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    <title><![CDATA[Glam Media Network Blog Posts for - Food & Wine]]></title>
    <link>http://www.glam.com/</link>
    <description><![CDATA[Current Glam Media Network Blog Entries for - Food & Wine]]></description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:02:05 PST</pubDate>
    <generator>Glam Media Publishing Engine</generator>
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      <title><![CDATA[Reactions to Audi Green Super Bowl Ad]]></title>
      <link>http://www.blisstree.com/articles/reactions-to-audi-green-super-bowl-ad/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Audi 2010 green car Super Bowl commercial was hilarious in my opinion but it&#8217;s unleashed a wealth of opinions that border on whack job. First watch the commercial&#8230;

Now I&#8217;ve seen two major trains of thought surrounding this commercial.

This commercial proves the green folks are nuts.
 This commercial is making fun of people who are honestly into green living.

Not working for Audi, I&#8217;m not 100% about what their agenda was, although I&#8217;ve got sinking suspicion that their major goal is to sell cars (gasp). But of course people over think everything. At SuperBowl Commercials, many comments relate that this commercial proves green people are insane OR that Audi went too far trying to make people feel guilty about not living green. For example&#8230;

&#8220;This is so close to reality its ridiculous! Environmentalism has become a cult and if you disagree with it, youre immediately labeled.&#8221;
&#8220;Awesome. This ad shows what NUT JOBS the environmentalist wackos really are!&#8221;
&#8220;At first this commercial ticked me off but now I see that it was a satire on the enviromental wackos.&#8221;

WOW. Really? So it&#8217;s insane to use a reusable bag or reusable water bottle or compost. These are barely green living steps in my opinion; just common good sense. These aren&#8217;t extreme ideas &#8211; these are easy and everyone can do them. Minus the whole, &#8220;Buy a green car&#8221; deal at the end, these are not extreme or crazy steps. If using a reusable bag is wacko I&#8217;m wondering what these folks think about solar panels.
There are also people who think that this commercial makes eco-friendly folks look bad.
I have met nutty over the top, holier than thou green types and they drive me nuts. I think this commercial made me laugh for just that reason. That said, if you&#8217;re into green living I don&#8217;t think this commercial is cause to be offended unless you do happen to be one of those, &#8220;Everyone must live like me types&#8221; and if you are, maybe you should rethink your strategy. If you&#8217;re always preaching green at everyone you know maybe you need a new tactic. Small steps can add up, not everyone needs to go totally green to make a difference.
Also, although I do think green living is valuable, I can still recognize that you have to be able to laugh at yourself once in a while. It&#8217;s a funny take on green living but it didn&#8217;t offend me.
A few more opinions:
The New York Times note, &#8220;Officious green police punish citizens who are not sufficiently eco-conscious, but an owner of an Audi A3 TDI with clean-diesel technology drives away scot-free. This misguided spot put the mental in environmental.
And then there were the totally &#8220;creeped out&#8221; people.
Some people called the commercial out for what I think it is &#8211; green that appeals to more than one sort of eco-person &#8211; i.e. not all tree huggers are extreme. This isn&#8217;t a huge deal. It&#8217;s a flippin&#8217; commercial. Watch it, maybe buy a reusable water bottle or heck the whole damn car, or don&#8217;t but overreacting doesn&#8217;t really win either side any points. Basically I think it was a commercial; not a big deal. It&#8217;s supposed to sell cars. Not sure if Audi will but it did get people talking about them for sure. People just need to chill.
What did you think of the commercial? 
Post from: Blisstree
Reactions to Audi Green Super Bowl Ad]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:25:01</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Crushing Ice is a Smash]]></title>
      <link>http://www.thefoodsection.com/foodsection/2010/02/crushing-ice-is-a-smash.html</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Need to crush some ice and relieve some stress at the same time?]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:20</pubDate>
      <gf:blogName><![CDATA[The Food Section]]></gf:blogName>
      <gf:blogUrl>http://www.thefoodsection.com/</gf:blogUrl>
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      <title><![CDATA[Purina Ones Tour for Heroes]]></title>
      <link>http://www.blisstree.com/articles/purina-ones-tour-for-heroes/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To help pets in need, Purina One has teamed up with Martha Stewart to visit animal shelters from San Francisco to New York City throughout the month of February. At each stop, Purina One will give out free Purina One dog and cat food to all attendees (11,000 bags across the nation!), and will also be hosting adoption events at local shelters. 

