In our effort to get healthier, eat better, and watch our waistline, we often take drastic measures like cutting all sweets out of our diet. And those diets rarely last because we feel deprived. So rather than going completely drastic, here is a question I ask you to consider: Why not try small changes that you can live with? So instead of cutting all sweets out of your diet, why not replace the typical sweets you eat with a dessert that is healthier and that you can feel good about? And what tastier way to help you get that daily intake of veggies than through dessert? Here are a couple of recipes to help you in your urge to get healthy but not feel deprived.

Zucchini Crisp

5 cups sliced zucchini, peeled and seeded

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup lemon juice

3/4 cup water

Combine all of the above ingredients in a large saucepan. Cook the mixture until it starts to boil. Then boil the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes. Put the mixture in an 8- or 9-inch square pan.

Topping:

6 tablespoons butter, softened

1 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt, brown sugar, and baking powder. Mix well. Cut the flour into the mixture and combine until it is crumbly. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the zucchini mixture. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

Avocado Pie

1 (3-ounce) package lime or lemon-lime jello

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 can (8-ounce) crushed pineapple

1 medium avocado

1 cup boiling water

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 package (3-ounce) cream cheese

1 cup whipped cream

9-inch graham cracker pie crust

In a large bowl, put the jello, salt, and boiling water. Stir the mixture until the jello is dissolved. Drain the pineapple juice into a measuring cup. Add the lime juice to it. Add enough cold water to make the mixture equal 3/4 cup. Add this mixture to the jello mixture. Put the jello mixture in the refrigerator until it is very thick. While that is cooling, peel and half the avocado. Cut up half of the avocado into small pieces. In a small bowl, mash the other half of the avocado until it is smooth. Add the cream cheese to the mashed avocado and mix until well blended. Add the cream cheese mixture, avocado pieces, pineapple, and whipped cream to the jello mixture. Mix well and put into the pie crust. Refrigerate until the mixture is firm.

be very important and can certainly come at a premium price here in Center City Philadelphia Condominiums. Whether you are interested in living in a Rittenhouse Square hi-rise or in an Old City loft, you have to ask yourself: Whst is more important to me? An oversized bedroom or additional closet space? A larger kitchen or a larger living/dining area?

I don’t mean to be a big brain here, but I have seen a lot of architects really mess up an otherwise great floor plan with out-of-proportion room sizes. I mean there is one new building in town where the studio units, in a nice 600+/- sq. ft. new construction condo, have a kitchen the size of what you might find inside the Hearst Mansion. It was SOOOO stupid. First of all, consider your audience here - you think anyone who can fit into a 600 sq ft condo is going to have more pots and pans than say Rachael Ray? I don’t think those buyers have a great need for an overabundance of kitchen cabinets. Most of these young city dwellers don’t even know HOW to cook? Come on. These buyers are 23 year old urban professionals who, at best, know how to reheat a “Hot Pocket”. And the living room in this particular unit could barely hold a full sized couch with a few other pieces. And the bathroom was huge, with wide open expanses of tile flooring, with a pedestal sink. Smart. Real Smart.

The one thing I know that people have in their lives is an excess amount of crap. All the stuff we don’t use but never get rid of. The attachment may be sentimental, or for supposed future use, EVERYONE I know who lives in a Philadelphia condo could use more closet space for the physical baggage we carry through life. It seems the one important thing developers tend to miss when designing the new condominiums in town, it’s the amount of closet space available.

After listening to buyers for the past nineteen (19) years, I can attest to the overwhelming desire for buyers to have adequate proportioning to their Center City condo, and especially in terms of closet space. I was really impressed with the 1200 sq ft condominiums at Dockside down on the Delaware River, with two walk-in closets, and additional closets throughout the condo. That building is the exception, in my experience, rather than the rule as far as closet space is concerned. I was in another newer construction high rise building here in Philly the other day (you’ll have to guess which one) that had a two bedroom, moderate sized unit for over three quarters of a million, that had limited closet space, but a HUGE oversized master bedroom. That particular room could easily have been carved up to include a second, sensational walk-in closet. But the space was lost on the masses, and the unit remains on the market, nearing two years and counting.

