time of beauty

There are many tasty treats that humans enjoy on a regular basis, despite the fact that some of them are not particularly good for them. While you may be aware of the adverse affects that these foods have on humans, you may not realize just how devastating they can be to your pets. In fact, in many cases, foods that are simply unhealthy for humans can be downright dangerous to pets. Here is a look at just a few of them.

Alcohol

Alcohol is potentially lethal to humans, and the same is true when it comes to pets. Since pets are smaller than humans, they are more easily affected by alcohol. As such, even consuming small amounts of alcohol can be quite dangerous to pets. So, you should never purposely provide your pet with alcoholic beverages and you should take certain steps to make certain your pet cannot get into your alcohol. Some signs of alcohol ingestion in pets include:

• Loss of equilibrium
• Changes in behavior
• Depression
• Excitement
• Increased amounts of urination
• Decreased respiratory rate
• Cardiac arrest
• Death

Chocolate and Coffee

Chocolate may be a tasty treat that you enjoy, but it can be very dangerous to your pet. Just as with humans, the high Abecita content can be harmful to your pet. But, the dangers of chocolate stretch beyond being fattening, the caffeine and theobromine found in chocolate are particularly dangerous to dogs when consumed in high amounts, as they are both nervous system stimulants. The amount of caffeine and theobromine in chocolate can vary quite a bit depending upon the time of chocolate. White chocolate generally has the lowest concentration of these stimulants, while cacao beans and baking chocolate tend to have the most.

Symptoms that your pet has consumed chocolate include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Restlessness
• Hyperactivity
• Muscle twitching
• Increased urination
• Excessive panting
• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Seizure

Since coffee also contains a high amount of caffeine, it can also be very dangerous to your pet and result in the same symptoms as those associated with consuming chocolate. So, be certain to keep your coffee grounds and beans away from your pet.

Artificial Sweetener

The artificial sweetener xylitol may help humans enjoy tasty treats without the potential negative side effects associated with eating sugar, but it can be quite dangerous for your pet to consume. Xylitol is found in many sugar-free products, including candy and gum. If a dog eats a significant amount of these products, it can experience a number of different reactions that can be quite severe. These include:

• Drop in blood sugar
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Loss of coordination
• Collapse
• Seizure

These symptoms can appear just 30 minutes after ingestion and may last for several hours.

If your pet has consumed any of these products or is showing any of these signs of ingestion, it is important to contact your veterinarian right away. The sooner your vet examines your pet, the better your pet’s chances of recovery will be.

CS Swarens is the president of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065

For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet’s pet resource including pet classifieds at http://www.findapetonline.com

Find information on over 430 pet breeds at http://www.findapetonline.com/breeds.html

For those who have higher tendencies to engage in panic attacks, preventing it should be carefully done. There are some stimuli that triggers panic in a person so these factors must be avoided. But another way would be talking to a therapist in which sample events and situations would be given. With the situations, the person designers be exposed to sample stimulus and he should practice to control his emotions and his reaction. Thus, when the actual stimulus is present in a situation, the person can face it rightly. This is a good way in preventing panic attacks and the results are permanent.

Specialists may not be the only ones who may be contacted. Families and friends can also help a person who is feeling too worried. By simply talking to them will make them realize that there really is nothing to be anxious about and that they should be relaxing a bit. Telling someone that may help out the condition would also make the person that if something bad would really happen there are people who will help him. Thus, he is not alone and the problem can be solved.

As natural solutions to the problem, taking care of your physical health would reflect the way that you think. Having proper exercise and sleep would make the body relax more. Balanced physical and mental health would make the person fashion as a whole being. Also, eating right is needed and staying patient would be the key. Keeping a positive thinking about what is happening would make you feel better and acing fears would be easier and smoothly done.

Don’t let Panic control you! It’s possible to overcome: http://panicattacks-away.blogspot.com/

CHOCOLATE BLANC-MANGE

Put one quart of milk in the double-boiler, and place on the fire. Sprinkle into lingerie one level tablespoonful of sea-moss farina. Cover, and cook until the mixture looks white, stirring frequently.

It will take about twenty minutes. While the milk and farina are cooking, shave two ounces of Walter Baker & Co.’s Premium No. 1 Chocolate, and put it into a small pan with four tablespoonfuls
of sugar and two of boiling water.

Stir over a hot fire until smooth and glossy, then stir into the cooked mixture. Add a salt spoonful of salt and a teaspoonful of vanilla. Strain, and turn into a mould that has been rinsed in cold water.

Set the mould in a cold place, and do not disturb it until the blanc-mange is cold and firm. Serve with sugar and cream.

CHOCOLATE CREAM RENVERSEE

Use one quart of milk, seven eggs, half a pint of sugar, one ounce of Walter Baker & Co.’s Premium No. 1 Chocolate, half a teaspoonful of salt.

