Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prize-Winning Recipe 2010! Whip up a batch of cookies with chunks of chocolate and a touch of minty freshness.

(182 Ratings) Member Reviews (103)

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PREP TIME

25 Min

TOTAL TIME

40 Min

SERVINGS

36

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INGREDIENTS

1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2	cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4	to 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
6	to 8 drops green food color
1	egg
1	cup creme de menthe baking chips
1	cup semisweet chocolate chunks

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1. 1Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, extract, food color and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in creme de menthe baking chips and chocolate chunks.
2. 2Using small cookie scoop or teaspoon, drop dough 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. 3Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Serve warm or cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

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What You Should Know About Your Food and Contamination....

This article, c/o Calorie Count gives some explanations of the variations of contamination, and what you can do to counteract the effects of environmental toxins....  Scary, but worth reading....

About Radiation, Nutrients and Food

By Mary_RD on Mar 16, 2011 10:00 AM in Tips & Updates

By Mary Hartley, RD, MPH

The nuclear blasts in Japan have everyone concerned about radiation poisoning, althoughWorld Health Organization officials say “health risk is small” for those of us not living near the power plants.  Still, we wonder how we may be affected and if there’s something we can to protect ourselves.
In Extreme Contamination

People living within 12 miles of the Fukushima nuclear power plant are at extreme risk of contamination by inhaled or swallowed or radioactive iodine particles.  The Japanese government has evacuated 180,000 people from the area.  Everyone wears a surgical mask and stays in unventilated rooms.  Since radioactive iodine particles are absorbed by the thyroid, thyroid cancer often develops over time.   Potassium iodide pills are given to block radiation uptake by the thyroid gland. Potassium iodide is a pharmacological product.  The potassium and iodine in our food do not have the same effect.
In Mild Contamination

Further away from the source, radiation exposure depends distance from the plant and on weather conditions, especially wind and rain at the time of the explosion.  BloombergBusinessweek reports, “Radioactive iodine is heavier than air and won’t spread far in mild wind...(but it) has a half-life of eight days, meaning it takes eight days of decay to decrease by half.”

Indirect exposure is a problem too as Dr. David J. Brenner from the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University told the New York Times in a Time.com article. "The way radioactive iodine gets into human beings is an indirect route," he said. "It falls to the ground, cows eat it and make milk with radioactive iodine, and you get it from drinking the milk." Dr. Brenner then said that the epidemic of thyroid cancer around Chernobyl could have been prevented if the government had immediately stopped people from drinking milk.  Officials in South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines will be checking food imported from Japan. 
The Radiation Spectrum

Radiation is simply described as an outpouring of energy.  High-frequency radiation (“ionizing radiation”) comes from the sun, x-rays, nuclear medicine devices, radon gas, and the rays from old nuclear weapon tests.  High frequency radiation has enough energy to damage DNA in the cells which often leads to thyroid cancer. The extent of damage is directly related to the dose of radiation.

On the other hand, the American Cancer Society notes that low-frequency radiation has not been shown to cause cancer. Low-frequency radiation comes from power lines, radio waves, microwaves, cell phones, TV and computer screens, and other sources.  The topic remains under study.
Antioxidants to the Rescue
To compensate for environmental toxins, including the low levels of radiation we encounter every day, it's vital to eat an abundance of antioxidant nutrients found in plant foods.  Antioxidants protect the cells from damage by keeping toxic byproducts in check. Those byproducts, when not destroyed, lead to aging, cancer and other chronic diseases. 
The vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants, as is the mineral selenium, and the many phytochemicals, such as beta-carotene in dark green and orange plants, lycopene in red plants, lutein in dark green leafy vegetables, resveratrol in grapes, myricetin in walnuts, and too many more to name.  The point is that every vegetable, fruit, legume, kernel, nut, and seed contains antioxidants, and they are helping us in ways we cannot know.


Your thoughts....
Do you load up on antioxidant foods? 

Check out Diapers.com!!!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Another great site we didn't realize existed is diapers.com!  We looked all over for inexpensive diapers (all the brands), and we decided to  buy on diapers.com!  They have everything from diapers to formula to cloths, and everything in between~ they even have a "Green Baby" Section for your little earth-friendly-bundle.  

Right now, you can get 20% off diapers for 3 MONTHS when you enter this code: DIAPERS20PCT...

You can also save on Bright Beginnings on Facebook by "Liking" their facebook page.  It includes nutritional information, and deals on free shipping....

 

 

Effective Donation to Victims in Japan

With the tragedy in Japan on everyone's mind, it's hard to know which are the most  trustworthy charities, and who's responding.  Charity Navigator has not only rated charities that seem to have the most presence, but has some tips for when to donate.   

