This refreshingly light dessert is made easily with Yoplait ® Source® Greek Yogurt and Betty Crocker* cake mix.

PREP TIME: 25 MINS | TOTAL TIME: 1 HR 15 MINS | MAKES: 12 SERVINGS

Ingredients:

1 box Betty Crocker* SuperMoist* Lemon Cake Mix (or Golden, White or French Vanilla)

 
1/3 cup (75 mL) butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
2 cups (500 mL) Yoplait ^® Source^®  Greek Vanilla Yogurt
1 box (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
3 cups (750 mL) sliced fruits, berries and/or mandarin orange segments
3 tbsp (45 mL) apricot preserves
1 cup (250 mL) fresh raspberries

Method:

• Heat oven to 375ºF (350ºF for dark or nonstick pan). Grease 12-inch pizza pan or bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray.
• In large bowl, mix cake mix, butter and egg with spoon until crumbly. Press on bottom of pan.
• Bake 14 to 18 minutes or until set. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In medium bowl, beat yogurt and pudding mix (dry) with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Spoon over baked layer. Smooth surface with rubber spatula. Arrange fruit on yogurt mixture.
• Heat preserves over medium heat until melted; brush over fruit. Mound raspberries in centre. Serve immediately, or refrigerate up to 24 hours. Store covered in refrigerator.

Substitution: In a hurry? A 540 mL can of blueberry, cherry or apple pie filling can be substituted for the fruit, preserves and raspberries. Spoon the pie filling to within 1 inch/2.5 cm of the edge of the yogurt mixture.

Success: To keep your berries from becoming soft and mushy, rinse and dry them just before you're ready to use them.

Take Along Oatmeal Bars Recipe

On the go breakfast, dessert or any time snack! Enjoy these oatmeal bars made using Oatmeal Crisp Cereal in just 45 minutes!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup (50 mL) sugar
1/4 cup (50 mL) butter or margarine
1/3 cup (75 mL) honey
1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon
1 cup (250 mL) diced dried fruit and raisin mixture
2 cups (500 mL) Oatmeal Crisp* Cereal (any variety)
1 cup (250 mL) old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup (125 mL) sliced almonds

Method:

• Grease bottom and sides of 9-inch square pan with small amount of butter.
• In 3-quart saucepan, heat sugar, butter, honey and cinnamon to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in dried fruit. Stir in remaining ingredients.
• Press mixture in pan with back of wooden spoon. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

Second Cup teams up with Free the Children - Giveaway

Every year millions of children are forced to work as child labourers, denied the right to attend school and are deprived of essential services like food, water and health care.

Free the Children, creators of We Day, is asking that you standup for children who are being silenced by the denial of basic human rights. What also makes this campaign so special is that it’s made possible by young people who are inspire to make a difference.

Second Cup has been a long time supporter of Free the Children and as a “coffee company that cares” the café will be donating $1 from each travel mug sold to the We are Silent campaign.

This giveaway that includes, a signed Tumbler from We Are Silent Spokesperson Molly Burke and a Second Cup gift certificate.

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Spring Cleaning Tips

Top tips from housekeepers with 20 years worth of housekeeping knowledge from Care.com 

1. Take It Slow

Spread the job out; it doesn’t all have to be accomplished in one afternoon. Schedule a week or a couple of weekends to complete spring cleaning. Break the tasks up into small chunks of time to make it more manageable and to decrease the chances of ending up tired and quitting before the job is finished. To be more productive, consider hiring a babysitter to get the kids out of the house for an afternoon. 

2. Make a Room-by-Room List

Go around the house and make a list of jobs for each room. Then number each task by priority for every room. Don’t focus on frequent tasks like laundry, but tackle more intense work on your list that you usually avoid or do once a year by marking those as number one on your list. 

3. Prioritize Your Tasks 

First determine your priorities. Is it scrubbing the bathroom from top to bottom, getting rid of items you never use or organizing shelves? It’s important not to forget the following deep cleaning tasks and put them on the top of your checklist. 

· Pull out all appliances and clean behind and under them · Clean the fridge, including dusting the coils, defrosting the freezer and scrubbing all shelves and compartments · Clean inside the stove · Vacuum and flip mattresses · Clean pillows and comforters · Wash all windows and clean window sills and hardware · Clean drapes and blinds · Wipe and dust walls and ceilings · Organize closets · Vacuum behind and under furniture and flip all cushions · Deep clean your child's playroom · Empty, clean and reorganize shelves and bookcases · Change the batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors · Clean outdoor furniture · Wash off patio, deck, driveway and any outside areas 

4. Inventory Cleaning Supplies

Now you know what needs to get done, make sure you have the right tools. Go through your to-do list and cleaning products to make sure you have everything you'll need. Make a trip to the store to replenish expired or almost empty products. This will save you time and frustration. 

5. Try Green 

Why not consider green cleaning products? While re-stocking your cleaning supplies think about giving environmentally-friendly products a try or as you go through your to-do list, think about how you can clean without using chemicals. 