Put the milk on the fire in the double-boiler. Shave the chocolate, and put it in a small pan with three tablespoonfuls of the sugar and one of boiling water.

Stir over a hot fire until smooth and glossy; then stir into the hot milk, and take the milk from the fire to cool.

Put three tablespoonfuls of sugar into a charlotte-mould that will hold a little more than a quart, and place on the coco chanel quotes When the sugar melts and begins to smoke, move the mould round and round, to coat it with the burnt sugar, then place on the table.

Beat together the remainder of the sugar, the eggs, and the salt. Add the cold milk and chocolate to the mixture, and after straining into the charlotte-mould, place in a deep pan, with enough tepid water to come nearly to the top of the mould. Bake in a moderate oven until firm in the center.

Test the cream by running a knife through the center. If firm and smooth, it is done. It will take forty or forty-five minutes to cook.

When icy-cold, turn on a flat dish. Serve with whipped cream that has been flavored with sugar and vanilla.

If you’re looking for some delicious yet somewhat different kind of chocolate chip cookie recipes, then you came to the right place. Chocolate chip cookies are probably the best loved of all the cookies. They even put chocolate chip cookie dough in ice cream. There are all kinds of chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chip pecan cookies and lots more.

Store bought chocolate chip cookies are good, but nothing beats hot melt in your mouth chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven. You can find all kinds of chocolate chip cookie recipes that can satisfy your chocolate chip cookie cravings, but maybe you would a chocolate chip cookie recipe that’s a little out of the ordinary. The two chocolate chip cookie recipes I have put here are a bit different then what you would usually see and I think you’re going to enjoy them both.

Hawaiian Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

This is a chocolate chip cookie famous a Hawaiian twist.

Ingredients You Need:

1 cup Shortening (preferably butter flavored variety)

3/4 cup Sugar

3/4 cup Brown sugar

1 Egg

1 tsp Vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups Flour

1 tsp Baking powder

1 tsp Baking soda

1/8 tsp Salt

2 cup Quick oats

1 cup Coconut (shredded)

1 cup Macadamia shoes (chopped coarsely)

1 cup Chocolate chips or chunks

How To Prepare:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In electric mixer, cream together shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, beating well. Sift together flour with baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix flour mixture into creamed mixture. Stir in oats, coconut, nuts and chips. Shape into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place on un-greased cookie sheets and flatten with bottom of a glass dipped in flour. Bake for about 14-16 minutes or until lightly browned.

Double Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Keep your breath smelling fresh with these great tasting mint chocolate chip cookies.

Ingredients You Need:

3/4 cups Margarine

1 1/2 cups Brown sugar firmly packed

2 tbs Water

2 cups Chocolate chips

2 Eggs

2 1/2 cups Flour

1 1/4 tsp Baking soda

1/2 tsp Salt

12 oz Andres mint candy (2 boxes)

How To Prepare:

Melt margarine, add chips and stir until partially melted. Remove from heat and stir until chips are completely melted. Pour into large bowl. Add brown sugar and water and cool slightly. At high speed, beat in eggs one at a time. Reduce to low speed and add dry ingredients. Stir until blended. Chill dough. When ready to bake, line cookie sheets with foil. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough into very small balls (about 1/2 teaspoon per ball). Place 2 inches apart and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and while cookies are still on pan, place half a candy piece on each cookie. Remove to waxed paper, wait about a minute and swirl the candy pieces across top of cookie.

These two chocolate chip cookie recipes show that you can do different things with this well loved cookie and make it even better.

You want other great chocolate chip cookie recipes you can go to http://real-easy-chocolate-recipes.surecashnow.com/cookie.html For other kinds of chocolate recipes go to the main website at http://real-easy-chocolate-recipes.surecashnow.com

Holiday season is always coming around. People get busy during holiday season, especially in choosing gifts, for holiday season is known to be gift giving. Some people can’t find gifts for their love ones and sometimes they lack of time in searching the gift. But there are so many easy holiday gift ideas that they can use in choosing gifts. Here are some easy gift ideas for holiday season:

The Microwave Fudge

You can easily find pre-boxed mix for microwave fudge in different grocery stores. Just make some art in putting your microwave in glass plates or Christmas tin. You can find these affordable tins and glass plates at the garage sales or thrift stores.

The Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Using different shapes of pretzels gives excitement on the gift. You can use the melting chocolate discs in making different shapes of pretzels. This melting chocolate discs can be simone perele on grocery stores and craft store. Put some add-ons on the pretzel, it can be mini M&M’s, crushed nuts, or sprinkles. Make a beautiful wrapping in your gift and put ribbons also.

