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A Couch Potato's Review Of President Obama's Visit To Canada

The political pundits will spend hours dissecting every moment of President Obama's visit to Canada. The average couch potato, however, also deserves a voice. How did President Obama's visit rate with the popcorn eaters and the channel changers? The ratings by the average Canadian couch potatoes are now online. And the reviews are favorable! Here are the winners in the various categories.

In the Most Impressive category, we have Air Force One, the Beast, and that security team. In the Most Heartwarming Category, we applaud the Ottawa Market stop, buying cookies, and searching for silk scarves. And where are those snow globes? In the Most Approachable category, we observed President Obama's friendly chat with Canada's Governor General and his jokes with reporters. The Best Speech award goes to the new President. The Best Smile belongs to President Obama. In the Most Handsome category we once again acknowledge President Obama. The Favorite Words were spoken by the President - I love Canada!

The overall winner in President Obama's visit to Canada - the people of Canada! At least that is the consensus of the average Canadian couch potato. If you want a political review then check out your local news show. © 2009 MTF

An Expanded International Day Of Peace

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An Extended International Day of Peace

International Day of Peace 2008 has now faded into history. International Day of Peace 2009 will be another celebration of peace and harmony. Traditions move worthwhile events forward to benefit others. Traditions improved on, however, are the wheels that make the world go around.

Just even consider family traditions such as Thanksgiving dinner. You carry your childhood memories and you mix them with those of your spouse. You then add your own twists to create a totally new and improved tradition to pass down through the years. We can tweak traditions and still allow them to maintain their integrity.

The United Nations started the tradition of International Day of Peace in 1981. But why in 2009 can't we change the tradition to celebrate International Weekend of Peace or even International Week of Peace. What is the worst that can happen - less days for war?

The UN launched a text/email messaging campaign for International Day of Peace 2008. Individuals could text or email world leaders with their thoughts about peace. This campaign allowed individuals to message world leaders about peace.

The messages were to be shown to world leaders on September 23, 2008 at the opening of their annual General Assembly. People worldwide submitted over 2000 email messages of peace at the campaign's website. This collection of messages of peace from all ages worldwide will surely provide inspiration for our leaders and indeed for ourselves.

The UN considered International Day of Peace 2008 to be a success. Tens of thousands of soldiers in Afghanistan put down their arms. There was some violence but this was the largest peace effort yet for International Day of Peace in Afghanistan.

We must remember the significance of this effort since 2008 was the most violent year in Afghanistan since 2001. A US coalition spokesman said that the day gave the Afghan people an opportunity to see what every day would be like with peace.

And on Monday, September 22, 2008 war resumed with all its horror! Somehow the follow up scenario doesn't fit with a perfect vision for the day after International Day of Peace. We can dream of a change in 2009.

We can hope that International Day of Peace 2008 was the forerunner to International Week of Peace 2009 - a week of both peace and efforts to maintain peace. The world has already shown it can do it for a day, why not two, three, maybe even forever - what a concept!

With the help of our elected officials, maybe this concept can become a reality before September 21, 2009. 2009 will hopefully see the first ever International Week of Peace! We can see that this dream becomes a reality. Will you do your part? © 2008 MTF

Best Free And Unique Canadian Samples

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Best Free and Unique Canadian Samples

How do you get free samples? Visit the unique province of Newfoundland and Labrador in eastern Canada! Many of the quaint little shops will offer visitors a little taste of Newfoundland's many treasures. How many places on earth though offer visitors a chance to pick out free samples of sparkling jewels from a heavenly setting?

Newfoundland offers free vibrant jewels in an assortment of colors - amber yellows, scarlet reds, and indigo blues. And don't forget their mouth watering taste! Newfoundland's most valuable jewels and their greatest treasures are their vibrant and delicious berries. You can take freely from this jewel collection on green rolling hills, in soft mossy marshes, and on windswept barrens. Follow along and browse through just a small part of the vast collection.

