Healthy Rice Crispy Treats Recipe

Healthy rice crispy treats make a great kids snack or dessert. Learn to make healthy rice crispy treats with brown rice syrup and peanut butter. For more info, check out the About.com article: kidscooking.about.com Watch More How To Videos on our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com Watch More How To Videos on About.com: video.about.com Connect with About.com on Facebook www.facebook.com Follow About.com Video on Twitter: twitter.com

1500 Calorie Diet Menu and Meal Plan

1500 diet menu and meal plan is one of the effective ways to lose weight. This plan gives a nominal amount of calories that are required to support the metabolism and the daily functioning of the body. Weight loss in this case is induced by consuming fewer calories than what we consume normally. This 1500 diet plan provides the right amount of calories which will stimulate weight loss and at the same time will keep your body energetic and filling that you will never feel that you are on a diet.

The best way to start with a 1500 calorie diet menu is to strip your refrigerator of all the junk food. Go grocery shopping and fill your fridge with a lot of fruits, vegetables, nominal amount of dairy products and skinless chicken. Throw away all carbonated drinks like sodas and diet sodas. Your primary source of fluids during this period should come from water, green tea and zero calorie beverages.

The next step that you need to do before starting on the diet plan is to talk with your doctor or a dietitian or seek the help of a professional health expert. Be sure that you are taking in the right nutrients during the entire dieting period. Only if you get a green signal for your diet plan here from the doctors, should you proceed with your plan. Do not follow diet plans on your own as it is very risky and you may irrevocably destroy the body that you now have.

Once you have done all this, you are ready to start with a plan.

Sample 1500 calorie diet plan: With a 1500 calorie meal plan dieting will not be a grueling or boring process. You have a lot of options to make up the 1500 calories every day. You should aim at attaining 30 percentage of necessary fat content, 40 percent of proteins and 30 percent of carbs for a day.

Sample Diet 1:

Breakfast:

The breakfast in a 1500 calorie diet plan typically consists of one and a half cup of shredded wheat meal, one and a half cup of skimmed milk and half a cup of juicy strawberries.

Mid Morning Snack:

You can have scrambled eggs that include one whole egg and the white of four other eggs and half a grape fruit.

Lunch:

Lunch should primarily consist of half a cup of brown Rice, hundred and ten grams of skinless chicken and hundred and eighty grams of beans.

Evening Snack:

Hundred and fifty grams of salmon, a cup of cooked broccoli and 150gms of yams can be taken as an evening snack.

Dinner:

110gms of chicken breast, three table spoons of light Italian dressing and two cups of mixed green salad will make up the dinner. Make sure that you have your dinner at least two to three hours before you go to bed.

Sample Diet 2:

Breakfast:

You can have a spoonful of peanut butter splattered on whole wheat low fat bread for breakfast.

Morning snack:

Your morning snack can be made as small low fat yoghurt that is topped with teaspoon full of ground flaxseeds.

Lunch:

For lunch you can have two cups of steamed vegetables along with a mixed salad topped with olives and vinegar and three ounces of mahi mahi that is grilled.

Afternoon Snack:

You can treat yourself with a small apple and a spoonful of natural peanut butter.

Dinner: Dinner can be chiefly made of a salad that is comprised of two cups of lettuce or spinach seasoned with a pinch of salt and a squirt of lemon, two hard boiled eggs, a thin slice of turkey, a thin slice of chicken, half a tomato and quarter a cup of sunflower seeds.

The above mentioned diet plans are not a prescription. They can be taken as the starting point to begin fat and weight loss. Taking these as a base you can devise your own diet plans. Make sure that they are rich in proteins, carbs and also has adequate amount of essential fats. Fats can come from plant based foods such as olives, olive oil and avocado. Skinless, boneless chicken, turkey and fish are good sources of protein. Fresh fruits and vegetables and whole wheat products are rich in carbs. But always remember, before embarking on a diet plan it is absolutely critical to get the approval of an expert, a doctor or a dietician.

Also find out the consecutive number of days this weight plan should be sticked on to. Following such low calorie diets for a prolonged period of time can seriously affect the metabolism and the balance of your body. It should be followed only for the prescribed period of time for which the body can withstand the effects of the low calorie intake. So be sure to do a lot of ground research before you start with your diet plan.

Quick and Easy Alternatives For Cream in Coffee

If you are sick of regular cream in your coffee, are lactose intolerant, or are hoping to cut back on calories, what is a coffee lover to do? Even if you are trying to save a little bit of extra cash by omitting cream or half and half from your coffee, there are several alternatives available to you, often using household ingredients that you may not have considered before!

If you are lactose intolerant, one of the best options in cream for your coffee is Rice milk. This is a substance that is very similar to milk, but it is easier to digest for those who are lactose intolerant. It can be found in grocery store and health food store locations, and there are a number of different varieties available, like plain, chocolate, and vanilla, which may be a nice addition to your cup of Joe with additional flavoring. Many Rice milk products also contain calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D, and they contain less calories than regular milk. This is a plant-based milk product, so it has much less protein than regular cow's milk. It also has significantly higher carbs with less calcium. However, if you are a coffee drinker hoping to avoid milk in your cup of Joe, you will only be using a small amount of the rice milk, so it won't weigh heavy in providing protein or calcium either way. If you are a vegan or person who is lactose intolerant avoiding dairy, you can find other ways to get protein and calcium, such as from grains, beans, or other plant sources.

If you are otherwise hoping to avoid milk in your coffee to cut back calories and slim down, there are a number of other options available to you to keep your cup of Joe as tasty as ever. First off, consider brewing your coffee with cinnamon in the filter, which will give it a natural flavoring, allowing you to drink it black for only 2 calories per serving. This is truly the best option if you are on a diet since additional cream and sugar in your coffee can pack on the calories throughout the day. Otherwise, consider using only Splenda or a no calorie sweetener in your cup of Joe, or even invest in any number of sugar free flavorings to enjoy your coffee as a low calorie treat.

