Greening Your Living Space in Easy Steps
Would you like to “green” your living space? Maybe you aren’t sure where to start. A good idea is to start slowly – it may not be a good idea just to pitch out everything “non-green” and then go out and replace it. A good place to start might be a particular room. Here are some easy steps for greening your living space.
1. Turn lights off when you leave a room, but also wait before turning them on. Many times, there is plenty of daylight in a room and we turn lights on out of habit rather than need.
2. Put timers on your home’s lamps. These inexpensive little devices can be purchased at most home improvement stores, and they can help save a bundle by turning lamps off and on at predetermined intervals.
3. Houseplants not only add literal green to your living space; they also help clean the air. Spider plant, English ivy, various palms, and ficus species have reputations as being good air cleaners. There are many more, too.
4. If you have carpeting, see if you can pull it up and use the natural wood floors beneath. If you don’t have wood floors beneath your carpet, you can put down linoleum (a natural flooring option that is not to be confused with synthetic vinyl flooring) or recycled/recyclable floor tiles.
5. When you clean, try using natural or homemade cleaners rather than chemical-based ones. Even if you don’t think the chemical cleaners are potentially harmful, the cleaners themselves are not “green” because they are not biodegradable. They must be disposed of carefully and in a particular way.
Natural cleaners, such as white vinegar, baking soda, and almond oil (for wood surfaces and furniture) do not have hazardous warnings on their containers, and are not considered “harmful or fatal if swallowed.”
6. Invest in a good broom and sweep your floors regularly, saving vacuuming for once a week or so. This saves electricity.
7. If you’re in the market for new furniture, consider buying antiques or other used items. If you want to buy new items, look for furniture made from sustainable woods, such as bamboo or mango.
8. Make sure your insulation is up to date, and that windows and doors are sealed against air leaks in the wintertime.
9. In the summer, try using fans in the night and early morning to draw cool air in; then move the fans out of the windows late in the morning before the temperature heats up.
10. Make use of the winter sunlight in the winter, and shade your windows with curtains and blinds in the summer. Awnings are another option for keeping out the hot summer sun.
Which Animals Would Make Good “First” Pets
For many families, buying and/or adopting a first pet is intended as a learning experience for the children. For others, it’s just something they choose to do in order to bring some fun and companionship into their homes.
Regardless of why you do it, it’s important to do your research to find out what first pet is right for you. You’ll want to make sure that you can handle the amount of care and expense various animals require.
Here is a list of some animals that are considered good first pets in general.
Guinea Pigs
For first pets, many people look to the rodent family. There are lots of animals to choose from in this group – rats, gerbils, hamsters – many of which have excellent attributes as first pets. But the guinea pig has the distinction of being large (and slow) enough for bonding and cuddling, while being small enough to make for easy feeding and clean-up.
If you go on vacation, guinea pigs are not complicated to leave in the care of a friend or neighbor, and if you’re only gone overnight, you can safely leave them with enough food and water.
Guinea pigs do need regular exercise time out of their cages, and a lot of attention and “people time,” especially if you only have one. They are active during the day, which makes this a bit easier than for nocturnal rodents.
One word of caution about guinea pigs: some children and adults can be highly allergic to them. Spend some time (more than a few minutes in a pet store) interacting with guinea pigs before choosing to buy to see if this is a problem for any members of your family.
Gerbils
Unlike other small rodents, gerbils are diurnal (active during the day), which can be a big plus for those who want to play with their pet during the day and who don’t want to deal with squeaking exercise wheels and rustling sounds during the night. They are easy to feed and, due to their native desert habitat, are not big water drinkers. Therefore, they don’t urinate as much which makes for easier clean-up and less smell.
Rats
Although some may find the idea of keeping a rat as a pet a bit repellent, consider the intelligence of this rodent before you say no. Rats can be trained, and sources say that, if raised from a young age, rats can be affectionate. Training can include anything from tricks to coming on command. They do not require a very big living space, as long as they have access to exercise (wheels, tunnels, etc.) and are taken out and played with daily.