Compensating for the lack of good space planning, I have heard sales spin “of perfect living bliss” inside this or that new condominium project here in Center City Philadelphia . The oversized bathroom allow for furniture (again, no thank you), or excessive cabinetry can be used as storage space of other items. Like shoes. Ick. And you may be told that closet space really doesn’t matter, and that any closet is a walk-in closet if you try really hard. But try telling that to yourself when you are looking for a place for your skinny jeans, your families’ china, or your boxes of college memorabilia that you can’t seem to part with after eighteen years. Space is indeed at a premium in condos in Philadelphia, and I have yet to meet a walk-in closet that was thought to be too excessive, or to impractical.

Organizing your Christmas items is the most effective way to preserve them for the years to come. While some of your Christmas decorations may simply be items used to fill an empty spot, for many of us, each item carries special memories. Whether it is a paper wreath made by a child, or an ornament purchased on your honeymoon, these items deserve special treatment. While any item can be broken or damaged while on display, items that are damaged while in storage are heartbreaking. To prevent this from happening, it is important to carefully plan how you are going to store your holiday treasures and take the time to store them properly.

So what is the best way to protect your precious memories? The first step is to know which dangers are present that can damage your decorations. While you know that the main concern for your Christmas decorations is breakage, but it is not the only threat present that can damage your ornaments. Others important dangers to your decorations are moisture and sunlight. Understanding each of these dangers can help you store your decorations properly to prevent any serious damage.

Protect From Breakage

Protecting your Christmas ornaments from breakage is the main concern of many. There are several ways to do this. The first is to invest in storage containers that are specifically made for Christmas storage. Ornament boxes are made of a sturdy plastic and have spaces for each ornament individually. This prevents the ornaments from hitting against each other and prevents the box from being smashed if it is stacked in the garage or basement. If your storage containers have empty room in them after careful packing, fill the space with crumpled newspaper or tissue paper. This prevents the items from banging against each other, which can lead to breakage.

Protect From Moisture

While breakage is an obvious problem, moisture is a more insidious one. You may not realize that moisture is damaging your ornaments until it is too late. Moisture is particularly damaging to soft items but can damage anything. If you must store your Christmas items in a damp area, there are several things that you can do to minimize the damage. Store your decorations in plastic containers; raise them a few inches off the ground and add silica gel to packing containers that contain wreathes and soft decorations. This can help prevent moisture from damaging your decorations.

Protect From UV Damage

Prevent damage from ultraviolet rays by storing your decorations in colored, non-clear containers. UV rays not only bleach out fabric but can weaken it as well. Many plastic containers that are used for storage are clear or opaque. While these are acceptable for storage in a basement, if the storage area receives light through windows, you should invest in colored plastic containers.

Once you know what the threats are to your Christmas decorations, you can protect them much more effectively. Proper organization of your holiday items allows you to find them easily and know that they are protected. While the initial investment in specially designed storage containers may cost more than storing the items in cardboard boxes or trying to fit them back into their original containers it is in an investment that will pay off. You will increase the life of your holiday ornaments, and make the decorating process one you enjoy rather than dread each year. Purchasing the proper storage containers for items such as wrapping paper, ceramic collectibles and candles is a treat that you deserve. The person that does the majority of the decorating should have the option of choosing which storage solutions would work best for the family. They are familiar with not only the decorations, but also the areas where the decorations are stored. This provides them with the most insight into what problems the area of the house may have such as moisture, rodent problems, or intense sunlight.

Once you have invested in these storage containers, they should last as long as your keepsakes. Avoid over packing to prevent the boxes from stretching out. This can cause problems with the seals in your lids, and handle with common sense for the longest life. While there is no reason to be overly gently with these storage containers, do not stack heavy boxes more than three high, and do not throw them around. Just because your items are tucked securely into, their storage container does not mean you can throw the boxes around as if you would other, unbreakable, loads. Ornament storage is important because each decoration has many memories that go with it and learning the proper way to store these decorations can be very beneficial. Consider these tips during the next holiday season and you can safely store your decorations for many years to come.

nism is on the rise in contemporary America, largely because of nutritional, ethical, and environmental concerns. Still, recent surveys put the number of true vegetarians at less than three percent of the U.S. Vegetarian food can be very simple; for example, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is vegetarian. Vegetables are a rich source of antioxidants and protect us from many diseases. Green vegetables contain essential vitamins & minerals and are thus very beneficial for health.

