Earthly Eating

1. Choose the ultra option: They tend to be lower in sugar and even lower in calories. You can even add berries such as blueberries , pomegranate seeds, raspberries or even strawberries to add a bit more elegance to the glass and to help boost your antioxidant levels as well.

2. Serve up some figure pleasing finger foods: Stuffing cherry tomatoes with 3 cups baby greens and 2 tbs. of balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Cut the tops off the tomatoes, scoop out all the seeds inside and stuff the salad mix inside. Place on a decorative platter and place out for your guest or party goers. This is a great alternative to a cheese ball and crackers or even
placing out bite-sized portions of a whole grain pizza or even pita bread.

3. Keep sweets at a minimum: Smaller sizes are a great alternative to a larger section. Petit fours are a nice way to give that special touch instead of a big cake. The smaller the size and the less likely you are to over eat. Try a fondue kit and have strawberries and other chocolate dipping fruits on hand on a platter with toothpicks for the grabbing.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Roast Pork Tenderloin
Serves: 6

2 pork tenderloins (1 1/2 lb.)
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1 pkg. thyme leaves
1 pkg. stuffing mix for chicken
1/2 cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
4 oz. Neufchatel cheese
1 lb. French green beans (about 3 cups), steamed

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add the meat; cook for 5 minutes or until browned on all sides, turning occasionally. Remove meat from the skillet, reserving meat drippings in the skillet. Place meat in 13×9-inch baking dish. Combine mustard and thyme; spread evenly onto meat.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until cooked through. Transfer to carving board; tent with foil. Let stand for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare stuffing as directed on package, reducing the spread to 1 tbs.

Add the broth to the same skillet. Bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the cheese, and cook for 2 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring constantly.

Cut the meat into thin slices. Serve topped with the cheese sauce along with the stuffing and the beans.

Happy Eating!

Everything in moderation during the summer months.

With the summer comes the hustle and bustle, healthy living is sometimes the last think on anyone’s mind. With a bit of balance, you will have more energy to really enjoy the summer and the sun. Here are some tips in staying healthy this summer and eating right.

1. Focus on yourself: Make a list of must-attend summer events and build in time for yourself, Try to take a bubble baths so you can unwind after all the stress of planning and attending get to you.

2. Savor the food: If you are at a Bar-B-Q or even an out door dinner party, look at all the choices and opt for a small portion of foods that appeal to you the mist. If you are sill hungry after ward, snack on some veggie sticks or even drink some water. Eating something heavy during the hot weather will only make you feel worse and uncomfortable.

3. Keep moving around: You may be eating more than usual, because of all the get-togethers, than you normally would, so keep up your physical activity during these months. Try to stick to a regular exercise routine as much as you can,. If you don’t have a regular exercise routine, now is the time to start one.

4. Cheers to your health and do it wisely: It’s okay for adults of age to choose to drink a glass of wine or even have a cool beer during the summer months, but drinking heavily during the hot summer is only setting your body up for failure. Always drink in moderation no matter what time of year.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Zesty Broccoli Dip
Makes: About 3 cups of dip

1 cup light salad dressing (Miracle Whip)
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and well drained
1 jar (2 oz.) diced pimentos, drained
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup Mozzarella cheese, divided
Thin crackers (Wheat Thins or the like)

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Combine dressing, broccoli, pimientos, Parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese.

Spread into a 1-quart baking dish or a 9-inch pie plate. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Continue baking 5 minutes pr until mozzarella cheese is melted. Serve with the crackers.

Happy Eating!

FLOUR:

Your best bet for general baking is all-purpose flour. It comes bleached, which chemically whitens the flour, and unbleached, both of which you can use interchangeably. When measuring flour, spoon it into your measuring cup and use the flat side of a knife to level it off.

EGGS:

When a recipe calls for eggs, always use large-size unless otherwise specified. Crack eggs into a small bowl before adding to other ingredients so you can remove any pieces of shell that may have fallen in.

BUTTER:

For superior flavor and texture, use butter if the recipe calls for it. Margarine can contain a lot of water, which will make cookies spread too thin. To soften butter, leave out at room temperature for 1 hour or to speed up the process, cut into small pieces.