Rats are nocturnal, but they do have periods of activity during the day, and you can minimize how active they are at night by keeping them active during the day.
Ferrets
Ferrets are high-energy, playful animals that make good first pets for active families who are often home. They do need to be spayed or neutered, just like a dog or cat, and can even be “de-scented” during the surgery to prevent any smelliness.
They are entertaining and can be litter trained, but they will still need a large cage. You can get these types of habitats used to save money, and even a dog crate will do with a little modification. Another plus for ferrets is that they are very unlikely to cause allergic reactions.
Glossy Hair in Easy Steps
While hair textures and types differ, glossier hair is within the reach of most. Hair loses its gloss through the use of harsh styling products and shampoos, exposure to the sun, chemical exposure (such as the chlorine in swimming pool water), poor diet, and blow drying.
There are several different approaches to achieve a glossy look to your hair; here are a few.
Natural Products
If you’d like to take a natural approach, you may find you need go no further than your own kitchen for some of these hair treatments.
1. Vinegar Rinse
Did you know that apple cider vinegar can help make your hair shiny and soft? In fact, combining it with a baking soda shampoo treatment may be just the thing to bring shine to your hair. Here’s how it works.
* Put about 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a jar or cup. When you’re ready to wash your hair, add about half a cup to one cup of warm water.
* Pour this mixture evenly over your wet hair, and work it into your scalp with your fingertips. Gently massage the rest of your hair as you would with a normal shampoo.
* Rinse out the baking soda mixture.
* In another cup, put 1 to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and add about 2 cups of water. Pour this evenly over your hair, and rinse with lukewarm water.
2. Hair Salad
This deep conditioning treatment helps restore shine and strength.
* Mash up one avocado and add half a cup of mayonnaise. Mix until smooth.
* Work this mixture thoroughly into damp hair.
* Put a shower cap on and sit in the sun or use a blow dryer to generate heat for 15 to 25 minutes.
* Rinse hair in lukewarm water, then shampoo and condition as usual.
Conventional Products
Applying heat may cause damage to hair, but done correctly, the application of heat combined with the right products can really bring out the shine in your hair.
* To damp hair, apply a deep conditioner. Sources recommend the type of conditioner that comes in a jar, as this will be thicker. Massage this thoroughly through hair, concentrating on the ends.
* Wrap your conditioned hair in a towel or shower cap. Apply heat from a blow dryer for 15 to 25 minutes. Allow hair to cool.
* Rinse out conditioner with lukewarm or cool water – the cooler the better.
* Shampoo your hair with a mild shampoo and apply normal conditioner, again rinsing with cool water.
If you like, you can also apply a shine spray or ant-frizz product to your hair while it’s still damp. Allow your hair to air-dry.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Serves 2
Ingredients:
6 cups of chicken or vegetable stock
2 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp fresh ginger, grated
4 oz rice noodles
6 mushrooms, thinly sliced
4 tbsp frozen peas
4 green onions, finely sliced
4 tbsp soy sauce
Fresh basil leaves, torn
Instructions:
Add the chicken stock into a saucepan, together with the chicken, garlic and ginger. Bring stock to a boil, then quickly reduce temperature and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside. Remove the chicken from the stock and cut into chunks. Then return the chicken pieces to the saucepan and add the peas, mushrooms, green onions and noodles. Stir in the soy sauce and simmer until the noodles are soft.
Sprinkle with basil leaves and enjoy immediately.
Fun Things to Do with Your Baby
Your baby is only a baby once, and just for a little while. Rather than worrying about growth and development charts, why not have some fun? This is your chance! Getting out with your baby helps you both – it gets you out of the house, and provides baby with invaluable social interaction and brain stimulation. Here are some ideas on what to do with your baby which are both entertaining and educational.
Water
Babies love water. Depending on the season, try some of these water activities.
* Fill a wading pool with a few inches of water. Get into the water with your baby and enjoy pouring water through funnels, from cup to cup, and through tubes. You can get creative with this activity! Balls, plastic containers, bottles, and other items make great toys for the mini pool. You can do this in the bathtub with your baby, too.
