Homer’s Heaven has had a healthy make-over, putting an end to death by donut!

A comfort food typically laden with carbohydrates that once deep fried becomes a hot food heaven.

Dusted to powdery perfection or glazed with glucose the donut truly is a diabetics nightmare but still remains a delicious departure for the Homer’s of the world.

We have found a way to capture the comfort without all the calories. Get in your daily fruit and still satisfy your in Simpson with our Grilled Apple Donuts and Banana Crunch Ice-cream.

Apple Advice:

To achieve the sweet sensation of a store bought donut you will want to choose a variety of eating apple since they tend to be larger, with a higher sugar content.

Just be sure to choose one that retains its shape when cooked. Braeburn, Cortland, Lobo and Rome Beauty are all good choices.

Ingredients:
2 apples, cored and cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup walnut meal*

* Place whole walnuts in a Vitamix and pulse until you achieve desired consistency

Preparation:
Preheat grill for medium heat. Combine water and agave nectar in a large bowl. Add apple slices to mixture. In a small bowl combine cinnamon and walnut meal. Place apples on grill rack and allow to cook for 6-8 minutes on each side, turning once. Once cooked, place apples on a large dish and sprinkle with walnut mix.

Banana Basics:

-Bananas have to be peeled before going in the freezer
-Strings on bananas have to be removed, since they can be bitter
-Use sweet, ripe bananas for freezing
-Keep them in a zip lock bag
-Bananas need to freeze overnight to be made into ice cream

Ingredients for about 3-4 scoops:
-3 ripe frozen bananas
-1tbsp lucuma powder*
-1 vanilla pod (split and scoop out the seeds)*

* Loving Earth sources the purest and most delicious ancient superfoods from their indigenous communities of origin and brings them to you.

Preparation:
Place the bananas in the blender with the lucuma powder and vanilla pod seeds. Blend on high for 30 seconds, or more if required. Be warned though if you blend too long, your mix will melt.

If your bra no-longer boasts a boost perhaps its time for a new one but rather than bin your Berlei’s or start a sling-shot collection with your old Calvin’s why not recycle them?

All pre-loved cup containers are welcomed by The Bosom Buddy Program who delegate your delicates to ladies lacking any lace or lycra lift via Organic Authority.

Started up by a textile recycling company in Arizona, The Bosom Buddy Program gives donated bras to women who need them, whether through shelters or other programs that help women gain self-sufficiency.

Got a bra in good, functional condition to donate?

Wash them, fill out a donation form (PDF), package up the bras with the form, then either drop them off at a location near you or mail them to…

The Bra Recyclers, Att: Elaine Birks-Mitchell, 23844 S. Power Rd, Ste 102-433, Queen Creek, AZ 85142.

ACF is developing a new and exciting sustainable living initiative that will make it easy for people to choose sustainable seafood.

Come and sample the best of Australia’s sustainable seafood whilst hearing the lowdown on sustainability.

Host Adrian Richardson, owner of La Luna Bistro, author & celebrity chef, will judge our best young apprentices in their sustainable cooking challenge.

Join ACF Executive Director, Don Henry & Healthy Oceans Campaigner Chris Smyth, to learn how we can all protect our oceans by choosing sustainable seafood.

When: 6:30 – 9:30PM Thursday 18th March 2010

Where: The Terrace, Royal Botanic Gardens Gate A, Cnr Alexandra Ave & Anderson St, South Yarra, VIC 3141 Venue Details

Bookings essential!

$65 per person. Includes seafood degustation menu and a glass of wine.
Eat wonderful seafood, and win great raffle prizes and auction items.
Plus receive a free gift from Lonely Planet. RSVP Here

We all know the side-effects of not getting quality sleep but for new borns it may also prove fatal.

Recently released research links an abnormal production of the neurotransmitter serotonin with SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). The findings were published online February 2 in Journal of the American Medical Association.

Past studies that examined the brain stems of infants who died from SIDS revealed that in more than half of the cases the neurons which produce serotonin—a chemical responsible for regulating heart rate, body temperature and mood were found to be overly prevalent and abnormally shaped.

Other research, published July 4, 2008, in Science found that in mice which had been bred to have too many serotonin receptors, approximately three quarters of the specimens died before the age of four months, typically after suffering sudden drops in heart rate and body temperature. However, at that time it was not clear whether an overabundance or lack of the neurotransmitter might be to blame.

The correlation between low serotonin levels and an elevated risk of SIDS was underscored in the recent study.

“Our research suggests that sleep unmasks the brain defect,” Hannah Kinney, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and a senior researcher on the study, said in a prepared statement.

“When the infant is breathing in the face-down position, he or she may not get enough oxygen. An infant with a normal brainstem would turn his or head and wake up in response. But a baby with an intrinsic abnormality is unable to respond to the stressor.”

Other than a compromised serotonin system several other health/external factors played a role in the results including, stomach or side sleeping, previous minor illness or sharing a bed.

Having found these deficits “may ultimately lead to ways to identify infants most at risk as well as additional strategies for reducing the risk of SIDS for all infants,” said Alan Guttmacher, acting director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

SOURCE: Science

A 7th grade class in Louisiana and an elementary school in Walla Walla, Washington recently used curriculum provided by the Snow Leopard Trust to learn about the endangered species. Through the service learning component of the curriculum, the students have also helped increase awareness, and together raised more than $2,800 to benefit snow leopard conservation! You can find out more, let your local school know about the curriculum, or download a copy for yourself via the following link.

Additionally Bare Essentials has created an original initiative just for kids called Operation Wild Child. A resource and rewards program focused on encouraging children to embrace their abilities (ie. sport, art, writing, cooking anything they are passionate about) and take action to raise funds and awareness for wildlife.

The kids choose which charity to support and the means of sponsorship (ie. host a cooking party, sign-up for a run or ‘Future Spark’ Showdown – getting sponsored for how many minutes/distance they pedal or power they produce, get the school to organise a writing competition or art display).

Once you create your challenge and choose your cause let us know and we will arrange for educational resources on the endangered species, provide prizes for those involved and post your ‘Wildlife Warrior’ profile on our website.

Click here for details, downloadable forms plus a FREE Wild Child Workbook!