BAKING SODA AND BAKING POWDER:

Both baking soda and powder help your baking batter rise. But don’t substitute one for the other, as they can give different results. Baking soda works when mixed with an acidic ingredient such as buttermilk, sour cream or vinegar, while baking powder works with a neutral liquid like water or milk to cause a loaf or quick bread to rise.

CHOCOLATE:

For everyday baking, choose semi-sweet or unsweetened chocolate-it’s best for brownies and cookies. If you prefer a bolder chocolate taste, choose bittersweet, which is great for dark rich cakes and tortes. Bittersweet and semi-sweet are interchangeable, depending on how dark=-tasting you like your chocolate. (Source: Kraft Foods 2007)
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Easy Jam-Filled Cookies
Makes: 4 Dozen

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 cup walnut pieces, finely chopped
3/4 cup strawberry preserves
1 tsp. powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat cream cheese, butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Separate 1 of the eggs; set egg whites aside for later use. Add yolk, second (whole) egg and vanilla to cream cheese mixture; mix well. Gradually add combines flour and baking powder, beating until well blended after each addition.

Divided dough into 4 equal pieces. Rolls each pieces into 12×1-inch logs; place, 2 inches apart, on a large baking sheet. Use handle of wooden spoon or fingers to make depression down length of each log, about 1/2-inch wide and 1/2-inch deep. Beat reserved egg white with fork; brush over dough. Sprinkle with walnuts. Fill depressions with preserves, using about 3 tbs. preserves in each log.

Bake 25 to 27 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer to wire racks; cool slightly. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut each log into 12 diagonal slices.

Happy Eating!

• Prep ahead: Be sure to have the right ingredients and tools on hand before getting started in baking anything.

• Measure up: Be sure to measure dry and liquid ingredients accurately. Baking is a science, so accuracy counts.

• Heat first: Preheat the oven 10 to 15 minutes before you begin baking. The oven and oven gauge may not always match, so use an oven thermometer.

• Lighten up: Don’t over mix or beat the dough vigorously after adding flour, or your baked goods may be tough.

• Cool it: Hot cookie sheets may cause cookies to spread, so let your baking sheets cool completely before reusing.

Earthly Eating FYI: 86 the 6s; reducing your intake of omega-6 fats may decrease your cancer risk, which are found in corn oil and most oils in store-bought bakery goods, omega-6s ignite the pro-inflammatory COX-2-enzyme; if you’re eating a diet high in omega-6-fatty acids. It could be that you are turning on your cancer cascade, which has been shown to be a common denominator in the growth of prostate, colorectal, and some breast cancers. Switch to olive oil or organic canola oil, avoid prepackaged muffins, and increase your intake of balancing omega-3-fatty acids from cold-water fish, walnuts, and flax.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Chile Sautéed Shrimp
Serves: 8

2 tbs. canola oil
3 lb. large shrimp, peeled and divined
2 jalapeño, Chile peppers, thinly sliced
4 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. sea salt

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat.

2. Add shrimp, Chile peppers, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Sauté 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add sugar and cook 1 to 2 minutes longer until shrimp are pink. Toss with salt. Serve shrimp alongside a mixed green salad.

Happy Eating!

Small farms don’t have to disappear. As farmers think bigger and bolder, you eat better.

In 1998, the US Department of Agriculture’s National Commission on Small Farms published a landmark report on the importance of small-farms agriculture, and the necessity of both preserving small farms and promoting them for the future. Coming from one of the world’s most pro-globalize farming governments, the report, A Time To Act, was extremely significant. Among the many benefits of small-farm agriculture, it listed:

* Diversity: small farms embody a diversity of ownership, of cropping systems, of landscapes, of biological organization, of culture and traditions.

* Environmental benefits: responsible management of the natural resources of soil, water and wildlife on the 60 per cent of US farms below 180 acres in size produces significant environmental benefits.

* Community empowerment: decentralized land ownership tends to produce more, and more equitable, opportunities for rural people. Landowners who rely on local people, business and services are likely to be more responsible.

* Personal connection to food: farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture and other such schemes bring home to consumers where their food comes from, and what effect its production has on landscape and environment.

