Safe and Sweet Holiday Treats That Will Have Your Pets Begging For More!

The thousands of pet lovers and pet professionals on zootoo.com - the leading networking site and resource for all pet lovers - know the holidays can be a hairy time. To make the season a little sweeter, pet expert and avid zootoo.com member Arden Moore shares a variety of veterinary approved recipes from her top selling doggie cookbook, Real Food for Dogs, to send pets everywhere into a tailspin.

The following recipes are fit for pets and people! For more recipes, go to www.zootoo.com.

Marvelous Mutt Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef (or ground sirloin)
2/3 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 carrot, finely chopped or grated
1 cup bread crumbs
2 eggs, whisked
3 tablespoons tomato paste (low sodium)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Scoop out by the spoonful and roll into mini-size meatballs. Place meatballs on a cookie sheet sprayed with nonfat cooking spray. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Cool and store in refrigerator in a container with a lid.

Peanut Butter Carrot Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup shredded carrots
1/3 cup cottage cheese
1/3 cup honey
1 apple, cored, peeled and diced
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Mix flour and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients except cottage cheese. Pour into greased 8-inch round cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool. Puree cottage cheese in blender for icing. Decorate with dabs of peanut butter and carrots.

Landing a good doctor can seem as improbable as snagging the man of your dreams. Take the experience of Lifetime Online community member Auntie M: “I have yet to find a doctor who’s really interested in finding the cause of my ailments. All [she] seems to do is prescribe pills.”
We asked Edward Krupat, M.D., director of the Harvard Medical School Center for Evaluation and a leading expert in the study of physician-patient relationships, for some suggestions. Here’s what to do before you slip into that skimpy paper gown.

Pick Your Priorities.

Think about what’s important to you in a doctor and write it down. (Don’t skip the little stuff — every detail is important.) Do you feel most comfortable with a woman? Do you prefer someone with a particular type of training? Maybe you think older and more experienced is better, like the Lifetime Online community member who writes: “I like my doctors to be in their late 40s with some gray hair.” Once you’ve defined your “ideal doctor type,” you’re ready to start your search.

Ask Around.

One of the easiest ways to find a good physician is to get a vote of confidence from someone you trust, such as a close friend, family member or co-worker with the same health insurance. Just be wary when people tell you that their doctors are “the best.” Says Dr. Krupat, “It can be tough to tell what ‘best’ means. Is the doctor ‘the best technician’ or ‘the best at spending time with a patient?’ Make sure that the person you’re getting a referral from has the same priorities that you do.”

Take Your Search Online.

Use the Web to find out where a particular doctor did her residency, what her specialties are — even what she likes to do in her spare time (see “Where the Doctors Are on the Web” at right). Also, look into patient referral services provided by hospitals and your health plan. Many insurance companies offer information about their member doctors, but you often have to ask to get the listings.

Audition The Doc.

Once you’ve found a potential candidate, set up an office visit to meet the doctor so you can find out whether or not your interests mesh. “I like to interview my doctors,” says Lifetime Online community member Selene. “Many people don’t realize that they are allowed to have expectations of their doctors beyond their simply showing up and writing a prescription.” Dr. Krupat agrees. “The first meeting is like a first date,” he says. “You can size each other up and find out whether or not you work well together.” During the meeting, tell the doctor what you’re looking for in terms of the relationship and ask him to tell you the same. For instance, Dr. Krupat has found that some patients get frustrated when physicians offer a number of treatment options, rather than just telling them what to do. Others prefer docs with a more give-and-take style.

* Be alert to these warning signs. If any of the following occurs, find another physician:

1. She gives you orders, rather than discussing options.
2. She doesn’t give you an opportunity to ask questions.
3. She rushes you, without an apology.
4. She interrupts you while you’re voicing a concern.

Ready for some eagerly awaited Halloween fun? Get those cauldrons a-bubbling while serving up some of these spook-a-licious treats for your ghostly guests.

Cheddar-Pumpkin Spread

• 5 cups (about 24 oz.) finely shredded Cheddar cheese
• 4 packages (8 oz. ea.) cream cheese, softened
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
• 1/4 cup additional cream cheese and Leaf Green Icing Color, if desired to decorate pumpkin

Line pan with plastic wrap; lightly spray pan with vegetable pan spray.

In food processor fitted with metal blade, combine all ingredients except extra cream cheese and icing color; process until smooth. Spoon into pan, divid-ing evenly between both pan cavities; press with back of spoon to pack mixture tightly into pan. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill several hours or overnight.

Unmold onto serving plate; smooth with spatula or knife. If desired, decorate with green tinted cream cheese. Serve with Halloween Pita Crisps, crackers or cut-up vegetables.

Makes about 8 cups spread.

Halloween Pita Crisps

• 1 package pocket pita breads
• Olive oil, vegetable oil or pesto
• Optional Suggested Toppings:
• Finely shredded cheese
• Minced fresh herbs, finely chopped garlic
• Coarsely ground salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Using desired Halloween-shaped mini cutter, press and
cut shapes from pita; pull apart into two pieces.

Arrange on ungreased cookie sheet. Brush with oil or pesto.

If desired, sprinkle with suggested toppings, salt and pepper.

Bake 5 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp.

Makes 48 to 54 crisps.

Tangled Web Custard Tarts

• 2 9-in. refrigerated pie crusts (one 15-oz. package)
• 1 package (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla or butterscotch pudding mix
• 2 cups cold milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon
• Orange, Violet or Black Decorating Gels, Orange Cookie Icing (Optional)

Preheat oven to 425°F. Soften pie crusts following package instructions.

