Looking for trees to hold your soil, (especially where fires have denuded landscapes) or to beautify your property? You'll learn about trees and other plants, too, if you join the National Arbor Day Foundation in January. For a $10.00 membership you'll get much more than the 5 Crapemyrtle trees. Log onto www.arborday.org and you'll be amazed at what you can find in this multi-information site.

For this offering, Crapemyrtles were selected because of their elegant color and form. They are small flowering trees with perfect six-petaled flowers of pink and red with leaves that change from summer green to autumn red, orange, and yellow. Join now and the trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting between Feb. 1 and May 11. You will also receive a subscription to the Foundation's colorful bimonthly publication. Send a $10 membership contribution to FIVE CRAPEMYRTLES National Arbor Day Foundation. 100 Arbor Ave. Nebraska City, NE 68410, by Jan 31/04.

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2. NEW PRODUCTS

REVIVAL SOY PRODUCTS

Most of the soy products that have come across my desk are barely passable to the palates in my household. So when I tried a Soy Protein shake from Revival Soy, I was rewarded with a lip smacking report…"Hey this stuff is really good!" This was the collective opinion of my unofficial tasters, including myself. So when I checked for a supply source, I was a little dismayed to learn that it is not available in stores…it's an Internet only supply source at www.revivalsoy.com

If soy is on your preferred list for health foods, revival soy could be your ticket to the benefits combined in their product. Each shake contains 16- milligrams of soy isoflavones, the amount recommended by doctors for the full health benefits of s0. Each shake contains 02 grams of soy protein and are the amount equal to 6 servings of soy foods. The mixes are kosher and do not contain dairy products, peanuts, gluten, wheat, yeast, egg or animal products. You can choose those sweetened with Splenda or unsweetened.

Revival Soy, developed by a doctor to offset the discomfort of menopause work well for that purpose but have many other advantages. And it's not very expensive; about $1.60 per packet that can substitute for a full meal. Check out the shakes and other products at www.revivalsoy.com.

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3. RECIPES IN SEASON

STUFFED SQUASH

From the kitchens at Cutco Cutlery Corp. come these recipes for squash which is plentiful on your grocer's counters now. Each variation yields about 6 servings.

4 squash, such as Acorn, Sweet Dumpling or Delicata

1 cup long-grain rice

1 13 ¾-ounce can chicken broth

1/4 cup water

4 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided

1 large leek, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350° F. With a French chef knife, cut each squash in half (lengthwise) and remove seeds and membranes. Fill a large roasting pan with about 1/2- inch water. Place squash in water, cut-side down; cover pan with foil. Bake 45 minutes or until squash is soft and tender. Remove squash from water to cool slightly.

Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan over high heat, heat rice, chicken broth and water to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until rice is tender. In 10-inch skillet over medium heat, melt 1-tablespoon butter or margarine. Add leak; cook until tender, stirring occasionally. Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter.

With large spoon, scoop squash out of two squash halves; coarsely chop with a large paring knife. In large bowl combine cooked rice, remaining melted butter, leek mixture, chopped squash, almonds, salt and pepper. Toss to mix well. Fill remaining squash halves with rice mixture.

GREAT LAKES STUFFED SQUASH: Substitute one 6-ounce box long grain and wild rice mix for rice above. Sauté 1 medium zucchini, chopped in remaining butter. Add mixture to above.

TEXARKANA STUFFED SQUASH: In remaining butter, cook 1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and chopped and 1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and chopped until tender. Stir into rice mixture with ½ pound hot Italian sausages, cooked and crumbled. Substitute toasted chopped pecans for almonds.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST STUFFED SQUASH: Sauté 1 large cooking-apple, cored and chopped in remaining butter. Add to mixture above with ½ cup dried cherries. Substitute toasted chopped walnuts for almonds.

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STEAMED VEGETABLE MEDLEY

Quick, easy, and healthy, you can substitute, or add, other vegetables such as zucchini or sliced crook necked squash. For added protein, sprinkle with grated cheese and let it melt lightly.

1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup cauliflower florets
1 cup sliced carrots or baby carrots
1 medium red onion, sliced and separated into rings
1 teaspoon reduced fat margarine
1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Steam broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots until fork-tender. Heat margarine in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until fork tender. Toss all ingredients together and serve. Makes 6 Servings

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4. TRAVEL and ART-NIKI DE SAINT PHALLE

Just as Barcelona Spain is home to the artist Antonio Gaudì and his fantastic forms, it's possible that the city of Escondido, California will become known for the Queen Califia's Magic Circle by Sculptor Niki De Saint Phalle. If you don't know Niki's work, now's the time to become familiar with it. Just plug her name into your search engine and you'll see some of her fantastic, colorful, incredible sculptures that she had created during her lifetime. Or go to www.queencalifia.org.