* Economic foundations: in many areas of the US, small farms are vital to the economy. (Source: BNET)

Some more thoughts on eating and keeping it local:

Eating local means more for the local economy. According to a study by the New Economics Foundation in London, a dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy. When businesses are not owned locally, money leaves the community at every transaction.

Locally grown produce is fresher and it just taste better. While produce that is purchased in the supermarket or a big-box store has been in transit or cold-stored for days or weeks, produce that you purchase at your local farmer’s market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. This freshness not only affects the taste of your food, but the nutritional value which declines with time.

Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons. By eating with the seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are the most abundant, and the least expensive.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Pasta E Fagioli Soup
Serves: 6 to 8

1/2 lb. small cut pasta (such as small shell or ditalini)
1 onion
1 clove garlic
2 celery stalks
2 carrots, peeled
4 small tomatoes
2 tbs. olive oil
1 can 28-oz. crushed tomatoes
1 can 15-oz. white beans
6 to 8 cups chicken stock
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and pepper, to taste
Additional Parmesan cheese, to taste

Cook 1/2 lb. of pasta and set aside.

Dice onions, garlic, celery, carrots and fresh tomatoes and set aside.

Put olive oil into a large pot and heat over medium temperature. Once the oil is heated, add onions and cook until transparent.

Add garlic, celery and carrots and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add fresh tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, white beans and 6 cups chicken stock to the pot. Cook over high heat for 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and soup has come to a boil.

Use a large measuring cup to carefully add the cooked pasta and 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese and stir.

Adjust salt and pepper. Add more chicken stock to adjust to desired thickness. Ladle soup into bowls.

Sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese on top.

Happy Eating!

Eat Well: These are thousands of food substances that have powerful protective properties. With few exceptions, these factors are found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and some fish, so emphasize these foods to minimize your task. Take 3 grams a day of fish oil, and stay away from all other added oils. Drink green tea. Avoid foods high in fat and refined carbohydrates, which may promote cancer, and avoid alcohol. Women who were postmenopausal and who have one drink per day have a 30% higher rate of dying from breast cancer than women who don’t. Aim for less than 10% to 15% of calories from fat.

Exercise: Walk 30 minutes a day. Women who do regular physical activity may reduce the incidence of breast cancer by 20 percent to 30 percent.

Ease Up: Chronic stress may increase the risk of breast cancer. Research shows that women with breast cancer who were the most depressed has a significantly increased risk of relapse or death. So breathe, meditate, do yoga, pray, practice tai chi. And spend time with friends and family. Women with metastatic breast cancer who met in a support group once a week for a year lived nearly twice as long as those who didn’t have the emotional support from others who know their pain. (Source: RD 2007)
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Cheddar Bacon Wraps
Serves: 4

1 tbs. butter or olive oil
3/4 cup chopped red or green bell pepper
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
4 large eggs
4 large egg whites
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups ( 5ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese with bacon
4 (7-to 8-inch) flour tortillas or flavored wraps, warmed

Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper; cook and stir four minutes, stirring frequently. Add green onions; cook one minute.

Beat together eggs, egg whites, salt and pepper. Add to skillet cook and stir until eggs are almost set. Stir in cheese until melted and eggs are set, remove from heat. Spoon into tortillas.

Substitution: Six whole eggs may be used in place of the combination of four large eggs and four large egg whites.

Variation Tip: For a Southern flavor, substitute chopped cilantro for the green onion and spoon 1 tbs. salsa over each tortilla before filling with egg mixture.

Happy Eating!

Preventing poor eyesight as you get older may be as simple as cutting more refined carbohydrates out of your diet. Those who ate above-average amounts of white bread, white rice, and other foods with a high glycemic index were 17% more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration. To protect your eyes, cut back on soda and sugary sweets, and stick to whole wheat versions of pasta, bread, and rice.

Eating lots of sugary, starchy foods may make eyes more vulnerable to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), America’s top cause of vision loss. AMD typically starts late in life. It affects the retina, located in the center of the eye. AMD can cause vision loss. Previous research shows that diets rich in antioxidants might help prevent AMD. Go for carbohydrates that don’t make your blood sugar spike quickly.

People with the diets highest on the glycemic index were the most likely to have advanced AMD in at least one eye. Dietary changes may be the most practical and cost-effective prevention method to combat progression of age-related macular degeneration.