Gently unroll crusts; cut each into about 4 1/2-in. circles, using the 4-in. removable tart pan bottom as a guide. Press each piece into 4-in. tart pan; prick bottom with fork. Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely.

In large bowl, prepare pudding mix with milk following package instructions. If desired, add pie spice. Spoon about
1/4 cup pudding into each cooled tart shell; spread out evenly. Squeeze Decorating Gel, Sparkle Gel or Cookie Icing in con-centric circles over pudding surface; run knife through pudding from center of circles to edge of tart to create spider web. Chill at least 20 minutes.

Makes 8 mini tarts.

Candy-Dipped Halloween Apples

• Medium apples
• Cookie Sticks (8-in.)
• Candy Melts (Light Cocoa, Dark Cocoa, or White)
• Halloween Pumpkin Confetti Sprinkles or
• Halloween Nonpareils
• Orange, Black or Lavender Sugars

Line cookie sheet or pan with parchment paper.

Wash and completely dry apples; insert cookie sticks into tops of apples.

In medium microwave-safe bowls, melt each variety of Candy Melts according to package directions.

Place sprinkles and sugars in small bowls. Dip apples into melted candy, then immediately into desired sprinkles or sugars.

Place on prepared pans, stick up; chill until firm.

Recipes Provided by FAMILY FEATURES

Gas is $4.00 a gallon.  Booking an airline flight costs as much as a mortgage.  Summer 2008 saw the creation of a new noun, the “staycation.”  Want to get ‘out of Dodge’ but don’t have a ton of cash? Enjoy your “staycation” by becoming a tourist inside or near your own home. Pauline Frommer of Pauline Frommer’s Travel Guides advises:

• Stay in a nearby hotel. Tell them you’re a local, and they may give you a discount so that you’ll recommend them to visiting friends or relatives. Many chamber of commerce websites list discount deals for locals as well.
• Consult guidebooks such as Frommers.com, Fodors.com and LonelyPlanet.com to find nearby hot spots. Remember how you purchased those entertainment coupon books from your neighborhood middle schooler? Flip through their pages for low-cost deals.
• Do you have lower cost modes of transportation in your area, like Greyhound or Amtrak? These forms of travel can get you to nearby points of interest without breaking the bank.
• Check out Web sites like Chowhound.com or Roadfood.com to find the best local eateries. Need to make a reservation? Opentable.com will book it for you and give you points to use later for dining deals.
• Join email lists for city-run or local points of interest to get the latest on deals. Even a free day at the art museum can make you feel like you are having a special day!

Today, we often hear that the environment we live in is toxic. From pollution to junk food, it’s easy to see why. But is there a solution? Detox diets are the new fad in quick fixes, and there are plenty to choose from. They include the raw food plan, the fruit flush, and even the diuretic diet.

I wanted to see if these “purification” diets are beneficial let alone feasible for anyone with a normal appetite and lifestyle to complete. So, I decided to try the popular Lemon Detox Diet.

The Diet

For 7-14 days participants consume a mixture of water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup. One glass includes 2 tbsp syrup, 1/10 tsp pepper, and 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice in 8 oz of water. Dieters are encouraged to drink 6-9 servings daily.

The Claim

The lemon juice supposedly rids your colon of waste, while the cayenne pepper eliminates mucus in the body. Other supposed benefits include weight lose, improved concentration, and increased energy.

Day One

I’m strangely excited to try the detox until I actually make it. A murky yellow liquid with floating red pepper flakes does not look appetizing to say the least. However, the taste is bearable. I’m pretty much starving all day and around lunchtime seriously consider quitting. But after 7 glasses of the concoction, I make it through the day with a surprising amount of energy.

Day Two

The diet is much easier today because I don’t have an appetite (something I have definitely never experienced). Surprisingly, I haven’t been cranky or tired, which usually happens when I go too long without eating. However, the detox makes it much more difficult to be social. Going out to lunch, dinner, or drinks is impossible, and no one wants to be the annoying person who just orders a cup of tea at a restaurant.

Day Three

I am taking back what I said yesterday. Today, I’m really grumpy and completely lacking energy. I cheat by having a couple of apples throughout the day, which I only think is semi-cheating. My face looks and feels less puffy, but I still can’t wait until this detox is over. I’ve also pathetically started to dream about food when I’m sleeping…I think that’s a bad sign for where this diet is going.

Day Four

I have officially become a fruit cheater. Adding a couple pieces of fruit to the diet definitely makes it easier to stick to, and I still feel like I’m detoxifying. My energy is pretty high, and I think the diet has made me sleep better (minus the bagel dreams).

Day Five

Although the diet went pretty well, this is my last day. A weekend on the detox sounds pretty much impossible unless I want to be a hermit.

Did it Work?

The detox definitely made me feel much better, but I don’t think I could do it for two weeks. Surprisingly, the hardest part was not the lack of food, but instead the limit it put on social engagements. Personally, the diet made me more conscious of why I was eating, which was often because of stress or sleepiness rather than hunger. Since completing the detox, I have also become more aware of the foods I eat. After five days of fruit and the concoction, hitting up the nearest fast food joint was the last thing on my mind. Instead, I craved fruits and vegetables and wanted to eat food that made me feel better physically and mentally. While I doubt the diet has any real health or weight loss benefits (my scale was not impressed by it), I believe it is a good way to get out of an eating funk. By wiping the slate clean on your eating habits you have the opportunity to make new healthier ones.