Purina One wants to help the animals affected by the current economy, especially those who don&#8217;t have a bowl of food or a warm, caring home. 
Even if Purina One isn&#8217;t stopping by your city, pet lovers can still help pets by logging on to tourforheroes.marthastewart.com and search for an adoptable pet anywhere in the United States, and then click to share with friends on Facebook. 
Every time a homeless pets photo is shared, Purina One will donate $1  up to $50,000  to feed pets in need in local communities!
Post from: Blisstree
Purina One&#8217;s Tour for Heroes]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:49:25</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[oh joy's shop-a-matic...]]></title>
      <link>http://ohjoy.blogs.com/my_weblog/2010/02/oh-joy-shopamatic.html</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ I&#39;ve recently collaborated with New York Magazine&#39;s Shop-a-Matic to guest edit a collection of some of my favorite home decor items available in New York and online. You can click here to see the special Oh Joy set of picks!]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:38:33</pubDate>
      <gf:blogName><![CDATA[Oh Joy!]]></gf:blogName>
      <gf:blogUrl>http://ohjoy.blogs.com/</gf:blogUrl>
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      <title><![CDATA[Ruhlman Book Deal for "Twenty Techniques"]]></title>
      <link>http://www.thefoodsection.com/foodsection/2010/02/ruhlman-book-deal-for-twenty-techniques.html</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Michael Ruhlman has signed book deal with Chronicle Books to write Twenty Techniques, "providing the key kitchen methods and techniques to make you a better cook." The book is due out in 2011.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:07:47</pubDate>
      <gf:blogName><![CDATA[The Food Section]]></gf:blogName>
      <gf:blogUrl>http://www.thefoodsection.com/</gf:blogUrl>
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      <title><![CDATA[Pretty 10-bottle wine rack]]></title>
      <link>http://www.blisstree.com/cooking-gadgets/pretty-10-bottle-wine-rack/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The design of this pretty Oenophilia Bali Natural 10-Bottle Wine Rack was inspired by the Bali sea shore, where the waves come in gently and evenly. Made of wood and stainless steel, it can sit either as shown or on end&#8230;although then it might hold only 9 bottles. It&#8217;s only 10 inches high, so it will fit on most counters or buffets.
About $60.

Image: Bed Bath &amp; Beyond
Post from: Cooking Gadgets]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:00:30</pubDate>
      <gf:blogName><![CDATA[Cooking Gadgets]]></gf:blogName>
      <gf:blogUrl>http://www.cooking-gadgets.com/</gf:blogUrl>
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      <title><![CDATA[{oh joy} annual survey + kate spade giveaway...]]></title>
      <link>http://ohjoy.blogs.com/my_weblog/2010/02/oh-joy-annual-survey-a-giveaway.html</link>
      <description><![CDATA[  The time has come for the Oh Joy annual survey where I check in and find out who you are, how you got here, and why you come back for more. It should take 5-10 minutes to complete, and as a thank you, one lucky reader will win this Kate Spade Tutti Frutti Maryanne bag in yellow! 

