Super Weekly Eco-Giveaway: gDiapers and gWipes!

We are so excited to introduce our Super Weekly gDiapers-gWipes Eco-Giveaway! It is our big thank you for being environmentally conscious.

Check out the Prizes:
- 12 weekly new gWipes kits.
- A monthly Big Prize*: gDiapers Sweet Bundle, a $99 kit that includes everyday g's 6-pack of little gPants PLUS your choice of a case of gRefills or 2 packs of gCloth inserts PLUS gWipes, for one lucky winner at the end of July! 

How to Participate (so easy!): 
Become fan (a.k.a. "Like") of EcoLogical Mom and gDiapers on Facebook starting July 1 through 31, 2010:
- Three (3) weekly winners of gWipes kits will be announced on July 10, 17, 24 and 31. A total of 12 winners!  Each kit includes 2 packages of 70ct gWipes.
- Invite 5 additional friends to become fans (a.k.a."Like") of both Facebook pages and be entered to win not only the weekly gWipes kits, but also the Big gDiapers-gWipes Prize*. You will be entered after e-mailing the names of your 5 friends to EcoLogicalMom@ymail.com, and they become fans of both Facebook pages. The winner will be announced on August 4, 2010.

All participants and friends must be fans (a.k.a. "Like") of both Facebook pages until the end of the Eco-Giveaway.


Click here to become fan of Eco.Logical.Mom
Click here to become fan of gDiapers


gDiapers are breathable and combine the best features of cloth and disposable diapers. Plastic-free biodegradable gRefills keep babies dry and happy. And the new gWipes are hypo-allergenic and biodegradable: perfect for babies and Mother-Earth!  They are fragrance and alcohol-free, with a touch of aloe vera and vitamin E.  Ideal for messy mouths, sticky fingers and wet bottom!

Good luck!





Winners will be chosen at random.
 "Sweet Bundle and gWipes" are provided by gDiapers.

Market in Guadalajara

A market is any one of a variety of dissimilar systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby persons trade, and goods and services are exchanged, forming part of the economy. It is an arrangement that allows buyers and sellers to exchange things.

In mainstream economics, the concept of a market is any structure that allows buyers and sellers to exchange any type of goods, services and information. The exchange of goods or services for money is a transaction. Market participants consist of all the buyers and sellers of a good who influence its price.

The market facilitates trade and enables the distribution and allocation of resources in a society. Markets allow any trade item to be evaluated and priced.

Heat Stroke: Symptoms and How to Avoid it

Heat stroke can be fatal for both adults and children. We've found some good information from Dr. Greene on symptoms, and how to avoid it. It is important to recognize and treat heat exhaustion immediately.

Heat stroke is very serious. A person's temperature rises over 104 degrees and he or she has an altered mental status. 50 percent of those with heat stroke die from it. There are two types of heat stroke: exertional, with profuse sweating; and classic, in which the skin is hot and dry. Classic heat stroke builds up over days and is most common in infants and in the elderly. It is a true emergency.

The smaller the child, the less likely he is to be able to tolerate heat, especially if he is already a bit dehydrated or has a fever, and if there is poor air circulation.

Heat injuries can occur at any age. Sports and physical activity are generally beneficial and healthy for adolescents; nevertheless, heat injuries are among the leading causes of sports deaths.

Dr. Greene also points out that these populations are at a higher risk:

• Small children and babies;
• People who have a prior history of heat injury;
• People who are taking medicines or drugs (including antihistamines, Ritalin, thyroid hormone, some colic medicines, bed-wetting medicines, diuretics, or laxatives);
• Or people who have underlying illnesses (such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, vomiting, diarrhea, bronchiolitis, or a variety of skin disorders)

How Can You Prevent Heat Injuries?
Hydration and air circulation. Two very simple steps parents should be extremely attentive to during the blazing days of summer. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day during hot weather. If you wait until you feel thirsty, your body has already become dehydrated. Don’t wait, just drink. And, remind your kids to drink (sometimes my husband and I hover over our girls, saying “chug, chug, chug!” just to get them to take an honest, big drink).

• If you’re exercising (think swimming, playing at the park, sports), drink plenty of water before you begin and every 20 minutes during. Dr. Greene says water is fine for exercise up to an hour, but electrolyte solutions are better for exercise that is more strenuous. Skip the Gatorade and opt for something pure and healthy – like coconut water.