The truth of the matter is that if you are mixing your coffee with low-fat milk, it is a wonderful way to add protein and calcium to your brew. Otherwise, if you are lactose intolerant or a vegan, you can rely upon the still healthy alternative of rice milk. The one thing to avoid with coffee drinks is the option available in commercial coffee chains like Starbucks that can weigh in at almost 500 calories per drink! Coffee can truly be a healthy and delicious beverage to be enjoyed on a daily basis if you are vigilant in your preparation and brew method.

Rice Krispy Treats & Vagina Talks! (Part 2)

This is a continuation of the first video. Enjoy =)

TheRandomRs-Mars Bar Rice Crispy Cakes.wmv

The First Cooking Show, Simple, yummy and really tasty treats . ENJOY!

Sen. Limmer on MN GOP Unity & Rice Krispie Bars

Republican Senator Warren Limmer talks with KFAI's Marty Owings on unity in the Minnesota Republican party, rice krispie bars and running for re-election.

Creating Rice Krispie Treats

I created this video using my Logitech webcam software.

What Color Is Your Advertising? How Color Theory Can Make Your Marketing More Effective

If you're planning a marketing or advertising campaign, color is sure to play a key role in the success of your venture. After all, it's pretty much the first thing your consumers will notice*, making color your best - and sometimes only - chance to get a message across.

Use of color in most design for marketing and advertising is dictated by certain obvious requirements; the need to reflect a specific brand, as well as the attempt to communicate a certain mood dictated by the product itself.

Company branding is pretty straightforward - specific colors dictated by logos and other devices will need to be incorporated into at least part of your design. It's the choice of color scheme for conveying the 'personality' of a product that's often a lot harder to come up with.

Sometimes the decision is partly intuitive - most people understand even at a very basic level that bright, saturated colors will convey a different kind of mood to neutral grays or browns. Experienced designers, of course, go further still, selecting and implementing colors on the basis of their effectiveness in the overall design. Here, the guidelines of traditional color theory often come into play as a kind of balancing act to ensure that all parts work together well and that the right kind of colors are used.

But what if some colors are actually more right than others?

We're about to embark on an exploration of color related not just to its use in layout, but rather, the psychological and physical impact it's likely to have on a viewer.

A big, and sometimes controversial undertaking, and we'll first need to get a couple of things straight. While people often talk about a psychology of color, in reality, most psychologists would find fault with the accuracy of this term. This is because the significance given to various colors isn't universal and unchanging - in many ways it's quite the opposite: various cultures quite often associate the same color with very different emotions and ideas.*

Yet colors and their underlying fabric of sociological and historical connotation certainly do produce specific reactions in particular contexts - emotions, associations and even physical effects that can help advertisers in their quest for ever more accurate targeting.

And if this all sounds a bit hokey, at the very least, the idea that color can actively influence consumers shouldn't be disregarded entirely. So let's take a look at what colors seem to be telling us.

Red

Red, the most vibrant and powerful of colors, seems like a good place to start. Particularly since studies have shown that it's the first color babies recognize, and one that continues to appeal to most people throughout their childhood and into their adult lives.

At a purely symbolic level, it's the color of fire and blood, an association that's common to all cultures and therefore extremely powerful. Less specifically, it's a color that seems to be associated with energy, war, danger and power, not to mention passion, desire, and love.

So what does that mean for marketing?

To start with, some of these associations are so deeply ingrained that it wouldn't be wise to use a color other than red to represent certain states. Try depicting extreme emotions such as violence or passion with shades of blue and you're going to run into problems.

What's more, it has been shown that in its brighter variations (tomato, pillar-box), red actually provokes a physical response by raising respiration rate and blood pressure.

For this reason, its use in 'sexy' advertising scenarios or as an erotically charged statement (on lips or fingernails) should quite literally set hearts beating faster - and unusually, it's regarded as equally arousing by men and women.

Whether the physiological 'red effect' occurs simply as a result of its associations; or because the color itself somehow provokes such a response; or, if, indeed, this effect relies on a combination of the two isn't something that necessarily matters here. What is important is that red, like virtually every other color, exerts a measurable influence on the consumer.

More about the 'red effect'

Quite apart from any physical reactions it might provoke, red's association with force, and therefore power, is an extremely dominant one. Consider all the small details in our everyday lives that support this notion: red icons on switches to indicate their 'on' state, the plastic coating on 'live' wires, the tiny red glow that tells us an electrical appliance is working.

All of which makes red an ideal color to suggest fast-moving action or extreme force - examples of products that might fall into this category include computer games, action-adventure books or movies.

This deep-rooted association with power, coupled with the fact that it actually raises metabolic speed, also makes red a good candidate for any product that seeks to impart the idea of improvement, rapidity or physical change. Just a few of many possible examples include anything related to sport or speed (think of those red sports cars), energy drinks, self-help guides, or batteries. Even 'fast-acting' or 'powerful' over-the-counter drugs can support their status with at least a dash of red.

Perhaps as a result of all that heavy breathing, red also increases appetite, making it an excellent choice for advertising food (it's popularly claimed that Chinese restaurants often use red color schemes for this reason, but there's little truth in this - red simply happens to be a very popular and 'lucky' color in Chinese culture).

However, if enticing diners to eat heartily is something you're aiming to do, an all-red environment is a good way to get stomachs rumbling.

Pink

Although it derives from red, pink has little of its big brother's forceful qualities. In fact, although it's usually perceived as a warm and fairly upbeat color, it is, of course, popularly associated with femininity and even passivity. A cliche, perhaps, but its vigor-reducing reputation has again been shown to have some basis in fact.

Famously, a shade of bubble-gum pink used in certain cells in a men's prison was unexpectedly found to placate aggressive inmates. Research corroborated the fact that pink did indeed have significant calming qualities - although subsequent study revealed that after a certain time these effects were dramatically reversed as prisoners became more agitated and aggressive than before. (Surprised? You try living in a bubble gum pink environment).