The dietary glycemic index is a scale used to determine how quickly carbohydrates are broken down into blood sugar, or glucose. Foods with a high glycemic index are associated with a faster rise and subsequent drop in blood sugar. Refined carbohydrates like white bread and white rice have high glycemic indices. Brown rice and bread and pasta made with whole wheat are examples of foods with low glycemic indices.

Public health officials think the rising incidence of AMD could spur a public health crisis in the United States by 2020, when they predict the cases of AMD-related vision loss will have doubled to three million.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Almond-and Herb-Stuffed Mushrooms
Serves: 16

1/2 cup whole almonds, soaked overnight
1 cup water
1 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. lemon juice
1 garlic clove
1/4 cup almonds, chopped
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
2 tbs. rosemary, chopped
3 tbs. soy cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
16 large white button mushrooms

1. In a blender, combine soaked almonds, water, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Process until smooth and creamy. This basic spread is delicious on cracker and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

2. In a small bowl, combine the basic spread with the chopped almonds, parsley, rosemary, cheese and salt.

3. Remove, trim, and finely chop the mushroom stems. Arrange the mushroom caps, hollow side up, on a lightly oiled baking sheet.

4. Combine the chopped stems with the almond-herb filling. Spoon about 2 tbs. of the filling into the caps. Bake at 375°F for 12 to 15 minutes or until the filling is bubbly.

Happy Eating!

Not all foods are created equal. For example, yogurt is a healthy food, but not if you buy a variety that contains high-fructose corn syrup, aspartame, and/or artificial colorings. Here are some food categories and the best choices under that category for you and your family.

1. Beverages:

• Flavored water: Wateroos
• Soymilk: Silk, Edensoy, Zensoy, Soy Dream.
• Milk: Horizon Organic, Organic Valley, Natural by Nature.
• Juice: Apple & Eve, Kagome (fruit and veggie mix), R.W. Knudsen, Whole Kids, Back to Nature, Honest Tea.
(Most available in single-serve containers.)

2. Snacks:

• Yogurt: Stoneyfield Farm, Horizon, Organic, Lifeway Probugs, Whole Soy, Wallaby.
• Smoothies: Stoneyfield Farm, Bolthouse Farms, Horizon Organic.
• Chips: Stacy’s, Snyder’s of Hanover, Glenny’s, 365 Foods, Good Health, Genisoy, Lundberg, Snack Factory.
• Crackers: Wasa, Kashi, Sesmark
• Cookies: Back to Nature, Mi-Del, Newman’s Own, Immaculate Baking Co., Healthy Handfuls, Annie’s Homegrown.
• Whole Grain or Granola Bars: Odwalla, Cascadian Farm, Kashi, Clif Kid, EnviroKidz, Larabar, Barbara’s Bakery.
• Fruit Snacks: FruitaBu, Clif, Tropicana FruitWise, O Organic Rasins, Amazin’ Rasins
• Cereals: Back to Nature, Nature’s Path, Bare Naked, Kashi, Mother’s
• Applesauce: Santa Cruz, Mott’s Organics, Eden Organic
• Pudding: Lifeway, Zensoy, Kozy Shack
• Allergy-Free: Enjoy Life, Pamela’s

3. Main Dish:

• Deli Slices: Applegate Farms, Hormel Natural Choice, Organic Valley, Lightlife (GMO-Free Soy)
• Tuna: Wild Palney, Henery & Lisa’s Natural Seafood
• Mac N’ Cheese: Back to Nature, Annie’s Homegrown
• Bread: Rudy’s Organic, Wild Oats, Ezekiel
(Source: Kiwi 2007)

**Chessmaster makes its début on the Xbox Live Arcade and Dave Parrack over at 1P Start has the details. Read them here.**
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Earthly Eating Recipe:

Cream Cheesy Chili Dip (Just in time for the Super Bowl)
Makes 24 servings

1 tub (8 oz.) cream cheese spread, softened
1 can ( 10.5 oz.) chili (canned or homemade)
1/2 cup shredded cheddat cheese
2 tbs. chopped cilantor (optional)

Spread the cream cheese onto the bottom of a microwave-safe pie plate and top with chili and cheddar cheese.

