Top 5 Articles

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Tasty and Easy Pumpkin Roll Cake

Do you enjoy cake rolls? I sure do and often asked, "how do they do that?" Here is a great recipe for a Pumpkin Roll Cake with a cream cheese and caramel flavored icing. It's a crowd pleasure. Most people enjoy them so much because they do not have the time, patience to make one for themselves. They take time. They take patience ... And it takes a little skill. It probably doesn't take much more time that what it would take you to make a full course meal or any type of pastry.

The directions below can help you simply and easily make your own Pumpkin Cake Roll.

Pumpkin Roll Cake

3/4 C flour 2 tsp pumpkin spice
1 tsp baking powder 4 eggs (separated).
1 C granulated sugar, divided 2/3 C canned pumpkin (no pumpkin pie filling).
1 Tbspn Lemon Juice 1/2 C ground Pecans.

Icing & Filling.

1 Pkg (8 oz) cream cheese - softened.
4 squares (1 oz each) white chocolate, melted.
1/3 C Carmel Ice Cream Topping.
6 C Thawed Frozen Whipped Topping.
Pecan halves.

Directions:.

For the cake, preheat oven to 375 degrees; Line base of a 11 x 17 inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper, set aside.

In medium bowl, sift together the flour, pumpkin pie spice and the baking powder, then set aside.

In large bowl, beat egg yolks until frothy with an electric mixer. Add 1/2 C sugar, continue beating for 3-5 minutes. Add pumpkin and flour mixture; mix until well combined.

In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until frothy with electric mixer. Add lemon juice and continue beating for 2 minutes. Gradually add remaining 1/2 C sugar. Continue beating until soft peaks form.

Sprinkle ground pecans over egg whites; gently fold in. Fold Yolk mixture into egg white mixture. Spread evenly into previously prepared pan.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven. Very gently loosen the edges of cake from pan. Carefully turn cake onto cooling rack lined with a clean kitchen towel. Cool the cake for 3-5 minutes.

Carefully remove parchment paper.

Starting at the short edge, roll up cake with Kitchen towel. Transfer rolled cake to cooling rack; cool completely.

For the icing: In large bowl, beat cream cheese, melted chocolate and caramel topping with electric mixer. Gently stir in whipped topping. To fill cake, gently unroll cake. Spread about 1/3 of the icing evenly over surface. Gently re-roll cake (without towel). Trim off ends of roll using a serrated knife. Transfer to a serving platter. Using a spatula, ice the pumpkin roll, alternate rows of pecan halves and icing shells. Cover and refrigerate 2-3 hours or until ready to serve.

Pumpkin Roll Cake doesn't have to be used in the fall, but is favored year round. However, if you prefer to not make pumpkin because you prefer a different flavor, you can make a chocolate or strawberry cake roll instead.

These pumpkin cake rolls or other flavored cake rolls can be frozen for up to one month or possibly a little longer. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap, twice. Then place in a freezer bag. Make these for the holidays in advance when you have time. Remove from the freezer the morning of the day you wish to serve them. You can then slice them down, and serve at the next party or family dinner you attend.

Your family will love you while enjoying this tasty treat, thinking you slaved all day to make it for them. Enjoy.

How to Make Homemade Pizza Dough in 10 Steps

You're ready to make an amazing pizza in your wood-fired pizza oven, but need to have a pizza base for all the ingredients you're piling on top. There is nothing better than making homemade pizza dough and you will certainly taste the difference when compared to store-bought dough.

Making pizza crust is usually one area that frustrates people, but it is the key element in creating a great pizza. If you think that making pizza dough is confusing and mysterious, we hope to give you the courage to roll up your sleeves and give it a try! While your first dough may not turn out exactly the way you want, you'll have fun learning and the investment will pay off for years to come!

Making great pizza starts with great pizza dough. If you are new to making a pizza base and always wondered how to make pizza dough, here's a tried-and-true, basic homemade pizza dough recipe from Chicago Brick Oven:

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups warm water (about 110 ° F to
115 ° F).
1 teaspoon sugar. 1/4 ounce active dry yeast- this is necessary for your dough to rise. 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour. 1/2 cup semolina flour or fine ground yellow cornmeal.
1/3 cup olive oil and extra for coating the bowl.
1 teaspoon salt.
Preparation.