Nevertheless, the fact that pink does induce at least a temporary sensation of calm makes it a powerful factor in the color-coordinated approach to advertising. Its peaceful, relaxing qualities and general evocation of comfort and softness have long made it a favorite for items such as toilet paper, cotton wool and 'gentle on the skin' toiletries, especially baby lotions.

This association could possibly be explored further as a background or accent color for items where comfort is key, such as bedding, sofas or carpets. Apply with caution, however - the strong association with femininity means that anything 'too' pink is likely to be snubbed by men.

There's one other area in which pink has an interesting effect, however - and one that's far less likely to alienate males. It's well known that a high concentration of color in foodstuffs will lead consumers to believe they're tastier, or even identify a flavor that isn't actually present.* And pink coloring is a particularly effective way of suggesting sweetness.

This may relate to the fact that it's often used as a coloring in candies, but whatever the case, the association is powerful enough to substantially increase a food's perceived sugariness or even depth of flavor. Pink sprinkles or toppings will add oomph to vanilla ice cream, and pink marshmallows are often assumed to be sweeter than white ones (they aren't).

Although in these health-conscious times sweet, sugary foods have lost much of their popularity, the marketing of certain products is still likely to benefit from a little pink-appeal: feel-good desserts, ice creams, shakes and certainly artificial sweeteners. It's also a color that could be used to make sugar-free, healthier foods seem more enticing to kids - as long as Mom and Dad are able to see through the ruse themselves.

Green

Occurring naturally as a sign of plant growth and renewal, green is one of those colors that's universally seen as positive, fresh and fertile. It's also a color that, once again, produces noticeable physical effects. it's the easiest color for the eye to assimilate and therefore one of the most relaxing; it induces feelings of calm and restfulness, and can even improve vision. In short, it's a very positive color indeed.

This emphasis on nature, freshness and renewal means that it's commonly used to emphasize the cleansing, 'regenerative' aspect of household items such as bleaches, detergents, air fresheners. But if you notice a certain irony in this, well-spotted, because green, of course, has steadily evolved into the symbol of all that's ecologically aware. Which isn't a label that applies to most cleaning products.

The widespread acceptance of 'green' in its current sense is actually a fairly recent phenomenon*, but with increasing focus on ecological issues it's extremely powerful and will only gain in strength. So much so, in fact, that real care needs to be taken now that use of green doesn't suggest a product is all-natural, organic or additive-free if it isn't. Congruity in advertising - or the notion that what's implied about a product should be supported by its reality - is one of the most vital aspects of marketing. Get this wrong, and there's no consumer forgiveness.

Yet despite green requiring caution in advertising, its current associations have equally led to opportunities for more refined targeting. Wholesome, healthy food items are likely to be quickly identified as such through predominant use of green, and the same can be said for products or services associated with any type of healing, spirituality, or personal growth: yoga, slimming programs, alternative medicines.

Different greens, different meanings

Green is a symbolically complex color, and particular shades transmit subtly different messages. Darker greens - the classic color of bank-notes and bills - have long held an association with finance. The added implication of growth and fertility therefore makes green a good choice for promotion of many financial products, particularly saving schemes, pensions and insurance plans.

Lime greens, which emerged as popular trend color in the '90s, denote an especially vibrant freshness due to their close relationship to effervescent yellows. As such, they make excellent keynote colors for fresh, healthy, energy-inducing products such as juices, tonics, vitamin supplements and energy drinks.

Finally, a further modern-day association with green stems from its use in traffic systems to signify 'go'. This link with movement, forward motion and vehicles make it a potentially good choice for anything related to transport: carriers, train networks, buses. And for online advertising, try using green for buttons or links you'd particularly like clicked - you're practically inviting a user to go ahead and do so.

Blue

Blue is by far the world's most popular color. And as one that, like green, occurs in nature - the hue of skies, water and sea - it's not surprising that it's so well loved. With such universal associations and widespread appeal, blue is an important asset to any color theorist.

Unlike very warm colors, which provoke impulsive, passionate responses, blue is a cerebral color that's commonly associated with clear thinking and intellect. For good reason, too, as its use in offices and workplaces has been shown to dramatically increase productivity and a sense of well-being. Perhaps more surprisingly, other studies indicate that blue can even improve physical prowess - weight-lifters typically perform better in blue surroundings. However, this is probably a secondary effect of its ability to sharpen concentration.

This association with clear thought and precision make blue a good choice for anything involving a high degree of complex manufacture, such as computing products, electronic goods or hi-tech appliances in general. Darker blues emphasize this association even further, and their widespread appeal among men provide a perfect keynote for high-end, precision-made items with a masculine focus - expensive cars, bespoke tailoring, luxury grooming products.

Given such a setting, it's no real surprise either that blue emerges as a clear favorite in the corporate world. Its implication of steadiness and reason continue to make it an effective choice for much company branding, although its white collar associations can also suggest stuffiness and conservatism.

In its lighter, brighter shades, blue loses much of its cool aloofness and takes on happier, sparkling and spontaneous overtones. The pure and natural aspect of such blues convey a sense of cleanliness and freshness and are often used for cleaning products, detergents, deodorants and toothpastes.

Bright blue is also an obvious choice for the typical vacation. Evocative of cloudless skies and inviting pools or seas, it also gives a tantalizing taste of tranquility and relaxation by slowing down the metabolism and producing feelings of calm and well-being. A powerful message indeed, and one that makes blue an equally effective choice for health spas, beauty clinics and any other service where deep relaxation or therapy is a key selling point.

In fact, blue is such a flexible and well-liked color that it's almost impossible to mis-use - with one major exception.