Newfoundland's most famous amber yellow jewel is the bakeapple. The bakeapple is also known as the cloudberry. When bakeapple picking in Newfoundland no smog or any air pollution separates you from billowing clouds and blue skies. The bakeapple resembles another of Newfoundland's treasures - the ruby wild raspberry. The bakeapple though has a firmer texture and a more tart taste.

The story of the bakeapple on Newfoundland marshes even has a touch of romance about it. The sprawling mysterious marshes which are home to the bakeapple add to the atmosphere. Unlike most berries in its Robus species, the bakeapple doesn't self - pollinate. The bakeapple does require a plant of the opposite sex. Newfoundland's amber yellow jewel is right at home in this romantic setting. On a further journey, the bakeapple often finds its way into many romantic dinners - in bakeapple brandy, bakeapple meringues, and bakeapple parfaits.

The most vibrant red Newfoundland jewel is the partridgeberry. This deep red treasure represents strength. The partridgeberry is also known as the lingonberry and is a member of the cranberry family. The partridgeberry survives in the dry barren lands of Newfoundland. Sparkling glass jars filled with bright red partridgeberry jam delight the senses as much as any treasured jewel. The partridgeberry can be the secret ingredient in a delicate wine. Matching its down to earth beginning, it is also used in comfort desserts such as partridgeberry shortcake or partridgeberry berry cottage pudding.

The Newfoundland wild blueberry is like no other blueberry on earth. Newfoundland with its mixed climate gives birth to this indigo jewel. The Newfoundland blueberry bears no resemblance to its cultivated cousins. It grows in intense colors on low shrubs in forests, meadows, and on coastal headlands.

Wild blueberries will always appear on any list of super foods. Wild blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, niacin, manganese, carbohydrates, and dietary fibre. You can enjoy a super experience in the Newfoundland wilds while picking this most treasured indigo jewel. End your day with a glass of blueberry wine as night settles on this beautiful island. Don't forget to set the alarm though for your blueberry pancake breakfast.

Maybe in the morning Newfoundland can offer you all three of its jewels - a granola parfait with soft bakeapples and blueberry pancakes with partridgeberry berry sauce!

Or do you STILL just want to get that free cereal bar sample from the box? It's your choice - but you can pick Newfoundland's berry jewels - for free! © 2008 MTF

Cool Classes And Cool Class Websites!

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Cool Classes and Cool Class Websites

The creator of Bullying.org, Canadian Bill Belsey, is a major player in the organization of Bullying Awareness Week. Mr. Belsey is also a Grade 5 teacher and maintains a website about his class - The Coolest Class.

Many teachers and students believe they are in the coolest class. They are also many students who are victims of bullying who think their class is far from being a "cool" class.

It can be that others think that class is "cool." Those students may not be even speaking untruths. The class may not seem a hostile environment to them. Students are often so preoccupied with their own lives that they miss the pain of others.

Mr. Belsey's class website serves as a reminder that class websites can be used as a tool to help unite students. A class website wouldn't be a miracle cure but it has much potential.

How many classes have their own websites? Not nearly enough! A class website does require effort. The work though shouldn't be done by the teacher alone. It is a "class" website.

There can be cooperation among teachers. Work on a class website doesn't have to take any time away from the required curriculum. Organizing a class website can become a learning experience. With the cooperation of different teachers, students can work on different areas of the website at different times - the content, the art, the design, and the organization.

The ideal class website would not be just a website for homework or notes or a class calendar. The class website should be more than that concept. The website should highlight the class - their talents, their ideas, their achievements, and more.

The class website would encourage group activity. Group activities should be organized in such a manner that students always get to work in a different group. A group of friends shouldn't always work together. Students should have the opportunity to work with every other student in the class.

That grouping might come to include at some point even a bully and a victim. It would be a bully and a victim though in a supervised setting. Hopefully the grouping would become two people who may just get to see one another as individuals with real ideas, emotions, and dreams.

This idea of grouping, of course, can be used for any activity. A class website could be an activity where the whole class works towards one goal. And it can be a "cool" goal.

The internet is attractive to children. The computer can be an educational tool with the proper supervision and monitoring. The class website would need to be one which excites the student and utilizes interesting features.