Combine yeast, water and sugar in a mixing bowl and stir.
Let sit until foamy on top.
Add 1/2 cup flour, the semolina and 1/3 cup olive oil with the salt.
Mix and continue working in the flour a 1/4 cup at a time until completed.
Put the dough on a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth and tacky.
Prepare a large mixing bowl coated with olive oil and place the dough in it.
Cover the bowl with wax paper or a wet towel.
Place in a warm area and let double in size; this usually takes more than an hour.
Knead the dough a little and separate into 2 equal portions.
At this point, store in airtight bags; your dough is ready to use as directed in recipes.
Note: You can freeze and store this dough up to four months. Before using, make sure to thaw the dough for several hours at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

So, now that you have the basics, the best approach is to purchase fresh yeast, select good quality flour, and go for it! It won't take long before you are an expert of dough-making and producing awesome pizzas and breads.

Pam Wiselogel enjoys making homemade wood fired pizzas with family and friends.




amazing pizza in your wood-fired pizza oven, but need to have a pizza base for all the ingredients you're piling on top. There is nothing better than making homemade pizza dough and you will certainly taste the difference when compared to store-bought dough.


Making pizza crust is usually one area that frustrates people, but it is the key element in creating a great pizza. If you think that making pizza dough is confusing and mysterious, we hope to give you the courage to roll up your sleeves and give it a try! While your first dough may not turn out exactly the way you want, you'll have fun learning and the investment will pay off for years to come!

Making great pizza starts with great pizza dough. If you are new to making a pizza base and always wondered how to make pizza dough, here's a tried-and-true, basic homemade pizza dough recipe from Chicago Brick Oven:.

Ingredients.

1-1/2 cups warm water (about 110 ° F to
115 ° F). 1 teaspoon sugar.
1/4 ounce active dry yeast - this is necessary for your dough to rise.
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour.
1/2 cup semolina flour or fine ground yellow cornmeal.
1/3 cup olive oil and extra for coating the bowl.
1 teaspoon salt.
Preparation.

Combine yeast, water and sugar in a mixing bowl and stir.
Let sit until foamy on top.
Add 1/2 cup flour, the semolina and 1/3 cup olive oil with the salt.
Mix and continue working in the flour a 1/4 cup at a time until completed.
Put the dough on a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth and tacky.
Prepare a large mixing bowl coated with olive oil and place the dough in it.
Cover the bowl with wax paper or a wet towel.
Place in a warm area and let double in size; this usually takes more than an hour.
Knead the dough a little and separate into 2 equal portions.
At this point, store in airtight bags; your dough is ready to use as directed in recipes.
Note: You can freeze and store this dough up to four months. Before using, make sure to thaw the dough for several hours at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

So, now that you have the basics, the best approach is to purchase fresh yeast, select good quality flour, and go for it! It won't take long before you are an expert of dough-making and producing awesome pizzas and breads.

Pam Wiselogel enjoys making homemade wood fired pizzas with family and friend.

Homemade Healthy Dog Treats

More and more dog owners prefer to give homemade healthy dog treats to their beloved dog because of the arising health dangers of commercial dog foods. If you want to belong to the population of dog owners who want to give homemade healthy dog treats, read on.

Homemade healthy dog treats are safer and healthier. It is easy to prepare as well. Below are some tips on how to prepare homemade healthy dog treats

Raw healthy dog treats

1. Your dog will always love meat because they want protein. Choose fresh meat only for your healthy dog treats. It is highly recommended that you purchase the meat from meat processor and butcher. You are guaranteed that you will get the best and fresher meats. To get meats at cheaper rates, buy in bulk order. You can even request the butcher to grind or cut the meats on your desired size.

2. Use stewing meats, lean beef, beef liver, beef heart and boneless roast or steak. You can also choose leg of lamb, boneless stewing lamb and shank. Chicken fillet, skinless or boneless chicken are also good options for dog foods.

3. Opt to add vegetables such as cucumber, pumpkin, squash, zucchini, carrots, beets, parsnips, broccoli, yams and sweet potatoes. Dogs need these vegetables to have the proper nutrients. Take note, you should choose fresh vegetables.

4. Do not choose vegetables that will give digestive problems to your dogs that will result to damaged red book cells. These vegetables are bell peppers, potato, tomato, onions, garlic, beet greens, peas, spinach, beans, peas and chard.

