Richards Cleaners 1 tsp. vanilla my % cup skim milk powder of ° A mug of hot cocoa The rain is falling and splattering like water-filled bal- loons. An icy wind Serve when hot, Fills three generous-sized mugs. Cocoa vs. carob . , As a warm-me-up on a chilly day, what can surpass it? As part of the daily diet — it cannot be recommended. Although considered high in food value (cocoa contains as much tears at my as 20 percent protein, is lower in fat than chocolate and is slight- drenched coat and ly higher in nutritive value), it is a mild stimulant (it contains slaps my stinging theobromine). The Dictionary of Nutrition advises that cocoa cheeks... I'm wet. I’m cold. I’m contains a sizeable amount of caffeine as well — ‘‘a fact not generally known by the parents giving it to children’’. Both wishing I could stimulants speed up the heartbeat and stimulate the central ner- hibemate. vous system. Cocoa also contains oxalic acid, too much of which It’s fall. may interfere with calcium absorption (however, by adding milk When I was powder, extra calcium is supplied). Carob powder, on the other hand, contains none of these, and is lower in fat content (two percent — cocoa contains 40 percent). Considered a well-balanced food, it too is a good source of protein and has a flavour similar to cocoa. It also makes a satisfying hot drink: Hot carob drink For three big mugs, first dissolve 4 cup of carob powder in “4 cup of hot water. ; Combine: 1% cups of milk 4 cup skim milk powder 2 tsp. vanilla 1 tbsp. molasses (and/or honey — to taste) pinch of salt Heat in a saucepan to simmering: 2 cups of milk Add to hot milk: carob mixture, cold milk mixture. Stir to blend weil. Heat to simmering and serve. A nutritional comparison Carob is lower in calories and higher in natural sweeteners (46 percent as compared with 5.5 percent in cocoa). Cocoa tends to be bitter and therefore requires the addition of a sweetener, and — more calories, Both contain vitamin A and some of the B-complex. Cocoa has a small amount of vitamin C. The fibre content in carob compares favourably with that of bran. Minerals are present in both: phosphorous and calcium (although inhibited in cocoa by the presence of oxalic acid), iron and potassium. Carob may surpass cocoa nutritionally and provide greater health benefits. Carob may also taste like cocoa and be advisable as a substitute, but the occasional mug of hot cocoa can do little - harm, And when it comes to thawing an autumn chill — nothing can compare. young it never mattered how hard it rained. The more mud puddles to stomp, jump and splash through, the better. The i icy wind was an invisible imaginary adversary who grabbed my umbrella and chal- lenged me to defend myself —- sometimes it won, turning my umbrella inside-out. If I was soaked to the skin from my long meanders home after school, I never noticed. If I was cold it never occurred to me. Until I stepped inside, into the warm kitchen. From the damp dreariness of a late autumn afternoon I entered the cozy dry world and mellow luminescence of Mom’s kitchen. And there, snug and secure from the storm and childish phantom adver- saries, I drank my mug of hot cocoa. Years later | chased my young sons through crisp brown leaves on crisp autumn afternoons, and stomped through mud puddles {a little more timidly) getting almost as wet as they did. All three of us returned home with cold noses and rosy cheeks, and all three of us sat around the kitchen table and drank our mugs of hot cocoa. Today, a hot mug held between freezing palms conjures images of crayons and colouring books and childish chatter at the kitchen table, of the mellow golden glow a kitchen reflects on stormy afternoons in late autumn. To me, a mug of hot cocoa is synonymous with a feeling of warmth and contentment. Satisfying refreshment . Old fashioned cocoa is made with pure cocoa powder and milk, sweetened to taste. Here’s a favourite recipe: In a saucepan, heat three cups of milk until frothy around the perimeter. Meanwhile, in a large jar (or blender) shake together: Add to hot milk. Stir to combine well. Reheat, but bdo not boil. ~ CDC dinner — and dance nets $6,000 by Nancy Orr A rollicking evening of fun, music and dance was provided at the annual fund ‘raiser for the Child Development Centre (CDC) at the Thornhill Com- munity Centre Oct. 20. Music by the “Emerald Ex- press’’, a group that shares. the entertainment with the Irish . Rovers at the Unicorn Pub in Vancouver, kept everyone on their feet and entertained throughout the evening until the small hours of the morning. The evening was a repeat per- formance from last year and the success of the evening was guaranteed by the reappearance of the band. The 300 tickets were sold out more than a. month before the event. For the CDC, the evening was the major fund raising event for the year, which will be augment- ed later in the year with the Tree - of Lights in the Skeena Mall be- ginning December 10 and the sale of Christmas cards fea- turing work by four local + photographers. The expense of bringing the entertainment to the area was shared with the Prince Rupert Lions Club. With the assistance of generous donations from local people, the directors expect to raise more than $6,000 for their work with children. “We would just like to thank everyone who helped and every- one who came,’’ said Margot.’’ It was a great evening and we hope everyone enjoyed them- selves and that we can do it again next year.’” 1 cup of milk 3 tbsp. honey (more or less to taste) © 3 thsp. cocoa - pinch of salt Thank you — Spectrum — Lighting for being Power Smart hatever you wear e clean with care EDNESDAY IS DIRTY SHIRT DAY Men's or Ladies’ cotton blend dress or business shirts expertly laundered. ~ yw Only drive-thru in town ~ Best, most reliable and cleanest service » Drop off point at Thornhill Public Market 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. — Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. — Saturday KIDOIE CORNER FROM THE POST OFFICE _ BEhydro B.C. Hydro would like to thank Spectrum Lighting of Terrace for promoting energy efficient lighting and carrying a variety of compact fluorescent lamps for our residential and commercial customers, _ Thank you British Columbia for being PWR SMART Se ered ate hatin Ham hd nig ES a TORE Te wae