Foods, particularly meats, dairy products and staples such as pasta or Rice, really don't benefit from any kind of association with blue. To start with, that drop in metabolism will certainly reduce the appetite; but this doesn't explain the fact that a blue/food combo can even induce feelings of nausea. (Try it. Add a little coloring to pasta, white sauce, or even better, light-fleshed meat such as pork or chicken. See how far you get before pushing your plate to one side).

It's been suggested that we instinctively associate the color with something that's rotten and unsafe to eat, but whatever the case, it's not a great choice for marketing a ready-meal. And if you find yourself running low at your next dinner party, bring out the blue plates. There won't be many requests for second helpings.

Yellow

Yellow is clearly vibrant, energetic and fun - it's the color of sunshine, flame and fire and is closely associated with warmth, happiness and the positive energy such states create. It produces bodily responses that are perfectly in keeping with this reading, too; an instant feeling of well-being along with a noticeable boost to mental activity.

For this reason, it's a color that effectively communicates the nature of products associated with vitality and stimulus, such as energy drinks, sports equipment, vitamin supplements or remedies. And as the perfect feel-good color, it's a great choice too for promoting group leisure activities, clubs and social networks.

Visually, yellow has a high impact that's hard to ignore, a fact reflected in its use for items such as sticky notes and highlighter inks. Since it demonstrably sharpens attention, too (back to the notes and highlighter pens!) it's worth considering lighter yellows as a background for large amounts of text, especially copy that requires close attention such as tutorials, instructions, or rules and regulations.

Yellow does requires a certain amount of care, however. Very light yellows can often appear drab, especially on-screen, while brighter shades tend to become overpowering.

The yellow effect is an intense one, and its enervating qualities can quickly put people on edge. Yellow rooms make babies cry more, and they also provoke hot tempers and arguments. And finally, while it's a color that can be used to market most products to women - from washing up gloves to expensive scents - men are far less likely to appreciate its use with expensive or luxury goods.

White

Pristine and pure, white appropriately signifies cleanliness, spiritual health and, of course, purity in most cultures. It's considered a non-color to which nothing has been added, making it an ideal choice for products wanting to accentuate their unadulterated, un-tampered with goodness: no-frills items, reduced fat, low-sugar or no-additive foods, pure juices, skin-care products.

White is also the classic 'clean' color, providing the easiest way to add a sense of uncluttered spaciousness to print or screen graphics. Yet its association with cleanliness and hygiene (white clearly shows dirt so is commonly used in hospitals, for example) lends it a certain clinical quality that can deprive a marketing message of warmth or even context. For this reason, it's best used with an accent color to combine the best of two worlds - the visual clarity of white and the emotional resonance of a carefully chosen highlight.

Remember, too, that on-screen, the combination of light-filled white with black text is fairly hard on the eye. Try choosing a tinted background for large quantities of copy (yellow is often a good choice, as mentioned above) or change the color of the text itself.

Black

Although in western culture the color black certainly holds several negative linguistic connotations (black magic, black market) it's also very positively associated with authority, prestige and exclusivity (black tie event, black credit card, black mercedes).

A slightly confusing message, but in general, black can be used very effectively to denote cool sophistication and a powerful sense of extreme luxury or expense.

Pair this with the fact that visually, it's a color that creates a real sense of depth while also focusing the attention more completely than white, and black makes an ideal backdrop for images of luxury goods or services such as high-end hotels. Men seem to respond particularly well to such a combination - perhaps because it's also been shown that for guys, black is a color with marked erotic overtones (combine it with red and you're onto a testerone-charged winner that's bound to attract male attention!)

Black is also by far the most common text color; perfect in print, although on-screen the contrast with white can often seem harsh. A good tip is to consider using a very dark gray instead. And colored text against a black background is rarely a good idea except in small areas, as black backgrounds diminish readability and will quickly tire viewers.

Orange

With Its combination of energetic reds and feel-good yellows, orange is a color that's clearly suggestive of fun, warmth and pleasure. And like its constituents, orange exerts an invigorating effect by increasing oxygen to the brain and stimulating mental activity. It's therefore an excellent choice for any product associated with energy and vigor, such as sporting equipment or services, adventure holidays, theme park rides, energy drinks.

Think you've read something like this before? Well in fact, orange can impart very similar messages to red, but importantly, without its slightly aggressive edge.

Of all the colors, orange is also the best at stimulating appetite. So good in fact, that you may notice a lot of it in the snack or candy shelves near a checkout. Strategic thinking, because the orange ability to generate sudden hunger pangs will often lead to impulse purchases.

Yet orange, particularly in its brighter shades, is also a color that's perceived as lacking prestige. Perhaps this is because its high visibility means it's a frequent factor in motel signs, fast food outlets and similar 'low-frills' businesses, but whatever the reasons, it's a color that's become associated with lower-budget options and shouldn't be used extensively for products wanting to impart a high quality message. (The opposite also holds true, however, making it a very good choice to indicate value for money, savings and discounts).

Purple

Mysterious, alluring, and very definitely regal, purple is a relatively uncommon color in nature. In the ancient world, its scarcity meant that it was highly valued, and rare, expensive purple dyes were used exclusively by nobility.

This association with wealth and prestige remains to this day, making purple, especially in its darker shades, an excellent complement to luxury items.

In fact, the association with expense is so strong that it can even be used to add a touch of instant class to cheaper products. For example, a bus company using purple livery would almost certainly be perceived as more luxurious than one using orange. The risk here, though, is that the consumer's perception of comparative pRice might also rise accordingly - even if fares are identical.

Purple secrets

Purple also has some interesting hidden talents. It's been noted, for instance, that many women find it an extremely erotic color, making it the female equivalent of the guys' libido-enhancing black.

In fact, purple turns out to be a very girly color indeed - far more so than pink, the usual suspect. It's a definite hit amongst young and adolescent girls for example, with some studies claiming that almost 75% rate it their favorite color. So while men seem fairly neutral about purple, if you're looking for a color that speaks directly to the ladies, this may well be the one to choose.