5. You need to know the right amount of food to provide your dog. For instance, if your dog is already adult, compute it by multiplying by 0.4 his body weight. The resulting equivalent will be the amount in ounces that your dog must eat per day. You can either give it in one meal or divide it one in the morning and one in the evening.

6. Chop the vegetables and meats into small chunks that will allow your pet eat easily.

7. Serve to your dog.

Cooked healthy dog treats.

1. Follow the above tips in choosing meats and vegetables.

2. Cook your chosen meat or vegetable. However, it is not required that you cook whatever food you want to give your dog but there are pet owners who would want to serve their pet cooked foods.

3. Make sure that you cook the meat slightly to retain its quality - tender and juicy. This is to best provide nutritional value to your dog. Remember, once the food is heated, it can kill its nutrients.

4. Just lightly steam the vegetables that you will add before combining it to the cooked food. Take note, just add the recommended vegetables mentioned above.

5. Before giving your dog the cooked homemade healthy dog treats that you prepared, make sure that it is not hot. Test the different areas of the food. Let it stand first before serving it to your dog.

Preparing homemade healthy dog treats will ensure that you are giving enough nutrients your dog needs. Follow the above tips and prepare your own homemade healthy dog treats today.

Healthy Start For Young Parents

Spring is fresh, beckons rebirth, liveliness, hope for all who dare. It is the time for us to be renewed inside out. How is this done you are asking? Start with baby steps to eat whole foods, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products, meat and beans - the foods shown on the MyPyramid. Take a look at the Food Guide Pyramid, the MyPyramid.gov., what do you see, do you see liveliness, freshness, colors that reflect the rainbow and the hope to dare? I call on you to step up to change and claim rebirth to a new you and for your family. Allow me to be your travel guide as you inch your way along the journey to feed your family healthy, nutritious, wholesome, and delicious foods one meal at a time and having fun with added activities

It may seem challenging at times but you can do it. It is hard to control what your children eat when they are away from home. It is the best reason for you parents to begin with yourselves to eat healthy. As you know you are your children's best role models. Therefore you have to set the example for your children to follow. What you do and how you teach them becomes their blue print. "Children learn what they live and live what they learn." Research shows that parents have control over what their kids eat during the pre-school years. The grade school years are different. Do you think you have control? Think again. Your children are calling the shots and making many of the decisions for their own food choices at schools, at friend's houses, at parties, wherever, during your absence.

Do you want to know what kind of food choices they make when you are not around? Are the foods they choose sweet and sugary, fatty and salty? The answer is dependent on the efforts of both of you. It is said, "raising healthy eaters is similar to raising report card grades. It is a partnership between the parent and the child." As a parent, and dietitian, and having worked in School Food service system for many years, "the report card" showed that the grade school years are the best for you (parents) to transfer some of the responsibility of healthy eating to your children. By the time your children enter High School, it would be too late, because eating habits are already set.

Yes, all information indicates that the grade school is the best time to teach children how to shoulder some of the responsibility of choosing and eating healthy foods. It is my goal to teach, coach and empower you to increase your nutrition knowledge and practical skills so you can impart this knowledge to your children. Teaching your children how to choose the right healthy foods, applying nutrition principles of how food nourishes the body and the positive role that physical activities play in good health is the smart way to conquer and win them to eat the right foods, in the right proportions. Once they learn how to choose for themselves, these healthy habits will take root to last a lifetime.

When and where do you start? Get started now. Children entering kindergarten through the sixth grade is the time to transfer some responsibility and let them learn and begin to lay the groundwork for teaching. Why? Nutritionally this is a critical and important time for children. Here is the evidence.
During these years children will grow an average of (a) 1 to 2 feet tall (b) and weight is doubled.