* Lay down a plastic painting tarp in your house and set out containers of water for your baby to touch and explore. Spoons, bowls, pots, cups, funnels, pans, and so forth can all be set out for fun.
* Natural water sources, if you have access to them, can be fascinating for babies. Creeks, rivers, waterfalls, streams, and so forth can be shown to your baby. Hopefully, you can get close enough to wade or hold your baby while you wade, or let baby feel the water flowing. Tossing in some rocks is fun, too.
Visit a “Big Box” Store
Take your baby to a home improvement store where you can both explore exciting things like ceiling fans, lights, and fountains in the garden center area. Riding mowers, refrigerators, washers and dryers, etc. all make for interesting fun for your baby. Most such stores have hands-on areas where you can experience appliances, windows and doors, curtains, carpets, and an assortment of textures and colors.
Nature “Hike”
Your baby will almost certainly enjoy a trip to a local park, forest, or other natural area. This could just be your back yard. Talk about the birds’ calls and point out the feeling of the breeze or the sunshine. Let your baby hold pine cones, nuts (make sure nothing goes in the mouth), twigs, rocks, and so forth. Nature provides a lot of textures, sights, smells and sounds.
Scarf Dancing
You can combine exercise with fun and brain simulation by putting on some music and dancing with your baby. If he is not old enough to sit up, lay him on the floor on a blanket and dance around and over and around him. Let him feel the scarf, too.
If your baby is older, he (or she) can sit up and “dance” with scarves of his own, or play peek-a-boo with the pretty cloth while you dance. You can also hold your baby and dance with him. Choose light, brightly-colored scarves with interesting textures.
The Most Effective Fat-Burning Workouts
As you begin on a regimen of fat-burning exercises, it helps to know a bit about how weight loss works. Within each fat cell are drops of oil made up of triglycerides. These drops of oil are, essentially, the body’s fuel reserves. If you continue eating more calories than you burn, the body continues to store up the triglycerides in your fat cells.
During weight loss (which can be initiated through fat-burning workouts), hormonal triggers cause the fat cells to release these stored-up triglycerides. Then they are processed primarily by the liver to give you the extra energy your body needs to keep up with your exercising.
So for fat-burning workouts to be effective, the above cycle needs to be set into motion. Many sources claim to have the best exercises; in sorting through them, you can discern some common threads to put together an optimal fat-burning workout. Here are some ideas on how to get the most fat-burning out of your exercise time.
1. Intensity versus Length
Some sources suggest that a short, intense workout may actually burn fat better than long, drawn-out hours in the gym. This does seem like good news – many people are pressed for time, and a gym membership is not for everyone. For an intense workout that is reputed to burn fat effectively, try a combination of those old exercises you might remember from gym class:
* Jumping jacks
* Squats
* Running in place (vigorously)
* Push-ups
* Lunges
* “Iron Chair” or wall sit
* Reaches and side-bends
This approach is said to be more effective if you do not rest between exercises.
2. Cardio and Toning
Cardio and toning exercises are said to be a winning combination. Cardio exercises work large muscle groups and increase the heart rate and circulation, and target toning concentrates on the muscles of particular parts of the body (arm and leg curls, weights, etc.). For an effective fat-burning workout, try following 20 minutes of vigorous walking with 10 to 20 minutes of weight training. Or, after 30 minutes of aerobics, work on some specific toning moves like push-ups or butt-toning exercises.
3. Resistance Exercises
Interestingly, resistance exercises actually cause minute amounts of damage to the muscles being worked. As the body rebuilds and repairs this damaged tissue, it builds the strength and tone of the muscle. Lifting weights may be the most effective type of resistance workout, but resistance exercises are really defined as any exercise that contracts the muscles. You can incorporate resistance into your cardio workout by carrying or attaching weights, or add weights to your toning regimen.
Delicious Treats That Won’t Tip the Scales
We all want to indulge in tasty treats now and then; but if you’re avoiding all those typical treats – chips, milkshakes, candy, cookies, cakes, and so forth – where do you turn? Are there still sweet and delicious foods that are healthy but still qualify as treats?