Simply go to katespade.com, choose an item you&#39;d wear with the Tutti Frutti bag, complete the survey here, and type in your information at the end. The survey will close at 11:59pm EST this Friday, February 12th, and one winner will be chosen at random. Thanks and good luck all!{above images styled by the fabulous Mrs. Lilien. photos by Oh Joy. see outtakes from this series right here.}]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:29:27</pubDate>
      <gf:blogName><![CDATA[Oh Joy!]]></gf:blogName>
      <gf:blogUrl>http://ohjoy.blogs.com/</gf:blogUrl>
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      <title><![CDATA[Food Fraud in Haiti]]></title>
      <link>http://www.thefoodsection.com/foodsection/2010/02/food-fraud-in-haiti.html</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Counterfeiters are printing fake tickets to gain access to free rice distributions, complicating donations meant for the hungriest Haitians.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:07:22</pubDate>
      <gf:blogName><![CDATA[The Food Section]]></gf:blogName>
      <gf:blogUrl>http://www.thefoodsection.com/</gf:blogUrl>
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      <title><![CDATA[Dmanburger "flip Burger]]></title>
      <link>http://www.ifood.tv/blog/dmanburger-flip-burger</link>
      <description><![CDATA[On 59th and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan youll find Bloomingdales, the iconic department store famous for such historic events as the invention of the hoop skirt, the modern shopping bag and one of the stops on the Queen of Englands 1976 New York shopping spree. Flip burger shares the menswear floor with such labels as Helmut Lang, Victor Rolf and Hugo Boss. It caters to high-end Eu...
                Continue reading "Dmanburger flip Burger"&raquo;]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:02:06</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Foursquare and Zagat Team Up]]></title>
      <link>http://www.thefoodsection.com/foodsection/2010/02/foursquare-and-zagat-team-up.html</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Location-based mobile app Foursquare is partnering with Zagat, the restaurant-guide publisher. It will offer a Foodie badge that can be earned by checking into Zagat-rated restaurants in major cities.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:01:26</pubDate>
      <gf:blogName><![CDATA[The Food Section]]></gf:blogName>
      <gf:blogUrl>http://www.thefoodsection.com/</gf:blogUrl>
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      <title><![CDATA[Do you muddle?]]></title>
      <link>http://www.blisstree.com/cooking-gadgets/do-you-muddle/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To muddle is to combine ingredients like fruit in the bottom of your glass, mushing them with a muddler (well, actually muddling them with a muddler) before you add the liquids. It could be considered an essential bar tool for those who like fruity drinks. It&#8217;s also a good tool to use with herbs like the mint in a mint julep.

This Muddler is about 9-1/2 inches long, and has a concave bottom with little burls on it to smash more effectively. Dishwasher safe, and about $21.
Image: Bed Bath &amp; Beyond
Post from: Cooking Gadgets]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:00:57</pubDate>
      <gf:blogName><![CDATA[Cooking Gadgets]]></gf:blogName>
      <gf:blogUrl>http://www.cooking-gadgets.com/</gf:blogUrl>
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      <title><![CDATA[Create Your Day - Were Almost There!]]></title>
      <link>http://weelicious.com/2010/02/09/create-your-day-were-almost-there/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[We&#8217;ve almost raised $25,000 for Share Our Strength. Please help us meet that goal by going to QuakerOats.com and &#8220;Creating Your Day&#8221;! It takes less then a minute and it&#8217;s a ton of fun coming up with a name for your oatmeal creation.
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      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:33:54</pubDate>
      <gf:blogName><![CDATA[Weelicious]]></gf:blogName>
      <gf:blogUrl>http://www.weelicious.com</gf:blogUrl>
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      <title><![CDATA[Treat your garden seeds with care]]></title>
      <link>http://www.blisstree.com/articles/treat-your-garden-seeds-with-care/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Garden seeds, if you think about it are pretty amazing. Just a few seeds can grow enough veggies for many summer salads, baskets of flowers, and enough seasoning for all your dishes year round. However, while seeds do have seemingly magical qualities they&#8217;re also fragile if not treated right. You need to care for your seeds carefully, not only to preserve the chance to grow a lovely garden but to save money and time as well. It&#8217;s much nicer not to have to buy new seeds each year.

How to care for your seeds&#8230;

Until you&#8217;re ready to plant or soak seeds for planting, always keep seeds perfectly dry. Moisture is the death of seeds, at least until they&#8217;re in the soil.
If you collect and save your own seeds allow them to sit at room temp until perfectly dry. After that store in a small container or envelope in a cool place away from moisture and bugs. Some people won&#8217;t save seeds in common everyday envelopes, thinking they do need a fancy seed saving kit, but I&#8217;ve always stored saved seeds in plain old envelopes with zero trouble.
Long term seed storage may require more than a simple envelope though. My local extension offers a good way to save seeds for the long-term; &#8220;place seed packets or seed envelopes in a jar, seal the jar tightly and place it in a refrigerator or freezer. To help avoid too much moisture, place a small, cloth bag filled with dry, powdered milk beneath the seed packets in the bottom of the jar. Use about 1/2 cup of dry milk from a recently opened package.&#8220;
Label! When it comes to seed saving or if you accidentally rip a package, label and date the new envelope. I&#8217;ve forgotten to label before and it&#8217;s such a waste if you forget to label a hard to recognize seed.
Unless you&#8217;re dealing with hard seeds, for example lupine or morning glory, handle seed packets carefully. If you rub the outside of the packet to see if you can tell how many seeds are in there or try to open a packet while wearing garden gloves (tough) you can break the protective seed coating which reduces germination odds.
In order to avoid waste and to avoid harming fragile seeds sow tiny carefully. Snip the smallest bit of corner off your seed packet and carefully tap the packet gently allowing some seeds to escape to the soil.