Microwave on high for 45 seconds to 1 minuteor until the cheddar cheese is melted all the way around the plate. Sprinkle on the silantro and serve. Serve with thick crackers or thick chips.

Happy Eating!

Type O: Emphasize beef, salmon, walnuts, pineapple, olive and flax oils.
What to avoid: Dairy, kidney beans, wheat, white flour, coffee.
(should basically stick to a high protein diet (including red meat), low carbs, and enriched with fruits and vegetables. They should limit the intake of wheat germ, whole wheat products, corn, and avoid dairy products and most nuts. Type O types are commonly affected with hypothyroidism, high stomach acid (leading to ulcers), and thinner blood with greater resistance to blood clotting.)

Type A: Emphasize slamon, tofu, soy milk, peanuts, black beans, coffee.
What to avoid: Red meat, dairy, shrimp, tomatoes, banans, oranges, beer.
(should basically stick to fruits and vegetables (high carbs / low fat. They have thicker blood than other blood types, a sensitive immune system, and should not consume dairy products, animal fats and meats. They are at a heightened risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.)

Type B: Emphasize lamb, low fat milk, yogurt, oatmeal, bananas.
What to avoid: Chicken, shrimp, peanuts, wheat, tomatoes, tofu.
(should consume a balanced diet (fruits and vegetables, grains, fish, dairy, meat, but avoid chicken. They have the best chance of bypassing or overcoming everyday types of diseases, including heart disease and cancer.)

Type AB: Emphasize lamb, tuna, yogurt, rice, grapes.
What to avoid: Chicken, beef, corn, whole milk, bananas.
(should consume a mostly vegetarian diet, and only on rare occasions some fish, and dairy, meat, no chicken though.)

To read more on this topic visit Ezine Aticles.

**Another celebrity gets out of jail after only serving 18 days. Find out who it is and read more about how justice is blind over at Celebrity Court with Winnie McCarthy here at 451 press.**
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Earthly Eating Recipe:

Homemade Baking Mix

3/4 cup baking powder
1 cup wheat germ
3/4 cup sugar
1 tbs. cream of tartar
3 tbs. salt
5 pounds all-purpose unbleached flour
(you can experiment with other whole wheat or whole-grain flours in this mix as well.)

Using a whisk, stir together all the ingredients except the flour. Add this mixture to the flour and sift several times, making sure everything is evenly distributed. You could store half in the fridge or freezer if your don’t think you will use it up in a month or two.

FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE:
Organic Fights World Hunger:

Organic is making new strides. Without adding more farmland, growers in the developing worlkd could meet or exceed the current food demand by using natural methose like crop rotation. It was found that fertile soil associated with organic farming aids crop flexibility in harsh weather. These results indicate that organic agriculture has the potential to contribute quite substantially to the global food supply while reducing the detrimental environmental impacts of conventional agriculture.

Happy Eating!

Here are three steps to mastering 3 of the main cooking techniques:

• Blanching: Also known as parboiling, blanching means cooking food by sticking the food choice into boiling water then into ice cold water. Blanching is great because it retains the color, shapoe, and firm tecture of fruits and vegetable. It also preserves their nutrients, and prepared them well for the freezer.

HOW TO BLANCH:

1. Bring 1 gallon of water for every 1 pound of fruit or vegetables to a rolling boil. Be sure and cut foods into the same size so that you achieve uniform cooking.

2. Drop the fruit or vegetables in the boiling water and cook, uncovered for the certain amount of time recommended. If you salt the water (1 tbs. salt per gallon of water) it will help keep green vegetables bright. Don’t cover the pot.

3. Drain off the water and shock the fruit or vegetable in a large bowl or pot pf ice water.

• Braising: This is a two-step process of sautéing food for flavor and then simmering it with liquid to tenderize it. Braising helps break down food fibers without making them into mush. If done in the oven, gived you continues low and even heat and prevents the food from sticking.

HOW TO BRAISE:

1. Sauté ingredients until browned on all sides.

2. Add 1/4 to 1/2 inch of liquid to the sauté. Pat dry the veggies before adding them to the pot then add your liquid, this will help carmelize them before the liquid is added. Choose liquid that complements your ingredients such as chicken broth for chicken and carrot juice for carrots, etc. Don’t add so much liquid that the food is submerged. Add just enough to help the food tenderize.