Brown

And what about the guys? Well if you tried to guess, chances are you'd get it right. Brown, along with blue, is consistently voted a favorite color by men. And why not? Solid, earthy, dependable; it might lack the zing of the brighter primaries, but it resonates with a sense of trustworthiness and dependability. And if that's the kind of message you're looking to add to your marketing strategy, brown is often the right color to convey it - especially of course, if the product's aimed specifically at males.

An interesting off-shoot of all this earnestness is the fact that brown is often claimed to be a highly 'believable' color, too. In other words, it's more likely to add credibility to an advertising message - an important factor if your communication makes claims that may seem extravagant.

Bear in mind though, that if used too extensively brown can also have a stodgy, dampening effect. And whatever message your marketing is ultimately trying to convey, its main purpose is to stimulate enough visual interest to attract and excite instant attention.

But even in this respect, brown turns out to be pretty dependable: it easily converts into lighter and darker shades without losing depth, and can also be mixed with more dynamic colors - reds, yellows, oranges for a much more upbeat feel. So use the color recommendations given here to spice up a brown accordingly.

Planning an ad for well-made, hard-wearing, yet sporty gear for guys? Brown combined with a hint of red should give just the right message.

FOOTNOTES

* While images are generally more noticeable than flat blocks of color, they are, of course, usually dominated by a particular color in order to enhance and support an overall layout.

* One example would be the use of white clothing to signify mourning in India and many parts of Asia. In this article I'm focusing on color in the context of western culture.

* Numerous studies have shown that higher levels of coloring in food or drinks leads to the belief that they are stronger in taste than identical items with less color. Assumptions regarding color-taste correlation can even cause errors when identifying flavor; for example, a cherry-flavored drink colored purple may well be identified as grape.

* The color green has long been a symbol of ecologically motivated political parties and movements, but it's only in recent years that this meaning has become completely mainstream through widespread media emphasis on global warming and other ecological issues.

* Oddly enough, red in this context don't seem to provoke a 'stop' response and will also work well for buttons, particularly if a quick decision is required. Green, however, will always be perceived as a less risky click.

REFERENCES

Bellizzi, Joseph A., Ayn E. Crowley, and Ronald W. Hasty (1983), "The Effects of Color in Store Design," Journal of Retailing, 59 (1)
--, and Robert E. Hite (1992), "Environmental Color, Consumer Feelings and Purchase Likelihood," Psychology and Marketing, 9 (5)

Birren, Faber (1978), Color and Human Response, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

Gorn, Gerald J., Amitava Chattopadhyay, Tracey Yi, and Darren W. Dahl (1997), "Effects of Color as an Executional Cue in Advertising: They're in the Shade," Management Science, 43 (10)
--, and Patricia C. Smith (1959), "A System of Color Preferences," American Journal of Psychology, 72 (4)

Hall, Richard H., and Patrick Hanna (2004), "The Impact of Web Page Text-Background Colour Combinations on Readability, Retention Aesthetics and Behavioral Intention," Behaviour and Information Technology, 23 (May/June)

Hevner, Kate (1935), "Experimental Studies of the Affective Value of Colors and Lines," Journal of Applied Psychology, 19 (2)

Jacobs, Keith W., and James F. Suess (1975), "Effects of Four Psychological Primary Colors on Anxiety State," Perceptual and Motor Skills, 41 (1)

Madden, Thomas J., Kelly Hewett, and Martin S. Roth (2000), "Managing Images in Different Cultures: A Cross-National Study of Color Meanings and Preferences," Journal of International Marketing, 8 (4)

Meyers-Levy, Joan, and Laura A. Peracchio (1995), "Understanding the Effects of Color: How the Correspondence Between Available and Required Resources Affects Attitudes," Journal of Consumer Research, 22 (2), 121-138.

Middlestadt, Susan E. (1990), "The Effect of Background and Ambient Color on Product Attitudes and Beliefs," in Advances in Consumer Research, vol. 17, Rebecca Holman and Michael Solomon, eds., Provo, UT: Association for Consumer Research,

Schaie, Klaus W., and Robert Heiss (1964), Color and Personality, Berne, Switzerland: Hans Huber.

Schindler, Pamela S. (1986), "Color and Contrast in Magazine Advertising," Psychology and Marketing, 3 (2)

Wilson, Glenn D. (1966), "Arousal Properties of Red Versus Green," Perceptual and Motor Skills, 23 (3)

Ten Fun and Creepy Halloween Party Snacks

It doesn't matter if you have a big family or if you're on your own... Halloween is one of the most fun holidays ever invented. But if you are a busy mom (and your house is the one house on the block where everyone goes for Halloween parties) you may be looking for some quick and easy Halloween party snacks to have ready for kids, visitors, guests, and freeloading adult friends during the Halloween season.

Looking for some new ideas for festive snacks that don't take a hundred years (or work your fingers to the bone) to put together? The ten Halloween party snack ideas below are lots of fun, simple to make... and some of them are even healthy!

1. Rotting Eyes and Severed Fingers

This is a very healthy but rather creepy Halloween party snack that makes good use of black olives and baby carrots. Arrange the black olives and baby carrots on a party tray with a bowl of your favorite dip (I like a cream cheese veggie dip). Inform your party guests that the tray is filled with rotting black eyes and severed fingers. And then watch this snack disappear. A good way to get your kids excited about veggies!

2. Jack o' Lantern Oranges

This healthy treat is so easy to make, and looks so pretty! Carve jack-o'-lantern faces into oranges and place on a platter. The kids will love it. And they can help, too, without ever having to pick up a knife. Have them simply draw the faces on with a black marker, and carve them yourself. Or don't worry about carving them-- they look just as good with faces drawn on.

As a variation of this fun Halloween party snack, I like to hollow out an orange with a Jack o' Lantern face and fill it with fruit salad. Healthy, easy and quick!