• When you’re on the go (or even just playing in the yard), keep cold, bottled water on hand.

• Keep some coconut water in your pantry (or in the fridge, if you can spare the room). That way if your child ever starts showing symptoms of dehydration or heat injury, you can quickly and safely re-hydrate and replace electrolytes lost through sweat.

Sources: healthychild.org, shine

Grilled Veggies and Fruits: Brilliant Recipes!

Still on the preparations for the official grilling weekend, here are brilliant ideas for grilled veggies and fruits. You will love them! All from top chef Mark Bittman:

- Best grilled artichokes: Cut artichokes in half, scoop out the choke, parboil until tender. Grill, cut-side down, until lightly browned; grill a couple of halved lemons, too. Combine the juice from the grilled lemons with melted butter and spoon over the artichokes. Finish with parsley.
- Tahini tofu steaks. Thin tahini with lots of lemon juice and some minced garlic. Cut a brick of firm tofu into four slabs and brush with sesame oil. Grill over a moderate fire, turning a few times, until marked and crisp outside and custardy inside. On the last turn, baste with the tahini sauce. Serve on thick tomato slices with a drizzle of soy sauce and chopped basil, Thai if possible.
- Spice-rubbed carrots: Roll peeled carrots in cumin, salt, pepper and brown sugar. Char, then move them away from direct heat and cover the grill until carrots are tender.
- Brush slices of beet with olive oil and grill slowly until tender and lightly browned. Top each slice with a little goat cheese and salad greens.
- For perfectly ripe tomatoes only: Grill tomatoes, any size, until hot and lightly charred but not bursting. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve with fresh mozzarella (or, even better, burrata) and grilled bread.
- Halve and grill radicchio (or Belgian endives); drizzle cut sides with honey or plain vinaigrette, pesto or parsley pesto. Or just brush with oil and finish with a little grilled prosciutto.
- Grill corn. Serve with mayo with minced garlic, pimentón and parsley.
- Rub thick zucchini slices with a mixture of fresh or dried dill, yogurt, olive oil and lemon. (Or use pesto or parsley pesto.) Grill slowly.
- Halve Belgian endives. Brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and grill over moderate-to-low heat, turning once or twice, until soft and browned. Finish cut-side up and sprinkle with grated Parmesan; close the grill to melt cheese.
- Lightly char whole or halved heads of baby bok choy; drizzle with soy sauce and top with chopped scallions.
- Waldorf salad revisited, sort of: Grill cut apples until browned but not mushy; grill chunks of Napa or savoy cabbage, also left crisp; grill halved red onion. Chop or shred all together with blue cheese, walnuts and a little yogurt.
- Cut a slit in as many ripe figs as you like; stuff with herbed goat cheese (or cream cheese mixed with chopped nuts) and grill slowly. Appetizer or dessert? Your call. - Grill red, orange and/or yellow peppers; toss with olives, capers, balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
 - Quick grilled pickle: Rapidly char thick slices of cucumber; toss with salt, vinegar and sugar; let sit for 15 minutes, then drain.
- Charred salsa verde. Toss whole husked tomatillos, scallions and jalapeños in olive oil and grill until charred. Remove the blackened skin from the chilies and chop or blend everything with diced avocado, lime juice and cilantro. Eat with chips or top grilled chicken with it.

Source: NYTimes

Beverly Braun, A good blog

Just a reminder, We are NOT dancing at Aloha Tower this weekend – it’s 4th of July and they have a complete program scheduled. We WILL be dancing there the following weekend, JULY 11.

Fun workshop this past weekend. Some new dances to add to the Aloha Tower Playlist:
Wakira (Maggie Gallagher)
So Sexxy (John Robinson)
Zjozzy’s Funk (remember this one?!?!?!)
Why Don’t we Just Dance (Karen Hedges OR alternatives)
Groovy Little Dance
Here comes the Sunshine

And my personal favorite: C’est La Vie

The stepsheet for C’est La Vie in the workshop booklet was the wrong stepsheet – my error entirely. Apparenty the choreographer had two different versions and only one got onto kickit. I found the other one once…but couldn’t find it again!!!! So. Here is the stepsheet for the one I taught:

