You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. NORTH AMERICAN PRECIS SYNDICATE, INC. 350 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10118-0110 PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID North American Address Service Requested Precis Syndicate, Inc. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. 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 #2411 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Wild Rice Cranberry-Nut Salad “Creative” Ways To Pay For College (NAPSA)—There’s good news for parents who want to help their children get a college education but don’t know how to pay for it. Scholarships are available, especially for athletes and students with straight A’s, but what if your daughter would rather pick up a paintbrush than a basketball? Or your son is a brilliant writer but doesn’t get the best grades? For a new holiday side dish, try one with the nutty flavor of wild rice mixed with sweet cranberries, tangy wine vinegar and salty cheese. (NAPSA)—Tired of making the same holiday dishes every year? Looking for a way to spice up the traditional meal? Culinary expert Rita Held recommends using premium wine vinegars; a simple way to add a personal touch to almost any dish. Wine vinegars can be paired with or added to almost any food and they consistently offer a distinct, perfectly-balanced flavor and aroma. Premium vinegars, such as Holland House, use premium wines and offer a wide variety of flavors including red wine, garlicflavor red wine, white wine, malt vinegar and balsamic vinegar. Held provides the following recipe to add a splash of flavor and color to the holiday meal: WILD RICE CRANBERRY-NUT SALAD 1 cup (6 oz) wild rice 2 cups water 1 ⁄4 teaspoon salt 1 ⁄4 cup HOLLAND HOUSE White Wine Vinegar 1 ⁄4 cup safflower or canola oil 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 ⁄4 teaspoon salt 1 large green apple, Golden Delicious or Granny Smith 1 ⁄2 cup dried cranberries 1 ⁄4 cup finely diced red onion 2 ounces firm full-flavored cheese, cut into small cubes (Asiago, Manchego or Parmigiano-Reggiano) 1 ⁄3 cup toasted chopped hazelnuts or sliced almonds Rinse rice and drain. Bring water to a boil in a 3-quart saucepan. Stir in rice and salt; bring back to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 50 minutes. When done, drain water, if any. Cool completely with lid off. (Rice can be made several days in advance. Store in refrigerator, covered.) In a large bowl, combine white wine vinegar, oil, sugar, mustard and salt (to make dressing); stir well. Cut apples into bite-size slices and toss with dressing. Add rice, cranberries, onion and cheese to bowl; stir. Stir in toasted nuts just before serving. Serve on lettuce leaves, if desired. Makes 4 to 6 servings. For more recipes, visit www.mizkan.com. Thanks to a program for young artists and writers, Ebony Robinson received a full, four-year scholarship to college. Each year, cash awards and $3 million in tuition scholarships are made available to creative teens nationwide through The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, now in its 85th year. Young artists and writers can earn money for college by using their talents in a variety of disciplines, from poetry to computer art and from short stories to sculpture. The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the nonprofit that administers the Awards, is now accepting submissions from students in grades 7-12. To find out more, visit www.artandwriting.org. If you or anyone you know has ever received a Scholastic Art & Writing Award, tell The Alliance at www.artandwriting.org. Breaking Through Fitness Plateaus (NAPSA)—If you feel like you’re running in place when it comes to staying fit, it may be time to ask a personal trainer for advice. Trainers can help you work past fitness plateaus, avoid injuries and see results fast. Amy Dixon is an exercise physiologist who writes a monthly column for Women’s Health magazine and stars in the magazine’s two new DVDs, “Total Workout in 10!” and “Ultimate Fat Burn!” She offers a few answers to common fitness questions posed by readers: Q: I’m having a problem getting rid of my “muffin pouch,” “love handles” and inner-thigh bulge. I’m an avid runner, but don’t have much time for strength training. Please help! Cody A: Sounds like your body has reached a plateau and it’s time to change up your fitness routine. Vary your workouts by running three days a week and up your intensity with speed work and different terrain. Add cycling and stair-climbing into your workouts and try weight lifting, too. But it’s also time to take a serious look at your diet. Chances are you’re eating more calories than you think. Start a food diary and check out the calorie and fat contents in the food and drinks you consume. Q: Do you have any suggestions to curb late-night eating? Crystal A: Try doing something productive that stimulates the mind, such as reading. If you can just get through several nights without hitting the fridge or the cookie jar, Photo: Ondrea Barbe Exercise expert Amy Dixon offers up advice. you’ll have more willpower the next time around. Q: I had my first child a year ago. I’ve lost most of the weight I put on; however, I can’t seem to get rid of the fat that’s on my belly. What can I do? Amanda A: Typically, the first place you put weight on is the last place that it’s going to come off. In order for you to shed the excess fat, you’re going to need to increase the intensity in your cardio, keep up with a weight-lifting program and take a detailed look at your diet and make the necessary changes. Trust me—I’ve been there twice. You can send your own questions to Amy or learn more at www.womenshealthmag.com.