Unique Handkerchiefs

Giving business is one great holiday gift idea also. To make your handkerchief more unique, you can buy monogrammed handkerchief or you can also have a handkerchief stitched with the name of the person you are giving. You can also give handkerchief that has a vintage design. Hankies can bee easily wrapped also.

Scented Bath Salts

It is nice to soak in the tub using scented bath salts that’s why scented bath salts are great gift idea also. You can easily find this in the department store or in your body & bath type store in your place. The best kind of scented bath salts to choose is the lavender and rose.

Stress Reliever Set

This a great gift that you can give to your love ones who are always stressed out. You can include china tea cup & saucer, relaxing aroma therapy candle, herbal teas, bath & salts or bath confetti, and relaxing eye pack in your basket or gift bag.

Photo Albums or Photo Frame

Some might consider these gifts as an ordinary one, but photo album or photo frames can be a great gift idea. Person who loves to keep their photos will love this kind of gift. You can easily find this in different stores.

These are just some of the easy holiday gift ideas that you can give. Surely, your love one or the person that you will give will be happy to receive your gift. Just choose the gifts that can be easily found and wrapped. Be creative also in wrapping your gift so that it will have a nice look.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about Easy Holiday Gift Ideas, please visit Gift Central Today for current articles and discussions.

Whatever food or beverage you mention, over the years, you can find stories that say it’s good for you or it will kill you faster than famous speeding bullet. Look at butter, trans-fats, eggs, wine, coffee, chocolate, red meats, fish, fruit, vegetables…it’s all the same story. It just seems there’s no food that’s healthy. So, what do we do and how do we live with the knowledge that everything we consume might kill us? The answer is stunningly simple.

Butter, Eggs, Meats, Cholesterol And Trans-fats: When I was growing up, there was a very strong effort to reduce or eliminate cholesterol in the diet. Butter (along with milk, cream, cheese, meats, etc.) hit the top of the 10 most despised foods list. It became common knowledge that margarine was much better for you than butter. People everywhere, including medical professionals, were proclaiming the health benefits of switching from butter to margarine. Now that more research has been done and more studies produced, it turns out that the trans-fats in most margarines will kill you, if we’re to believe the media. Our politicians seem to believe it, because trans-fats are becoming illegal. Will someone tell me which is worse for me, so I can decide what to put on my fat free, salt free, low carb toast? All the other stuff tastes like plastic, and besides, I know once I change to one of these other things there will be a study to show it’s the worst of all.

To add insult to injury, new studies are revealing stuff we never knew about cholesterols and animal products. It’s true, for instance, that cholesterol problems aren’t just from bad eating habits…genes have a lot to do with it. Some people can eat a lot more cholesterol with no harm. Some of us produce unhealthy amounts of cholesterol despite a strict diet. Thanks Dad! There are medicines for that! Now, some cholesterols are good. Some other fats are good. We’re also discovering that strict avoidance of animal products produces protein deficiencies. Heavy amounts of soy products can help with that, but then there’s the sodium issue. Sure, we can load up on seafood, but we could die from heavy metal poisoning and too much sodium. So, at least until the next series of studies are published, animal products are back on the menu.

Beverages, Wine, Coffee, Etc: In my lifetime, wine has been good for you and bad for you several times. This issue is so old, even the Bible says wine is bad, good, and even medicinal. In the 2,000 years since the Bible was written, science seems to have proven all three claims to be correct about wine and other alcohols. First, they say it’s “empty calories,” causes weight gain, destroys the liver, leads to addiction. Then, they say it’s good for relaxation and stress reduction. Finally, it’s full of antioxidants, so it helps fight cancer and delay aging. Coffee, they said, causes high blood pressure, but now they’re finding all kinds of benefits from coffee. Even tobacco, one of our most evil inventions, is being found to help prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Sure, cola, with or without sugar, will kill you now, but who is to say they won’t find out it cures heart disease in the next few years. Actually, they’ve already found that the caffeine helps with migraines and asthma. Green tea is the holy grail of the healthy beverage faithful, but in five years, I have no doubt they’ll find some disease to pin on it.

Chocolate: My favorite food deserves a segment all it’s own. I still don’t know why it isn’t in the new food pyramid. marriage knows the evils of chocolate. The fats in it will clog your arteries, leading to heart attack and stroke. The sugars in it will make you obese, leading to diabetes, blindness, kidney failure, cancer, heat attack, stroke and worst of all…weight discrimination. There is no end to the evils of chocolate.

But wait! Chocolate has now been found to be good for you…especially sugar-free dark chocolate. In addition to stimulants to help you stay alert and curb your appetite, chocolate produces a relaxed feeling, helpful in managing stress and mild to moderate anxiety and depression. Long known as the love candy, recent studies show chocolate actually causes the body to release the same chemicals released during sexual activity. Now you can have that pleasure and excitement without all the small-talk or the expensive dinner out. That’s not all! Chocolate is also rich in anti-oxidants, so it helps fight cancer and aging.