The teacher of course would be the administrator. The teacher could then be certain that the experience would be a positive one for every student.

The creation of a class website should be a classroom activity - not an extracurricular one. A class website has to include every student and be a source of pride for the entire class. Cool classes need cool class websites!
© 2008 MTF

We Hope For Kinder Classes

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The Hope for Kinder Classes

School bullying is a societal issue. Schools are really mini - societies. School bullying is really a reflection of society at large.

Attitudes within society enter the school. Attitudes within the school then re-enter society. Society must address the issue of school bullying. Bullying unaddressed will just continue in another arena at a future date with another vulnerable person.

School bullying is really a human rights abuse. December 10, 2008 marked the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights. This declaration was intended to be displayed and learned about in all schools.

School bullying isn't noticed in the same way as other human rights abuses. The intense horror of genocide is always confined to a certain group in a specific area. Victims of school bullying can be found in all groups worldwide.

Students are indeed being targeted and are often dying due to homicide and bullycide. Others are left with wounded spirits. All human rights abuses really have the same core cause - lack of empathy for others and an inability to accept differences.

Author Barbara Coloroso considers genocide to be the most extreme form of bullying. Ms. Coloroso argues that both bullying and genocide need three characters - the bullied, the bully, and the bystander. A group of New Zealand parents recently approached that country's Human Rights Commissioner to argue that school violence is a violation of human rights.

Elizabeth Bennett, author of "Peer Abuse Know More! Bullying From A Psychological Perspective," prefers the term "peer abuse" to school bullying. That specific terminology does draw attention to the real nature of school bullying. It is without a doubt - abuse and a human rights issue.

Encouraging children to have empathy for others and be accepting of differences will go far in the fight against school bullying. All our classrooms should be "kind" classes. What are "kind" classes? Kids into nurturing diversity!

We hope for kinder classes. "It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." ~ Audre Lorde Every child deserves to smile. © 2008 MTF

Poverty And School Bullying

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Poverty and School Bullying

Poverty makes a difference in one's life. Poverty makes for a "difference" in a student's life. Any "difference" increases a student's chance of being a victim of school bullying.

The entire "KIND CLASSES" Help Stop School Bullying network- Facebook group, website, IPEACE group - as well as EMPATHY EMAILS - campaign, Facebook group, website - was inspired by a financially challenged student. Lack of finances alone doesn't exclusively define one as being in poverty.

Relative poverty can not compare to absolute poverty. Superficial poverty is not an indicator of emotional or spiritual poverty. One can be materially poor and rich in relationships, inspiration, and spirit.

We can not make the generalization that all students of meagre means will be victims of school bullying.The "difference" though puts them at risk. The "difference" can even at times cause bullying actions as students react to frustration. We sometimes observe external conflicts within society morphing into school violence.

Living in poverty does not mean that one will have to face the challenges of school bullying. School bullying, however, does put one in a state of poverty. It does so even where no poverty existed before the trauma.

If we examine the definitions of poverty we can recognize the effects of school bullying. One of the definitions of poverty refers to depriving one of the ability to learn. Victims of school bullying sometimes try to avoid school. Some victims find they can no longer cope in the hostile company of school bullies.

Poverty is also defined as being deprived of the respect of one's fellow citizens. Victims of school bullying feel isolated and excluded from their peers. School bullying further diminishes one's capacity to participate and to develop meaningful relationships with others.

War is sometimes the cause of poverty. Victims of school bullying are on their own battleground every day in our schools. They get wounded and sometimes as in all wars - they die! School bullying is often fatal - through homicide or bullycide.

School bullying, war, genocide and all human rights abuses which lead to poverty and death share one common thread. There is always lack of empathy for others and an unwillingness to accept differences.

A student who is not in poverty becomes poverty-stricken as a result of school bullying. Stand up to poverty. Stand up to school bullying. © 2008 MTF

Reading Writing And Personalized Stories

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Reading Writing and Personalized Stories

The positive influence of reading and writing with children - both in school and at home - is an absolute source of amazement. Teachers can easily observe the advantages of children and parents reading at home. Everyone can appreciate the strong foundation for the school years that reading at home creates for the preschooler.

