YuanXiao

Ingredients:

Sticky rice flour (250g), hot water (250ml), lard (3 tbsp in the flour, and some in the stuffing), maltose, black sesame, pine nuts, walnut kernels, sunflower seed kernels

1 We'll make Yuan Xiao with two different kinds of stuffing. One is a mixture of black sesame, lard and maltose in a proportion of 2:1.5:1.5, and the other is a mixture of pine nuts, walnut kernels and sunflower seed kernels in a proportion of 2:1.5:1.5. After mixing, knead throughly and then divide the stuffing into many little balls.

2 Put the sticky rice flour in a shallow basket, then place the stuffing into the flour and shake until level. Make sure the sticky rice flour sticks to the stuffing evenly.

3 Place the Yuan Xiao into the water. Soak a while, then put it in the shallow basket again. Stir the Yuan Xiao around with the sticky rice flour again. Make sure the Yuan Xiao remain round.

4 Boil the Yuan Xiao in the pan until it floats to the surface of water. Cook immediately, otherwise it can become dry and crack easily.

Help Your Pet Lose Weight

If you have a too-plump pet, it's time to make the commitment to help him trim down. Occasionally, obesity in a pet can indicate an underlying health problem. In 2005, the University of Liverpool established the Liverpool University Small Animal Hospital to help tackle and prevent weight problems in pets. There may not yet be a fancy, brand-name diet program for fat pets, but there are other ways to help your pet drop those extra pounds.

1. Check with your veterinarian

Before you make any plan, have your pet get a check-up by your veterinarian to see whether your pet really has a weight problem, and whether its obesity is a symptom of an underlying health problem or just from lack of exercise.

2. Set a goal

Determine an ideal weight for your pet and progress towards the goal.

3. Diet program

Decrease calorie intake. Your veterinarian can help you determine how much your pet should eat to lose weight. Dogs need a diet program of 12-14 weeks to reach the set goal, while cats need 18 weeks. Work out an appropriate diet program which promotes health and well-being while helping your pet to burn fat and lose or maintain weight successfully.

4. Tip the scales.

A baby scale works great for keeping track of your pet's weight, or alternatively you can take your pet in your arms, step on your own scale and then subtract your weight from the total weight shown to find your pet's weight. Check weight loss progress every week.

5. More exercise

The best way to help your pet slim down is, like humans, through exercise. Don't let your overweight pet become exhausted, overheated, or out of breath. Also remember that older pets may not be able to exercise as vigorously.

6. Prevent weight rebound

Once your pet's weight reaches the established goal, pay more attention on how to maintain the weight. Maintaining a normal weight requires that the pet sticks to a defined diet.

Toxic pet food may have killed over one hundred dogs