C'EST LA VIE
Count: 32 Wall: 4 Level: beginner

Choreographer: Danny Leclerc
Music: C'est La Vie by Texas Lightning
FANCY ROCK STEP
1-2 Step R forward, turn ¼ L (weight to L)
3-8 Repeat 1-2 three times making full L circle

HOOK & TWIST COMBINATION
1 Twist L heel left & cross/touch R over L
2-4 step R together twisting both heels R, swivel both heels to center, swivel both heels R
5-8 Repeat 1-4

VINE L & R
1-4 Step L side, step R behind left, step L side, R touch together,
5-8 Step R side, step L behind right, step R side, L touch together

SIDE TAP / SIDE CHASSÉ
1-2 L side, R touch together,
3-4 Step R side, L touch together
5-8 Step L side, Step R together, Step L forward ¼ L, R scuff forward

Looks like a good one, but I don't know. The Line dancers may understand all of this. What we need is more news direct from the dance groups for the reader/dancers of this blog. No can do, no can print. As long as you know I tried.

New Community Dance Center for Kalihi or Salt Lake?

Cute Embroidered Set for Lil' Princesses

Absolutely adorable embroidered jumper with body suit. Made with super-soft cotton.
And you can add a jacket to complete the set. Check out this beautiful padded jacket with ribbed cuffs.
Available sizes 0-9 months

All made by Nature's Purest

Private equity real estate

In investment finance, private equity real estate is an asset class consisting of equity and debt investments in property. Investments typically engage an active management strategy ranging from moderate reposition or releasing of properties to development or widespread redevelopment.
Investments are typically made via private equity real estate fund, a collective investment scheme, which pools capital from investors. These funds typically have ten year life span consisting of a 2-3 year investment period during which properties are acquired and a holding period during which active asset administration will be carried out and the properties will be sold.
If a private equity real estate firm can't find inappropriate investment opportunities, it will not draw on an investor's commitment. Given the risks associated with private equity real estate investments, an investor can lose all of its investment if the fund performs badly.
The popularity of private equity real estate funds has grown since 2000 as an increasing number of investors entrust more capital to the asset class.Private Equity Real Estate is a global asset class and in 2007, 46% of capital raised was focused on the US, 26% was focused on Europe and 27% was targeting Asia and the rest of the world.

Digital infrared thermal imaging in health care

In 1986, a joint meeting was held in Austin, Texas to talk about the lawsuit against Medicare in an attempt to stop them from removing thermography from the official Medicare fee guidelines. Asked to testify before the State organization were Mr. Victor Yannacome, a trial attorney from New York City who is famous for his defeat of the U.S. Military and Dow Chemical for the use of Agent Orange, and Dr William Cockburn, a clinical thermographer from Los Angeles, CA. Mr. Yannacome and Dr. Cockburn had a meeting afterwards whereas the future of medical thermal imaging was discuss. It was during this meeting that Mr. Yannacome came to the conclusion the word "thermography" was now associated with fraud and would need to be changed in order for it to live on. It was at this meeting that Mr. Yannacome came up with the new name DITI, or Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging.

While some groups try to argue the term DITI as their own construct, the term DITI was coined by a nationally renowned lawyer in 1986 in Austin.

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) is a analytic technique that is non-invasive and involves no exposure to radiation. During an exam, a DITI camera is used to capture images, called thermograms. These thermographic images are taken by trained thermographers who submit them to a thermologists (medical doctors trained in thermology) who read the images for the patient to submit to their health professional for further evaluation. Colors indicate increases or decreases in infrared radiation emitted from the body surface

Cereal Box Marble Run: Brilliant!

Cereal Box Marble Run...what a great idea from Made by Joel. Awesome creative exercise for kids. All you need is a cereal box and marbles!

So simple to make. Brilliant!

Source: Made by Joel

Independence Day Fun!

Here's an update on the Picnic Game:

I'm going to a picnic and I'm bringing:

A: Almond Joy Pie: Brought by Marjie from Modern Day Ozzie and Harriet

B: Baked Beans: Brought by Kasha from Grub and Stuff

C: Chocolate Picnic Cake: Brought by Janet from Dying for Chocolate

D: Dutch Funnel Cake: Brought by Julie from The Sporadic Cook

E: Easy Blender Chicken Pie: Brought by Juliana from Simple Recipes

F: Five Bean Salad: Brought by me!

Check with Louise at Months of Edible Celebrations for the rest of the picnic recipes! There's still time to join the fun.

