Long Grain and Wild Rice Chicken Casserole

Posted on March 26, 2017March 26, 2017 by trisha

This chicken casserole was a favorite at our Master Gardener Intern Class lunch.

1 medium chicken, cooked, deboned, and shredded
1 can French style green beans, drained
1 can shoepeg corn, drained
1 can diced water chesnuts, drained
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 small onion, chopped
1 8 oz. carton sour cream
1 box Uncle Ben’s Original Long Grain & Wild Rice, cooked & drained
1 package Ritz crackers, crushed
1 12 oz. package Swiss cheese*, shredded
1 stick butter

Mix chicken, green beans, corn, water chestnuts, celery soup, mushroom soup, chopped onion, sour cream, and rice. Coat a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray. Pour half of mixture into dish and top with half of shredded cheese. Add remaining mixture and top with rest of cheese. Melt butter and mix well with Ritz crackers, sprinkle over top of casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

**Mozzarella Cheese may be substituted for Swiss**

Original recipe provided by Audrey Giles

Fruit Workshop and Grape Pruning

Posted on March 17, 2017March 19, 2017 by trisha

Chilton County Master Gardeners attended a Small Fruit and Grape Production Workshop on March 8 at the Chilton Research and Extension Center. Dr. Elina Coneva, Auburn University Department of Horticulture spoke on blueberry and grape varieties and gave a demonstration in the field on pruning European hybrid grape vines. Dr. Edgar Vinson, Extension Horticulture Specialist, discussed commercial strawberry production. Kevin Burkett, Regional Extension Agent for Farm and Agribusiness Management, spoke on Commercial Farm Budgeting. A muscadine pruning demonstration was given by Matthew Price, CREC Research Assisstant. Our Master Gardeners found the workshop to very interesting and informative.

In preparation for the fruit workshop, Chilton County Master Gardeners volunteered at the CREC pruning grape vines. On the first day Diane Clapp, Lamar Giles, Bill Hairrell, Sondra Henley, Harriett Jackson, Rick Miller, Alan Reed and Lee Walters helped. The second day the MG volunteers were Alice Broome, Lamar Giles, Harriett Jackson, Rick Miller, Alan Reed, Lee Walters and Sue Webb. Harriett Jackson and Alan Reed finished up on the third day.

Photos by Harriett Jackson

Minooka Park Project

Posted on March 7, 2017March 7, 2017 by trisha

Master Gardeners Rick Miller and Sue Webb meeting with Chilton County Parks & Recreation Director Gerald Arrington about building new hiking trail.

Armadillo seen at Minooka Park — Armadillo sited at Minooka Park.

Hiking trail sign at Minooka Park — Existing trail sign at Minooka Park

Sue Webb, Harriett Jackson and Rick Miller met with Gerald Arrington at Minooka Park to walk the hiking trails and see what needs to be done first. Chilton County owns the park and it features walking trails, bike and ATV trails, picnic areas, inside and outside venues for gatherings of all kinds, lakes, woods and views aplenty. If you haven’t been there take a break and visit. You may even see wild turkeys on the way in. The park will be a lovely place for Master Gardeners to spend time volunteering. Much of the existing hiking trail just needs some raking and marking. Sue has plans for 3 hour work days and designs to use more native plants and identification signs to add educational value to the trails. But for now some leaf raking in the dappled shade will do much to preserve the already existing trail and make it user friendly and easy to follow. This is going to be a really fun project for Master Gardeners!

Sue will have a consultation with a member of the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association to plan and mark a new section of the trail to make it more accessible to the office. The trail association is dedicated to and has experience with planning, building, and maintenance of footpath only trails

by Harriett Jackson and Sue Webb
Photos by Harriett Jackson

2017 AMGA Conference

Posted on February 13, 2017February 13, 2017 by trisha

It is time to make plans to attend the 2017 AMGA Conference, Gardening Heritage, in Huntsville, AL May 1-3. The events will be held at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens on Monday and the Jackson Center on Tuesday and Wednesday. You will not want to miss the great speakers, workshops, Silent Auction, vendors, seed saver exchange or the door prizes! Find a friend to travel with and make your reservations now. Anyone registered before February 28 will be in a drawing for a refund of your registration! All MGs should have received the conference brochure by mail but the brochure and online registration can be found at Alabama Master Gardener Association . Those of us that have attended before can assure you that it will be fun and educational as well.