The answer lies, in part, in the utilization of substitutes. Fried and/or sugary foods may be off-limit, but you can substitute moderate amounts of healthy fats and oven-baking for the fried foods, and natural sugars and sweeteners instead of white sugar. Here are some suggestions.
1. Break Out the Blender
Craving milkshakes and ice cream is common among those trying to watch their weight. Your blender can help you overcome these cravings – smoothies, slushies, and other cold treats can help beat the ice cream craving. Start with 10 ice cubes or so, and blend at high speed with one of these combinations of ingredients:
* 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 cup vanilla almond milk
* 1 cup lemonade or fruit juice of your choice
* 1 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt, 1/2 cup unsweetened, natural orange juice, 1/4 teaspoon stevia extract (or to taste)
* Juice of 1 lemon, 1 lime, and 1 grapefruit; 1/2 teaspoon stevia extract (or to taste)
Experiment!
2. Cookies
A really good, fat-free, low-calorie cookie is hard to come by, but meringue cookies can help get you there. Meringues are easy to make – beat 3 egg whites until frothy; add a generous pinch of salt, and beat until stiff; then gradually add 1/3 cup of evaporated cane juice and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Dollop the mixture onto parchment paper-covered cookie trays and place in a 350-degree oven; turn oven off and leave 8 hours or overnight.
3. Oven-baked “Fries”
The crunchy saltiness of French fries and potato chips is almost irresistible. Instead of fried potatoes, why not try oven-baking them? Simply cut peeled potatoes into fry-sized strips or sticks and toss them in a little oil, about 1 teaspoon per potato (make sure it’s a healthy oil such as safflower or olive). Stir in seasonings of your choice (such as salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, etc.) and bake at 425 for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Banana Muffins
Craving cake or rich banana bread? Try these muffins for a healthier alternative.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift together into a bowl:
* 1 cup of white whole wheat flour (or 1/2 cup whole wheat and 1/2 cup white)
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 (heaping) teaspoon salt
In another bowl, whisk together:
* 1 egg
* 2 tablespoons safflower oil
* 2 tablespoons plain, low-fat yogurt
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 cup evaporated cane juice
Stir in:
* 2 small bananas, mashed
* 2 tablespoons low-fat mini chocolate chips (optional)
Combine all the ingredients, stirring just until moistened.
Spoon into muffin tins and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Chicken Melts with Pesto
Serves 4
Ingredients:
4 small chicken breasts, skin removed and boneless
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
4 tsp red pesto sauce
Celebrating Columbus Day with Your Family
Columbus Day is not a holiday that needs to languish in obscurity. You can celebrate this historic event with your family. After all, don’t we all love an excuse for a party? Here are some ideas for celebrating the traditional “discovery” of America in 1492.
Eat Italian and Spanish Foods
Columbus was a native of Genoa, Italy; his famous voyage was funded by Queen Isabella of Spain. Some of the most wonderful cuisine in the world originates from this part of the world. And much of it is enjoyed by children and adults alike. Try Spanish rice and chicken, or a traditional paella dish. Lasagna, spaghetti, and other pasta dishes are versatile and widely enjoyed.
Crafts
Why not make miniature versions of Columbus’s ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria? You don’t have to build a delicate ship model with all kinds of intricate parts (but of course, you can if you like!); depending on the age ranges in your family, you can make simple ship models from paper cups, egg carton segments, or the smooth tops of egg cartons. If you use the foam ones, your boats will be waterproof.
Paper, cloth, craft foam, or thin cardboard can be used to make simple sails for the ships, held up by toothpicks. Fill a bowl with water and float your ships; or set down a mirror, blue or clear plate, or blue paper and use your creations on the table as a centerpiece.
If you make waterproof ships using craft foam or foam egg cartons, you can “launch” them across a child’s pool. You could even race them! If your kids like science, you can talk about and demonstrate how wind moves the ships by pushing against the sails. Use a compass, and discuss how Columbus had to navigate his ships using the stars, sun, moon, and wind direction.