Charities Providing Relief	Rating
Action Against Hunger | ACF-USA
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
AmeriCares
Architecture for Humanity
Catholic Medical Mission Board
Convoy of Hope
Direct Relief International
Doctors Without Borders, USA
Food for the Hungry
International Rescue Committee
Relief International
Save the Children
Stop Hunger Now
World Vision
American Red Cross
GlobalGiving
International Medical Corps
Mercy Corps
Operation USA
Oxfam America
Samaritan's Purse
ShelterBox USA

Here are their tips:  

• Wait and see:  While we all feel an urgent need to help immediately following a massive disaster, some donors may want to wait a few days before donating. By then, charities should have a more clear plan of how they’ll provide aid.
• Avoid Newly-Formed Charities and Give To An Established Charity That Has Worked In Japan - Establishing a new charity is hard enough, but in a crisis, the odds of succeeding are slim to none. Think of it this way: would you entrust all your savings in a financial firm that just opened, doesn't even have stationery, and whose employees have no experience in investing money? Doubtful. Find a charity with a proven track record of success in providing disaster relief on a massive scale and one that has worked in Japan and the other impacted regions. Start with the list of charities on the right and if a group you are considering supporting isn’t there, then take the time to thoroughly research it before making a gift.
• Designate Your Investment – Generally, it is best to trust your chosen charity to spend your donation as it sees fit. But with disaster related giving, you should specify that you want your donation only used to respond to this particular crisis.
• Do Not Send Supplies – Knowing that people are desperately in need of food and water, it is hard not to want to pack up a box of supplies and send it to Japan. But this type of philanthropy is simply not practical or efficient. Even if mail could get to an impacted region, no one is set up to receive these goods, much less organize and distribute them to the victims. Furthermore, charities are often able to partner with companies to acquire large amounts of in-kind donations such as bottled water and new clothing. Instead of boxing up and sending your old clothing, have a garage sale and turn your used goods into cash and donate that to a worthy charity.
• Be Careful Of Email Solicitations
  • Be Leery Of People That Contact You Online Claiming To Be A Victim – Unless you personally know someone in Japan, anyone alleging to be in this position is most likely part of a scam. Obviously, people affected by the earthquake and tsunami are in no position to contact you directly for assistance.
  • Delete Unsolicited Emails With Attachments - Never respond to unsolicited emails. Do not open any attachments to these emails even if they claim to contain pictures from Japan. These attachments are probably viruses.
• Seek Out The Charity’s Authorized Website – Criminals are likely to set up bogus sites to steal the identity and money of generous and unsuspecting individuals. We saw this after Hurricane Katrina when the FBI reported that 4,000 sites were created to do just that. So, if you plan to give online, be sure to find the charity’s legitimate site. You can safely give on Charity Navigator’s site via our partnership with Network for Good. Alternatively, we link to each charity’s authorized site so you can give there if you prefer.  
• Think before you text - So long as you do your homework – meaning that you’ve vetted the charity and made sure that you are using the proper texting instructions- then texting can be a great way to give. Remember there may be additional costs to you to make such a gift. And it can take as much as 90 days for the charity to receive the funds.
• Consider The Nature Of The Charity’s Work – Not every charity is responding in the same way. Some are providing medical assistance, some shelter, some food and water. Others will be more focused on either short term or long term rebuilding efforts. And some are just helping to fundraise for other nonprofits. Think about what it is you want your philanthropic investment to accomplish and then take the time to find the charities doing that work. At Charity Navigator we link to each charity’s website so that you can quickly learn more about their plans to help.
• Be Inspired By Social Media, But Still Do Your Homework – Social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs are delivering heart-wrenching images and information about the earthquake and tsunami to our computers and phones. Many of them include pleas to donate. While these tools can be a powerful tool to inspire your desire to help, you should not blindly give via these vehicles. You must take the time to investigate the groups behind such pleas for help to ensure that it comes from a legitimate nonprofit.
• Avoid Telemarketers – As always, hang up the phone do your homework and give directly to a charity.
• Do Not Expect Immediate Results, But Do Keep Tabs On What Your Donation Accomplishes- It takes time for charities to mobilize, to assess the problems that need to be addressed and to develop effective solutions. Donors need to be patient so charities will not feel pressured to plunge in and offer ineffective aid, simply to placate impatient donors. That doesn't mean donors shouldn't hold the charities accountable for delivering on their promises! Be sure to follow up with the charity in a few months to find out (a) how your donation was put to use and (b) if the organization needs additional support to complete the recovery effort.

Deal of the Season: Pier One Outdoor

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My family and I LOVE to spend time outside in the warm weather, and if you're like us, you're on the look-out for inexpensive, comfortable, cute outdoor furniture.  Pier 1 has it!  They'll be having a special in-store offer the weekend of 3/18-3/20 sign up at www.pier1.com/outdoor, and you can see for yourself on their Pier 1 Outdoor newsletter.

My favorite is their indoor/outdoor furniture, and their newer papasan (including the papasan swing- the "Swingasan")~ a take on their iconic chair you remember from college....  They also have really cute coordinating print outdoor cushions like the Deluxe Kaeden Chair Cushion   that   coordinates really well with  

the outdoor Garden Stools...

 

Which goes really well with the Red Paisley Counter Table...

Pier 1 in the NYC area will also have a "Tweet Up" on April 20th from 5:00 to 8:00~ at their 5th Avenue store~ where you can meet some of your area’s bloggers & Tweeters.  Check it out at : Pier 1 Tweetups.