Archive for December, 2010
A Call for Donations
THERE IS STILL TIME TO GIVE A 2010 TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT!
You have until midnight 12/31/10 to make a charitable donation for the 2010 tax year. Don’t forget to include us in your last-minute considerations this year! Not only will you receive a deduction on your taxes, but you will be making a valuable contribution that you can be proud of to a charity dedicated to the betterment of society through reaching out on both a local and global level.
Your donation helps make possible this blog, where we pull together articles on a wide range of informative and important topics that you can put to use both in your day-to-day life and in the pursuit of crucial social issues. Here, you can find information on adoption, including detailed breakdowns of the unique challenges associated adopting from specific countries; health and nutrition; parenting tips and advice on foster care; domestic violence; debilitating medical conditions like Multiple Sclerosis and Sjogren’s Syndrome; articles on education and literacy; and much more. Furthermore, we hope to offer opportunities for volunteer work in the coming year.
But even more importantly, your donation goes to fund worthy causes and other established charities that assist the downtrodden in every area of need. We are dedicated to touching the lives of as many people as possible the world over, and we simply cannot do it without your assistance. Even in the United States, there are so many people suffering needlessly from poverty and neglect, and there are many more on a global level. Remember that nothing is more important than addressing the welfare of our brothers and sisters in need. In helping others, we create a better world for everyone. Help us address these crucial issues facing our modern world: donate today.
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New Cockapoo Puppies Coming Soon to Mountain Valley View Farm!
The Cockapoo puppies from our last litter
We are so excited! Reggie & Ginger, our first-generation pure bred Cockapoos, will soon be proud parents! Ginger is expected to give birth on February 25, 2011. These will be second-generation Cockapoos, which are more rare and valuable. Normally a Cocker Spaniel is bred to a Toy Poodle, but in this case two Cockapoos were bred to each other. This produces smaller litters, which is why second-generation Cockapoos are more rare.
Of course, we can’t predict exactly what the new puppies will be like, but Reggie & Ginger’s last litter produced three females and two males in a range of colors, as you can see above. Ginger is a silver, beige, and white Cockapoo with a very loyal and loving personality who loves to be around people; and Reggie is a red Cockapoo, a loyal companion who enjoys spending time with his owner.
The puppies will be for sale after they are weaned from their mother. All puppies will have a complete set of vaccinations and health examinations, as well as having their dew claws removed and tails docked.
Cockapoos are known for their intelligent, affectionate personalities and playful activity. They also have the low-shedding and low-dander qualities of the poodle, making them the ideal pet for any home. This breed is eager to please, vigorous, and friendly, making these dogs a popular choice as a companion. The Cockapoo has an easygoing personality and generally gets along well with children and other animals.
We are accepting reservations for the puppies from interested parties. Reservations require a non-refundable deposit of $350 on the total price of $1500. You may request a specific gender/color combination (for example, a black female) but we cannot guarantee what puppies will be born in this litter. In the event that your requested puppy is not available, you may choose to have your deposit applied to the next litter or refunded in full at the time the litter is born. Please note that this is the only condition in which a refund will be issued. We will take orders on a maximum of 4 females and 4 males. Puppies can be picked up or shipped at 8 to 10 weeks of age. We ship via airlines anywhere in the US. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted for deposits and payments on puppies. If you interested in reserving a puppy, please call 509-928-1800.
15 Year-End Financial To-Do’s
by Kelly Campbell
Source: Yahoo
The year is coming to an end, and with any conclusion comes a last-minute checklist. This is your final financial to-do list of 2010. With only a few days to complete these items, do not waste time getting started.
1. Fund your IRA or Roth IRA. For 2010, investors can add up to $5,000. If you’re over age 50, add an additional $1,000.
2. Maximize 401(k) contributions. For 2010, savers can add up to $16,500 to their company’s 401(k) plan. If you’re over 50, add an additional $5,500.
3. Rebalance investments. Rebalancing is selling part of what has done well and buying what has not done so well, thus selling high and buying low.
4. Review portfolio quality. Look at the rankings of the investments in your portfolio and keep the quality high. Don’t hold onto any low-quality investments.
