Mini Fairy Cakes

Mini Fairy Cake's

6 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup cake flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla
powdered sugar

Cream Filling

4 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 whole lemon, peel in one piece
1/4 cup cornstarch
4 large egg yolks

Chocolate Glaze

1/2 cup whipping cream
3 tbsp. unsalted butter
4 oz. unsweetened chocolate
4 oz. milk chocolate

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

CAKE: Beat whole eggs & sugar in mixer till well blended. Add flour and continue beating 10 minutes, add baking powder, vanilla, beat 5 minutes more. Pour into generously greased muffin tins - fill 1/2 to 3/4 full. Bake in the middle of the oven for 10-15 minutes, till just golden brown. Remove from tins asap. When slightly cooled, partially cut off tops of cakes, pull out a little "plug" of cake from the bottom half and fill with the cream filling. Sift over a little powdered sugar and chill cakes. You can stop here...or add chocolate glaze.

CREAM FILLING: Whisk all ingredients together in a saucepan over medium high heat. Stir constantly till thick. Remove lemon rind and set aside to cool. (this makes more than needed for the cakes)

CHOCOLATE GLAZE: Chop chololates. simmer cream & butter together. Reduce heat; add both chocolates & stir until smooth. Let stand until cool, but still porable, about 1 hour. Spoon glaze over cakes. Refriderate cake, but serve at room temperature.


This is one of my favorite little cakes, everyone always loves them -- Charlotte

What Is The Cost of "GREEN"

Many articles are talking about what being "green" will cost us.The more pressing question emerging is what will it cost you not to be green?
As businesses train their environmental consciousness' I predict criteria for the privilege of doing business will be one's green policies. Look at the number of issues highlighted by the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) that you have within your power to positively impact:

• Global Warming

• Saving Endangered Wild Places and Species

• Building Clean Energy Economy

• Renewing The World's Oceans

• Stemming Toxic Tide of Chemicals

• Accelerating the Greening of China

You and your business practices matter. You and your family are affected. Talking and writing are positive steps. Taking action, albeit baby steps at first, is momentous. Here is one example:

Although recycling is up in the US by 32.5% compared to 5% in 1970
one small European country - Austria was recycling well before the 1970 mark
and is now at 62% with their recycling efforts.

One small aspect of this effort is the grocery bag. It would cost 25 cents or 5 shillings in the 70's if you forgot your own reusable grocery bag in Austria. Given the average of 5 shopping days there, that would cost you $65 per year or $2,535 for 39 years. Given inflation the figure would be more like $3,802 per person. Imagine that times just the women (15-64) who typically do the shopping and that is a whopping $10,479,840,000 (over 10 billion).

Remember your reusable shopping bags this week - the money you save could be your own. If it took the US 39 years to reach 32.5% hopefully we can double this percentage in less that 39 additional years.

In your professional life "The Green List" with the contacts of green companies who are certifiably using sustainable practices and materials is now complete and available for distribution. To begin anew to renew contact my colleague Charlotte at the number listed below.

charlotte.sherman@tacticalcontactsDOTcom
253.517.9177
twitter.com/CharPennyAnn

Written by: Christine Meinhart

The Green List - Get On It

Earth Day is coming up April 22nd and its theme this year is
The Green Generation.

Perhaps like me you've read articles on our progress with recycling, which is up 32.5% in 2009 from 5% in 1970 or skimmed through studies with statistics on the profitability of building green. Though I am impressed with the $48.3 billion invested in clean technologies in 2006, I went in search of inspiration to wholeheartedly embrace my efforts in Mother Earth's sustainability and share practical, reachable actions with you.

I recall an ancient proverb: "The Earth is a mother who never dies." There is comfort in that metaphor, yet I realize she has issues making her sick - big issues that I cannot fix with a band-aid or by myself. And just as token observance of Mother's Day is insincere, Earth Day - no less so. Then I observe my 3-year-old grandson at the shore captivated by the waves and the fish. Will the fish be safe to eat? Is the school he'll attend designed with green technology? Will other countries agree to reduce their carbon footprint in his lifetime?

So really now, what do we all work so hard for in business? It is our children and your children - all the children of the world - and leaving the Earth a better place for them. Unlike Mother Earth we only have a short while to impart wisdom and leave a shadow rather than a footprint.

Treat the earth well
It was not given to you by your parents
It was loaned to you by your children

Speaking of footprints and reducing our carbon one, did you know that recycling cuts global warming pollution by the equivalent of removing 39.6 million passenger vehicles from the road? That is huge and we can all do this.

Here are some practical things our company and employees do at home and at the office that might be considered insignificant alone but when done together have a huge impact over time.

* Walk or ride a bike rather than drive
* Use green cleaning products
* Telecommute several days a week
* Buy office supplies utilizing recycled materials
* Don't buy bottled water
* Office and home - landscape with drought-tolerant native plants
* Buy recycled products
* Stop printing documents: Use electronic e-mail, invoicing, etc..
* Eat less meat

One of the toughest challenges is finding truly "green" companies. My colleague, Charlotte, agreed and is taking action with the following:

In response to growing interest on behalf of our clients, we are compiling "The Green List 2009". A B2B list of companies considered pioneers in one of two categories:

* Employment of new technologies to reduce their carbon footprint

* Design, Manufacturing or Installation of Green Technology

As a country with a global mind-set we have come of age and are ready to take responsibility for our planet. What generation, if not ours - "The Green Generation" - will guard our home and keep it safe for generations to come? Whether your company is on the cutting-edge of energy saving technologies or determined to reduce your carbon footprint, people are clamoring to know where you are, who you are and want to give you their business. The list will be completed and available for mass distribution by May 15th, 2009, and will include all up-to-date, accurate contact information for the senior marketing contacts.

If your company is interested in being listed in "The Green List-2009" directory, the application process is simple: e-mail me documentation of your green status in the form of white papers, news releases, awards, etc. That information is then forwarded to our research team, they will evaluate using ETV standard for acceptance. Since documentation must be submitted prior to approval and listing please keep in mind - the deadline for submissions and payments is April 15th, 2009. That date is coming up quickly!

For more information you may contact me directly at 253.517.9177,
visit our website at: www.tacticalcontacts.com,
e-mail charlotte.sherman@tacticalcontacts.com,
and twitter.com/charpennyann.

written by Christine Meinhart in collobration with Charlotte Sherman. Christine is an author, businesswoman and green earth enthhusiast.

Banana Caramel Pie

1 9-inch baked pastry shell
1 can condensed milk
3 medium bananas
3 heath candy bars, frozen then crushed
whipping cream

Place unopened can of milk, with label removed, in heavy pot. Add enough water to just cover the top of can. Simmer for 3-4 hours, replenishing water if necessary. Remove can and let cool thoroughly. Prepare pie shell, bake according to directions then allow to cool. Line bottom of shell with 1/2 sliced bananas (reserving rest for later).
Open cooked milk, it will have become think and dark brown (don't worry about the darker spots) stir till smooth. Spoon and spread over bananas, add remaining bananas. Spread whipping cream over the top, then sprinkle crushed candy bar over the top of entire pie.
Chill several hours or overnight is best.