6. Give Away What you Don’t Use

Spring cleaning is the perfect time to sort through toys, clothing, electronics and sporting goods. If you haven’t used something in the past year then consider donating to local groups or organizations. As you clean a room, remove and box up items you no longer use. Then put the boxes directly into your car once they’re filled to ensure you get them out of the house. This way you’ll have less to clean next year. 

7. Be Realistic 

Don’t expect to complete everything on your list. Focus on getting the first items checked off then move on to the next when you have time. Post the list on the fridge so it’s harder to ignore. 

8. Consider Professional Help

Do you feel that your list is more than you can handle? Does your busy schedule or finicky baby make it difficult to find time to clean? Sometimes you can’t do it all yourself. Instead of putting off spring cleaning, consider hiring help from a housekeeper through a site like Care.com. 

Launched in the U.S. in 2007, Care.com (www.care.com) is now the largest online care destination in the world with 8 million members spanning more than 16 countries, including the United Kingdom and Canada, as well as Germany through the acquisition of Berlin-based Besser Betreut, now a Care.com company. Care.com enables families seeking care to connect with millions of care providers, share caregiving experiences and get advice. The company helps families address the unique lifecycle of care needs they go through - child care, including special needs, senior care, pet care, housekeeping and more. Care.com is also unique in the scope of services it offers its members. Through Care.com HomePay^SM, members have access to the nation’s largest provider of comprehensive household payroll services, and through its recent acquisition of Parents in a Pinch, families and corporations can utilize the expertise of a recognized leader in in-home back-up childcare and adult care. Care.com also provides tools and resources to help families make safer and more informed decisions throughout the search and hiring process, including monitored messaging, background check services, recorded references, and an online safety guide. Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions, technology companies, and professional services firms offer Care.com memberships as a benefit to employees through its Workplace Solutions program. 

Six in 10 girls quit activities they love because of how they feel about their looks

Six in 10 girls have quit sports and activities that can play a major role in their future development, because of how they felt about their looks.

This finding from 2010 Dove research with girls ages 10-17, combined with new Dove research released today, suggest that, when girls quit or avoid sports and other activities because of poor body image, they could be missing out on valuable benefits that can stay with them for a lifetime.

Sports and activities help make girls unstoppable

New 2013 Dove research, conducted by Ipsos with Canadian girls ages 11-17, suggests that participation in sports and activities can play an important role in girls’ development. Nine in 10 Canadian girls say these activities help them learn new things, create new friendships, build self-confidence and feel better about themselves.

Girls Unstoppable campaign launch

To help prevent girls from giving up on sports and activities that can help them realize their full potential, Dove has launched a new campaign called Girls Unstoppable to help spark conversations between moms and mentors and girls on body image issues, before it’s too late.

The campaign kicked off today with the unveiling of two 3D billboards in downtown Toronto.  The billboards dramatically highlight the potential impact of body image on girls’ participation in soccer and swimming, which, according to the new Dove research, are among girls’ five most popular activities, along with school events, music lessons and dance/dance lessons.

Girls look to moms and mentors

The new Dove research found that girls believe moms and mentors have a powerful role to play in shaping how they feel about themselves and encouraging them to pursue new interests:

·                                 93% of girls say moms/mentors can help encourage them to take part in current or new activities and interests; and

·                                 90% of girls say moms/mentors can help them feel more comfortable with their body

“Women across Canada have more power than they realize to shape a positive future for the girls in their lives,” says Sharon MacLeod Dove V.P. of Marketing. “We want to help them realize that girls want them to play this role and to empower them by giving them the tools to start this dialogue today.”

Starting the dialogue with girls

Dove is encouraging moms and mentors to initiate conversations with girls about body image and other issues with the help of tools they can download at www.dove.ca/en/Social-Mission/Self-Esteem-Resources/default.aspx. To learn more about how we can make girls unstoppable visit www.Facebook.com/Dove.

Dove is also inviting girls and women across Canada to share their own unstoppable stories through their social networks using the hashtag #girlsunstoppable to encourage girls to pursue the activities they love.

About the surveys

The findings featured in this release are based on two separate studies:

·                     A 2010 Dove Real Truth About Beauty survey conducted by StrategyOne with more than 1,200 girls ages 10-17 in the United States, Canada, UK, Germany, Brazil and Russia.

·                     A new Ipsos Reid survey conducted between March 28 and April 4, 2013. For this survey, a sample of 807 Canadian girls, ages 11-17 from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. The poll is accurate to within +/- 3.9 percentage points had all Canadian girls, ages 11-17, been surveyed.

Etobicoke Mandarin MS Walk

Warren Horowitz lives in Toronto and has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
 for many years.  This year, he decided to give back to the community and joined 
the volunteer committee for the 2013 Etobicoke Mandarin MS Walk.  

Warren often tells people “I was not born with this disease and I hope I do not
 die with it”.  Warren believes it is important that he donate his time to coordinate
 events, like the Etobicoke Walk, to help raise funds so that a cure or vaccine for 
MS can be found in his lifetime.  Warren likes to compare MS to polio.  Not too 
long ago, millions of people were afflicted with this disease and many would die 
from it.  Today, polio has been eradicated.  Warren says “Wouldn’t it be amazing 
if the same could be said about MS 40 or 50 years from now?” 