And do you need another dessert for the 4th? Here's an idea...........

 

Great BBQ's, family, children running around with sparklers and tables loaded with food is how I remember most of the Independence Day celebrations in our family...and the magnificent fireworks as we all lay back on our blankets. I bet most of us will be having picnics on the 4th...and while strawberry shortcake is what my mother made most often for dessert on the 4th, as kids we all preferred ice cream cones or popsicles. Because I'm still a kid at heart, I found a frozen dessert recipe that's made with fruit and yogurt. It's a favorite of mine because it has sweetened condensed milk as an ingredient. Has to be fabulous, right? Did I mention there are marshmallows? Yep, those too.
You want to make this at least a day ahead. It's a quickie dessert with red, white and blue ingredients for a Happy Birthday to America!

Fourth of July Frozen Delight

Ingredients:

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons lemon rind
2 cups plain yogurt
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup fresh blueberries

Method:
Combine the condensed milk, lemon juice and rind and mix well. Stir in the yogurt, marshmallows and nuts. Spread half the mixture in a 9 by 13 dish. Put half the strawberries and half the blueberries on top. Pour the other half of the yogurt mixture on top and use the remaining fruit on top, pushing them in slightly.
Cover and freeze.
Remove from freezer about 10 minutes before you're ready to cut and serve.
Makes about 15 servings.

Healthy Grilling, Fun Holiday!

The official barbecue holiday in the US starts this weekend! Grilled meats and vegetables are so tasty, and the whole party is a lot of fun!
We found a few tips for some seriously healthy grilling, for both vegetarians and carnivores. Enjoy!


1. Keep a watchful eye to prevent BBQ flare-ups and the resulting charring of your food.

2. Use lower to medium cooking temperatures. When foods like meat are heated over high temperatures or come in contact with flames, certain compounds can form and become carcinogens.
3. Marinate meat in olive oil and fresh lemon juice-based marinades. Research shows that these two items can reduce the formation of the cancer-causing compounds by up to 99 percent while cooking. Not to mention that they tenderize the meat, add great flavor, and help keep it moist during cooking.
4. Choose foods that are low in fat like vegetables, lean cuts of meat, poultry or fish. Carcinogens are primarily formed when fats are heated to high temperatures or fall into the flames and create smoke.
By choosing lean cuts of meat and vegetables which are naturally low in fat, you reduce the chance of these compounds forming at all.
5. Trim excess fat from meat prior to cooking it (for the same reason as number 3).
6. Choose specific herbs for your marinades. These herbs include: basil, mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage. Scientists at the Food Safety Consortium project at Kansas State University have discovered that these herbs drastically reduce the formation of some carcinogens.
Simply use one or more of these herbs, preferably fresh, in a marinade prior to and during cooking. Plus, they add tremendous flavor.
7. Avoid overcooking vegetables. The longer they cook the more certain vitamins like vitamin C and B-complex vitamins break down. So don't overcook them.
8. Add more vegetables to the grill. One of the easiest ways to make your BBQ healthier is to add more veggies. Making kebabs is a great way to do this. By alternating lean meat and vegetables, the veggies will keep the meat moist and add fiber, flavor, and nutrients.
9. Clean your grill prior to every use. Not only is it more appetizing to eat food that's been cooked on a clean grill, but you'll be lessening the amount of char that you'll be eating. The charred parts of food can cause free radical formation in your body and since free radicals are linked with premature aging, disease, and tissue damage, it's best to reduce your exposure as much as possible.

Source:  Care2 and Yahoo

Time Off

Friday, June 18, was the last day of school and we got done cleaning the lab around 10am and I headed home. Marc sent me out to the store to pick up a couple of things so we could finish cleaning since my parents were coming on Sunday. We had been planning on making a family trip down to Orlando to stay with Marc's cousin and to see my best friend who was going to be in from Ohio for a cruise that was leaving from Tampa. We had all these fun plans with Marc's cousin *food related, of course!* and then my parents, who were also in Orlando for a conference, were going to drive back to Jacksonville behind us on Sunday. Then a hiccup came when our car started leaking massive amounts of water into the floorboard on the passenger side. We decided, hesitantly, to not take the trip so we could get the car fixed.