Word recognition, comprehension abilities, and listening skills are all fostered through the parent-child reading experience. Educators who have studied the topic agree that a link is evident between academic success and exposure to reading at a young age. Teachers can witness evidence to support this in our classrooms.

The greatest benefits of reading at home, however, comes from the subsequent parent-child bonding. The greatest reward of reading at home is in the experience itself! It comes from the cuddle, the closeness, and the joy of the moment.

If you are a parent, you understand that sentiment. If you are not a parent, reflect for a moment on your own childhood memories of reading with your parents. No other words are needed to convince you of the importance of reading to children.

During the preschool years, children may ask to read the same book again and again. Maybe even three times a day for a period of time. Many parents can relate to that experience. Children can become captivated by a book for any reason.

A certain phrase may capture their attention. A silly sentence might make them laugh. Very often the same reasons will help the parents' boredom to easily fade from existence.

Sometimes children as young as three years of age can reverse the reading situation and read a book to their parents. At 3, they probably don't really recognize each word. They often memorize the story from so much reading and rereading. They can know exactly when to turn the pages.

At this point reading may not have provided them with word recognition skills. Reading, however, has already given them confidence and self-esteem. They are so proud of their accomplishments. Chances are that they will continue to excel throughout the school years.

They most likely will also grow to become confident young adults. Many factors are at play in a child's development. Much credit, however, can be given to shared reading experiences. Reading fosters priceless self-esteem.

Sometimes reading experiences with children do not even have to involve books. One can "read" a child a story from the script in one's mind. Is there not a touch of a writer in everyone? Do we not all have vivid imaginations? How many people keep journals? How many participate in on-line forums?

Some children prefer the stories from the imagination without the printed text. They prefer it when someone invents their own stories. Such stories in the imagination do not provide children with word recognition skills. These stories, however, still provide the valuable reading "experience."

It also dismisses the abstract idea of author and puts it in a more tangible realm. If Mommy can write in her mind, then so can I! Children can develop a love for writing from such imaginative experiences.

Reading and writing are really intertwined. One skill fosters the other. The love of one supports the love of the other.

Most children enjoy books when they are given the opportunity to explore. Children gravitate towards books. At times a flashy cover or interesting feature will attract them to a book. It is the joy of reading, however, which will ultimately keep their interest.

Personalized stories can help expand on a love for reading. Personalized stories are thought to enhance self-esteem. Some personalized stories in the marketplace just contain the child's name (or their friends' names). The children, however, still learn to recognize their names. They gain self-esteem from reading a story about themselves.

Personalized stories can be the impetus to encourage a child to keep a journal. Personalized stories can inspire them to write about themselves or their family or friends. Every story written will be as unique as every child.

Any extra incentive which can encourage children to enjoy reading has to be considered a positive influence. Instilling a love of reading in a child is giving them a gift which will last a lifetime. We always pass down our recipes from generation to generation. Let's not forget to do likewise with our books and their joys.

Stories read or stories written don't have to cost a cent. They can be accessed of course from library sources. But they are free anyway in our imagination. So regardless whether or not you purchase stories or books, remember the reading experience. Please read with your child! © 2008 MTF

Walk For A Reason

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Walk for a Reason

Have you ever seen the Norman Rockwell painting of the old grandfather and the young grandson gazing out at the ocean? They are accompanied by the ever faithful canine of the family. Grandpa has his walking stick and his red handkerchief.

You can easily imagine that the grandfather and grandson have just stopped to catch the ocean breeze. You can almost feel the cool ocean air. You wonder if they stopped here on the way home from a leisurely walk on a hot summer day. Norman Rockwell paintings always celebrate happiness, health, home, and heritage.

It is only natural to assume then that the grandfather and the grandson were returning home from an enjoyable walk. Walking leads down the same path as a Norman Rockwell painting. Walk the pathways. You will find the path which honors and celebrates happiness, health, home, and heritage!

