The stimulus program that provided hundreds of young Missourians with summer jobs has enough money left in reserve to extend the program for young adults who are out of high school.

(BPT) - Today’s busy families are always on the go, which means less time for shopping, preparing and eating food. However, there is one thing you can’t skimp on no matter how fast you’re going, and that’s food safety. From grocery shopping to reheating leftovers, you can use several tips to ensure that the food you eat isn’t going to make you or your family sick.

Fairy Prom Mothers’ of Marshall recently received more than 200 dresses from two urban dress projects. After sorting them, members realized the dresses are more conservative in colors and styles than prom dresses. They would be ideal for bridesmaid dresses.

(BPT) - Rather than sitting down to a wholesome meal, do you spend your lunch break running errands, catching up on bills or organizing your kid’s next big activity? Too often busy parents and working professionals have to choose between eating well and doing important tasks during the lunch hour. With the start of the new year, it’s time to take back lunch with a few healthy ideas that will makeover your meals in just minutes.

(BPT) - This year, hosts across the country will look for simple ways to make this Thanksgiving an event their loved ones will enjoy. But, there’s a lot of work that comes with holiday entertaining – shopping on a budget, cleaning the house, cooking a feast, and caring for friends and family – and sometimes the fun that should fill the day can begin to slip away.

American Legion Post 642 will host a Christmas dinner for veterans who don’t have any place to go and Legionnaires at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at 2016 W. Main St.

This is in response to “Don’t use embryos for research” (Letters, Sept. 10), which argued against embryonic stem cell research.

The State Fair Strutters will hold a Sportsman’s Team Challenge on Saturday at the Sedalia Rod & Gun Club.

Summer is well behind us with winter and the Christmas holiday season quickly approaching.

(BPT) - Home cooks are spending more time in their own kitchens and less time dining out, according to the January Monthly Measuring Cup Trend Report. Nearly half of surveyed consumers said they’re dining out less this year than they did in 2012 and are relying more on their cooking skills at home. Fortunately, technology makes it easier than ever for home chefs to prep and cook meals at home and clean up conveniently and efficiently afterward.

(NAPSI)—During the holiday season, many creative cooks find ways to make their guests feel special by giving them something new to try. With some clever recipe tweaks, it can be easy to improve on traditional holiday favorites. Sometimes all it takes is a simple ingredient substitution to take a dish from “the usual” to “surprising and memorable.”

(BPT) - Maintaining a healthy diet is a popular new year’s resolution for many of us, but for the nearly 400,000 Americans with kidney failure, eating right is actually critical to well-being and survival.

There are a number of images that one associates with autumn: dead leaves, bare trees, cornucopias, scarecrows and, of course, the classic pumpkin.

(StatePoint) Great food is the centerpiece of any holiday celebration, and practicing safe food handling in the kitchen is an important part of holiday meal preparation. There are certain steps you can take to keep friends and family safe from food poisoning.

Instead of hosting twice-yearly cleanup efforts the city is now offering pickup on- demand service for large items that need to be taken to the landfill.

(NAPSI)—This year, enjoy the bounty of the holiday season without feeling sorry about consuming too many calories.

With the holidays officially over, Sedalia residents may be wondering what to do with their leftover Christmas tree. Enter the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Ryan Woolery, of Sedalia, shared these photos of pumpkins he carved and decorated for Halloween. He provided the following description of his techniques and motivation:

(NAPSI)—Serving ham can be easier than ever with new recipes and experts on hand to help at the Ham Hotline, making it a delicious choice for every occasion from family celebrations to everyday meals and snacks.

The holiday season can be the happiest time of year - but it also can be the most wasteful. Americans generate about 25 percent more waste than usual - an extra million tons - between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That’s a lot of garbage.

(NewsUSA) - Hosting a dinner party soon? If you're like most, the thought of preparing a delicious and memorable meal for your special guests can be daunting to say the least. Let the experts at Cook's Ham help by providing an array of mouth-watering entrée ideas that are sure to please everyone in the house. Spend less time in the kitchen and more time sharing memories with family and friends.