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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com NORTH AMERICAN PRECIS SYNDICATE, INC. 350 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10118-0110 PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID North American Address Service Requested NE W Precis Syndicate, Inc. ! #2388 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Mango And Oats Serve Double Duty As Breakfast And Snack Bathroom Renovations Can Boost Home Value (NAPSA)—The past five years have seen an explosion in home improvements. Homeowners continue to look for new, creative ways to bring more space, style and luxury to their everyday lives by remodeling and renovating. For many who choose to renovate, the question becomes: “Where do we invest our limited resources and how will remodeling ultimately affect our home’s value?” While there’s no guarantee that remodeling now will add to future resale value, statistics show that some projects yield a better return than others. Consumers can generally expect to get a greater return in remodeling their bathroom than they would with other room upgrades. The 2006 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine showed that the average return on a mid-range bathroom remodel is 85 percent. Getting More For Less So how do you ensure that the money you do spend remodeling your bathroom maximizes your investment? Selecting the right materials is the key. For example, one way to make a bathroom seem more spacious without knocking down walls and starting over is to install a glass shower enclosure. Whether renovating a small bathroom or upgrading a larger room, clear glass shower enclosures dramatically open up the space and showcase the luxurious materials chosen for your shower surround. Maintaining Value Protecting your investment is also important. Recently, one of the largest glass manufacturers in the world, introduced the first and OF NUTRITION Mediterranean Diet (NAPSA)—Even with all the new diet plans on the market today, one of the healthiest may be a regimen that’s centuries old—the Mediterranean diet, which consists of large amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables, salads, nuts, seeds, beans (including chickpeas), omega-3-rich oily fish, olives and olive oil. Permanently protected shower glass can be a good investment when renovating a bathroom. The stunning clarity of glass can provide a pristine showcase for elegant materials and fixtures. Mango Oat Breakfast Bars Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: about 55 minutes total Photo credit: 2006 Sunset-Popular Science Idea House, Thomas J. Story only permanently protected shower glass. The surface of the glass—which is sealed through a patented ion beam process during manufacturing—resists the corrosion and discoloration caused by constant exposure to heat, humidity, hard water, soaps and harsh cleaners. The ShowerGuard glass from Guardian Industries is easier to clean than standard glass and maintains its original crystal clear appearance. It can be a smart choice for homeowners who want to preserve the value of their investment in a bathroom remodeling project. For more information, visit www.showerguardglass.com. (NAPSA)—Whether it’s back to school or back into the fall routine, the clock seems to speed up with shorter, action-packed days. Grabbing a breakfast on the go? Packing a lunch for finicky kids? Looking for afternoon snack options? These delightful Mango Oat Breakfast Bars will fuel the day with tropical flavor blended with the whole grain goodness of oats. They’re a breeze to throw together, and the pureed mangos add natural sweetness along with important nutrients such as vitamins A and C—making this breakfast and snack a great choice for all ages. The next time you’re running out the door, grab a Mango and Oats Bar and feel ohso good. For more ways to include the flavorful mangos in everyday meals, visit www.mango.org. Mediterranean foods, which include fruits, nuts, vegetables and olive oil, are believed to offer numerous health benefits. According to scientists, these foods provide health benefits due to their antioxidant properties. For example, children who eat a normal Mediterranean diet are 30 percent less likely to develop hay fever. The diet has also been shown to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and several cancers. Eat, drink and be healthy Made from authentic Mediterranean recipes and containing fresh chickpeas, Sabra’s trans fatand cholesterol-free dips and spreads can be a delicious staple of a healthy diet. To learn more, visit www.sabra.com. 2 large ripe mangos, peeled, pitted and pureed 1 ⁄2 cup brown sugar 6 tablespoons butter, softened 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 ⁄4 cup rolled oats 1 ⁄3 cup flour 1 ⁄4 cup oat bran 3 ⁄4 teaspoon baking powder ⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon ⁄4 teaspoon salt 1 ⁄3 cup chopped walnuts 3 1 Place pureed mango in a medium saucepan. Simmer over medium-low heat for about 25 minutes, stirring frequently, until excess liquid has cooked off and mixture is very thick but still moist. Preheat oven to 375F and spray an 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Beat together brown sugar and butter in a medium bowl. Add egg and vanilla and mix until smooth. Stir in all remaining ingredients except walnuts. Spread into prepared pan, then spread mango mixture over top; sprinkle with walnuts. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into squares. Makes 9 breakfast bars. Great for after-school snacks, too. Mango Tips • Mangos come in a variety of colors—green, yellow and red—and color isn’t the best indicator of ripeness. • Squeeze the mango gently to determine ripeness. A ripe mango should give slightly but not be too soft. • To ripen firm mangos, store at room temperature. They will continue to ripen and become sweeter and softer. • Once ripe, store mangos in the refrigerator to slow down ripening. • Ripe mangos will keep for up to five days in the refrigerator. • Learn more at www.mango.org.