So Marc messages me while I was at the store and tells me to please hurry home because the kids are driving him crazy and he was about to freak out. I rush home and, as I walk into the living room from the hallway, see a figure out of the corner of my eye. KATIE WAS HERE!!!!!! I threw myself at her, bags in hand. I missed my best friend SO FREAKING MUCH. Marc had also taken the kids to a sitter so we had the whole day to ourselves. We went to Jimmy John's for lunch, and then went home and took naps. *I know, I felt like I was wasting time with Katie but I knew if we didn't nap, we'd be crashing at 7.* When we woke up, Katie and I went out shopping. I miss that. I miss just going out with her and browsing through stores. I miss trying on clothes together and taking funny pictures in the dressing room. I miss just being us girls. Even the girl friends I have here just aren't the same. Katie has known me since high school. She has been with me since before I had kids. She has transitioned with me from the quiet, reserved, insecure, religious person I once was to...well, whatever you want to call me now. She's been with me through my brother passing away, teenage struggles with parents, breakups, and new love. Katie knows me. Katie knows my emotions. Katie knows that I'm crazy and loves me anyways. Katie and I can not see each other for massive amounts of time, and still be able to just pick up where we left off. We are going to be old, purple haired ladies sitting in rocking chairs stuffing our faces with desserts because we are so old it doesn't matter anymore. I like knowing that. I am so lucky to have her in my life.

Anyways, so we went shopping and then went to my school to pick up my graded Skills final. I got an "A", by the way. The only person in the class to wind up with an "A" in the class overall. Some got "A-" but I'm the only one with a solid "A." And I made it on the President's list again. Yay!

It was so much fun to show her my school and let her see all the places I'm talking about all the time. We took this fun picture in the elevator.


Then we went out for sushi. We had THE BEST sushi EVER. I believe the place was called Sushi House and it is right near the school. Definitely going back there. The 2 rolls that are orange were the best rolls. Crunchy something or other. Yum!




We played poker with Tom, Jacob, Curtis, and Phillie later that night. Then the next morning we went out to Panera for breakfast since that is ALSO one of our things and then did some more window shopping at one of our favorite places, Artsy Abode. After that, we picked up ice cream to take home to the girls and she hung out with them for a few minutes before she had to leave around noon. A short visit, but one that I needed SO BADLY! I'm SO thankful I got to recharge my Katie batteries!!!




Since then we have been spending time getting all the little errands done that we don't usually have time to do, so they get put off. Things like getting my eyes checked, going to the library, going to the beach, etc, etc. We've been working really hard on reading with Harmony and it's paying off! She is getting SO much better at it and is extremely proud of her new skill. We also have Layla completely daytime potty trained! She takes her day naps and even goes out of the house on errands in panties and tells us she has to go at the store, the restaurant, the park, the beach, etc. We are SO happy about it and she's proud of being a big girl! Down to only 2 diapers a day! One for each kid at bedtime!!!

I also have started Cookies for a Cause back up and have started selling them at Doing Dishes, a Paint Your Own Pottery Studio, as well! So feel free to place an order or go to Doing Dishes to scoop some up and to paint some pottery to stay out of the heat and keep the kiddos busy, too!



Last but not least, I made a tutu. I know this is supposed to be my "food" blog, but I love crafty stuff, as well, so I'm going to go ahead and put this up here. I've wanted to make tutus for awhile, mostly for the girls. I saw a picture, though, of a chick in a corset with a tutu and loved how it looked so I wanted to make one to wear to the Marion Crane show this past weekend. I love how it turned out and it was SO EASY! I'm thinking of having a girls party over here where we all make them...for us or for our kids. We had alot of fun at the show, Marion Crane was amazing, as usual, and we got a much needed night out. Pre-show, I went with Jaime over to Bree's house and we all hung out as girls for awhile and finished getting ready. As noted earlier, I miss girls time, so this was a really nice treat!!!






So far, the time off from school has been wonderful. I've been able to unwind a little and take a breath. I am missing all the cooking, though, and missing all the people at the school. I've started to work on some of next quarters reading so I will hopefully have a little jumpstart on the work and material so I can focus on the projects that I am sure I am going to have in at least two of my classes. I may or may not write before I start back, July 12, depending on if anything extremely exciting happens before then.

Greetings from Cupcakefest 2010

Cupcakefest. Noun. A day of music and vegan cupcakes to benefit Passaic Animal Shelter held annually by Sweet Avenue Bake Shop in Rutherford, New Jersey.