3. Easy Bugs in the Bone Yard

This is such a fun Halloween snack for the kiddos. All you have to do? Sprinkle raisins into a bowl full of white-chocolate covered pretzels. (You could also use chocolate covered raisins.) Kids will eat them up once they learn the name of this snack. Or they'd eat it up anyway, since this mix tastes divine.

4. Slimy Halloween Jigglers

You know those Jello jiggler molds? They work great for Halloween! Either use whatever you have lying around the house, or go out and pick up a brain or a heart-shaped Jello mold. Make up a batch of orange, black, purple, or flesh-colored Jello and pour into your mold(s). Or make a flat pan of Jello and cut out shapes with Halloween cookie cutters instead.

5. Ghost Cereal Bars

Prepare a batch of the Rice Krispies marshmallow treats recipe on the back of the cereal box. When the mixture has set up, cut out shapes with ghost shaped cookie cutter. Pour warm white frosting or melted white chocolate over the shapes to cover. Add M&M eyes and mouth. A delicious and easy Halloween party snack.

6. Green Gelatin Intestines

This is one of the grosser looking Halloween party snacks. Make lime gelatin and add pineapple bits, chopped marshmallows, sliced bananas and mandarin oranges. Pour gelatin mixture into an angel food cake pan and let set up. Invert pan to remove gelatin mold. Slice the mold horizontally into about 5 layers. Slice the layers in half and arrange on a platter in semi-circles to look like intestines. Gross!

7. Spooky Healthy Eyeballs

This Halloween party snack is both easy and healthy. Wash a bunch of green grapes. Insert a raisin into the stem end of the grapes and freeze them all until ready to serve.

8. Monster Crackers

Color some white vegetable spread or cream cheese with green food coloring and spread on your favorite crackers. Arrange small bits of green and red bell peppers to make a green-eyed, red-mouthed cracker monster. Use small amounts of broccoli sprouts to make the monster hair. A sneaky way to get kids eating their veggies.

9. Wormy Halloween Punch Recipe

No respectable Halloween party snack list would do with out having this squeamish punch. Just make green Kool-Aid and put in a clear glass punch bowl. Set the punch bowl on top of a glow necklace so the light shines through the punch bowl. Add some gummy worms and watch the kids squirm when they see it.

10. Vampire Blood

You use V8 juice for this one so it is healthier than the wormy punch above. Pour the V8 juice in a clear picture that you have labeled as "Vampire Blood." For an adult party, add the ingredients for a bloody Mary, if you like. For a kids' party, well... good luck getting them to try it. It is V8, after all!

Making Rice Krispie Treats 4

Adzuki Beans and Roasted Vegetables With Brown Rice

I have been inexplicably excited to write about this dish for days now. I'm beginning to take for granted how often I eat incredibly delicious, nourishing food. So when I make something that compels me to audibly proclaim how good this food is, I appreciate anew the bliss of eating this well.

This dish was inspired by a recipe from Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet, but I completely revamped it the second time I made it. The original dish is an adzuki bean stew with kabocha squash, seasoned only with a touch of soy sauce and some parsley. When I first prepared this recipe, I liked it, but only because it made me feel virtuous for eating something so healthy, even if it didn't taste amazing. Adzuki bean stew is a very traditional macrobiotic dish focusing on whole foods without a lot of seasoning. As Alicia describes it, in the macrobiotic diet, "Herbs and spices are used in moderation: Spices like cayenne and curries are powerful and have a strong effect on the body. If we want our bodies to come to a centered, relaxed place, it's important to use simple food - at least for a while. Many [macrobiotics] use herbs and spices here and there to create variety, but don't get into a habit of putting them in every dish. To the [macrobiotic] tongue, simple food tastes fantastic." I was skeptical when I read this, never having heard of any reputable study denigrating flavorful food; I was most definitely not converted after eating this dish.

Now for the good part. I rehabilitated this dish using good old fashioned aromatic flavorings, like onions and garlic, and a touch of salt and pepper. It was spectacular. Roasting the onion, carrot, garlic, and squash created a mellow warm flavor, beautifully grounded by the adzuki beans, and a fantastic brown Rice medley. My first memory of this dish was one of uniform texture, and not a lot of flavor. But, now I remember it as warm, homey, and full of sweet, savory, and fresh goodness.

This dish also happens to be incredibly good for you. I don't have to expound on the merits of whole grains any more to you readers, but adzuki beans are new to this blog. Ounce for ounce, adzuki beans are one of the best foods you can put in your mouth. Like all beans, they are a great source of fiber, low in fat, and chock full of nutrients. Adzuki beans are a prominent part of many Eastern diets and contain high quantities of magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc copper, manganese, and B vitamins. So, the next time your feeling culinarily adventurous, or just hungry, think of this dish!

1/2 cup dried adzuki beans
1 bay leaf
1 onion halved and sliced thinly
1 carrot halved and chopped roughly
2 cloves garlic peeled
1 acorn squash halved and sliced into 3/4" wide wedges
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup brown Rice*
2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
2 tablespoons cilantro chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Place dried beans in a shallow dish. Cover with water 1" or 2" above the beans. Let sit overnight.

Place beans and the bay leaf in a small pot, and just cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until beans are tender. Remove bay leaf and set aside.

Heat oven to 375º. Place onions, carrot, garlic, and squash in a shallow dish. Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until tender. Remove the squash from the peel, and cut into medium chunks. Add the squash, carrots, onions, and garlic to the beans.

Bring vegetable stock to a boil in a medium pot. Add the rice and simmer for 35 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Combine the rice, beans, and vegetables. Add the cilantro, and taste for salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

* I used Trader Joe's Brown Rice Medley, with long grain brown rice, black barley, and daikon radish seeds. Yum!

A Fascinating Glimpse at Medieval Desserts

The word "dessert" originated during the Medieval era. Desserts back then were obviously different to the types of desserts we have now and it is interesting to find out what was typically served for dessert in the Middle Ages.