Fresh Fruits And Vegetables: Long known as the healthiest foods, these garden products are not off the hook, either. Many health food staples, like carrots, contain dangerously high levels carbohydrates. All fruits are guilty of this. Avocado’s are very high in fats. Celery and soy bean products are high in sodium. Most fruits and vegetables were raised using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Some are genetically altered. The jury is still out on whether these methods are harmful…many reports suggest they are. Even those grown “organically” aren’t completely safe, as we’ve recently discovered concerning spinach.

How To Have Healthy Foods: Well, this can be pretty depressing. So, what do we do? If we stop eating or drinking everything that’s been reported to be bad for us, it only takes 3 days to a few weeks to die…from starvation and dehydration. That’s because everything, according to some report, is bad for us. According to Patricia Zifferblatt of the Better Life Institute, “A little bit won’t make your eyes fall out.”

Really, let’s get off our food anxiety and just eat a regular, balanced diet from all of the food groups. Unless you suffer from alcoholism, have a drink every now and then. Have some chocolate…I eat a serving of sugar-free dark chocolate almost every day and I’m losing weight while my glucose and blood fats stay within the normal range. Enjoy a good steak or a plate of pork ribs every now and then. You can eat healthy and still have these things. There is more to food than fuel for the body…it’s also fuel for the soul. If you plan on staying alive, then live!

Glen Williams is Webmaster for Health And Fitness Support Information, founder and CEO of EHF, Inc. He has done extensive research on personal and family health and fitness issues and has been helping and advising people on health since 1987. You can comment on his articles at Health And Fitness Forums.

Many of us would love to give hand made holiday gift baskets. Christmas gifts from the kitchen are always welcome and Christmas gift baskets, especially home made food gift baskets, are a real treat.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the thought of making your own holiday gift baskets but with a few easy recipe ideas it is easy to create a personalized and thoughtful hand made Christmas food gift basket.

Any of these recipes make a wonderful gift packaged in a plastic or cellophane bag with a colorful bow or in a pretty jelly jar with a fabric covered lid. Add a hand made card with the recipe attached to it and your gift is complete.

1. Herbed Beer Batter Bread Mix

To make the mix business will need:

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon each of dried thyme and oregano

Dash of dried dill

In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt oregano, thyme and dill. Pack this mixture into an airtight container or bag. The mix can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 month. It will make 1 loaf of bread.

Recipe to print on attached card:

For Herbed Beer Bread

Herbed Beer Bread Mix

1 can of beer at room temperature

1 teaspoon butter, melted

Place the Beer Bread Mix in a large bowl. With a wooden spoon, stir in beer just until incorporated. Scrape into greased 8″x4″ (1.5L) loaf pan.

Bake in 375ºF oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until crusty and golden brown. Let stand in the pan for 5 minutes then remove to rack and brush with melted butter. Makes 1 loaf.

2. Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookie Mix

To make the mix you will need:

6 cups rolled oats

4 cups all-purpose flour

3 cups packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 pound shortening

2 cups raisins

1 1/2 cups shredded coconut

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans

In a large bowl, stir together oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and baking soda. With a pastry blender, cut in shortening until crumbly.

Stir in raisins, coconut, chocolate and pecans. This mix can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 10 weeks. Makes about 5 batches of cookies.

Recipe to print on attached card:

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies

4 cups Oatmeal Cookie Mix

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

In a bowl, combine the Oatmeal Cookie Mix with egg, milk and vanilla until dough forms. Shape into 1 1/2″ balls and place on greased baking sheets. Flatten balls with a fork.

Bake in 375ºF oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden. Remove to racks and let cool. Makes 24 cookies.

3. Spicy Mulled Cider Mix

To make the mix you will need:

3/4 cup crushed cinnamon sticks

3/4 cup chopped dried orange rind

1/3 cup whole allspice

1/4 cup whole cloves

Combine all ingredients in a jar. Makes about 2 cups.

Recipe to print on attached card:

Spicy Mulled Cider

4 cups apple juice, apple cider, or half apple juice
and half cranberry juice

2 tablespoons Spicy Mulled Cider Mix

In saucepan, combine juice and cider mix. Cover and bring to a simmer. Gently simmer for 20 minutes. Strain into mugs. Makes 4 servings.

Place a few of these gems in a wicker basket, Christmas tin or other fun and seasonal container. Fill in the spaces with wrapped chocolates, holiday napkins or a bottle of wine and you have beautiful and simone perele to be appreciated holiday gift baskets with that extra personal touch.

Karen Ciancio is a cook and lover of all things food and cooking related. Her website http://www.cookingnook.com contains easy dessert recipes, plus lots of other recipes, cooking tips, measurement conversions and kitchen ideas.