3. Cover tightly and simmer 30 minutes or longer, adding more liquid if necessary. Cover the pan with foil before adding the lid, this will help guarantee a tight seal before the pan goes in the oven. Add some lemon zest, vinegar, liqueur, or fresh herbs before serving. And use tongs to turn the food, tongs give you more control.

• Sautéing: The Fench word sauter is where the term sauté comes from, meaning “to jump”, because the goal is to keep the food moving as much as possible. Sautéing is great because it lets you add olive oil, garlic, onions, and gives food the crispy texture while the natural sugars in fruits and vegetables remain and help carmelize them at the same time.

HOW TO SAUTÈ:

1. Heat a sauté pan and oil well over medium heat. Be sure to heat the pan well before adding the oil. Medium low heat for 2 to 3 mintues should do the trick before the food is added. If you aren’t following a recipe, use 1 tbs. oil for an 8-inch sauté pan or skillet. Using a little oil with butter will help ensure the butter doesn’t burn.

2. Add foods in a single layer in the pan. Don’t over crowd the food, this will make them sweat and steam and make them soft, not crispy.

3. Keep foods in constant motion by flipping or stirring the foods while they are cooking. Use a wide-edged spatual of wood or heat resistant plastic to stir your food in the pan or skillet. Use about 1/2 cup to 1 cup liquid such as wine, broth, or even water and scrape up any stuck-on bits and let it simmer 1 minute. This helps with cleanup and gives you a nice broth to work with.

**Michelle Schaefer over at About Virginia Beach, VA blog here at 451 Press wishes you all a Happy New Year. Jump on over to her blog and give her well wishes for a new year as well.**
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Sweet Sorbet Floats
Serves: 6

6 scoops (1/4 cup each) lemon sorbet
2 cups frozen, cubed mangoes, thawed or 2 fresh mangoes, peeled and diced
6 scoops (1/4 cup each) blood orange sorbet
6 scoops (1/4 cup each) vanilla frozen yogurt
6 tbs. lime juice
6 tbs. silver or blanco tequila, optional
4 cups ginger ale, chilled

1. Freeze 6 Collins or Pilsner glasses 20 minutes. Spoon 1 scoop lemon sorbet into each glass. Top with half of the mango pieces. Add 1 scoop blood orange sorbet and top with remaining mango pieces. add 1 scoop frozen yogurt to each glass.

2. Pour 1 tbs. lime juice and 1 tbs. tequila, if desired, into each glass. Pour 2/3 cup ginger ale into each glass. Serve immediately with iced tea spoons.

Happy Eating!

• Include kids in the lunch prep: Kids are more likely to eat something if they helped make it. Kids as young as age three can help even at the grocery store and help pick out fruits and vegetables.

• Limit choices: Don’t just ask you child what they want for lunch, give them two ot three options to choose from. Stock your pantry with healthy choices so that your child will have these choices to choose from as well.

• Utilize hungry moments: Use these moments to introduce new foods to your child. And give them to your child along with familiar foods so they can get used to them at their own pace.

• Educate them: Let your child know what each foods benefit is, such as calcium for healthy bones and carrots for healthy eyes.

• Looking and feeling good: Kids love things cut into shapes and cute containers and dipping foods as well. Things have to look and smell fresh. A tip: apples slices won’t turn brown if you toss them in a little lemon juice before packing them.

**January 2nd episode of Criminal Minds will be a rerun to start the new year with. Over at Watching Criminal Minds blog here at 451 Press, Katie Mientka has the details on that episode and the some tidbits for the upcoming broadcasts. Read it here.**

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Earthly Eating Recipe

Chocolate, Cranberry and Oatmeal Bars
Serves: 32

1 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
4 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup pecan pieces

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine cranberries and orange juice in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 30 seconds. Let stand 10 minutes.

Combine flour, oats, baking powder and salt; set aside. Beat margarine and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until well blended after each addition. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing well after each addition. Stir in cranberry mixture, chocolate and pecans.

Spread dough into a 13×9 inch baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting to serve.

Happy Eating!

Try to follow these guidelines when food shopping to ensure you eat more healthy.

• Try to buy as many organic and all-natural foods as possible.