November CCMGA Meeting

Posted on November 24, 2016November 30, 2016 by trisha

At the November CCMGA meeting Master Gardeners enjoyed learning about Habitat for Humanity. Lisa Green, Executive Director for Chilton/Autauga Habitat for Humanity, presented information about how families qualify to become homeowners. She also explained how community organizations help through providing volunteers or donations. CCMGA Secretary Kimberly Lyn has coordinated landscaping and Master Gardener volunteers for the current Chilton Habitat for Humanity home.

Turnip Greens Soup

Posted on November 9, 2016December 11, 2021 by trisha

Chilton County Master Gardeners’ Christmas Lunch this year featured soups, salad, and a variety of breads. The Turnip Greens Soup was quite a surprise.

Turnip Greens Soup
1 lb. Kielbasa sausage, cubed

1 medium onion, chopped

2 qts. chicken broth

2 16 oz bags frozen chopped turnip greens (some brands include roots)

2 14.5 oz cans great Northern beans, rinsed and drained

1 pkg Knorr Vegetable soup mix

1 t. hot pepper sauce (Tabasco)

1 t. garlic powder
1 pinch Creole seasoning

salt and pepper to taste (did not add, plenty of salt in broth and beans and sausage)

Cook onion and sausage in oil over medium heat until onion is tender. Add remaining ingredients, then bring to a boil. Lower the temperature and simmer for 2 hours. Paula Blevins-Russell provided this recipe adapted from Turnip Green Soup.

Christmas Lunch Breads and Muffins

Posted on November 9, 2016December 11, 2021 by trisha

Broccoli Cornbread, Mexican Cornbread, and Corn Muffins was served at the Chilton County Master Gardener Christmas Lunch. Give these easy recipes a try for something a little different.

Broccoli Cornbread
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
2 eggs
1 stick margarine, melted
10 oz. frozen chopped broccoli (thawed and drained)

Mix all ingredients with melted margarine. Cook in greased 8 x 8 an at 350 degrees until golden brown. Serves 6-8.
Recipe adapted from retired power company employees cookbook “Powerful Good Cooking.”

Mexican Cornbread
2 c. self-rising cornmeal
2 c. milk
1/2 c. oil
2 cans cream style corn
1 medium onion, chopped
2 jalapeno, chopped
8 oz. cheese, grated
2 eggs
2 t. red pepper, optional

Mix ingredients together. Pour into greased pan and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until done. Serves 12.
Recipe adapted from retired power company employees cookbook “Powerful Good Cooking.”

Corn Muffins
1 c. self-rising cornmeal
1/2 c. cooking oil
2 eggs
1 small can cream style corn
8 oz. sour cream

Mix ingredients together. Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
This recipe is a pass along recipe provided by Treasia Bennett.

Treasia’s Chicken Tortilla Soup

Posted on October 20, 2016December 11, 2021 by trisha

Chicken Tortilla Soup

7-8 chicken breasts (ribs & skin)

1 T. salt

4 onions chopped and saute

2 cans diced tomatoes with green chilies (such as Rotel)

2 cans diced or stewed tomatoes

2 cans tomato soup

1 T. cumin

2 T. cilantro

1 T. black pepper

1 pkg flour tortillas

Cover chicken with water and salt. Boil until done and remove to cool. Saute onions. Put onions and remaining ingredients except tortillas in chicken broth. Continue to cook. Pull chicken into small pieces and put back in pot. Cut tortillas into 1″ squares. Add to soup. Simmer several hours. May need to add water. This is very thick. This recipe is a pass-along recipe provided by Treasia Bennett.

Crazy Chocolate Cake

Crazy Chocolate Icing