Though TV ads from Splenda® tell you that you can substitute their granular Splenda® for sugar cup for cup measure, most times you will not get the same texture, moistness, and browning that you expect of your baked goodies. Over the last three plus years I have been "experimenting" with Splenda®. My general advice is to substitute no more than half of the sugar with Splenda®. If you want to experiment, sometimes up to two-thirds of the sugar can be replaced with Splenda® in some recipes while still maintaining a suitable baked product. However, I have found that meringue can be successfully made with all Splenda®. I also have had several failures using Splenda® in candy recipes (something the company acknowledges won't work on its own web site.)

Are you overwhelmed with piles of paper and stuff? Dealing with Clutter is the newest Extension website that helps people cope with all the paper and things that we accumulate. Developed by Karen Chan (Extension Educator, Countryside Center), it helps people deal with the many barriers to getting organized. Please visit the site at: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/clutter/

Thursday, December 1st, catch the holiday spirit at the "Easy Does It for the Holidays" program from 6-8 p.m. at Lincoln Trail College in the Zwermann Auditorium. Learn to de-stress the holidays and enjoy your family, friends and activities more. The evening includes decorating, entertaining, gift giving, taste testing, and a recipe booklet. The $5 donation collected at the door will be given to a local charity! The public is invited.

U of I Extension Master Gardeners are sponsoring the "Winter Day in the Garden" conference on Saturday, January 28, in the Zwermann Theatre at Lincoln Trail College.The all-day event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Doors open at 8:00.Speakers include: Dyke Barkley "Ornamental Grasses: Queens of the Fall Garden"; Jason Delaney "A Garden's Buried Treasure"; Pat Lanza "Lasagna Gardening: No Digging, No Tilling, No Weeding, No Kidding!"; and Carol Reese, "Charmingly Seductive Gardens." Registration fee is $35 and includes coffee/snacks and lunch. Late registration fee $40 after Jan. 16. Flyer and registration form can be found on our website: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/crawford under the horticulture and environment tab.

Please save this date on your calendars!

Check out our new U of I Extension website at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/crawford/

There is a lot of good information at your finger tips! Go ahead and surf the web!

According to the United States Department of Energy, 56 percent of our utility bills go towards heating and cooling our homes. With heating costs projected to reach record highs, all of us are looking for ways to save a penny here, a dime there. Try some of these energy saving tips this winter:

• Install a programmable thermostat – decrease the temperature at night and when no one will be home. A one degree change in your thermostat will result in a 3% savings in your heating bill.
• Most people are comfortable in environments between 68 and 72º F. Try to avoid setting your thermostat above this range.
• Check furnace filters monthly. More if needed. Replace or clean filters as recommended in your furnace's manual.
• Make sure registers and vents are not covered by furniture or window coverings.
• Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider insulating older water heaters if recommended in the water heater manual.
• Never leave exhaust fans (bathroom or kitchen) running longer than 20 minutes.
• Open drapes on south-facing windows on sunny days to allow for solar heating. Close them during the evening and at night.
• Install weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows where needed.

Another option to consider when cutting down on energy costs: the Weatherization Assistance Program. This program began in 1976 and is designed to help low-income families save on energy bills. The program provides free cost-effective weatherization measures in the homes of eligible applicants. To determine if your household qualifies, call 1-800-DOE-3732 (1-800-363-3732).

The program is a division of the U.S. Department of Energy.

Focus preparation efforts on one portion of the meal. If the main dish requires lots of attention, fix a simple vegetable or salad. If the main dish is a simple item, add interesting side dishes. Complete some preparation steps earlier in the day or the day before. Example: Assemble a casserole the night before, refrigerate, and pop in the oven the next day.

Use time saving food preparation methods. To save total preparation time, try quick microwave or stove top versions of dishes you usually cook in the oven. Try skillet lasagna or microwave corn bread. Also, one-dish meals save cleanup.

Collect quick and easy menu ideas. Start a collection of easy-to-prepare recipes that contain just a few ingredients and a few steps. Think "speed scratch"- a term for combining convenience foods with fresh ingredients. For example, add bananas to an instant pudding made with skim milk.

Make extra foods when you have time to cook.On weekends, if you prepare muffins, make a double batch and freeze the extras. Anytime you make foods such as soups, stews, chili, or spaghetti sauce, make extra and freeze in meal-size portions.

Try unattended cooking methods. slow cooker, oven with timer, timed outlet.

Chocolate Truffles

8 oz. container Cool Whip

2 bags (12 oz.) milk chocolate chips

Finely chopped nuts

Melt chocolate chips in microwave, let cool. Blend in Cool Whip until fluffy. Drop onto cookie sheet with teaspoon and freeze until firm enough to handle. Roll into evenly shaped balls and cover with chopped nuts. Refrigerate.