Grades 5 through Grade 8th classified as Early Grade School age for children 5-8 years old. Children 9-12 years old are classified as Later Grade school years. There is a separation between early and later grade school years for two important reasons. Firstly, at age 9, children's requirements for all nutrients increase phenomenally in support of growth and development for puberty. Secondly, between the ages of 5 years and 12 years children' food preferences and appetites change drastically. Separating the grade school years as early and later allow you to understand the nutrition information provided into a more age appropriate way in discussion to share and teach your children.Spring is fresh, beckons rebirth, liveliness, hope for all who dare. It is the time for us to be renewed inside out. How is this done you are asking? Start with baby steps to eat whole foods, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products, meat and beans - the foods shown on the MyPyramid. Take a look at the Food Guide Pyramid, the MyPyramid.gov., what do you see, do you see liveliness, freshness, colors that reflect the rainbow and the hope to dare? I call on you to step up to change and claim rebirth to a new you and for your family. Allow me to be your travel guide as you inch your way along the journey to feed your family healthy, nutritious, wholesome, and delicious foods one meal at a time and having fun with added activities

It may seem challenging at times but you can do it. It is hard to control what your children eat when they are away from home. It is the best reason for you parents to begin with yourselves to eat healthy. As you know you are your children's best role models. Therefore you have to set the example for your children to follow. What you do and how you teach them becomes their blue print. "Children learn what they live and live what they learn." Research shows that parents have control over what their kids eat during the pre-school years. The grade school years are different. Do you think you have control? Think again. Your children are calling the shots and making many of the decisions for their own food choices at schools, at friend's houses, at parties, wherever, during your absence.

Do you want to know what kind of food choices they make when you are not around? Are the foods they choose sweet and sugary, fatty and salty? The answer is dependent on the efforts of both of you. It is said, "raising healthy eaters is similar to raising report card grades. It is a partnership between the parent and the child." As a parent, and dietitian, and having worked in School Food service system for many years, "the report card" showed that the grade school years are the best for you (parents) to transfer some of the responsibility of healthy eating to your children. By the time your children enter High School, it would be too late, because eating habits are already set.

Yes, all information indicates that the grade school is the best time to teach children how to shoulder some of the responsibility of choosing and eating healthy foods. It is my goal to teach, coach and empower you to increase your nutrition knowledge and practical skills so you can impart this knowledge to your children. Teaching your children how to choose the right healthy foods, applying nutrition principles of how food nourishes the body and the positive role that physical activities play in good health is the smart way to conquer and win them to eat the right foods, in the right proportions. Once they learn how to choose for themselves, these healthy habits will take root to last a lifetime.

When and where do you start? Get started now. Children entering kindergarten through the sixth grade is the time to transfer some responsibility and let them learn and begin to lay the groundwork for teaching. Why? Nutritionally this is a critical and important time for children. Here is the evidence.
During these years children will grow an average of (a) 1 to 2 feet tall (b) and weight is doubled.

Grades 5 through Grade 8th classified as Early Grade School age for children 5-8 years old. Children 9-12 years old are classified as Later Grade school years. There is a separation between early and later grade school years for two important reasons. Firstly, at age 9, children's requirements for all nutrients increase phenomenally in support of growth and development for puberty. Secondly, between the ages of 5 years and 12 years children' food preferences and appetites change drastically. Separating the grade school years as early and later allow you to understand the nutrition information provided into a more age appropriate way in discussion to share and teach your children.

A Chocolate A Day Can Keep You Healthy

It is widely believed that eating dark chocolate is good for cardiovascular health. Some health and lifestyle experts, however, emphasized that there is no evidence for this fact. Recently, the British Journal of Nutrition published a new study, which supports regular consumption of chocolate. Before changing your diet to eat more chocolate and sweets, you should understand that this study is published based on clinical observation and available data.

According to the new study, the researchers from Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), university of South Australia, university of Warwick Medical School and university of Maine suggested that consuming a small amount of chocolate every day can help to prevent insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The study considered the data of 1,153 people between the ages 18 and 69. When comparing the health of various participants, the research group found lower insulin resistance and healthy liver enzymes in those who claimed that they ate around 100g of chocolate every day. Insulin resistance is one of the very important factors determining the onset of cardiovascular diseases.

The academic researchers proposed the hypothesis that chocolate can be useful for insulin sensitivity and liver enzymes. This study is conducted rigorously, noting down the lifestyle and diet preferences of the participants. The consumption of tea and coffee is also monitored. Both tea and coffee contain polyphenol which is useful to accelerate cardiometabolic effects of chocolate.

The visiting academic at the University of Warwick Medical School, and Scientific Director of department of population health at LIH, Prof Saverio Stranges said that cocoa based products can be suggested as dietary recommendation to improve cardio health and metabolism. However, he added that the results are simply observatory and more robust evidence based trials are required. He also emphasized that natural cocoa product is entirely different from highly processed commercial chocolates.