Community Events
See if there are any community events taking place in your area. Parades are traditional Columbus Day celebrations; see if your family can attend one, or watch one on TV. There might be a play or re-enactment being put on, too, perhaps presented at your local theater or as an outdoor drama.
Explore and Discover
Since it’s celebrated on the second Monday in October, the weather is often beautiful on Columbus Day. Depending on what part of the country you live in, there may be spectacular fall colors in your area. Or you can take a fall foliage trip with the family. You could take a special hike to look for new and interesting natural formations, locations, or views.
Visit somewhere you’ve never been. Just make sure you have the spirit of exploration and discovery, and your Columbus Day celebration will be right on target!
Columbus Day Parades: Where to Go
Parades are a traditional way to celebrate Columbus Day, and they are held in cities all over the United States. Where are the best ones? While such an assessment is ultimately subjective, there are a few Columbus Day parades that stand out for the extent of their celebration. Here are a few of the best places to go for a fun Columbus Day parade.
San Francisco, CA
In San Francisco, the Columbus Day parade is usually referred to first as the Italian Heritage parade. This is because it celebrates more than just Columbus’s achievements; it’s a festival that highlights many aspects of Italian history and culture.
Another inviting aspect of San Francisco’s parade is that admission is free. Their website also points out that there are free, hands-on activities for children available as well.
The parade itself involves handmade floats and individuals who dress up as Columbus and Queen Isabella. Italian musicians, performing artists, and even celebrities participate in San Francisco’s Italian Heritage parade.
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis’s Italian neighborhood – “The Hill” – celebrates Columbus Day with a parade that includes floats, cars, and other fun things to watch. After the parade, which is held at noon, you can enjoy an afternoon of food and music at Berra Park, where the parade ends.
Chicago, IL
In addition to beautiful floats and marching bands, Chicago offers a special Mass for Catholics prior to the parade. The mass is held at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, and is part of the parade’s inclusion of Italian heritage and culture in its celebration. The Chicago parade also features the crowning of a Columbus Day queen.
Public schools are out in Chicago on Columbus Day, so parents like to bring their kids. Therefore, the festivities are geared toward child-friendly activities and events.
New York, NY
New York also celebrates a Columbus Day Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Hundreds of marching bands participate in this significant event, which also has a significant element of Italian heritage celebration. Bands compete, including high school bands, which gives young people a chance to receive recognition for their skill.
It’s worthwhile to check your local events calendar, too – there might be a fun Columbus Day parade in your local area.
Columbus Day Craft Activities for the Whole Family
Celebrating Columbus Day with crafts can be a lot of fun. Below are some craft ideas for various ages.
1. Boats
Boats (or, more accurately, ships) are a natural – both for Columbus Day and craft projects. There are quite a few ways you can make a model sailing ship of the type Columbus sailed; here are ideas for a few.
* Egg cartons are the basis for all kinds of crafts, including mini ships! For several small ships (remember the fleet of three ships, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria), you can cut the egg carton’s segments into individual cups. Put floral foam into each cup. You could also use regular Styrofoam, or anything light that will hold up a toothpick.
Then, use toothpicks and paper to create sails – glue toothpicks to squares of white paper. Stick the toothpick sails into the foam inside the cups. If you are using foam egg cartons, you can float your little ships on water. If you use cardboard cartons, you can still float your ships but they will soften after a while.
Try having a boat race using your homemade sailing ships, a wading pool, and a fan!
* Egg cartons have a lid, too, and that can also be made into a ship. Simply turn it open-side-up and fill it with floral foam (or equivalent). Use popsicle sticks or shish kabob skewers to hold the sails rather than toothpicks. You can race these larger ships, too, and you can add as little or as much detail as you like. If you use cardboard, you can paint them.
You could combine these craft ideas and make the larger ship to be the Santa Maria, and the smaller ones that you made from the carton cups could be the Nina and Pinta. It’s known that the Santa Maria was the biggest of the three actual ships.
