ITALIAN DOUGHNUTS WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Prep time: 30 mins
Cook time: 10 mins

Makes: about 25

Ingredients:
300g plain flour (preferably “00”)
50g caster sugar
15g dried yeast
250g desiree potatoes, peeled
25g butter
1 egg
125ml warm milk
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

100g caster sugar, extra

Method:
1. Combine flour, sugar and yeast in a small bowl. 
2. Place potatoes in a saucepan of cold salted water. Bring to a boil. Boil gently until tender. Drain. Push through a ricer into a bowl.
3. While potatoes are still warm, add flour mixture with butter, egg and warm milk. Using your hands, bring all ingredients together to form a soft dough. 
4. Roll walnut-size balls into 10cm long sausages. Shape sausages into a doughnut. Place on a floured tray, 3cm apart. . Stand, covered, in a warm place, for 30 minutes or until double in size.
5. Combine cinnamon and extra sugar in a shallow bowl.

6. Deep fry doughnuts in small batches. Drain on absorbent paper. Roll in cinnamon sugar.

Tip:
- These doughnuts would be great served with a chocolate sauce. To make sauce, place 200g finely chopped dark eating chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat 200ml thickened cream in a small saucepan until hot. Pour over chocolate. Stand 1 minute. Mix until smooth.


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Breastfed babies grow up smarter

Scientists in the UK declare babies who are breastfed grow up to be more intelligent and do better throughout primary and secondary school.

The study was conducted by researchers from Oxford University and the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex. The study of more than 10,000 children looked at test scores of pupils who were still being breastfed when they were four weeks old and others put on formula milk.

Each breastfed child was compared with a bottle-fed child from a very similar background. The study looked at factors such as parents’ income, jobs and whether they were separated. It found despite very similar upbringings, those who had been breastfed consistently did better in maths, reading and writing at the ages of five, seven, 11 and 14.

Maria Iacovou, a social scientist at the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex, one of the authors of the study said ‘Breast milk has well-known health benefits and now we can say there are clear benefits for children’s brains as well.’ Her report found that just four weeks on their mothers’ milk can have a ‘significant’ effect on a child’s development.

Despite the findings, Dr Iacovou said, she still supported mothers who decided for whatever reason that breastfeeding wasn't for them. "It really, really wasn't my intention to make any mother feel guilty," "Cleverer children is one thing that people have never pushed before – it's very easy to make mothers or families feel guilty about the choices they make and that is not in anyone's interest. We need to engage with mothers but also we need to take a softly-softly approach." Better support for breastfeeding mothers is what is required.

In the UK, where the study was conducted, only of 3 per cent of womenbreastfeed for the recommended six months. In Australia, although our rates are higher than the UK, they are still lower than ideal targets. The Federal Government is working on rolling out a national breastfeeding strategy in a bid to encourage women to continue feeding for 12 months. In its report, the government claims an impressive 92 per cent of Australian women leave hospital breastfeeding, within one week only 80 per cent are fully breastfeeding and after six months that number has dropped to just 14 per cent.

The government has recognised that increasing the breastfeeding rates in Australia has the potential to improve the health status of Australia's future population and thus make significant savings to the Government health expenditure. And now, following this latest report, they may also see the value in breastfeeding for Australian children’s mental development.

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More news on Japan disaster

Snapshot

- Japan battles twin disasters, trying to stop a radiation leak at a nuclear plant after an 8.9 quake triggers tsunami up to 10 meters (30 feet), with waves sweeping away homes, crops, vehicles and submerging farmland. 
- Cooling system of two reactors at Fukushima No. 1 atomic plant fail on Saturday and a third reactor malfunctions on Sunday morning.
- Smoke billows after an explosion at the plant located about 250 kilometres (160 miles) northeast of Tokyo.
- Workers douse the stricken reactor with sea water to try to avert catastrophe.
- The number of people exposed to radiation was expected to climb to at least 90
- 200,000 people evacuated from 20-km radius of the stricken plant.
- Number of dead or missing feared to exceed 1,800.
- 10,000 people unaccounted for.
- Nuclear safety agency rates the accident at four on the international scale from 0 to 7.
- Dazed residents hoard water and huddle in makeshift shelters in near-freezing temperatures.
- 5.5 million people without power, while 3,400 buildings either destroyed or damaged.
- Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan says the chaos is an "unprecedented national disaster".
- Contact lost with four trains along the coast area of northeastern Japan, Kyodo news agency says.
- International search and rescue teams rush to Japan, one of Afghanistan's most violent provinces offers $50,000 in aid.