Canadians have one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world 
and it is often diagnosed in men and women between the ages of 15 -40.  

To support Ontarians who are affected by MS – the MS Society will host their annual
 walk in Etobicoke on Sunday May 5, 2013.  This walk helps those people in our 
community affected by MS by raising money for vital research, demonstrating
 a show of community support and raising awareness of this disease.

For more information on the Mandarin MS Walk and the MS Society please visitwww.mswalks.ca

Pat Stewart | Coordinator, Fundraising Events and eCRM | Ontario Division

        MS Society of Canada | 175 Bloor Street East | Suite 700, North Tower | Toronto, ON, M4W 3R8
P: 416-922-6600 or 1-800-268-7582 ext. 3113 | F: 647-436-4691 | Patrick.Stewart@mssociety.ca 

        mssociety.ca | Register today at mswalks.ca | Join the movement at endms.ca

Etobicoke Living: Etobicoke Mandarin MS Walk:

Soft Oatmeal Cookies

"These oatmeal cookies are very moist with a good flavor. Add a cup of raisins or nuts if you desire." — BITTERSWEET1 

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup butter, softened 1 cup white sugar 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 3 cups quick cooking oats

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with a large fork dipped in sugar.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe

So simple; so comforting! Softened with cream cheese, these fluffy mashed potatoes will disappear before you know it.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup (175 mL) sour cream
2 tbsp (25 mL) finely chopped onion
1/3 pkg (250 g) cream cheese, softened
1 clove garlic, minced
Dash pepper
1 3/4 cups (425 mL) water
1/4 cup (50 mL) butter
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
1 cup (250 mL) milk
1 pkg (180 g) Betty Crocker* Homestyle Mashed Potatoes
Chopped fresh parsley

Method:

• In small bowl, combine sour cream, onion, cream cheese, garlic and pepper; blend well. Set aside.
• In medium saucepan, combine water, butter and salt; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in milk and both pouches of potatoes with fork until blended. Add sour cream mixture to potatoes; blend well. Spoon into serving bowl; garnish with parsley.

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Timeless Finery

April is National Pet Month

Toys, tweets or gourmet treats: how are you honouring your
pet this National Pet Month?

Many pets to get a special meal, along with a possible dinner date too

Toronto, Ontario, April 2, 2013 – What are you doing for your cat or dog in April for National Pet Month? A new Petcurean survey of more than 1,600 Canadian cat and dog owners, conducted by Vision Critical, found that traditional treats — like a new toy (45 per cent) or a special gourmet meal (25 per cent) — are the top rewards being planned for pets. However, there’s a good chance that pets will be honoured digitally too, as half (51 per cent) of pet owners have posted pictures of their pets to Facebook, while five per cent have tweeted about them.

Purrfect Dinner Date

The survey discovered that, not only will a special meal be on the menu for many lucky cats and dogs this National Pet Month, their owners also have an idea who would make the perfect dining companion for their pet. When presented with a list of possible high profile dinner dates, pet owners ranked their pets’ likely favourites as follows:

1st. Lady and the Tramp
2nd. Toto (Wizard of Oz)/ Cat in the Hat (tied)
3rd. Hello Kitty

Other famous pets mentioned by pet owners included: Lassie, Sylvester and Scooby Doo.

Planning Your Pet’s Special Meal

To make any dog or cat’s special meal even better – whether they have a date for the occasion or not – Petcurean is introducing a number of new recipes, including GO! SENSITIVITY + SHINE™ Grain Free, Potato Free Turkey Recipe for dogs and GO! FIT + FREE Grain Free Chicken, Turkey + Trout Stew for cats. Like all GO! recipes, they contain zero growth hormones, by-products or artificial preservatives.

Additional Key Findings

The survey also revealed some other interesting demographic facts:
• Lady and the Tramp are most popular as a potential pet dinner companion among pet owners in Saskatchewan and the Atlantic Provinces and least popular among those in Manitoba.
• Toto is most popular as a potential pet dinner companion among pet owners in Ontario and least popular among those in Atlantic Canada.
• Pet owners in Atlantic Canada (30 per cent) were the most likely to say they’ll be feeding their cat or dog a special Pet Month meal.

About Petcurean

Founded in 1999, Petcurean Pet Nutrition is dedicated to selling nutritionally balanced, unique pet food recipes made with high quality, natural and fresh ingredients. Petcurean pet food is sold exclusively through pet specialty retailers throughout Canada and the United States, who share its independent spirit, exceptional customer service and overarching love and understanding of pets and their needs. Visit www.petcurean.com and www.facebook.com/petcurean for more information.

About the Survey

From March 11 to March 13, 2013, an online survey was conducted among a sample of 1,645 Canadian adults that own a cat or a dog, and who are also Angus Reid Forum panel members. The margin of error — which measures sampling variability — is +/-2.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The sample was balanced by age, gender, region and education according to the most recent census data.

Freshline Gourmet Greek Yogurts

Ingredients:

Cow's Yogurt from 100% Greek Milk (see picture above)

&

Strained Yogurt from 100% Greek Milk (see picture below)

Offered in 2 Formats:

200 grams 

&

1 kgr