2. Maps
Making maps can be fun. Use the brown paper from used paper shopping bags, or some other antique-looking paper. Then create a map showing Columbus’s route from Europe to South America. These can be illustrated elaborately or simply.
Check your local library or the internet for a detailed description of Columbus’s route. Once your maps are finished, you can put them up on the walls or laminate them with clear contact paper and use them for display or as placemats (placemaps?).
3. Queen for a Day
Kids enjoy dressing up, so why not dress up as Queen Isabella? Research the fashions of the era, and find out how the Queen dressed. Use cardboard, glitter, and sequins to make a crown such as 16th-century Queens might have worn. Dowels can be coated with glitter and wound with ribbon to create scepters.
Apple and Apricot Surprise
Ingredients:
1 lb dried apricots, pre-soaked in water
1
How to Avoid Aches after Your Workout
If you’ve ever felt the soreness of post-workout muscles, you know how painful it can be. Some experts say that this pain is caused by microscopic tears in the muscle that occur when you ask your body to do something new or more strenuous than usual.
Other sources point out the role of lactic acid in muscle soreness – this by-product of cellular respiration can settle into the muscles during the hours following a workout, setting the stage for muscle pain.
How can you avoid this crippling feeling after working out? Here are some ideas on how to reduce muscle pain after exercising.
Hydration
Drinking plenty of water before, during, and after your workout helps your body flush out those by-products your body produces as a result of burning energy.
Slow Start-Up Cool-Down
It may help your muscles to start and stop your workout gradually. If you jump right into intense muscle strain, it could produce more damage than if you warm up with cardio exercises first.
Stopping exercise abruptly may not be good, either – if you work your muscles intensely, and then go sit on the couch, your blood – loaded with all kinds of microscopic by-products from your workout – may “pool” or stagnate in your muscles. Since the blood vessels remain dilated for some time after a workout, say experts, having a cool-down period where you walk gently and keep your muscles moving should greatly minimize the next-day soreness.
Calcium and Magnesium
These minerals are crucial for muscle integrity. Taking a calcium and magnesium supplement daily is recommended to prevent muscle soreness – you might want to increase your intake of these minerals on the days you work out by eating foods with lots of magnesium and calcium: black beans, dark leafy greens, and low-fat dairy products, for example.
Stretching
As part of your warm-up and cool-down, include stretching. This oft-repeated advice is easy to forget, but it’s considered very important for preventing pain after your workout. At the beginning of your session, stretching preps the muscles for a more strenuous workout by increasing flexibility and circulation. At the end of your workout, stretching helps relax tense muscles and keep circulation moving.
Take a Cold Shower
Okay, maybe it doesn’t actually need to be cold – but cooling your muscles down after a workout might help prevent muscles soreness, say some sources. While most of us think of heat to relax muscles, cold is said to reduce inflammation, and inflammation is the culprit in muscle soreness that results from muscle damage. A bath or shower in water as cold as you can stand may help keep your muscles from becoming swollen and sore.
Delicious Apple Recipes
It’s apple season! Sometimes nature provides us with an abundance of apples, and it can be hard to know what to do with all that bounty. Here are some apple recipes to give you some ideas.
1. Dried Apples
For generations, people have preserved their apple harvest by drying them. The results can be eaten out of hand, baked into pies, or soaked in water and cooked to make dried apple sauce. Here’s how to dry apples:
Core apples and slice them into rings (cross-wise). Place slices into a mixture of 1 quart water, 1 quart pineapple juice, and 1/4 cup lemon juice; let soak for 5 minutes. Then place apple slices on cheesecloth-covered window screens, and cover slices with more cheesecloth.
Place in the sun for two or three days, bringing the window screens in at night. It’s a good idea to place the screens on bricks or blocks so that air can circulate beneath the fruit.
When apple slices are dry (they will be leathery but pliable), store them in zip-top bags. Before placing them on the shelf, some sources recommend putting the dried apple slices in the freezer for several days to kill any bugs or their eggs.