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5 reasons not to buy an iPad 2

Still no Flash, USB, or expandable memory

When the iPad came out, customers were seriously disappointed by the absence of what we've come to view as very basic features: a USB port for device-to-device communication, Flash support for a richer web browsing experience, and an SD card slot for expandable memory (these days 64GB, the largest iPad memory capacity, can only go so far).

These absences were quite roundly criticised on all corners of the globe; Apple could hardly fail to be aware of it. So when the iPad 2 specs were announced, the continued lack of support for Flash, USB and SD was more than a little conspicuous.

Competition

In a few months, the tablet market is going to be flooded; the much-hyped Motorola Xoom, BlackBerry PlayBook, HTC Flyer, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and LG Optimus Tab are expected to hit Aussie shelves. If you don't have a tablet computer yet, a little longer isn't going to kill you to wait and see if the competition measures up.

No retina display

Purchasers of the new iPhone and iPod Touch were delighted by the crispness of the retina display, and it was more or less assumed that the new iPad would receive the same facelift. Instead, it's the same old 1024x768 resolution, which means that anyone who was looking forward to watching their TV shows in mind-blowing HD would be better off waiting for the Xoom.

Upgrades? What upgrades?

The changes announced for the new iPad are disappointingly few. There's a new dual-core processor, which makes it a bit faster; two cameras, one front-facing, one rear (we're baffled by the rear camera; who's going to walk around taking photos with an iPad?); a new OS with a few tweaks; and a slimmer, lighter frame. Oh, and it comes in white as well as black.

The original iPad has dropped in price now quite significantly, so if you really want an iPad experience, you can save a few shekels by purchasing the older model; and you probably won't even notice the missing new features.

iPad 3

Apple likes to update every year, so you know there will be another iPad this time next year. And likely it will be slimmer again, lighter, include that better screen, and faster yet. And who knows, maybe if enough people skip the iPad 2, Apple will open its resolutely closed ears and introduce Flash, USB and SD support... though don't hold your breath.

If you'd like to see the other side of the coin, head on over to our Five reasons to buy an iPad 2.


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Quranic Foods and Its Benefits

✦ Drinks and Liquid ⇨ 1. Water (100+) ✦

Foods and Drinks of The Quran Water is maa’ (ءام) in Arabic. It has been mentioned in the Quran over a hundred times. It comes before all other foods and drinks. A few examples:

1- (Remember) when He covered you with a slumber as a security from Him, and He caused water (rain) to descend on you from the sky, to clean you thereby and to remove from you the Rijz (whispering, evil- suggestions, etc.) of Shaitân (Satan), and to strengthen your hearts, and make your feet firm thereby. [8:11]

2- And We send the winds fertilizing (to fill heavily the clouds with water), then caused the water (rain) to descend from the sky, and We gave it to you to drink, and it is not you who are the owners of its stores [i.e. to give water to whom you like or to withhold it from whom you like]. [15:22]

3- He it is Who sends down water (rain) from the sky; from it you drink and from it (grows) the vegetation on which you send your cattle to pasture; [16:10]

✦ Drinks and Liquid ⇨ 2. Milk ✦

The Arabic word for milk is labn ( ). This word can also be used for other dairy products. However, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'alaa makes it clear that He means milk when He uses it.

1- And verily! In the cattle, there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from between excretions and blood, pure milk; palatable to the drinkers. [16:66]

2- The description of Paradise which the Muttaqûn (pious -- see V.2:2) have been promised is that in it are rivers of water the taste and smell of which are not changed; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine delicious to those who drink; and rivers of clarified honey (clear and pure) therein for them is every kind of fruit; and forgiveness from their Lord. (Are these) like those who shall dwell for ever in the Fire, and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels? [47:15]


Benefits: ►

The formation of milk is a miracle. It is thought-provoking that a pure and delicious drink is produced between an animal's blood and that which is to be eliminated from its body.