[image via stock.xchng]
Post from: Blisstree
Treat your garden seeds with care]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:55:18</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Sony Ericsson Releasing Green Smart Phone]]></title>
      <link>http://www.blisstree.com/articles/sony-ericsson-releasing-green-smart-phone/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Sony Ericsson is on a serious roll this year. Just in time for Christmas last year they introduced two new green phones in their line-up of Green Heart products and now a few days ago they announced the release of another green phone, the Sony Ericsson Aspen.
The Sony Ericsson Aspen is a windows mobile QWERTY phone primarily for heavy message and calendar users. This newest Green Heart edition is feature rich and allows for easy multi-tasking combining the touch experience and a real QWERTY keyboard. You can organize and adapt panels to change during the day and use a Slide View for quick access to common features.







Other perks: 

View and edit office files easily with one touch operation.
 Access the internet in one click.
 The QWERTY keyboard is made for fast and easy typing.
 Simple email set up.
 Secure your phones contents through the Microsoft MyPhone service, which remotely erases phone data when the handset is lost or stolen.
 Use the Media Browser and PlayNow for fun and access to social networks and media files.
 There&#8217;s a-GPS, Google Maps and a cool 3.2megapixel camera.

The Sony Ericsson Green Heart phones include eco-friendly features that benefit the earth and help reduce CO2 emissions such as

 Recycled plastics
 E-manual in phone
 Free from hazardous chemicals
 Low power consumption charger (EP300 GreenHeart)
 Walk Mate eco application
 Green calculator
 Minimized packaging

Sony Ericsson Aspen will be available in selected markets from Q2 in Iconic Black and White Silver. You can also create your own phone booth with optional extra Bluetooth Noise Shield Handsfree VH700 and charge your phone the eco-friendly way with the Energy Saving Mini-Charger EP800.
[images via Sony Ericsson]
Post from: Blisstree
Sony Ericsson Releasing Green Smart Phone]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:50:19</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[graffEats Guerrilla Dinner for Valentine's Day]]></title>
      <link>http://feteafete.com/blog/food_drink/graffeats_guerrilla_dining_for_valentines_day/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Is your favorite restaurant fully booked for V-day? If you're feeling a tad bit nervous about your dinner plans, graffEATS Guerilla Dining has a cute Valentine's "Dinner and a Flick" dinner that will...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]


        
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      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:03:10</pubDate>
      <gf:blogName><![CDATA[Fete a Fete]]></gf:blogName>
      <gf:blogUrl>http://www.feteafete.com/blog/</gf:blogUrl>
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      <title><![CDATA[Animals Used in the Making of Avatar]]></title>
      <link>http://www.blisstree.com/articles/animals-used-in-the-making-of-avatar/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Yes, theblockbuster movie &#8220;Avatar&#8221; used animals, but the animals weren&#8217;t used. They were treated nicely!
The film received American Humane&#8217;s highest rating &#8212; Monitored: Outstanding / No Animals Were Harmed.