2. Applesauce
This is a good recipe when you have too many apples, because it takes so many apples to make only a small amount of sauce! If you have a crockpot, this is especially easy. If not, you can simmer it on the stove instead.
In your crockpot, place 4 pounds of cored, chunked apples (peeling optional). Add 1/4 cup sugar (also optional) and 1 cup apple juice. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Pass through a sieve or food mill, or whirl in the blender to make it smooth.
To make apple butter, add 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours.
3. Dipped Whole Apples
Whether you use chocolate, nuts, caramel, or a combination of ingredients, whole apples dipped in sweet coating make good gifts, party foods, and fun snacks. Use tart apples such as Granny Smith or Pink Lady. Poke a wooden stick into the base of each apple, and dip into various coatings, such as:
* Melted semi-sweet and/or white chocolate, then rolled in chopped nuts or mini chips
* Caramel (melt caramel candies in a double boiler or make boiled caramel); then rolled in chopped nuts if desired
* Melted chocolate, then rolled in peanut butter chips
* Melted peanut butter chips, then rolled in mini chocolate chips and chopped peanuts
You can use your imagination for this one!
4. Apple Skillet Pancake
This cooks right in the skillet and makes one big, apple pancake to be shared among 3 or 4 people.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a blender, combine and whirl:
* 3 large eggs
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup flour
* 1/2 cup milk
Set aside.
In a 12-inch cast-iron (or ovenproof) frying pan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over high heat. Stir in:
* 1/4 cup evaporated cane juice or brown sugar (lightly packed)
* 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Mix well, then stir in:
* 1 peeled, sliced apple, preferably a sweet variety such as Cameo or Fuji
Stir and cook until apple begins to soften. Then pour blender mixture into the pan and place in the oven. Bake for 15 minutes; top with powdered sugar.
Help: My Toddler Doesn’t Talk Yet
Parents often get concerned if their toddler isn’t speaking when others of the same age are talking away. Is there something wrong? What’s considered normal? Should you seek help?
First, it helps to understand what medical experts consider normal speech development for a toddler. When your toddler was a baby between birth and 3 months, did he/she exhibit the following signs of normal speech development?
* Response to sounds such as smiling at the sound of your voice or increasing suckling
* React to your voice by calming down if upset
* Make cooing sounds
From 4 to 6 months or so, did your baby:
* Turn eyes or head in response to sounds?
* Respond to music?
* Respond to noise-making toys?
* Make verbal sounds to express feelings like excitement?
As your baby approached a year of age, did he/she exhibit these signs of normal speech development?
* Imitation of speech sounds
* Sounding like he/she is trying to say simple words, such as “daddy” or “mama”
* Responding to words you use (“cup,” “ball,” etc.)
Once your toddler begins to move toward the age of two, normal speech development takes the form of comprehension (he/she understands your words and can point to objects and body parts when you identify them), the use of consonants, and putting two words together to express simple ideas (“more drink” or “no ball”). Toddlers between the age of one and two will also enjoy listening to words in the form of stories and rhymes.
As your child approaches the age of three, new words are added to his or her vocabulary every few weeks, and parents can discern clear and exciting progress in their toddler’s speech.
Signs that Help May be Needed
Bearing in mind that children are individuals and the above milestones are based on averages, you might consider seeking speech therapy or similar help if your toddler exhibits little to none of the signs noted above. Other signs that something might be amiss include:
* Frustration and/or tantrums when trying to speak
* Short-term memory seems lacking or non-existent
* Seems to “tune you out” or not hear you when you speak
If you have concerns, your pediatrician can arrange for a hearing test and, if necessary, can direct you to a speech therapist. In the meantime, encourage your toddler to talk with lots of interaction, stimulation, and speech-stimulating games.
Experts agree that reading aloud to your toddler is important for normal speech development, so get out the rhymes and stories and show your toddler the fun and exciting realm of words. This may help him or her get past the “hump” that is delaying his or her speech.
Sausage Casserole
Ingredients:
1 lb good-quality pork sausages