Probably one of the most perplexing thoughts a person has when they transition to vegetarianism is keeping their diet filled with a variety of fun, diverse, and nutrient-dense foods. It can sometimes feel like you’re cutting many options out since you’re no longer consuming meat, and it may seem you’re losing even more options if you’ve also decided to cut dairy and eggs from your diet as well. With a little creativity, planning, and forethought, you might be surprised how much variety you can achieve with your new vegetarian diet - perhaps even more than your meat-eating days!

Vegetarian recipes are tasty, and easy to make. You can turn any recipe into a purely vegetarian one by replacing the meats with any vegetarian alternative. Raw foods are considered healthy because they lose none of their nutrients through heat in the cooking process. More rigid raw eaters simply blend fruits and vegetables. Raw sliced almonds are also a nice alternative to pecans.Vegetarianism can be very confusing to those who are not familiar with it. But I have discovered that I feel better when I eat vegetarian meals. Raw foods are considered healthy because they lose none of their nutrients through heat in the cooking process. More rigid raw eaters simply blend fruits and vegetables. Raw sliced almonds are also a nice alternative to pecans. And contrary to popular belief, vegetarian recipes are full of the taste and enjoyment of many other foods you eat..

Vegetarian recipes provide the most efficient nutriment for the human system, because plants form the basis of the food chain, closest to the source of life itself, which is solar energy. Indian vegetarian dishes are loaded with antioxidants. Many spices protect against cancer, heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. Vegetable curries and usals. Salads, koshimbir and bhurta. Contrary to popular belief, preparing a quick easy vegetarian meal may be a convenient task after all.

Vegetarian recipes are included, as well as information on adapting some recipes to a vegetarian diet. Each recipe contains nutrition information per serving and even cost per serving, which many cooks find helpful. Raw foods are considered healthy because they lose none of their nutrients through heat in the cooking process. More rigid raw eaters simply blend fruits and vegetables. Raw sliced almonds are also a nice alternative to pecans. And contrary to popular belief, vegetarian recipes are full of the taste and enjoyment of many other foods you eat.

Vegetarianism isn’t just about food or health or what we put in our body we should remember that it is a lifestyle and a lifelong commitment that extends beyond the table. It extends to our own fashion to wardrobe to interior pieces and other things. The information, recipes and website links on this page are provided to help anyone begin or to increase their ability to be a vegetarian. Vegetarians have their own favorite dishes and desserts. Vegetarian diets call for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and soybeans as a replacement for meat (which is much higher in saturated fats and much lower in fiber, antioxidants). This contributes to a healthy heart.

Indian food is different from the food of any other country. India has a great variety of foods compared to any other country. Indian cuisine varies from region to region, reflecting the varied demographics of the ethnically diverse subcontinent . Cuisine across India has also been influenced by various cultural groups that entered India throughout history, from regions as diverse as West Asia , Central Asia and Europe. Gujarati cuisine of India is predominantly vegetarian among other Indian cuisines. For pure vegetarians India is a heaven.

Indian vegetarian dishes are loaded with antioxidants. Many spices protect against cancer, heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. Indian vegetarian food proves all of this wrong. Indian culinary, or the art of cooking, has evolved with the times imbibing its share of various ingredients by different froeign invasions of rulers and travelers but without affecting its original identity. Therefore, whether it is North India, South India, East India, West India, the central part and the north-eastern part - each place has its own flavor of food and style of cooking.

Meatless meals are great for stretching the family food budget. In general, vegetarian cooking provides essential protein nutrients from plant sources plus dairy products, eggs and whole grains. Meat can be considered as being a vital part of the main daily meal. While meat lovers will not have a problem with this inclusion into their meal, others may.

What wonderful peaches the little girl’s mum brought home from the market! First she washed them carefully and put them in a dish, and then she brought them into the room where her daughter was lying in bed sick. The little girl had a bad flu, and for three days she’d had a fever and felt sick to her stomach.

The night before the doctor had taken a look at her and gave her mother some advice: “Go to the market and get her some peaches. They help fight off a sick stomach and are very good for the digestion. They also have a lot of vitamin C and pectins, which are important for fighting off infections.”

“Look how rosy they are!” the pale-faced little girl cried delightedly, reaching for the dish.

“Yes, the peaches are really beautiful,” her mum agreed and offered her daughter the juiciest one. “That’s why they have such a delightful name.”