5. Review the tax impact of your portfolio for the year. Now is the time to make any changes to offset portfolio taxes. This needs to be done in 2010 to impact your tax bill in 2011.
6. Review your financial plan. Make sure you are hitting your goals by looking at your results compared with your financial plan. If you don’t have one, complete a financial plan prior to year end.
7. Contribute to your child’s or grandchild’s 529 plan. You may be able to get a 2010 deduction from state taxes.
8. Convert your IRA to a Roth IRA. You’ll be able to pay the taxes over two tax years, 2011 and 2012.
9. Take out your minimum required distribution. If you’re over 70 1/2, you must take your MRD in this tax year. If you don’t, the penalty is 50 percent.
10. Get married. If you are planning on getting married without the hoopla, do it now to receive tax benefits.
11. Review your credit record. Check to see if you have any blemishes on your credit record. You are eligible for one free credit report a year.
12. Make an extra mortgage payment. One extra payment a year can reduce your 30-year mortgage by seven years.
13. Pay your state taxes this year. If you do, you may be able to get a deduction.
14. Calculate your net worth. Each year it is a good idea to see the value of all your assets and review your annual progress.
15. Develop your 2011 budget. Building a budget can be the best way to meet your financial goals. Putting it down on paper is the first step.
None of these items are difficult and some may not even pertain to your situation, but these friendly reminders can prove to not only put you on the right track, but keep you there.
Fruit Leather – A Healthy Alternative
Fruit leather is a treat that kids love! It is a healthy substitute for candy. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that dried fruit is like eating sticky candy. It stays on the teeth longer than fresh fruit, releasing sugar into the saliva for a greater period of time, which promotes tooth decay. Make sure you limit the amount of time in which your or your children’s teeth are exposed to sugar without being cleaned.
Drying fruit has been done for centuries. It is an easy way to preserve fruit. We generally think of dried fruit as such things as raisins, prunes, apple slices or apricot halves, but that isn’t the only way to preserve fruit. Pureeing fruit to make leather is an easy way to use up excess fruit before it goes bad. It is also easier than drying fruit pieces, because the puree is a more consistent thickness so that it all dries at the same rate.
Following are three fruit leather recipes you can use to preserve fruit for later use as tasty snacks.
Kiwi Fruit Leather
From St. Patrick’s Day Delights Cookbook
This is a great way for preserving kiwis when you are able to catch a great sale and they do not look like they will get used or eaten fast enough.
Ingredients:
10 kiwifruit, peeled
2 Tbs. white grape juice concentrate
¼ c. sugar
2 Tbs. lemon juice
green food coloring (optional)
Directions:
- Purée ingredients completely in blender, making sure seeds are pulverized.
- Spread purée in trays; dry until leathered.
- Wrap in wax paper and store in airtight jar.
Blueberry Applesauce Fruit Leather 
This is excellent fruit leather, and it makes a great Easter basket filler. This makes a tart fruit leather, so if you like it sweeter, add more honey.
Ingredients:
1 c. blueberry purée
1 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 Tbs. honey
Directions:
- In blender or food processor, combine blueberries and applesauce.
- Process until smooth.
- Pour mixture through strainer or sieve to remove skin and seeds.
- Stir in honey.
- Place mixture in 10-inch skillet.
- While stirring frequently, cook over very low heat for 1 hour until thickened.
- Preheat oven to 150 degrees F.
- Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Pour thickened mixture onto parchment paper, and spread to form rectangle.
- Bake 5½ to 6 hours, until fruit sheet is dry enough not to stick to your fingers but moist enough to roll; remove from oven and cool.
- Placing a potholder in oven door to keep it ajar will help dry the leather by allowing moisture to escape.
- Once cooked, leather should be rolled in plastic wrap or stored in airtight container to keep.
Raspberry Fruit Leather
From Easter Delights Cookbook
Try homemade raspberry fruit leather for a great snack or lunch treat. You will not want store-bought leather after tasting these.
Ingredients:
2 c. raspberry purée
2 Tbs. honey (optional)
Directions:
- Mix purée and honey together if using honey.