Walk about and experience the sights and sounds of your environment - whether you find yourself on a city street or down a country road. The location will define the experience. One's emotions and spirit, however, will see a renewal whether you are in a thriving metropolis or a country village.

The walker doesn't harm the environment. The environment then reacts in kind. It strives to be the best host. It puts on its best display and provides the best entertainment.

It provides you with a pleasant respite. The environment knows that once you take the first step then you will be a return guest. Walking will make you one happy guest.

The walker will indeed enjoy his next vacation. A walker will in fact enjoy the next work day. He will savour the next evening, enjoy the next hour, and most of all, live to the fullest in the next moment. Walking makes for a more healthy and relaxed individual.

A walker wants his environment to be a clean and healthy setting. A walker will lead others to clean up the environment. A walker will walk for causes.

A walker will want to share the joy with others. Walking has a domino effect. It affects one person first and then another and then another.

Walking shares the wealth of the environment. Walking is really an outreach health program inspired by every single walker.

Walking always leads you home! You can walk in the opposite direction but walking always brings you to the centre of your being. It brings you back in touch with yourself.

Walking makes you alive. It shows you beauty and relaxation. It allows you to take from the environment. It teaches you though about the responsibility that comes with that gift.

It brings you good health and good friends. It makes you feel happiness and joy. It connects you with family. Walking can bring you home - in both a physical and a spiritual sense.

Walking can allow you to explore the past through your steps of today. You can explore old streets and old paths. You can walk the same paths that centuries of walkers have passed over in earlier times.

You can share that history with your children and with your grandchildren. You can pass on your love for the environment and the walking pleasures which it offers to you.

Walking can allow you to explore your heritage. Walking also allows you to leave behind a legacy of a life well lived and in tune with your environment. Walk the path - the path to happiness, health, home, and heritage! © 2008 MTF

Dandelion Green

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Dandelion Green

Introducing dandelion green with "green" being the optimum word! The color - dandelion green - should always be the color we first set out to look for in the grocery store. Dandelion green is bright and fresh like nature itself. Fresh produce should always be our first choice in the supermarket.

The wild dandelion plant is a treasure unto itself - full of freshness and vitamins. In the rural areas of Newfoundland, Canada, dandelions can grow wild, free, and safe from all toxicity. Wild dandelions grow throughout the northern hemisphere. Since the nineteenth century there has been an attempt to domesticate the wild dandelion through cultivation.

Dandelions are the bane of existence though for those who dream of the perfect lawn. My heart goes out to "that" dandelion who has to live side by side with chemicals. "That" dandelion doesn't belong on anyone's dinner plate.

The wild dandelion though can find its way into different courses at your table - as a salad, in soup, as a cooked vegetable, in a stir fry, in omelettes, and even as a wine. The dandelion received its name from the French language - dent de loin - lion's tooth - because of its tooth - shaped leaves. The crowning glory of the dandelion plant is its soft bright yellow flower.

Dandelions are a magical mystical plant. They lend themsleves to thoughts of Irish castles with their vibrant green, their unusual leaves which seem to belong to another time, and their European past. Dandelions indeed hold a certain magic for young and old alike. What child can resist pick a fluffy dandelion? Seeds and secret wishes can be blown together out into the universe.

Preschoolers can hold a bit of gentle sunshine in their hands with its soft yellow flower. Dandelion magic has young children everywhere searching for the tallest dandelion. According to folklore, children will match the height of their dandelion leaf in growth for the coming year.

We can learn a lot from dandelions. They are survivors. Their roots get deeper every year. Their roots protect them from outside danger. They are sensitive to climate changes. They are in tune with nature - rising at dawn and resting at dark. They keep mystery and magic about them all their life.

The wild dandelion is the "real" thing! The wild dandelion is at home in a pristine meadow of green. Don't acknowledge the imposters - by roadsides, in city lawns, or in any farmer's field using pesticides. Wild dandelions are a beautiful and magical member of the herbal family.