Among those who participated in the study, 80% of the individuals said that they eat at least 24.8 g of chocolate every day. These people were active, young and had higher educational status compared to those who did not eat chocolate regularly. The principal investigator of the study, Dr. Ala's Alkerwi said that the people who consumed chocolate had significant socio-demographic profiles, better health access and healthy lifestyle habits. This can also be an important contributor for the reaction of the body to insulin and liver biomarkers.

Researchers have agreed that randomized control studies and additional observational research are required to truly understand how chocolate is useful in reducing insulin resistance and preventing disorders related to cardiometabolism.

Apple-Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

I come from a family of cookie fans. The members of my family like all kinds of cookies and, consequently, I make dozens of flavors. Like many Americans, chocolate chip cookies are a favorite. Runner-up favorites include double chocolate chip, gingersnaps, spritz, almond, and oatmeal cookies.

One problem for me is that I'm not a fan of raisins. I don't want raisins invading my oatmeal cookies. Coconut, chocolate chips, and dried cranberries are fine. Breakfast cookies are a relatively new product, and I decided to make oatmeal cookies. They would be like eating breakfast and dessert at the same time.

When I checked the pantry, however, I didn't find any plain oatmeal. There was a box of instant, sugar-free oatmeal with dried apples and cinnamon and I decided to use it in a basic cookie recipe. I also decided to reduce the sugar and fat, and add more vanilla. (I adore vanilla!).

Crisco has less fat than butter, according to the manufacturer, so I decided to use a butter-flavored baking stick instead of butter. Although I've used Spenda Blend for baking, I haven't seen this product in stores lately. I decided to make my own blend with brown sugar and Splenda. Would these changes, including the instant oatmeal, work? The only way to find out was to test the recipe.

The cookies were really good, especially right out of the oven. Yet they were different. For one thing, they were thinner than other oatmeal cookies, and had less texture. I could taste the apples and cinnamon, a happy surprise. And I admit it, I 'd eat these cookies for breakfast and other meals. The next time I make this recipe I think I'll add another quarter teaspoon of cinnamon.

Once the cookies start to brown, they brown quickly, so watch them carefully. Don't over-bake these cookies. Apple-Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies freeze well.

INGREDIENTS.

1 butter-flavored Crisco baking stick (or 1 stick of butter).
1 cup Splenda sugar substitute.
1 cup dark brown sugar.
2 large eggs, room temperature.
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract.
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour.
1 teaspoon baking soda.
1/2 teaspoon baking powder.
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
1/2 teaspoon reduced sodium salt.
3 packets instant, sugar-free apples and cinnamon oatmeal.

METHOD.

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Tear off a large piece of wax paper and set it on the counter.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream Crisco, sugar substitute, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla together. Beat until light-colored and fluffy.
3. Turn mixer speed to low. Slowly add flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Beat until well combined.
4. Turn off mixer. Add instant oatmeal and incorporate with wooden spoon.
5. Drop rounded teaspoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheet.
6. Bake about 10 minutes, or until cookies are light brown.
7. Let cookies cool for 20 seconds. Carefully transfer to wax paper to finish cooling.
8. Store cookies in airtight container. Makes about 50 cookies. Enjoy!

The Best Bratwurst Sausage Recipe

The secret to making great sausage is to use quality meat. Use non-extracted spices. Follow the instructions exactly, not "close." Don't ever add your secrets until after you have made at least one batch.

Instructions:
Fresh German Style Bratwurst Sausage Seasoning makes 2 - 12 pound batches of sausage.

Meat needed:
10 lbs. Boneless Fresh Picnic or Boneless Boston Butt
2 lb. lean boneless red meat (beef or game).
1. Cut meat into 1 1/2 - 2" cubes.
2. Place meat into large mixing bowl.
3. Add one 4 oz. pouch of Bratwurst seasoning (no cure needed if not smoking).
4. Mix thoroughly.
5. Add 3/4 cup ice water and mix again.
6. Grind meat through 1/8 inch plate.
7. Mix again, stuff into sausage casing, cook immediately or store in freezer.

Dewied Natural Casings.
Follow the instructions on the package. However, you do not need to soak and prepare the entire package if you are making a batch less than 24 pounds. Any casings left over can be frozen and kept for later use.