Flashback to last year's festivities. Now to this year's:

Donations of food and supplies. Have unwanted bedding and towels? Bring them to your local animal shelter.


For the Animals Sanctuary, located in Blairstown, New Jersey, was on hand.


Wear your love for animals.

Check out Compassion Over Killing's Easy Vegan Recipes. Find everything from an egg-free scramble, French toast and carrot muffins, "chicken" salad sandwiches and Sloppy Joe's, and apple enchiladas and chocolate peanut butter pie.

There were free mini cupcakes outside (chocolate and red velvet). Inside, the shop was more crowded than I'd ever seen it. It was great to see a humane business flourishing.

Modern science has veganized Snickers and Milky Way bars.


Cheers! margarita and piña colada cupcakes, $3.50 each. I sampled both. Two paws up! Heck, four paws up!

Two of my favorite summer flavors, lavender lemon and lemon raspberry, also $3.50 each (prices vary depending on flavor).


How I feel after eating a vegan cupcake from Sweet Avenue Bake Shop.

Cevahir Mall

Opened on October 15, 2005, it is a modern shopping and activity centre located in the Sisli district of Istanbul, Turkey. Spread over an area of 348,000 square metres, Cevahir Mall is the main shopping centre in Europe, and the seventh largest in the world. The project, originally a trade complex, including retail centres and three skyscrapers with 40 and 48 floors to replace one of the city's old bus depots, was intended in 1987 by American architects Minoru Yamasaki & Associates. .

The foundation stone was laid in 1997; however, it took eight years to complete only the shopping section due to numerous delays.

World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized United Nations organization which acts as a coordinator and researcher for public health around the world. Established on 7 April 1948, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health Organization, which had been an group of the League of Nations. The WHO's constitution states that its mission "is the achievement by all peoples of the highest possible level of health." Its major task is to combat disease, particularly key infectious diseases, and to promote the general health of the peoples of the world.

Examples of its work include years of fighting smallpox. In 1979 the WHO declared that the disease had been eradicate - the first disease in history to be completely eliminated by deliberate human design. The WHO is nearing success in developing vaccines against malaria and schistosomiasis and aims to eradicate polio within the next few years. The organization has already endorsed the world's first official HIV/AIDS Toolkit for Zimbabwe from October 3, 2006, making it an international standard

The WHO is financed by aid from member states and from donors. In recent years the WHO's work has involved more collaboration, currently around 80 such partnerships, with NGOs and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as with foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. Voluntary contributions to the WHO from national and local governments, foundations and NGOs, other UN organizations, and the private sector (including pharmaceutical companies), now exceed that of assess contributions (dues) from its 193 member nations.

Blueberry Tart with Walnut Crust

 Blueberry is a powerful anti-oxidant, and goes incredibly well with tarts! This recipe is very healthy and so easy to make. Seriously, it takes less than 30 minutes!

Blueberry Tart with Walnut Crust
Servings: 12 portions

Crust

- 1/2 cup walnuts, lightly toasted
- 1 cup whole wheat graham cracker crumbs
- 1 large egg white
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon peanut or canola oil
- Pinch of salt

Filling

- 8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
- 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, preferably grade B, divided
- 2 cups fresh organic blueberries

To prepare crust: Preheat oven to 325°F.
Coarsely chop walnuts in a food processor. Add graham cracker crumbs and process until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.
Whisk egg white in a medium bowl until frothy. Add the crumb mixture, butter, oil and salt; toss to combine. Press the mixture into the bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan. Set the pan on a baking sheet. Bake until dry and slightly darker around the edges, about 8 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
To prepare filling: Beat cream cheese, sour cream and 1/4 cup maple syrup in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth. When the crust is cool, spread the filling evenly into it, being careful not to break up the delicate crust. Arrange blueberries on the filling, pressing lightly so they set in. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons maple syrup over the berries. Chill for at least 1 hour to firm up.

Note: To avoid trans fats, look for graham crackers without partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. To make crumbs, pulse graham crackers in a food processor or place in a large sealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. (You'll need about 14 whole-wheat graham cracker squares to make 1 cup of crumbs.)

Per serving: 177 calories; 11 g fat (4 g sat, 3 g mono); 18 mg cholesterol; 17 g carbohydrates; 4 g protein; 1 g fiber; 138 mg sodium; 103 mg potassium.

Source: Eating Well