Of course, they say wine helps too, and, if a choice between which tastes better, I'm going with wine.

I'm with you guys - I don't want anyone near me in my kitchen when I'm cooking or actively baking. (While something is in the oven and I'm not working they can come in). My only pets are tropical fish, but that's just because I'm allergic to cats. I enjoy both cooking and baking, but I always like to have baked goods around so I might prefer baking. However, I kind of like to experiment with my baked goods. That isn't always such a good idea - last time I made bread it overflowed and ended up all over the counter! The final product was good, though. I can vouch for the Marsala Tiramisu recipe attached to that article. I suppose it combines both cooking and baking for me, and it's fun to make. I make it for my husband's birthday every year (the first time was when it showed up in my Mom's Bon Appetit magazine back in the mid 90's - he was my boyfriend then). I always bake something to use in lieu of the store bought champagne biscuits. One year I made homemade lady fingers, which was quite the chore. Now that I have a decent mixer and Silpats, I might try again. I usually end up making a sponge cake and set it up in a springform pan, which makes the tiramisu sliceable like a cake. It is a very yummy recipe, and very good with lots of bittersweet chocolate shavings on top in lieu of the cocoa powder.

Stargazzer, some bodies will tolerate anything, and we hope yours is one of them. Like most debates involving foods and food "enhancements," this is not just a question of "Will this kill me?" but more of "How will it impact my quality of life?" For some people, apparently there's no impact. For others, the impact can range from slight to huge. But Pris stated the bottom line well. Whether we believe the emails about aspartame or not, the fact is a compelling amount of empirical evidence exists that leads us to the conclusion that it can be damaging. I can add my own: As I've stated here before, when aspartame first came out, I fell for the reassuring name (NutraSweet--how clever these marketing people!) and tried it. I soon figured out that it gave me instant joint pain. One of my daughters found it gave her migraines. And that's the truth.

How is your food? Low-fat carbs to me equals vegetables. Are you eating mostly meat (or other protein) and vegetables? Are you familiar with glycemic index? I do best with eggs & veggies for breakfast, green salad with meat for lunch, and small appetizer plate like cheese and grapes for dinner. I no longer drink soda and avoid sweets and starches. I drink lots of water. I do start the day with a small coffee with a teaspoon of sugar to give my brain a quickstart. Corn syrup does not equal sugar. I believe it's the glucose in sugar that works - not the fructose. Also, "an apple a day" really works for me. When your insides are clean and your weight is optimal and you feed your body what it was designed to consume, it functions well, at least in my experience. Take breaks of deep breathing to refresh, outside if you can. That can be energizing. If I HAVE TO, I'll have an afternoon coffee with sugar. Caffeine doesn't work unless combined with water (you can't be dehydrated or it will put you to sleep) and for some reason the sugar makes it work better too. Thought control: When you see yourself slipping into a bad thought pattern, catch yourself and change it. There is no need to judge yourself. Focus on what you need to do, what positive action will make you feel better. Exercise: walking, yoga, cardio, core. This is a goid time to get into the best shape of your life. Yoga is a necessity for me. You can do some movements at work. Getting the blood to circulate will give you more energy.