- Line cookie sheet or tray with wax paper.
- Evenly spread purée ¼ inch deep.
- Place in sun, oven, or dehydrator to dry. (It takes 4 to 10 hours.)
- Leather is ready when edges are not sticky to the touch.
- Pull from wax paper while still warm, and roll in plastic wrap.
- Can be stored for 30 days at room temperature or for months in the refrigerator.
St. Patrick’s Day Delights Cookbook and Easter Delights Cookbook are coming soon! Find more preserving recipes in Karen Jean Matsko Hood’s Cookbook Delights series of cookbooks. These may be purchased online from Karen’s Bookstore.
6 cancer-fighting superfoods
By Leslie Barrie for Health.com
Source: Yahoo
To reduce your risk of cancer, look no further than your fridge. “All the studies on cancer and nutrition point to eating plant-based foods for their phytonutrients and other special compounds,” says Richard Béliveau, PhD, chair in the prevention and treatment of cancer at the University of Québec at Montreal and author of Foods to Fight Cancer.
Aim for five to nine daily servings of all kinds of fruits and vegetables—especially these six superstars.
Broccoli
All cruciferous veggies (think cauliflower, cabbage, kale) contain cancer-fighting properties, but broccoli is the only one with a sizable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body’s protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals, says Jed Fahey, ScD. A recent University of Michigan study on mice found that sulforaphane also targets cancer stem cells—those that aid in tumor growth.
Helps fight: breast, liver, lung, prostate, skin, stomach, and bladder cancers
Your Rx: The more broccoli, the better, research suggests—so add it wherever you can, from salads to omelets to the top of your pizza.
Berries
All berries are packed with cancer-fighting phytonutrients. But black raspberries, in particular, contain very high concentrations of phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which slow down the growth of premalignant cells and keep new blood vessels from forming (and potentially feeding a cancerous tumor), according to Gary D. Stoner, PhD, a professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Helps fight: colon, esophageal, oral, and skin cancers
Your Rx: Stoner uses a concentrated berry powder in his studies but says a half-cup serving of berries a day may help your health, too.
Tomatoes
This juicy fruit is the best dietary source of lycopene, a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red hue, Béliveau says. And that’s good news, because lycopene was found to stop endometrial cancer cell growth in a study in Nutrition and Cancer. Endometrial cancer causes nearly 8,000 deaths a year.
Helps fight: endometrial, lung, prostate, and stomach cancers
Your Rx: The biggest benefits come from cooked tomatoes (think pasta sauce!), since the heating process increases the amount of lycopene your body is able to absorb.
Walnuts
Their phytosterols (cholesterol-like molecules found in plants) have been shown to block estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, possibly slowing the cells’ growth, says Elaine Hardman, PhD, associate professor at Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia.
Helps fight: breast and prostate cancers
Your Rx: Munching on an ounce of walnuts a day may yield the best benefits, Hardman’s research found.
Garlic
Phytochemicals in garlic have been found to halt the formation of nitrosamines, carcinogens formed in the stomach (and in the intestines, in certain conditions) when you consume nitrates, a common food preservative, Béliveau says. In fact, the Iowa Women’s Health Study found that women with the highest amounts of garlic in their diets had a 50 percent lower risk of certain colon cancers than women who ate the least.
Helps fight: breast, colon, esophageal, and stomach cancers
Your Rx: Chop a clove of fresh, crushed garlic (crushing helps release beneficial enzymes), and sprinkle it into that lycopene-rich tomato sauce while it simmers.
Beans
A study out of Michigan State University found that black and navy beans significantly reduced colon cancer incidence in rats, in part because a diet rich in the legumes increased levels of the fatty acid butyrate, which in high concentrations has protective effects against cancer growth. Another study, in the journal Crop Science, found dried beans particularly effective in preventing breast cancer in rats.
Helps fight: breast and colon cancers
Your Rx: Add a serving—a half-cup—of legumes a few times a week (either from a can or dry beans that’ve been soaked and cooked) to your usual rotation of greens or other veggies.
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