Cooking Instructions:.
Brats can be grilled, pan-fried or broiled for 20 - 25 minutes. They can also be boiled in beer and then grilled for extra flavor.
For Smoked Sausage.
Follow instructions but add 4.2 oz. pouch of Cure with seasonings. Stuff and follow smoking instructions.

Smokehouse:.
Smoker temperatures will vary due to type of smoker, location, outdoor temperature, wind, etc. Smoking meat is fun and easy to do. By following these instructions carefully, you will produce great tasting sausages that look and taste great, and are sure to please everyone! Remember: Too much smoke will produce an off taste. If your smoker will not reach the warmer temperature required, leave sausages in the smokehouse until they are dry to the touch. Then turn smoke "on," smoke to desired color, and finish cooking in your oven (180 - 200 ° F )until sausages reach an internal temperature of 156 ° F. Use a Meat Thermometer for an accurate reading.

1. Lay product on screens or hang on racks.
2. 120 ° F for 30 minutes or 1 hour depending on the size of the product (product needs to be dry to the touch before smoking).
3. 140 ° F for 1 hour with smoke "ON.".
4. 160 ° F for 30 minutes with smoke "ON.".
5. 180 ° F until product reaches an internal temperature of 156 ° F.

*** After smoking Sausage must be refrigerated or frozen. ***.

Tip: You can change the flavor profile by adding diced onions, diced cheddar cheese, diced jalapeno pepper, and diced fresh garlic cloves, the list is endless. We suggest when making your link sausage you should experiment with the above instructions on a few links at first rather than a full batch.

Top Exercises To Firm Up Your Arms

There are many exercises that will help you get firmer arms you have desired for long. The following are three simple exercises that would take you just three minutes every day. These easy exercises are safe to perform and include back-to-back movements.

The Triceps Tensions: You can sit for sometime; take a weight in your both hands (something that you can lift up and down) and position this weight over your head. When you do so, make sure that you take the proper position and keep your eyes straight ahead. Now gently, try to balance your weight while making sure that your elbows are close to the body. Repeat it for 25 times.

You can choose to sit on a ball or stand with your feet apart. A stability ball would be a more challenging posture because you will need to maintain your balance as you perform the exercise. The aim of this exercise is to tone up your arms.

The Triceps Presses: Without resting for a while, go for the second exercise. You can lie on the mat; bend your knees while ensuring that your feet are on the ground. Slowly lower the weights down, bring them to the ground and take them up again.
Repeat this 25 times.

The Triceps Kickbacks: Take light weights in your hands; bring your elbows next to the torso, and when you do so, make sure that your arm is parallel to your body. Bring back your elbows. Repeat this for 25 times. Whenever you bend your elbows, remember it should be at 45 degrees i.e., it should be parallel to the floor.

Remember these exercises are only for three minutes so keep the duration for each exercise to a minute. Now, don't forget to do a bit of stretching before you begin and after you complete these exercises. You will be noticing firm arms in about a month or two.

These exercises will tighten fat in the targeted areas into lean muscle mass, which will further help the fat burn efficiently. Therefore, if you have a fat or flabby arms, doing these exercises may be helpful for you. These exercises will tone up your arms and give them a shapely look and you would feel more confident of yourself. You will feel happy and energetic after doing these exercises. Remember to do these three exercises one after the other. You can take small weights to start with so you don't feel tired.

The Basics of Cat Training


First Things First: If you're training your cat to sit, stay and fetch things at your commands, perhaps you should get a dog. If you're training your cat to adroitly perch himself over the toilet seat to do his business then you're on the wrong way too.

Cats are solitary predators and they have the nature to avoid or attack those who show hostility towards them or make them do things they do not want to. Training a cat means being able to understand its nature and help him do things that you want (but be patient it is going to take a lot of time.).

Contrary to the popular opinion, the feline companions can be taught to perform on cue. The key is to successfully discover what food treat appeals him the most and to present it immediately each time he responds to a verbal cue with the desired behavior. A successful training is accomplished through praise and food rewards.

If your question is why do cats do things they do then let me just remind you that they're cats and that you're not fortunate enough to know everything about them (even though I personally wish to know what attracts them so much in the closet and what makes them urinate exactly there!) The only things you know about cats are the things they want you to know - so stop struggling! Further in the article are the basics of cat training (believe me you'll need them).