You should always consult medical advice before you partake of their magic. Herbs can interfere with medication. Dandelion is registered as a drug in Canada.There could be possible concerns if you have liver, gall bladder, and/or bowel obstruction. Dandelion is used worldwide for its medicinal properties but it has diuretic properties. Always consult your doctor before ingesting any herb!

Only pick dandelions in pristine fields or from a supermarket. Research carefully so you are certain you are not picking an "impostor" plant. Some other plants resemble dandelions. Otherwise, embrace your dandelion green! © 2008 MTF

The Wonderful World Of Herbs

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The Wonderful World Of Herbs

Cooking finds its soul mate in the presence of herbs. They are there at the beginning. They stay until the end. Herbs are in it for the long haul. They can provide that extra special touch. Herbs keep their unique character. Yet herbs are one with the dish. They bring out the best in a dish. Herbs complement food but they never overwhelm it.

Herbs provide the foundation for great meals. Herbs are always part of the marinating process. They work as part of a team to tenderize and flavour chicken, pork, beef, and lamb. Rosemary works well with chicken. Oregano brings out the best in pork. Basil partners with beef. Parsley loves to pal around with lamb. Herbs determine the flavour of the meal right from the start.

Herbs prefer to make an appearance at the last moment when used in stir fries. They don't want to become bitter. Bitter doesn't work well in this partnership between herbs and good cooking, Herbs, however, can withstand the heat. They don't mind partaking in a long slow roast with a tempting turkey or a sumptuous pot roast. Thyme likes to while away the hours with a tasty turkey. Of course, Herbs de Provence just loves to spend the afternoon with a flavorful pot roast. Herbs just love to get right in the middle of the stuffed birds. Sage and cilantro always vie for those spots. Herbs love to be part of a rice or vegetable dish. Mint hopes to be included with glazed carrots. Savoury can't resist that hot fluffy rice.

Herbs never want to miss dessert. English lavender loves its sweets. Cinnamon basil loves to be in a sorbet. Thyme doesn't mind sharing the spotlight with black pepper and figs in an olive oil cake. Lemon verbena takes center stage in a cake bearing its name. Herbs provide that extra spark at the dinner finale.

Herbs are a treasured companion in any kitchen. Cooks can feel comfortable with the traditional sage, rosemary, and thyme. Exotic moods, however, require a little something extra! Licorice mint has the fragrance of candy. It will continue to soothe your senses in a steaming licorice tea. The leaves of the Kaffir lime will give a Southeast Asian flavor to your cooking. This exotic herb from Thailand can flavor your broths, soups, and stews. African blue basil comes straight to your kitchen from the slopes of Kilimanjaro. It is often a hit with children who prefer its milder flavor.

Herbs and cooking will forever be partners in life. Their marriage enhances our tastes, our meals, and our family traditions. Cooks have a life long love affair with herbs. Herbs are worthy of that love! "Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram; The marigold, that goes to bed wi' the sun, and with him rise weeping." ~ Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale © 2008 MTF

The People's Choice For Snacks Under 100 Calories

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The People's Choice for Top Snacks Under 100 Calories

If there was a People's Choice Award for the Top Snacks Under 100 Calories, there would be unique and tasty categories eligible for awards. The list would include Sweetest Snack Under 100 Calories, Most Attractive Snack Under 100 Calories, Nuttiest Snack Under 100 Calories, Best Vegetable Snack Under 100 Calories, Most Entertaining Snack Under 100 Calories, and Most Comforting Snack Under 100 Calories. And the nominees might be...!

Sweetest Snack Under 100 Calories

1. A small apple with a teaspoon of peanut butter

This nominee is full of sweetness and can really pick a good dressing. The apple compliments itself with the creamy peanut butter.

2. A sorbet of one third a cup of frozen orange juice

This nominee originates from sweetness itself. It transforms itself upon request into a sweet and elegant dessert.

Most Attractive Snack Under 100 Calories

1. A small orange

This nominee is known for its bright color. It is treasured for its smooth skin and perfect well-rounded shape.

2. A small banana

This nominee reminds us of sunshine itself. It is an example of outer beauty. Its mysterious hidden layer is proof of inner beauty.