Aged cheese and mulled wine was served after almost every dinner and, by the later part of the Medieval era, sugar-, honey- or syrup-covered fruits were also served. Sugar was viewed as a drug as well as a sweetener. Having been recently introduced from Europe, it was considered a luxury item and added to all kinds of dishes, even savory ones. Only the rich could afford sugar however.

Flans and tarts were well loved in medieval times and it is thought that Rice pudding also dates from that era. A lot of these dessert recipes are still around today and some have not changed very much at all. In fact, today's jello cheesecake is not that dissimilar in flavor or texture from a medieval jam-topped cheese tart!

Other Well Known Middle Ages Treats

Sugar-topped crepes, fritters, and sweet custards were popular medieval desserts. Darioles, which were eggs and almond milk in a pastry shell, were served, and fried dough or pastries with sweet fillings was popular in Germanic areas. Almond milk was used in desserts more than cow's milk because it stayed fresh for longer.

Marzipan was popular in southern France and Italy by the early 1300s and it is thought to have originated from the Arab regions. Tarts with cherries, plums, apples, and strawberries were well known and flower petals like violets, roses and elderflowers were used as a garnish for medieval desserts.

Wafers and waffles were enjoyed with cheese in the north of France and candied ginger with aniseed, coriander, or other spices was served at the end of a meal to aid with digestion.

Recipe for Medieval Tart with Custard

This creamy and flavorful tart was popular in France in the Middle Ages. You can make it without the crust if you prefer. If you want to do that, use a double-boiler instead of a pie dish. The combination of nutmeg and cinnamon was popular in medieval times. Other popular spices included saffron, cloves and ginger.

You will need:

4 eggs
4 cups milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2/3 cup white sugar
1 pie crust
3/4 cup water
Butter and flour, for the pie dish
How to make it:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Bring the sugar and milk to a boil in a pot, then let it cool down. Stir the water into the sweetened milk, then return it to the heat and keep stirring it until it reaches a boil.

Beat the eggs, and then stir them into the milk. Grease and flour a pie dish. Roll out the pie crust and put it in the dish, then pour in the egg mixture and bake the tart for half an hour. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

riz soufflé

fabrication de barre de riz soufflé. Vu sur le Delta du Mekong

making rice krispie cakes with shannon!

making some random shizzle. we got bored. btw, we jump back when we are cooking because the boiling water overflows and puts out the fire on the cooker:L we freakedd. **music used for entertainment purposes only, i do not own this song all credit goes to ke$ha**

E 1st Rice Krispie Treat

This Valentines Day say "I Love You" with Cookies

What better way to tell your sweetie "I Love You" than with some fresh baked cookies? Give some of these sweet treats a try this Valentine's Day. Cupid himself would be impressed by these yummy creations. They are sure to be a hit with your Sweetheart, Children, Neighbors or anyone else special to you as well. Don't forget to get the kids involved! I still have memories of making Valentine's Day Cookies as a child.

Heart Shaped Cookies

Make you favorite roll-out sugar cookie recipe. Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut them. Bake, frost and decorate to your heart's content. You can sprinkle them with red or pink crystallized sugar before you bake them, or frost and sprinkle with some tiny candied hearts or pink sprinkles after they are baked. Use icing in a tube to write a message or draw a picture on the cookie.

Cookie Lollipop

Heart Shaped cookie lollipops are always a big hit. Start with basic sugar cookie dough. Roll it out to about 1/8th inch thickness (place the dough between two sheets of wax paper to keep the dough from sticking). Use a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut an equal amount of hearts. Place half a bamboo skewer, a lollipop stick (found at craft stores) or a Popsicle stick on the bottom half of the hearts. Place the remaining hearts on top and press them firmly together. Bake according to your recipe instructions and decorate as desired.

Tip - soak the skewers or Popsicle sticks in water before placing them on the cookies to keep them from getting burnt.

Valentine's Rice Krispies Treats

Make Rice Krispies Treats and while the mixture is still warm use a large heart shaped cookie cutter to cut them out. If you can't find a cookie cutter of the right size, draw a heart on cardboard and use it as a template. Just lay it on the sheet of Rice Krispies Treats and trace around it with a knife. For even more Valentine fun add a few drops of red food coloring to the marshmallow mixture for a pink version of the sticky treat.

Cookie Dough Jar

Place the dry ingredients of your favorite cookie recipe in a pretty jar. Write the recipe for the cookie on a heart shaped piece of paper or a valentine's note card. Tie it with a pretty bow around the jar. Make the glass jar even more special by drawing little red hearts on it with a permanent marker. These are so cute and easy!

Bouquet of Cookies

Bake up some of your favorite cookies. Get a pretty basket and line it with a red or pink cloth napkin. Arrange the homemade cookies in the basket. If you'd like, you can also add some heart shaped cookie cutters, Valentine's Day themed sprinkles, or some hot chocolate mix. Another option would be to use a piece of floral foam and arrange some decorated Cookie Lollipops within the basket and fill the bottom with Hershey's Kisses or other Valentine Candy.

All of these cookie ideas for Valentine's Day make wonderful gifts for a special someone that has a personal touch. They are
sure to be appreciated, after all, who doesn't like cookies?

Low-Cost Fundraising Snack Items

If you have decided to raise funds for your school, group or organization by selling fundraising snacks, your first thought should be to find out snacks that meet your state's wellness or nutrition policies, standards and regulations. The second thought will be about finding low-cost fundraising snack items that leave you with enough profit.

Snacks always prove to be great fund raising items. It is a favorite pass-time which costs less to donators and yields good profit. You can sell a pack of snacks at as little as $1 or 2 and can earn a profit as huge as 50-70%.