Stop all the reprimands and punishments at once!

When you made a mistake during your childhood what did your parents do? They chose to help you learn the things you were weak at rather than punishing you, and you have to do the same with your cat. Concentrate on making your relationship fun, playful, rewarding, and interesting. Sometimes this change alone does a lot of benefit which is otherwise really difficult. Cats are known to be overly active and destructive when bored. A daily play session and relaxing massages will help him calm down. The cats that feel neglected often stop using their litter box but that can be changed if you pay a lot of attention to them. It is advisable to schedule regular sessions to give the cat undivided attention and to play games, even the litter box problem would disappear over time.

Set up your cat's environment.

Cats love to live an independent life- do not expect him to greet you at the door when you come after a long day at work. Don't expect it to sit with you all the time; they are not really appreciative of these things. However, if you set up an environment for them that is more or less independent (and if your cat really thinks it gives him the personal space) then you can expect a change in the behavior really soon. For example if your cat scratches furniture at home you can make the scratching post fun. Instead of telling your cat to avoid the furniture, let he furniture itself tell the cat to stay away - create new attractive things for your cat.

Reward and treat your cat.

Your cat would not learn to do things overnight; spend time with him and be patient. The best way cats learn to do things is through the use of rewards, praise and positive reinforcement. Set kitty up to succeed. When he behaves in a nice manner treat him; this will give you more opportunities to teach your cat the things you want him to learn. If he responds to you calling out his name or allows you to tie a leash when you take him for a walk you must reward him.

Cats are extremely adorable animals and the kind of nature that they possess makes them even interesting to live with. Training is cat may take more time than training a dog, but if you can be a little patient about the slow progress you will definitely see the bright side of your pet cat - the trained one.

Get to work guys; training a cat is no big deal.

Lily, my cat wouldn't ever listen to me in her initial days, but with little efforts shew started understanding the use of her litter box. Slowly she even started being less destructive in the house - I was spending more time with her. This article is based on the basics of cat training - the little things like starting from the use of the litter box. I Love Your Cat has only grown my love for cats and I'm soon getting a new cat. Yay!!!

Reorganize the Health Care System



All citizens of our country deserve the security of universal health care that guarantees access based on needs rather than income.

It is a fundamental human right and an important measure of social justice. The government should play the central role of regulating, financing, and providing health care. Everyone faces the possibility of poor health.

The risk should be shared broadly to ensure fair treatment and equitable rates, and everyone should share responsibility for contributing to the system through progressive financing.

The cost of health care is rising. Over the past years its expenditure have risen faster than the cost increases reported in other sectors of the economy. As a matter of fact, the free market doesn't work for the health care system.

* * *

There are two ways of financing health care:

The first is a private method of financing, by means of using workers' and corporations' money as premiums for acquisition of private insurance, which provides medical care. The established order leaves far behind 47 million people without health insurance.

The second way, which is used by all developed countries of the world, is by taxing the workers for health care, which generates a pool of money, financing it through the budgets of the countries. The people of our country prefer private medical insurance and private health care. Getting accustomed, in the course of time to the existing system, our people reject all other proposals independent of their merits.

An analysis of the acting system of private health insurance shows that this in essence is a social method of distribution of collected premiums. The insurance companies collect premiums from all insured workers and spend a part of them for health care of needy patients. As we see, private stays only the misappropriation of profits. Social distribution is carried out not on the scale of the full country, but is only limited by every medical insurance company.

Medical insurance companies use as the basis of their operations an unfair practice. They select for medical insurance only relatively young, healthy, working people, which rarely are sick. They constantly increase the premium rates, excluding retirees who need substantially more care. Thus, the health insurance companies established for themselves hothouse conditions. They make billions of dollars in profits, which in essence is a simple misappropriation of unused means of healthy people, that don't need medical services. Justifiably these means should be set aside in a special fund and used for care when these workers retire.

Under the existing system, medical insurance companies have every reason to limit our care and increase our co-payments and deductibles. HMOs are famous for refusing to cover necessary hospital stay, denying people coverage for emergency room visits and balking at medically necessary procedures and therapy. The main reason our system is so expensive is that it has to support profit-hungry HMOs. In the U.S. thirty percent of each premium dollar goes to pay for administrative expenses and profits.