The peach turned out to be good and sweet, and smelled even better than usual.

“What a big pit it’s got, like a little rock,” the girl said in surprise as she eyed the hefty, wrinkled-looking stone. “I wonder what’s inside?”

“Bitter seeds that smell like almonds,” her mum answered, happy that her daughter seemed to have got some life back into her.

“Mum, if we plant the pit in a pot, will a peach tree grow out of it?” the curious little one asked.

“I think it would, if we remember to take good care of it. But,” her mum admitted, “I’ve never tried growing a fruit tree at home before.”

The girl’s mum had a lot of house plants. Thanks to her wise care they had beautiful-smelling flowers the whole year round.

“Mum, let’s plant the peach pit! Please, mummy!” the little girl said, thinking up everything she could to persuade her. “Just imagine, we’ll have our very own peaches growing right at home. I promise I’ll take care of it.”

“Okay, dear, let’s do it,” her mum eventually agreed, and she brought a spacious pot full of earth in from the balcony.

A few days later, when her daughter was feeling better, the big pot with the wonderful peach pit took up its place beside her bed. For a long time the little girl watched the dark earth that filled the pot almost to the brim, and dreamed of the little peach tree that would grow from it.

“Oh, I wish it would hurry up!” she thought. “I’m just dying to pick a peach from my own darling tree.”

No sooner did she think that thought than a beautiful fairy carrying a basket of peaches flew in and landed on the pot. “I’m the mistress of a big peach orchard,” she explained in a cheery voice, “and I’m giving you this basket of my very best peaches. You’re a clever girl! Not just everyone tries to grow a peach tree in their house, you know.”

With a worried frown the girl asked, “What if my tree doesn’t grow?”

“I’ll tap your pot with my magic peach twig,” the fairy assured her. “Then your tree will be sure to grow.”

“Oh good fairy! I’d love to visit your big orchard, I’ve never seen a peach tree before,” the girl said a little sadly.

“Well, now, that’s not a problem. Just have one of my juicy peaches to get yourself ready for the trip, and we’re off! Did you know that peaches are one of the best fruits for you? They’re just full of fructose sugar and organic acids,” the fairy explained, and she took a big rosy peach from her basket.

“My mum says that peaches have a beautiful name,” the girl said as she munched noisily on the fairy’s gift.

“You must have a wonderful mum,” the fairy said with a smile, and then she tapped the little girl with her magic twig. Suddenly they were in the fairy’s orchard.

“What a delicious smell!” the girl exclaimed as she looked around in delight and breathed in the orchard’s peach-scented air. She set off down a narrow path that ran beside the row of modest trees with wide-spreading branches and reddish-brown, scaly bark. She ran her finger the length of a long, green leaf to its pointed tip.

“Welcome, friend, we’re glad you came to visit,” the trees greeted her in friendly tones, and waved their branches, which were absolutely covered with great rosy peaches. “Continue along this path and you’ll come to our gardener’s house. He’ll serve you up some peach tea with delicious peach jam, and tell you anyting you’d care to ask.”

Soon the girl saw a tidy little house with a kindly man standing on the steps. He smiled and stepped aside to let her pass.

“Please do come in, my dear, it’s been ages since I’ve had any visitors. And today I’ve baked a peach pie using the fairy’s own recipe, you’re sure to love it.”

Over the tea, delicious-smelling jam and flaky pie - which absolutely melted in her mouth - the curious little girl asked all about peaches and peach trees.

“When do peach trees bloom, and what colour are the flowers?”

“The flowers are pinkish-coloured and usually come out even earlier than the leaves, in March or April,” the old gardener answered. “Peach leaves and flowers are like medicine - they relax you. I gather them every year, and dry them.”

“Why have some of your peaches lost their fuzz? They’re smooth.”

“Those are nectarines - that’s what we call fuzzless peaches. The nectarine fairy has a great big tree farm in China , our peach fairy gave her the pits to plant. The trees are a lot like peach trees - they don’t like cold, either - and they get sick from the same diseases, grow the same amount of fruit which are just of full of vitamins and energy, just like fuzzy peaches. Honestly, I can’t imagine what isn’t inside a peach or nectarine: they’ve got iron, and silicon, and phosphor, and plenty of sugar for energy.”

“I think that nectarines are like peaches that are all dressed up,” the little girl said. “Peaches are like a patch of sun on a dull day, and nectarines are like bright sunshine.”

