Lighter Desserts

Desserts are wonderful but they come with so many calories.
Here are a few ideas for cutting back.

1. Don't grease pans with butter or margarine. Use a spritz of cooking spray instead.
2. Omit up to 1/2 of the butter, margarine or oil in cakes, breads, muffins or bar cookies. Use applesauce or fruit-based replacement(as Lighter Bake).
3. Substitute plain or low-fat yogurt or reduced fat sour cream for regular sour cream in cakes and muffins.
4. Use light cream cheese in cheesecakes instead of regular. It will save 6 grams of fat and 60 calories per slice.
5. Use 1/4 cup of no cholesterol egg substitute or 2 egg whites for each egg (up to 2 eggs) in breads, muffins and cakes. Too many egg whites will affect the texture.
6. Instead of the standard size chocolate chips in cookies use 1/2 the amount of mini semisweet chips.
7. Skip the bottom crust of a pie. Pour filling into pie plate and add top crust. This will be cobbler style.
8. Use 1% or skim milk and rather than heavy cream pour in light cream or half and half. (If making whipping cream you will need the regular heavy cream). For evaporated or condensed milk use the low fat or fat free.

HIS ALL FOR ME

How can you thank the One who gave His all - His precious blood - to redeem me from all iniquity.
His love surpasses knowledge. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the Savior and Light of the world!
Thank Him by living a life that points the way to Him. Keep Christ holy in your hearts always being ready to make a defense to everyone who ask you about the hope that is in you yet with gentleness and reverence.
John 4:42, 8:12, 14:6; Ephesians 3:19; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 3:15

EASTER BAGS

BE CREATIVE WITH DECORATED BAGS FOR EASTER

Grass: crepe or tissue paper in small strips

Eggs: colored craft or construction paper

Bunny: pom-poms (smaller one for the head)

Eyes: black beads or wiggly eyes

Ears: 1 bump chenille stem cut in 2 appropriate sizes

Ribbon around neck

Decorate to your hearts content!

(can add a tiny pink pom-pom for nose; use blush if you like on the front center on the ears)

ROCKET FUEL IN BABY FORMULA

Another shocking bit of news that has come out this week is that 15 brands of powdered infant formula contain perchlorate - a rocket fuel ingredient. The water in 28 states also contain this chemical so babies in those states get a double dose if formula is mixed with tap water. This is definitely above safe levels if there is such a thing as safe levels in food or liquid.
This report is from the U.S. Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The article I received is from EWG.org They have a "take action" page if you want to go to their website.

Children's Bath Products

Shocking news that I just received from the Environmental Working Group is that several of the top selling children's bath products are contaminated with the cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane. This is according to tests from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. They are not on the labels because contaminants are exempt from labeling laws.

The Environmental Protection Agency lists formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen and a more immediate reaction could be rashes in some children. These two chemicals are ban in some countries already.

Some of the products with these two chemicals are Johnson's Baby Shampoo, Sesame Street Bubble Bath, Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash and Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash, Baby Magic Baby Lotion (highest level of Formaldehyde) and America Girl shower products (highest level of 1,4-dioxane.

I suppose it is in adult products too but children are more sensitive. We need to be careful what we use when chemicals are involved and I will do some research for safe products.