• For bread and grain products, look for whole grains, whole wheat and flour that hasn’t been enriched or bleached.

• Buy pesticide-free fruits and vegetables, and look for dried fruits labeled “unsulphured” and “unsweetened.”

• For all dairy products, the best options are lowfat and prganic.

• In the protein category, choose nitrite, antibiotic- and hormone-free lunchmeats, low-mercury tuna and soy products that haven’t been genetically modified.

• Stick with sunflower or olive oil for dressings or cooking, and remember that plain lowfat yogurt can often be used as a substitute for mayonnaise.

Here are the ingredients to avoid:

• High-Fructose corn syrup

• Partially hydrogenated oils

• Trans fats

• Sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate (chemical additives often used in lunch meats that become a carcinogen in our bodies-labels should say “uncured” and “no nitrites added”.

• Artifical sweeteners (often found in animal products like milk and meats- look for “anitbiotic-free”, “hormone-free” and “no rGBH”).

**Looking for a stamp cleaner? Over at Getting Crafty, Jummy has found one. And it works great. Read where to get the stamp cleaner and how it can be used.**
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Pokey Cupcakes
Serves: 24 (Makes 2 dozen)

1 pkg. (2-layer size) white cake mix
1 cup boiling water
1 pkg. (4 servings size) red gelatin, any flavor
1 tub (8 oz.) whipped topping, thawed
Red and Green food colorings
Colored sugar, colored sprinkles (try to find all natural colored sugar and sprinkles, as well as food colors) and , crushed candy canes left over from Christmas

Prepare cake batter and bake as directed on package for 24 cupcakes. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Pierce cupcakes with a large fork at 1/4-inch intervals

Stir boiling water into dry gelatin mix until completely dissolved; spoon evenely over cupcakes. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Remove from pans.

Tint whipped topping with food coloring; spread over cupcakes. Add decorations. Store in the refrigerator.

Happy Eating!

The basics in any lunch or any meal at all is the main building blocks of anyone’s diet plan. Once people grasp the understanding of what their bodies need and what they aren’t given it, the “diet” fads will go bye bye. Here are some main ideas to keep in mind when making healthy food decisions.

Whole grains, fruits and vegtables (one of each), calcium and lean protein are the components of a healthy lunch. And the USDA recommends the following:

• Six onces of grains: half of the daily intake should be whole grains, but 100% is best. Whole grains contain fiber and vitamins that refined grains do not. Choose whole grain products when buying breads, tortillas, pastas, and cereal. Serve brown rice, quinoa, whole barley, bulgar or buckwheat as well.

• Two and a half cups of vegetables and one and a half cups of fruits: Choose fresh and keep it varied, since different fruits and vegetables offer different vitamins and nutrients. Include fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors, and buy what’s in season: apples in autumn, oranges in winter. Shop local farmers markets or join a community suppoerted agriculture (CSA) co-op that arranges food deliveries from a local farm. And always buy organic.

• Three cups of milk for children two to eight years old: Try to include l;owfat milk and cheese, yogurt, non-genetically modified (non-GMO) calcium fortified soy or dark, leafy greens.

• Five ounces of lean protein: Use lean varieties of turkey, chicken and ham. Fatty fish such as fresh salmon and tuna are packed with healthy omega 3-fatty acids. Low-mercury canned tuna and antibiotic and hormone-free meats, both great choices, are cold in many supermarkets, even as store brands. If the animal source protein is a problem try legumes, non-GMO tofu and tempeh are great alternatives. (Source: KIWI 2007)

**Have you thought of your New Years resolution? Chuck Hinson over at Charlotte, NC blog here at 451 Press has listed his and it’s a mighty fine list at that. Read it here.**
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Creamy Rice Pudding
Serves: 8

1 1/2 quarts 2% milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup white rice
1/2 cup raisins
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine milk, sugar and rice in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a gently boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to simmer and cook uncovered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. (The milk should just barely simmer, with bubbles breaking only at the outside edge of the surface. After an hour, the rice should be soft.)

Add raisins, increasse heat to medium heat, and cook, stirring frequently, until the rice has absorbed most of the rest of the milk, but not all, and the pudding is creamy (about 30 minutes longer).

