for some finger-licking good food!

America is known for having terrific country cooking, which dates back to the time when the settlers first conquered the Wild West. For professional in-home care providers, Country Cooking Month offers a great opportunity to spice up the menu with some new things and also get the elders more actively involved in the “cooking.”

Activities are Good for Elders
Stimulating those who are being cared for with new activities, especially those that are easy for them to participate in, has been shown by the Alzheimer’s Association to improve both the mental health of our elders and help them age gracefully in their own homes. Even elders that have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia get a sense of excitement with new activities that give them an extra bit of enthusiasm to enjoy each day.

Country Cooking Favorites

Traditional country cooking dishes include:

• Fried chicken
• Corn bread
• Spare ribs
• Macaroni or potato salad
• Deviled eggs
• Sweet potato, pumpkin, or pecan pie
• Summer fruits like watermelon

Modern country cooking has almost no limitations and is trending towards healthier foods. In general, what country cooking means is that the food is prepared with fresh ingredients (locally produced, organically grown, is best) and it is made with loving care at home.

Country Cooking Recipes
There are some terrific recipes to try out on the charming My Country Cooking website. Kit Singleton, who calls herself a “sassy Georgia peach, who really knows how to cook,” created it. Bless her for her wonderful spirit.

One of the reasons why country cooking is so much fun is the sharing of the experience between the generations. The best recipes are handed down by the elders to their children. Both sons and daughters learn from parents and grandparents. In this way, country cooking becomes a family celebration.

Get Elders Involved in the “Cooking”
One of the recipes that is possible for elders to help make is Ambrosia salad. It is fun and easy to make. Any elder in the home with a little caregiving assistance, if needed, can help do this.

Here are the steps:

1. First, prepare all the fruits that need it, in advance, by washing them and putting them in separate small bowls.
2. Use grapes (without seeds), strawberries, oranges, pineapple, and apples (cut to bite-sized pieces).
   It is fun to let the elders peel and cut the bananas into slices. This is safe to do with a blunt knife and easy to achieve.
3. Mix all the fruits in a big bowl with a generous portion of yogurt. Add sweet shreds of coconut and pecan pieces as desired.
4. Put portions in serving bowls with whipped cream and a cherry on top.

When elders participate in family activities, such as sitting at a table and helping mix the Ambrosia ingredients, they feel that they are part of a loving, lively, family. If they have a bite of fruit while making the Ambrosia, that is OK too.

June Country Cooking month is a great time to celebrate with all the family.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional elder care services in Shelter Island, NY , call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.

Source
Country Cooking Month
http://mycountrycookin.com/country-cooking-month/

Activities for Elders
http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-activities.asp

Country Cooking Recipes
http://mycountrycookin.com/cooking-topics/country-cooking-recipes/

About Kit Singleton

About

Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia Salad