American Humane applauds Avatar director James Cameron and the production for earning our highest rating by ensuring the safety of the animals used in the filming, said Karen Rosa, vice president of American Humanes Film &amp; TV Unit.
She added that PETA was apparently unaware that live animals were used in the film for motion capture.
How did the animals figure in with the making of &#8220;Avatar&#8221;?
So that movements and expressions could be captured, human performers in &#8220;Avatar&#8221; wore computerized motion sensors near their joints and facial areas. However, the animals had to be  captured differently due to their body shapes and fur.
Animals required a bit more preparation in order to record motion data. Trainers shaved small areas of fur or hair near joints and on the face. They also attached Velcro pads with white light-reflective balls to the shaved spots with a nontoxic, nonirritating silicone adhesive. Horses tails were wrapped in a sensor-laden material rather than being shaved.
American Humane explained that in scenes where horses appear to be near fire, trainers cued them to act skittish or afraid. The horses were never near fire or actually agitated. All adhesive and any other markings on the animals were washed off each evening after filming ended. American Humane strongly approves of CGI to increase animal safety during filming.
In situations where there may be dangerous animal action, the organization will &#8220;strongly encourage simulating the action through the use of computer-generated images (CGI), animatronics or fake animal doubles to minimize the risk of injury to animals, Rosa noted.
(Image credit: Newscom)
Post from: Blisstree
Animals Used in the Making of Avatar]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:25:16</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Have you tried black (aka purple) rice?]]></title>
      <link>http://www.eatsmartagesmart.com/black-ric-purple-rice/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[
Since I just bought some purple rice for the first time in my life yesterday, I thought Id share the experience with you.
I love rice. I love jasmine scented Thai rice, I love Italian Arborio rice, I love brown rice, I love wild rice (okay, not technically rice, but more of a grass that blooms), I love red rice and I even will enjoy parboiled rice a couple times a year. Ive been eating rice as long as Ive been eating hot peppers.
The native rice dish from my part of the world originated in Africa and came to South America, Central America and the Caribbean from slavery. Its one of the rare dishes that most people who have any black and/or Hispanic heritage eat: rice and red beans!
My rice and beans is a much healthier option than what my grandmother use to prepare. She had this habit of double frying the beans after they had boiled and before adding the rice to the mixture. She used to add spices to the fried beans to make them stand out even more and they were incredibly delicious.
I remember waiting patiently for her to finish double frying the beans because shed always serve me a little portion on the side.
I dont double fry my beans. I simply boil them, reserve some of the dark coloured water and once Ive drained the rest of the water, I add my rice. I will also add chunks of tomatoes and pieces of onions in my rice and beans.
Since my history and love for rice goes way back, I was super excited to try black rice!
&gt;&gt;&gt;What is black/purple rice?
Before cooking this rice, its black, but when you put it into a pot to cook, it turns a deep-dark-purple colour. It&#8217;s sometimes referred to as forbidden rice.
Its black on the outside because the bran that coats the rice is black. The rice turns a purple colour because of the anthocyanin found in the rice. You can get a lot of fibre from eating this rice as well as minerals such as iron. This rice has a strong nutty flavour to it. They are often eaten just like normal rice but theyre also used for desserts.
&gt;&gt;&gt; How do you cook black/purple rice? 
 

This is a recipe for purple sticky rice to be used as a dessert, puddings and rice balls.
1) Rinse the rice 2-3 times until the water runs clear
2) Put the rinsed rice into a bowl and fill it with cool water. Make sure the water is 2-3 inches above the rice.
3) Leave the rice in the water for 6-8 hours.
4) Drain the rice and then place it in cheesecloth.
5) Wrap the rice up with the cheesecloth and then place it in a steaming basket.
6) Put 6-8 cups of water into a sticky rice steamer and bring it to a boil.
7) Place the steaming basket in the sticky rice steamer. (Make sure the bottom of the basket doesn&#8217;t touch the water.
#8) Take a standard 8-inch lid to put loosely on top of the basket.
9) Steam the rice for 45 minutes or until it&#8217;s tender.
Source: Purcell Mountain Farms
&gt;&gt;&gt; Where do you find purple rice?
For now, Ive only seen it sold at natural health food store and certain stores that sell food in bulk.
You could also order black rice on Amazon or you can find the same brand, Lotus Foods, at Whole Foods.
&gt;&gt;&gt; A few good sites to check if you want to know more:
1) Black rice on Ochef
2) More of the scientific facts of black rice
Photo of purple rice in a bowl from Epicurious
 