“You’re very observant. Also, nectarine skin doesn’t tear so easily as peach skin, so they’re much easier to collect and store and move from place to place.” the gardener commented with a smile.

“Tell me, please, does the peach fairy have her own house in the orchard, and where has she gone off to? Why did she disappear as soon as I got here?”

“Our peach fairy lives in every peach pit, in every peach tree and every single peach. Sometimes she sleeps in one of her little houses, sometimes she’s busy flying about with her magic twig helping people to grow those marvellous peach trees,” the gardener answered. “Of course, she only goes to those who want to make their trees happy.”

Before long the friendly fairy herself came for the girl and tapped her again with the magic twig, and … she woke up.

“Good morning, darling,” she heard her mother say in a voice she knew so well. “How did you sleep?”

“Mummy, the good peach fairy came to see me, and then she took me to visit her orchard. Just imagine! It was so beautiful! Now I know everything about peaches, and my peach tree is sure to be wonderful, because she tapped the pot with her magic twig.”

Smiling, the little girl cast a fond glance at the pot, where the fairy was asleep inside the cozy pit. And her mother smiled too.

***

Healthy Recipes included in the story:

Fruit soup

- 2 peaches

- 2 apples 1 pear

- 100g cherries

- 2 tbsp soured cream

Remove the peel and seeds from the peaches, apples and pear, chop the fruits into small chunks and place in a bowl. Remove the stones from the cherries. Grind together the cherries and fruit skins. Place the cherries and skins in a pan of boiling water, and simmer for two hours. Pour the fruit-infused water over the bowl of fruit chunks and add the soured cream.

Cheese soufflé with peaches

- 500 g of cottage cheese

- 850 ml. of peach compote

- 1 cup of soured cream

- ½ a cup of caster sugar

Mix the cottage cheese with half a cup of the peach compote, and mix together thoroughly. Mix the soured cream with the caster sugar and add to the cottage cheese mixture. Add the rest of the peach compote and decorate with slices of peach.

when you are starting a new weight loss program you can be lost about what to eat. No problem! Here are some great foods that are easy to make and are healthy.

Ginger White Tea

White tea is a delicate tasting tea that is complemented by soft flavored herb and spices. This tea has just a touch of ginger to give the drink subtle layers of flavor.

INGREDIENTS:

- 1 bag of Tetley White Tea or another comparable White Tea brand

- Boiling hot water

- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

- Sugar substitute (optional)

PREPARATION: Place the ginger and the white tea bag into a mug or teacup and pour the boiling water over the top. Cover and let steep for 2-4 minutes. Add a sugar substitute if desired and stir. Makes one serving with zero calories.

Low Calorie Turkey Ball Soup

This soup is hearty and filling. You can serve it on cold nights as a main dish, or on the side with a sandwich. Turkey ball soup also makes a great lunch. It only has 178 calories per a two cup serving, so fill up!

INGREDIENTS:

- 1 pound ground turkey

- 2 cans mixed vegetables

- 3 teaspoons beef bouillon

- 1 ounce dry pasta

- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

- salt and pepper to taste

- 1/2 gallon of water

PREPARATION: Fill a large pot with water and add the canned vegetables, bouillon, pasta and seasonings to it. Put the pot on high heat while you prepare the turkey. Prepare the turkey by rolling small pieces into balls the size of jelly beans and then add the turkey balls to the pot. Let the soup cook until it is boiling and the turkey is well cooked.

Healthy Pasta Dinner

Kids love this dinner because of all the textures and tastes. Broccoli is nubby, the pasta is firm, the sauce is smooth, and the chicken is chewy. It is a winning combination.

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. package of frozen broccoli

12 oz. package of Smart Taste elbow pasta (or another kind of high fiber pasta) cooked

1 tbs. Italian seasoning

1 clove of garlic

Salt Butter flavored cooking spray

2 cans chopped chicken ****** (You can also leave out the canned chicken and serve the pasta with a whole chicken ****** or fish.)

Salt

PREPARATION: Steam the broccoli, then drain it and toss with pasta and chopped chicken ******. Chop garlic into small pieces. Spray a small saucepan with cooking spray and add the garlic and Italian seasoning. Pour garlic over the pasta mixture and toss. Add salt to taste. Serve immediately.