HMOs stand as a useless obstacle in between doctors and their patients. A question occurs. It is necessary to have HMOs in the system?The answer is clear. There is no need for HMOs. This is an unnecessary link and it need to be abolished. It is necessary to establish a system that allows providers to concentrate on care, not on profit margins.

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The health care system needs a fundamental change and improvement. It consists precisely that is necessary to decide a ripe task about improvement of medical care, simultaneous lowering the expenditures and providing all citizens of our country with goo care. This major problem brooks no further delay. It is generally known that health care in our country equates with small business, and all participants are interested, like every business, in receiving the highest possible profits.

Breaking up the medical care into small medical offices don't favor the development in this field and the fundamental medical tasks of lowering the cost of medical care by following reasons:

advanced medical technology can't be used in these offices; conditions don't exist for a high level of organized health services; doctors prefer to minimize the time for medical examination of patients; fee for service is not the best idea in this field.

The enumerated shortcomings in its turn lead to:

the growth of serving medical staff and administrative expenses; deterioration of efficacy of outpatient treatment, increases visits of patients and needless referrals to hospitals; aggregate increase of expenditures on medical care.

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Under existing circumstances of irrational organization of medical care in our country, it is necessary to look for new structures to satisfy the requirements of contemporary reality.

Inevitably comes to mind a conclusion of advisability to reorganize the whole structure of medical care. Instead of great numbers of small unproductive medical offices it is preferable to organize large-scale multi profile medical clinics, each of them to be attached to a near hospital and working in two shifts.

These outpatients' clinics should be equipped with modern medical and information - computer technology, as well as contemporary laboratories, and carry out in them all necessary medical examinations, tests, procedures etc., considerably raising the quality of medical care and labor productivity of all medical staff.

Another important measure - fundamental change of existing payment system for medical doctors care. We offer the introduction of pay by the hour remuneration system in the form of rate of salaries. Salaries for doctors should be established in dependence with the qualification, confirmed every five years, exemplary 150-200-250 thousand dollars yearly. Besides that should be established a distribution of bonuses for successfully carried out surgeries and excellent medical treatments of patients. This undoubtedly will switch over the attention of medical doctors to quality health services for patients. In essence, only such radical changes can be called medical care reform.

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It is advisable to set up a public, non-profit organization for medical care of the population of the whole country, with branches in all states. The leadership of the non-profit organization should be carried out by the best experts in medicine, science, economics, finances and public relationship. They must take full responsibility for the medical care of the entire population and the use of means for financing it. It must include effective mechanisms for controlling costs of medical care. All controversial questions should be decided between medical doctors-experts from this organization and treating doctors. This will be a managed health care system. Managed care reflects the country's distinctive approach to a universal human challenge. The cost of medical care must be contained. The rational for limit setting policies must be explicit and readily available to the public. The rational must show how the policy promotes good care for individuals and optimal use of available resources for the large population.

It is advisable to free the medical doctors from the necessity of insurance against cases of committing medical errors, lifting of them the heavy burden of unnecessary wasted expenses. Medical doctors, undoubted should carry the responsibility for committing criminal negligence in the performance of their duties, causing irreparable harm to the health of treating patients.

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It arises a question. How to carry out the financing of health care in the new term?

The main thing and the only source of financing should be the use of a special tax for these purposes. It should be worked out a scientifically grounded percent of tax for the income of workers and profits of corporations and businesses, generating a fund, which should defray expenses on health care. To this fund should be directed the means from Medicare and Medicaid. Thus, all the means for financing medical care should be directed from the budgets to the public non-profit organization. This organization, in a proper way, should work out in detail an estimate expenditure of its budget. Within reasonable limits of this budget will be maintained the full medical care system.

A scientific institution of appropriate profile should work out such a budget. If one may put it that way, undoubtedly we can assume that the maintenance cost of medical care under the new favorable conditions will be considerably lower than at present time. It seems to us, that the proposed perfected system sets a shield to uncontrolled expenditures of medical care, which under the system of unlimited presentation of bills to Insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid becomes similar to a snowball, uninterruptedly going downhill on the verge of disaster.

The system of medical care and financing of a new type should decide the topical problems of contemporary health care.

Only the full reorganization of the health care system will bring down the medical cost. Otherwise the cost will rose constantly.