 All copyrights reserved to http://www.eatsmartagesmart.com in all countries. 
&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt; If youre viewing this healthy eating or healthy living tip as part of an aggregated content stream from different sites, or as a re-blogged post, please check out the content on the original Web site at www.EatSmartAgeSmart.com
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      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:00:08</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Donate for Free to Help Pets in Need]]></title>
      <link>http://www.blisstree.com/articles/purina-one-tour-for-heroes/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Are homeless animals heroes? I think so. It takes a lot of courage to be a pet without a home of your own, but you can help in a couple of ways during the Purina ONE Tour for Heroes, ending on February 26. During the tour, Purina ONE will be helping pets in need with adoption events and temporary food banks.
If the tour is in your area, please visit.
Upcoming stops include HALO Animal Rescue in Phoenix on February 9, the Houston Humane Society on February 12 and the Humane Society of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale on February 16. Read the complete list of tour stops.
And, since Martha Stewart is assisting with the effort, you may also help from the comfort of your own home or office.
Visit MarthaStewart.com/pet-adoption and share the profile of your favorite adoptable pet with your Facebook friends! Simply use the handy search tool to find a cute dog or cat, then connect with Facebook with a click and add your own personalized message if you want.
For each profile shared, Purina ONE will donate $1 worth of food to pet food banks across the US to help feed pets in need. They&#8217;ll donate up to $50,000 worth of pet food if enough pet profiles are shared between January 15 and March 31, 2010.
Visit now to share a pet with your Facebook friends. It takes less than three minutes (unless, of course, you get caught up looking at all the sweet pets).
(Image via Purina ONE)
Post from: Blisstree
Donate for Free to Help Pets in Need]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:13:33</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Raspberry Chocolate Heart Tart]]></title>
      <link>http://www.blisstree.com/chocolatebytes/raspberry-chocolate-heart-tart/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Raspberries and chocolate go together as deliciously as, well, strawberries and chocolate, and peanut butter and chocolate, and&#8230; you get the idea! For this Valentine&#8217;s Day, instead of buying something pre-made (though there&#8217;s nothing wrong with that!) surprise your loved ones with this yummy chocolate and raspberry tart.

Raspberry Chocolate Heart Tart
from nestle
1 purchased refrigerated pie pastry for 9-inch pie
1 cup (6 ounces) Nestle Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups raspberries, rinsed and dried
Sifted powdered sugar
 Place pastry circle with plastic removed on lightly floured surface; roll out slightly. Trim small amount of pastry away to form heart shape. Place heart on ungreased baking sheet. Turn edges under 1/2 inch; flute. Prick pastry with tines of fork.
 Bake in preheated 425 degree F oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on baking sheet on wire rack.
 Microwave morsels and sweetened condensed milk in medium, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract. Spread over crust. Refrigerate for a few minutes or until chocolate is set.
 Arrange raspberries over chocolate; sprinkle with powdered sugar. Makes 4-6 servings.
[image: flickr]
Post from: Chocolate Bytes



   
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      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:50:40</pubDate>
      <gf:blogName><![CDATA[Chocolate Bytes]]></gf:blogName>
      <gf:blogUrl>http://chocolatebytes.com/</gf:blogUrl>
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      <title><![CDATA[Maternal Age Linked with Autism Risk]]></title>
      <link>http://www.blisstree.com/articles/maternal-age-linked-with-autism-risk/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Researchers now say they&#8217;ve confirmed that maternal age is linked with a significantly elevated risk of autism in children. And the father&#8217;s age may not matter as much as previously thought.
The research from the University of California &#8211; Davis was published online today in the February issue of the journal Autism Research. The study is important since it&#8217;s one of the largest to quantify how each parent&#8217;s age (separately and together) impacts the risk of autism in children.

The risk of having a child with autism increased by 18% for each five-year increase in maternal age. This means that a mom aged 40 is 50% more likely to give birth to a child later diagnosed with autism than a mom aged 25 to 29 years.
Janie Shelton, lead author of the study and a doctoral student at UC Davis, said:
&#8220;This study challenges a current theory in autism epidemiology that identifies the father&#8217;s age as a key factor in increasing the risk of having a child with autism. It shows that while maternal age consistently increases the risk of autism, the father&#8217;s age only contributes an increased risk when the father is older and the mother is under 30 years old. Among mothers over 30, increases in the father&#8217;s age do not appear to further increase the risk of autism.&#8221;
Among the births to moms younger than 25, children fathered by a male more than 40 years old were twice as likely to develop autism compared to children whose father was between 25 and 29. However, for moms more than 30 years old, the increased risk of older dads went away.
For the study, researchers used e-records detailing all live births in California between January 1990 and December 1999. The records included both the maternal and paternal ages of parents. To find out which kids developed autism, researchers used records from the state Department of Developmental Services.
All said, the research included approximately 4.9 million births and 12,159 cases of autism.
Researchers aren&#8217;t yet sure why advanced age affects autism risk. Some theories include maternal antibodies to fetal brain protein or an accumulation of environmental chemicals in the body.
(Image via stock.xchng)
Post from: Blisstree
Maternal Age Linked with Autism Risk]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:42:20</pubDate>
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