Queen Califia's Magical Circle is the only American sculpture garden and the last major international project created by Niki de Saint Phalle (born France, 1930-2002). Inspired by California's mythic, historic and cultural roots, the garden consists of nine large-scale sculptures, a circular "snake wall" and maze entryway, sculpturally integrated bench seating, and native shrubs and trees planted within the interior plaza and along the outer perimeter. The garden bears the brilliant, unique mosaic ornamentation that is an unmistakable part of Saint Phalle's later work.

Queen Califia's Magical Circle is situated within a 12-acre natural habitat in the Iris Sankey Arboretum in Kit Carson Park on a parcel of land donated by the City of Escondido. The sculpture garden's key architectural features are an undulating circular wall measuring 400 feet in length (with varying heights from 4 to 9 feet) that surrounds the garden. Monumental playful serpents, decorated in colorfully patterned mosaics, slither along the top of the wall, their curved bodies forming a pattern of solids and voids that allows visitors to see landscape vistas beyond the garden. The "snake wall" opens into a maze whose walls and floors are covered with black, white, and mirrored tiles. Once through the maze, visitors enter into the central courtyard.

There are nine freestanding sculptures in the garden. The imposing mosaic sculpture of Queen Califia standing on the back of a five-legged eagle commands the center of the garden. Eight large totemic sculptures surround Queen Califia. They are covered with symbols and forms freely drawn from Native American, Pre-Columbian, and Mexican art as well as the artist's own fantastic imagery.

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5. OLLA PODRIDA- TRAVEL TALK

This is a Spanish term for a pot of stew. Literally, olla is a round earthenware pot and podrida is a dish composed of different meats and vegetables.

"NEW" OLD HOTELS IN NEW YORK OFFER RESPITE FROM HIGH PRICES

Many people ask me for references to low cost New York City hotels that are "respectable." So when I got news of a couple of hotels with room rates under $100 per night, I had to pass it on. Actually, I have news of three such hotels.

1. The Hearld Square is a museum as well as a hotel. Room rates from about $65 per night to $140 depending on size and number of people could make it the answer to your fantasies about places to stay. The hotel's room have been completely refurbished while maintaining the 1893 architectural details that make it unique. The Herald Square is at 19 West 31st Street (5^th and Broadway). Through the years it has housed Life Magazine and was the birthplace of the Gibson girl. The winged cherub sculpture that was the logo of Life Magazine still holds a central spot in the lobby. www.heraldsquarehotel.com.

Of the same genre and also recently refurbished by the same owners, the Purchall Family, is the Portland square hotel. www.portlandsquarehotel.com at 132 West 47th Street, Times Square
New York, NY 10036 The family has dedicated itself to rejuvenate these portions of the city. They've done it so well that developers are planning to build condos and residential luxury buildings in the area.
Another possible bargain is from www.Hoteldiscount.com that is touting the Days Inn, in New York city for as low as $95.95 plus taxes good until the end of January. This facility is in prime territory if you're a theater buff. Located at 790 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10019 in the
midtown/theater/garment district. See it and book it through the hoteldiscount Web site, or if you go directly to www.daysinn.com it's 90. per night rate.

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6. BOOKS by Dona Z. Meilach for Yourself - For Gifts

Dona's Kitchen Kapers is now an associate of Amazon Books. Using the link provided to one book, will take you to others when you request it by title or author. You will be returned to this page after checking their listings. There's a 20% to 30% saving per book. For the following books or those mentioned in the book reviews.

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1558672095/donaskitchenkapeA/

NEW*** THE BEST 50 MARGARITAS ***$5.95

THE BEST 50 BAR DRINKS $5.95

WRAPS AND ROLL-UPS $8.95

THE BEST 50 BRUSCHETTA $4.95

GOURMET GIFTS $8.95

MAKING YOUR OWN BISCOTTI and DUNKING DELIGHTS $14.00

THE BEST BAGELS ARE MADE AT HOME $8.95

MARINADES: MAKE ORDINARY FOODS EXTRAORDINARY $8.95

THE BEST 50 HOMEMADE LIQUEURS $4.95

And…

NEW *** ARCHITECTURAL IRONWORK*** $49.95

The CONTEMPORARY BLACKSMITH 255 pages, 550 photos, $49.95

DECORATIVE & SCULPTURAL IRONWORK 2^nd edition. 300 pages, over 700 photos. $34.95

DIRECT METAL SCULPTURE – Revised Edition. Over 350 pages, 425 photos. $39.95

CONTEMPORARY STONE SCULPTURE 2^nd Edition.. 224 page, over 350 photos. $24.95

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7. Subscribe-Unsubscribe

To subscribe or unsubscribe to Dona's Kitchen Kapers as an Ezine, send a request to DMeilach@msn.com for DKK. Ask your friends to subscribe, too.

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