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. When cool, pudding will thicken, but will be very creamy. Serve warm or well chilled.

Happy Eating!

• Cashews are more than just nuts. Allergic reactions to cashews are even more severe than those to peanuts. Since cashews may be hidden in a variety of processed foods (from cakes and chocolate to Asian meals and pesto sauce), it’s important to read all ingredients labesl very carefully to insure you don’t have a reaction and are at a loss as to where the reactions started from.

• If you are looking for a great soda to quinch your thrist and not give you any other unnecessary ingredients, then check out airforce® Nutrisodas®. They’re delicious, refreshingly carbonated nutrient-enhanced sodas with zero sugar, caffeine, sodium or aspartame. Natural fruit flavors, with meaningful levels of vitamins and minerals. They even have a drink option for ones trying to quit smoking.

• Is it a Spice or an herb? Although the same plant might be considered both a spice and an herb, the difference lies in the way the plant is used. A spice is any various aromatic vegetable products such as pepper or nutmeg is used to season or flavor foods. An herb is a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, or aromatic qualities. Before using an herb or a spice for medicinal reason, do your research to ensure you are using it for the correct reasons.

• During the winter the main issue most parents have is cold and sniffles with their children. Hyland’s homeopathic children’s cold remedy, Sniffles ‘n Sneezes is a great way to nix those winter issues. Cutting the duration of colds by almost half, these quick-dissolving tablets relieve cold symptoms using all-natural ingredients with no adverse side effects.

**Utah opened the bowls with a 35-32 victory over Navy. That means Bowl season is under way. Over at NCAA Endzone, Matthew Andenora has the full story behind what’s coming up and what’s happening now.**
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Earthly Eating Recipe-Count Down To Christmas Recipe Of Sweets

Papaya-Blueberry Smoothies
Serves: 8

6 cups papaya, peeled, seeded and diced
4 cups orange juice or pineapple juice
3 cups ice cubes
2 cups lowfat milk or soymilk
2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen and thawed
2 cups vanilla, mango or peach lowfat yogurt
3 bananas
Honey, to taste

1. Working in batches, place one-third of the ingredients in the blender and pulse until smooth.

2. Pour into a pitcher and repeat with remaining ingredients.

3. Chill until ready to serve.

4. Stir well before serving.

Happy Eating!

• Get your blood pressure checked by your doctor or healthcare provider.

• Have a home monitor for blood pressure. Once you have been diagnosed as borderline or high, buy a home monitor and think of it in the same way you think of a bathroom scale.

• Dietary supplemenst are on of the easiest and most effective non drug appraoches. Try tomato extract to lower your blood pressure.

• Balance your minerals with the Mediterranean diet. It includes a rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables. The secret weapon to this is the abundance of potassium founf in these fruits and vegetables. So, if you’re not following the Mediterranean diet or consuming 8-9 servings a day to obtain the sodium blunting effect, use a salt substitute when preparing foods like pasta, etc. to increase the potassium levels in your diet.

• Alcohol in moderation. Consuming one or two alcohol beverages daily and the good news is that it’s scientifically backed up.

• Reduce your stress with mini-vacations. Take three two-minute mini vacations daily where you spend those two minutes taking slow deep breaths you can lower your blood pressure by 10 points.

• Wrap up your day with hot cocoa! Everyone loves cocoa, and if you don’t then read this and you may. The active cocoa compounds which complement this relaxing time at the end of the day are polyphenols.
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Earthly Eating Recipe-Count Down To Christmas Recipe Of Sweets

Chewy Chocolate Drops With Glaze Topping
Serves: 30 (or makes 5-dozen)

4 squares unsweetened baking chocolate
6 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tub (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping

Prehat oven to 350°F. Microwave unsweetened chocolate and butter in a large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 minutes or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour; mix well. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until easy to handle.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets.

Bake 8 minutes or just until set. (Do not overbake.) Let stand on baking sheet 1 minute; transfer to wire racks. Cool completely.

Glaze Topping: Place frozen whipped topping and semi-sweet chocolate in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute. Stir. Microwave 30 seconds or until chocolate is metled and mixture is shiny and smooth. Let stand 15 minutes to thicken. Spread over cookies. Let stand until glaze is set.

Happy Eating!