Nuttiest Snack Under 100 Calories

1. A selection of eight almonds This group is nutty but nice. They give us the essential oils for healthy hearts worldwide.

2. A handful of eight cashews

Another nutty but tasty snack loved by millions. They are known by other names but you can never mistake their unique taste.

Best Vegetable Snack Under 100 Calories

1. A mixture of raw vegetables with one quarter cup fat-free dressing

This group provides the basics for a good snack. They are varied, crisp, and colorful, and topped off with a superb touch of lightness.

2. A baked potato with two tablespoons of fat-free sour cream

This nominee has being renowned for years as an exceptional comfort food. It comes in different types and can adapt well with any dressing.

Most Entertaining Snack Under 100 Calories

1.Two handfuls of unbuttered popcorn with herb seasoning

This group can be part of your entertainment at home or out on the town. They dress in a light style to complement their airy nature.

2.A large graham cracker square with a teaspoon of peanut butter

This nominee can adapt itself with variations to either formal or informal occasions. It is loved by children and adults alike.

Most Comforting Snack Under 100 Calories

1.A four ounce lettuce, tomato, and cucumber salad with one quarter cup fat-free dressing

This group reminds you of the first course at Mom's dinner - crisp and full of goodness. A colorful and comforting presence for snack lovers.

2. Two ounces of whole wheat noodles with a small tomato and a quarter ounce hard cheese

This nominee is a mouthful to say but nothing speaks comfort more than this group. Comforting noodles mixed with fresh tomato and tangy cheese is a stable for snack lovers around the globe.

And the winners in each category would be...!

It would be the people's choice! © 2008 MTF

The Fantastic Fight Over Food Additives

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The Fantastic Fight over Food Additives

My fantasy kitchen would have an A PLUS BUSTER - a device to detect and remove additives from food. Of course an A PLUS BUSTER would then leave many kitchens well - empty! You wouldn't want your beloved kitchen to become one of those unfortunate victims. You can escape this fate by buying fresh, unprocessed foods. But for those kitchens at risk, here are some tips on how to avoid the wrath of the A PLUS BUSTER.

1. No Sodium Nitrites

Nitrates are found in smoked or processed foods. They are known carcinogens. Bacon, hot dogs, and processed sandwich meats are some of the popular offenders. Fresh choices - vegetables, poultry, meat, or any such combination - make for the tastiest and healthiest sandwich. Still craving that luncheon meat taste? There are organic alternatives out there that have the same taste minus the nitrates. When choosing bacon products, select ones with ascorbic acid or eyrthrobic acid. Those safe additions impede the creation of nitrites. Beware of creating your own nitrites within your own kitchen. Cooking foods at very high temperatures can create nitrites in the finished products.

2. No Artificial Food Colouring

Apples don't have to be uniformly red in color. Lemon dishes do not need the bright yellow colour present in commercial products. Lemon dishes should be colored by lemons not by Sunset Yellow SCF. A blue color should indicate the presence of blueberry juice not Brilliant Blue FCFC. Beet juice should be used as a coloring agent over Allura Red A. One British publication recently reported about a study related to artificial food coloring and its effect on children. This study concluded that those artificial colors were as damaging as lead in children's brains. We still anxiously wait for the invention of that A PLUS BUSTER. In the meantime, however, we can use of our greatest gifts - our eyes. If a product looks too perfectly red or yellow or blue, then maybe it's not the right product for you.

3. No MSG - Monosodium Glutamate

Monosodium glutamate is found in many packaged foods and frozen dinners. It may also be right at home at your favorite restaurant. MSG is also used directly as a seasoning by many cooks in their own kitchens. It is after all considered by many to be a flavor enhancer. Strive for natural flavor through the use of fresh herbs and spices. Asian cooks originally used natural seaweed to bring out a similar taste in dishes.