With respect to its benefits for children's and adults' health, milk's content is worth analyzing. Casein, a protein, gives milk its white color. Observing a drop of milk under a microscope, one sees tiny fat particles floating. Apart from casein and fats, milk consists of lactose (dissolved milk sugar) and several vitamins essential for health and minerals (e.g., phosphorus and calcium). Calcium is an essential constituent of bones and teeth.

As the foregoing clarifies, milk is a very beneficial nourishment that is rich in many essential nutrients. Allah creates milk for humanity as a blessing so that people can ponder upon it and appreciate His Might. It is also a blessing that will be, by Allah's Will, available in Paradise. 

✦ Drinks and Liquid ⇨ 3. Honey✦

The Arabic word for honey is ‘ asal ( ). The word is mentioned once in the Quran, while it is described in another verse where God talks about honeybees.

1- And your Lord inspired the bee, saying: "Take you habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they erect. Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you)." There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think.[16:68-69]

2. The description of Paradise which the Muttaqûn (pious -- see V.2:2) have been promised is that in it are rivers of water the taste and smell of which are not changed; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine delicious to those who drink; and rivers of clarified honey (clear and pure) therein for them is every kind of fruit; and forgiveness from their Lord. (Are these) like those who shall dwell for ever in the Fire, and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels? [47:15]


Benefits:►

Honey, along with its vitamins and minerals, is a great benefit for human health. It consists of sugar (glucose and fructose), minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium chlorine, sulfur, iron and phosphorus), and vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and C).8 In addition, it contains small amounts of several kinds of hormones, copper, iodine, and zinc – in other words, almost everything that the human body needs.

The following information was released during the World Apiculture Conference held in 1993:

During the conference, a special session was held on the treatments associated with honey derivatives. American scientists stated that honey, royal jelly, pollen and propolis (bee resin) cure many diseases. A doctor from Romania said he tried honey on cataract patients, and 2002 out of his 2094 patients had full (95%) recovery. Polish doctors also informed that honeybee resin cure many diseases such as haemorrhoids, skin problems, gynaecological diseases and several other disorders.

Another feature of honey is that, compared with the same amount of sugar, it contains 40% less calories. Thus although it is a great energy provider, it does not add weight.

This low-calorie and tasty juice is easily digestable. Since honey's fructose molecules can convert into glucose, honey, despite its high acid content, is digested easily even by those suffering from stomach disorders.

Honey helps the kidneys and intestines to function better. Due to its free sugar molecules, it has a similar effect upon the brain. Meanwhile, it cleanses blood and the bloodstream and is instrumental in blood production. With the vast amount of energy it releases, it has the capacity needed to produce the energy that produces blood.

Honey protects the body against capillary problems and arteriosclerosis, and also kills bacteria. When accompanied with mild water, it mixes into the bloodstream within only 7 minutes, and thus is a good and fast curative for the body. When diluted with water, it acquires an antiseptic quality. Apart from this, honey contains such antibacterial chemicals as benzyl alcohol and many others.

The contribution of honeybees to human health is not limited to honey, for they also produce another product: royal jelly. Royal jelly, a strong-smelling substance secreted by worker bees to feed the queen bee, is another blessing for people, for it includes such minerals as phosphorus, calcium, iron, sodium, potassium and magnesium, vitamins B2, B3, and B6, as well as proteins and carbohydrates.

Royal jelly is used to treat disorders caused by tissue deficiency, arteriosclerosis, or bodily frailty.

Do you not see that Allah has subjected to you everything in the heavens and earth, and has showered His blessings upon you, both outwardly and inwardly? … (Surah Luqman: 20)


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The most typical human on the earth

National Geographic Magazine released a video clip, below, showing the most "typical" human face on the planet as part of its series on the human racecalled "Population 7 billion."

The researchers conclude that a male, 28-year-old Han Chinese man is the most typical person on the planet. There are 9 million of them.

The image above is a composite of nearly 200,000 photos of men who fit that description.

Don't get used to the results, however. Within 20 years, the most typical person will reside in India.

7 Billion: Are You Typical? — National Geographic Magazine @ Yahoo! Video

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