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14 - Orono Weekly Times Wednesday, November 2, 2011 Onion, Pear and Cranberry On Crostini This easy appetizer can be partially made ahead for last-minute assembly to serve as guests arrive. Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 6 minutes Serves:6 Ingredients: 2 medium Ontario Onions, diced 1 tbsp (15 mL) butter 1 ripe but firm Ontario Pear, peeled, cored and diced 1/2 cup (125 mL) Ontario Cranberries (fresh or thawed) 1 tbsp (15 mL) each packed brown sugar and balsamic vinegar 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt Pinch pepper 1/2 cup (125 mL) light cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup (125 mL) crumbled Ontario Chèvre (goat cheese) 18 crostini (toasted baguette slices) Fresh thyme leaves Preparation Instructions: In medium microwaveable bowl, microwave onions and butter covered for 2 minutes on High or until softened. Add pear, cranberries, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper. Microwave 4 minutes on High until cranberries have popped and softened, stirring partway through cooking. Stir to further soften cranberries. (If making ahead, let cool, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.) Combine cream cheese and chèvre; spread over crostini. Top with cranberry mixture. Sprinkle each with a few thyme leaves. Nutritional Information: 1 appetizer: Protein: 3 grams, Fat: 9 grams, Carbohydrate: 9 grams, Calories: 77, Fibre: 1 gram The Regional Municipality Of Durham Still time to participate in Durham Action Challenge Durham Region Health Department reminds all area residents five-years of age and older that they still have time to join the Durham Action Challenge. Residents are challenged to track their physical activity for four weeks in a row for a chance to win great prizes. To participate in this challenge, all physical activity must be tracked by Dec. 4. "Regular physical activity can not only give you more energy for your day, but also help you to feel motivated, keep a healthy body weight, sleep better and relieve stress," said Beth Cullen Keidann, a public health nurse with the Health Department. "Being physically active also helps children and youth to have strong bones and muscles, and may help to improve their learning at school." Adults are challenged to participate in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, which can be achieved through 30 minutes of activity five days per week. Children are challenged to be moderately active at least 60 minutes each day. "Every 10 minutes of activity counts," explained Ms. Cullen Keidann. "Some suggestions on how to build physical activity into each day include walking, wheeling or cycling to school or work, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, going for a walk during a break or lunch, replacing screen time with active time, and enjoying local parks and trails." As a new feature this year, residents can track and submit their activity online by visiting durham.ca and clicking on Durham Action Challenge to access the tracking form. Paper copies of the tracking form are available at local recreation centres and libraries, or can be printed from the website. Participants submitting paper copies may fax their completed form to 905-666-6214 or mail the form to: Durham Region Health Department, P.O. Box 730, Whitby, ON, L1N 0B2. All tracking forms must be submitted to the Health Department by Dec. 9, at 4:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded in January 2012. For more information about the Durham Action Challenge and for the list of contest rules, visit durham.ca or call Durham Health Connection Line at 905-6666241 or 1-800-841-2729.