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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 #2597 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Decorating With A View To Window Area Safety Warm Food For Cool Weather (NAPSA)—Whether slow cooking a flavorful, steamy pot of soup or simmering a soothing stroganoff, meatballs are an excellent ingredient in a variety of delicious, hearty dishes. Meatballs can easily be purchased in bulk and kept in the freezer, making them a convenient and delicious item to have on hand. Their great value, versatility, wide appeal and delicious taste are what make them a great ingredient in a wealth of recipes. Stephanie Ashcraft, author of “101 Things To Do With Meatballs,” recognizes that meatballs can be the star of any dish in minutes. “I always keep frozen meatballs on hand. I serve them as mini hamburgers, stir them into stews and use them in soups, on bread or on top of pasta. They’re also perfect appetizers for a festive holiday gettogether.” For her recipes, Ashcraft recommends using two fully cooked brands of meatballs: Casa Di Bertacchi and Farm Rich. Both are made with an outstanding, authentic family recipe. The Casa brand is available in Sam’s Clubs nationwide and Farm Rich is available in major grocery chains. Each are seasoned with highquality ingredients, then seared and steamed in the traditional way. Ashcraft says that her Italian Meatball Soup really “keeps the chill off.” For more recipe ideas, visit www.CasaMeatballs.com and for recipe ideas for a party, visit www.clubentertaining.com. Italian Meatball Soup Serves 12 2 lbs Casa Di Bertacchi Italian Style 5⁄8-oz meatballs, frozen (about 50 meatballs) This delicious meatball soup is easy and authentic. 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 medium yellow onions, diced into one-inch pieces 4 carrots, peeled and sliced 24 cups low-sodium chicken stock (six 32-oz containers) 3 cups uncooked twist pasta 1 bunch of curly endive (about 1–11⁄2 lbs), rough chopped Cracked black pepper 2 ⁄3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese Place large soup pot on medium-high heat. Add olive oil and preheat for 2–3 minutes. Add chopped onions and carrots to soup pot. Stir vegetables into olive oil and saut for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until onions are translucent. Pour chicken stock into pot with onions and carrots. Add frozen meatballs and uncooked pasta. Add rough-chopped endives to soup pot. Bring soup to a low rolling boil. Simmer for 10–11 minutes or until pasta is al dente and meatballs are fully heated through. Season soup to taste with fresh cracked black pepper. Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with shredded Parmesan. Importance Of Family Caregivers (NAPSA)—More than 65 million family caregivers play a major role in maximizing the health and quality of life of individuals with acute and chronic illnesses. “Family caregivers make a valuable contribution to patient care,” said J. Fred Ralston Jr., M.D., FACP, president, American College of Physicians (ACP). “A proper patient-physiciancaregiver relationship will contribute to a positive caregiving experience and may decrease rates of patient hospitalization Respect for patients’ rights should guide all patient-physician-caregiver interactions. and institutionalization.” ACP has issued “Family Caregivers, Patients and Physicians: Ethical Guidance to Optimize Relationships” to guide ethical relationships among patients, physicians and caregivers. The paper, available on www.acponline.org, outlines principles to guide the patientphysician-caregiver relationship. ACP also encourages all adults to document their health care wishes in a living will, and for providers to respect those decisions. (NAPSA)—When designing your child’s room, safety is always a consideration. Remember to pay attention to how you decorate window areas. Safer Windows The Window Covering Safety Council recommends using cordless window treatments in all homes where children are present. Because cords pose a potential strangulation hazard to small children and pets, cordless treatments like shutters, motorized roller shades, and cordless cellular shades are recommended for homes where small children are present because they increase safety by eliminating cords. The experts at independently owned and operated Budget Blinds franchises can explain all the features of each window covering and make recommendations to you so that you can make an informed decision about your window coverings purchase. Furniture Placement While nothing replaces the watchful eye of a loving parent or caregiver, there are precautions that can be taken to reduce the risk of injury around window areas. In addition to choosing cordless window treatments for their child’s room, parents should also be mindful of where furniture is placed within the room. Moving furniture, such as cribs, changing tables, toy chests and chairs, away from the window area prevents access to window coverings. Additionally, it minimizes the risk of accidentally falling from the window should the child crawl off the furniture from the wrong side. Lastly, in the event that the glass breaks, positioning furniture away from the When deciding on a window treatment for your child’s room, consider safety. Opt for cordless treatments like these cordless cellular shades. window reduces the risk of injury from broken glass. Additional Safety Tips If you are in a living situation where you cannot install cordless window treatments, be sure to secure dangling operation cords out of reach with cord cleats, which are readily available and inexpensive to purchase. If your window treatment has a continuous cord loop, make certain that the cord is properly held in a cord tensioner that is fastened securely to the wall. Some cord tensioners, like those found on Budget Blinds’ Signature Series products, will not permit the window treatment to be operated if the cord tensioner is not fastened to the wall. These tips, along with placing furniture away from window areas to prevent access, will make your home a safer place for little ones. For More Information For more information and window treatment safety tips, visit www.budgetblinds.com/safety or call (800) 519-6298.