Today we have some tips that were sent in last week, plus I have a recipe for a healthy alternative zucchini bread. Enjoy:)

JAPANESE BEETLES
Just want to mention that as wonderful and efficient as the Japanese beetle bags are at getting the little buggers, they also do ATTRACT them to your yard, so you want to make sure that you put them far, far away from an area where you visit often. I prefer them as a "gift" to an unfriendly neighbor myself! (sorry, I'm bad!) ~Joan

CATS AND ESSENTIAL OILS
I just wanted to comment on the recommendation of using peppermint essential oils to repel ants in the home. This is listed as a safe alternative when there are children and pets around... but it is NOT safe if those pets are cats! Cats cannot tolerate regular exposure to essential oils, directly or indirectly. At the least, it often damages or causes discomfort to their delicate mucous membranes, and at worst has been known to cause liver failure. Their unique physiology cannot metabolize various components of essential oils (peppermint and tea tree in particular), and these build up to toxic levels in their system. And no essential oils should ever touch their skin directly; it can burn them painfully. Birds are also very susceptible to respiratory issues from EO use around the home, but I have less information on that as I am a cat mommy, not a bird mommy LOL! I am also an aromatherapy enthusiast, so this issue is extremely important to me. Here are some sources:

www.thelavendercat.com/
http://cats.about.com/od/housekeeping/a/aromatherapy.htm

Even if it does not make them sick, it's worth noting that if the scent is strong enough for our olfactory sense to process and respond to (or for insects to be repelled by), how overpowering is it for them, with their hypersensitive sense of smell? Cats are notorious for hiding signs of illness and discomfort; it's a survival instinct. By the time the "parent" actually notices something, the illness can be quite advanced. Okay, stepping off my soapbox. Thank you for listening. :-) ~April in Michigan

A HEALTHY ZUCCHINI RECIPE
"Healthified" Zucchini Bread
From http://www.eatbetteramerica.com

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups shredded zucchini (about 2 medium)
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup canola oil
3/4 cup fat-free egg product or 3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottoms only of 2 (8x4-inch) loaf pans with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix the zucchini, applesauce, oil, egg product, vanilla and sugar until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredients except walnuts until well blended. Stir in walnuts. Spoon batter evenly into pans. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool bread completely, about 1 hour.

Nutritional Information:
1 Serving: Calories 180 (Calories from Fat 60); Total Fat 6g (Saturated Fat 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 170mg; Total Carbohydrate 26g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 14g); Protein 3g

MORE: Zucchini tips and even more recipes.
http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/zucchini.html
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