There are a lot of low-cost fundraising snack items available, today. The most successful ones include Baked Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Flamin' Hot Cheetos Fantastix, Chili Cheese Cheetos Fantastix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Crisps, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Crisp Bars, Strawberry Cheerios Cereal Bars, Rice Krispies Treats, Cocoa Puffs Cereal Bars, Trix Cereal Bars, Corn Nuts (Chile Picante), Corn Nuts (Ranch), Cheez-It Crackers Reduced Fat, Pepperidge Farms Cheddar Goldfish, General Mills Chex Mix (Traditional), General Mills Chex Mix (Hot & Spicy), Basil's Animal Snackers and many more.

There are many low-cost fundraising snack suppliers offering delicious and profitable fundraising snacks. You can find many of them online, browse through their products and place your order instantly. Some of these vendors are offering snack items on standard 21days credit that means you do not have to pay in advance for buying these fundraising snacks. You get sufficient time to sell the snacks then pay to the supplier. You will not have to pay even for shipping expenses.

There is no limit where you can sell these fundraising snacks. Of course, these items sell well among children, but are not limited to them only. You can sell snacks to anyone and almost anywhere. The vantage-points can be schools, clubs, events, drug stores, grocery stores, malls, festivals, sports activities, churches, neighborhoods, friends, relatives, co-workers and even on signals, footpaths, gardens and other places of general and public activities.

Besides, you can also decide to organize some sports or recreational events especially for children in your locality, entertain them, promote the cause and inspire them to buy your fundraising snacks.

No matter what your cause is, be it student scholarship, merit awards, athletic or academic achievement, humanitarian concerns, disaster relief, human rights, research or anything else, you can always rely on low-cost fundraising snacks items to meet your target easily.

rice krispie amusement tutorial fail

this was supposed to be a tutorial on how to make rice krispie treats, but i couldn't find the measuring cup -____- hahah

Gluten Free Desserts - Keep Your Favorite Desserts

Living with a condition, such as Celiac disease, or gluten sensitivity, does not mean that you cannot enjoy some of your favorite desserts, in fact, there is a wide variety of Gluten Free Desserts available.

With a little digging, it is not difficult to find a wide variety of Gluten Free Recipes. Such as Cheesecake, gluten free cupcakes and cookies. In fact, German Chocolate Cake is even available in a non-gluten variety, with a little checking.

Brownie's, Donut, pudding, and even pie and pie crusts are easily found with the right searches.

With all of the options and substitutions available for gluten free desserts, there is no reason not to be able to enjoy any special occasion. If out with friends and family at a local restaurant, simply by asking your server about the non-gluten options, most of the time the server will be able to explain them directly to you, or they will have a separate menu available, some restaurants even have gluten indicators on the main menu.

Walnut-Apple Crisp, Blackberry cobbler, and Maple-Pecan Pie are a few more examples of non-gluten foods available.

How are these options available in non-gluten varieties, you may be asking yourself. The answer is actually very simple. While most of the desserts listed in this article do require some form of flour, not all flour needs to be made from gluten containing wheat. Flax four, Almond Flour, even Rice flour can be used as replacements for many of your favorite recipes. in fact, turning life-long favorite dessert, that may now seem to be off-limits, can usually be made into a glut free recipes variety with very little adjustments. It is always better however, to check all of the other ingredients first to make sure that no wheat or gluten products were used in their creation.

Hopefully, this article has shown you that just because you, or a loved one, is on a wheat or gluten restricted diet, that does not mean that it is necessary to alter your desserts too drastically. Many restaurants, grocery stores, and even specialty shops, such as bakeries are aware, and carry non-gluten varieties of many popular items.

Cuban Cuisine - Essential Elements of Cuban Food

Cuban cuisine comes from a rich combination of native foods, Spanish and Moorish influences, and African contributions. All these influences have created a very distinctive flavor that enhances hearty, simple dishes. A typical Cuban meal would consist of Rice, beans, a main meat dish, root vegetables, and a salad. Deep frying is rarely done in Cuba. Most of the food is cooked in a quick saute or slow cooked over low heat.

Spices

The most commonly used spices in Cuban cuisine are garlic, cumin, bay leaf, and oregano. They also use a combination known as sofrito. This is made by sauteing onions, green peppers, garlic, black pepper, and oregano in olive oil until the flavors are blended. Sofrito is used as a base for Rice, stew, beans, and many other recipes.

Vegetables

Cuba uses lots of root vegetables like plantano, yuca, boniato, and malanga. Vegetables are often simmered together and served with a simple dressing of olive oil and chopped onion. Black beans are a large part of the daily meal. They are often served with Rice during the main meals of the day. Fruit is also a big part of the daily menu. Plums, pineapples, guavas and more are available to choose from.

Meats

Seafood, pork, and beef are often used in Cuban cuisine. Chickens also play an important role. Meats may be marinated and simmered slowly to make tender, mouthwatering dishes. Seafood is cooked simply, allowing the flavor of the fish to come through.

Baked Goods

Cuba's breads and pastries are well known. Turnovers filled with spicy meats or fruit and cream cheese are popular. Puff pastries with fillings are often eaten as finger foods. Custard desserts are often served. Sandwiches are very popular in Cuban cuisine. The popular "Cuban sandwich" found in Miami is made of ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and roast pork.

Recipe for Chicken in a Black Bean Sauce

This dish is a great way to give chicken a new taste. For even more flavor, marinate the chicken overnight in the sauce.

What You Need

4 chicken thighs
4 chicken legs
1 large can of black beans
1/2 cup of sofrito (saute bell pepper, garlic, cilantro, and onion together until translucent)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon of cumin
1 Tablespoon of oregano
1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
1/2 can of tomato sauce
1 cup chicken broth
How to Make It

Wash the chicken and pat it dry. Season the pieces with salt and pepper. Set the chicken aside.

Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet and saute the sofrito mixture. Add the oregano, cumin and tomato sauce, stirring well.

Add beans and broth, mixing well. Let the mixture cook for ten minutes. Add apple cider vinegar, stir, and let simmer another 3 or 4 minutes. Place chicken pieces in the pan, covering them completely with the sauce. Cook the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes.

Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving over a bed of white rice.