4. No BHA and BHT

BHA and BHT don't sound like anything you need or want in your food. Butylated hydroxyanisole - BHA - and butylated hydroxytoluene - BHT - would thankfully never escape the onslaught of the A PLUS BUSTER. BHA is known to cause cancer in animals and disrupt human hormones. BHT shares its talents among food products, petroleum products, and embalming fluid. Doesn't that sound yummy? BHA and BHT are found in cereals, vegetable oils, chewing gum and potato chips.

5.No Olestra

Never be impressed by any food which sentences you to many bathroom stops in the near future. Olestra with its unpleasant side effects doesn't fit the bill as a comfort food or a healthy choice. Olestra is used as a fat substitute and adds no fat, calories, or cholesterol. Its zero contents gives it an zero rating as a healthy choice. It also attaches to nutrients and flushes them from the body. Olestra is found in many snack foods. What an incentive to select that A PLUS piece of fresh fruit! © 2008 MTF

The Imperfect Gingerbread - The Perfect Christmas Cookie

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The Imperfect Gingerbread - The Perfect Christmas Cookie

Nothing says Christmas better than a spicy gingerbread man or a hot gingerbread lady. The gingerbread person is the ultimate Christmas cookie. To qualify as a Christmas cookie, a cookie must meet at least one of these festive criteria - display sparkle, holiday color, or a Christmas theme.

Gingerbread men and ladies are the kings and queens of Christmas cookies. A perfect gingerbread person is no doubt a winner among Christmas cookies. But did you know that it is the imperfect gingerbread person which truly embodies the Christmas spirit?

A perfect gingerbread person is indeed a culinary masterpiece. The most experienced baker, however, can sometimes turn out a less than perfect creation. A gingerbread person can break a limb or there can be a frosting "oops." Maybe the bakers of gingerbread people for young children should intentionally make a few mistakes. Maybe strive for a gingerbread person with a bad haircut, a crooked smile, or that missing shirt button.

Make some gingerbread people who are really like all their other gingerbread people - not really perfect - but just with more pronounced imperfections. In other words, much like real people, don't you think? So all your gingerbread people won't be perfect cookies.

You can use that opportunity, however, to teach a young child that differences are good. And imperfections in gingerbread men are just as tasty. The imperfect gingerbread cookie is the perfect choice for a Christmas sweet. It is the Christmas cookie that can spread the true meaning of Christmas.

A cookie of such royal proportions deserves the royal treatment. Every Christmas cookie though sports a similar festive look. Edible gold and silver dust or golden sugar stars add the Christmas sparkle. White, green, and red are also popular colors for Yuletide frosting and glitter. Paste food color works really well to create bright colours.

Snowy white frosting gives a fresh and appealing look to Christmas cookies. Clear vanilla extract should be used to make frosting resemble a blanket of snow. White food coloring can further brighten a cool white frosting. Warm frosting in the microwave if you want a glossy shine to a snowy white glaze.

Dressing up your gingerbread person shouldn't present any major challenges. If your frosting is too thick you can add a little milk or water gradually to the mixture. If your frosting seems too thin then you can add gradual small amounts of powdered sugar.

Your frosting must be of a consistency which works well in decorating your gingerbread. It has to be easy to spread if you are using a knife or small metal spatula. The frosting must be able to pass easily though a squeeze bottle if you are outlining or flooding the cookie.

Generally you outline the gingerbread person first and then flood the middle. Flooding requires a back and forth motion to spread the frosting over the cookie surface. A toothpick can fill in little gaps or fix tiny bubbles.

It is recommended that you allow this frosting to dry before you pipe on details such as stripes, spirals, or names. Each gingerbread person can be unique if individual patterns are piped on each cookie. Visions of the final touches to Christmas cookies continue to dance in the dreams of bakers throughout time. The possibilities are as endless as the imagination.

There are the healthy options such as raisins, nuts, and dried fruits. There are the sweet options such as peppermints, colored sugar, and gum drops. There are the lustrous edible finishes of gold and silver. And there are the inedible bits of ribbons and bows. A loving touch completes any festive gingerbread character.

A perfect Christmas gingerbread person is a true Christmas delight. The imperfect gingerbread person, however, reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas, peace on earth, and goodwill to all men! © 2009 MTF

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