This big ball of fur to the left has a problem… a chewing problem. Really I shouldn’t complain since he has never chewed shoes, clothes, people, or anything else he’s not supposed to. But this dog has chewed through every supposedly-indestructible dog chew toy. I mean, this is a dog that can destroy squeaky toys, stuffies, ropes, and Kongs in 20 minutes. I kid you not, TWENTY minutes.

Until now. The owner of Astrobone gave us a ball to try. It has been almost three weeks and the ball is intact, no chew marks, punctures, or other chew detritus. And the squeaker still works. I am thrilled. The ball retails for$7 and the company guarantees the ball for life.

Think I’ll go play catch with my dog now.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has developed a wonderful, free program called the “21-Day Vegan Kickstart” to encourage people to try a vegan diet (no animal products) for better health, starting Jan 1, 2010. All you do is sign up online, and you’ll receive emails with daily recipes, menus, restaurant recommendations, nutrition webcasts with Neal Barnard, MD, and diet tips from vegan celebrities like actress Alicia Silverstone and writer Rory Freedman, coauthor of Skinny Bitch in the Kitch. more

We know it can put a stop to offensive odors, but can a bar of natural soap really help solve global destitution? Now here’s a great way to give back this holiday season (you’ll get that warm fuzzy feeling of when you’ve done a good deed combined with that warm fuzzy feeling you get when someone tells you you’re positively glowing). Check out Soap Hope, a company that invests 100 percent of profits from personal care and beauty products into anti-poverty organizations that provide microloans and business training for women entrepreneurs. In return for the donations, the nonprofits spread the word about Soap Hope … and you can too. Soap Hope offers shampoos and conditioners, lotions, and laundry detergent from natural companies, including A Wild Soap Bar, Hugo Naturals, Fraiche, Zum by Indigo Wild, and Pangea.

Another method for ensuring a delicious, moist turkey: Brine the turkey before roasting. This means submerging the fully thawed turkey (with empty cavity) in a dissolved mixture of water, kosher salt, sugar, and spices for 12-24 hours in a cooler. You can buy turkey brine already mixed, such as The Spice Hunter. Another great recipe is Alton Brown’s Good Eats Roast Turkey, which is easy and delicious. If you want to try brining, get going! Remember, the key is submerging the thawed turkey for several hours or even a full day before roasting.

Turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls … and the pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream. (Not to mention the calorie-bomb glasses of Cote du Rhone or your favorite microbrew.) I feel heavy just typing this out! But let’s face it: Thanksgiving is synonymous with indulgence—even if you decide to go a little lighter and healthier with your Thanksgiving menu. And why shouldn’t we go overboard just a little? Life coach Alice Greene, author of Inspired to Feel Good, offers three ways to indulge without feeling awful afterwards. more

Holiday revelers of the two-legged variety aren’t the only ones hitting the road for the holiday pilgrimage, and if you need some guidance (or just some friendly compassion) there’s a bevy on information of traveling with your pet.

Everything you wanted to know about flying with your pet can be found here: http://www.petflight.com/. Is it okay to feed your pet the Thanksgiving feast? Take a look at the Thanksgiving Food Your Pet Should Avoid . Pfizer has a Twitter called “Dog on Board” to help families talk about including their dog in their family holiday. Ever fly and wish the person in the middle seat wasn’t a person? Then you might try the services of the Dog Travel Company, the world’s first full service travel club for dog lovers who want to travel with their dogs! Need a checklist for travel essentials for your pet? Try Dr. Sarah’s holiday travel tips. Fido or Fluffy (or Goldie or Chirpie) get a little nervous when there’s a house-full of family? There’s a natural remedy for them. Bach’s Rescue Remedy for Pets is useful for an “immediate calming effect in any stressful situation”. If your house is anything like mine at the holidays, you might want to pick-up the Rescue Remedy for people.

However you and your pet celebrate the holiday, the Delicious Living team and Oliver, too hope you have a happy Thanksgiving.

Sometimes it’s fun to break out of a rut with a slightly more unusual dessert for Thanksgiving. Try one of these delectable recipes for a new twist.

Pumpkin Roll with Goat Cheese and Date Filling. A winner in our 2008 reader recipe contest, this is surprisingly easy to make and really delicious; a fun departure from pumpkin pie.

Chocolate Rapture with Roasted Pears. Again, surprisingly easy, and a gift to chocoholics everywhere. Make it at least one day ahead, then bring to room temp before serving.

Pear-Ginger Cobbler with Almond Biscuit Topping. Fun and special because they’re made and served in individual ramekins, this is perfect for a smaller dinner party.

Blueberry-Apple Bread Pudding. I’m a sucker for this kind of comfort-food dessert. You can use frozen blueberries; just drain after thawing.

Cherry-Chocolate Buttermilk Scones. A delightful accompaniment to an after-meal cup of tea … or for next morning’s breakfast.

Everyone has their own method for roasting a turkey, but this method has worked for me every time — and there’s no basting required. It’s easy, cleanup is a snap, and the turkey is moist throughout. Just be careful not to overcook it at the very end after it’s uncovered to brown.

1. Place your fully-thawed turkey in the sink; empty the cavity (use the giblets and neck to make stock or gravy, if you like) and rinse inside and out; pat dry. Seasoning the empty cavity with salt & pepper (you can also add a cut-up onion, apple, or fresh herb sprigs). Rub turkey all over with olive oil or butter. (I do not stuff turkeys with stuffing because it’s considered unsafe — the stuffing doesn’t get hot enough to kill any potential bacteria.)

2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wrap the turkey semi-tightly (leave a little air space) in heavy-duty foil. (Do not use regular foil.) I typically lay out several overlapping pieces to make a huge piece, then put the turkey in the middle and wrap, to get complete coverage. Place in a roasting pan.

3. Bake turkey for 10 minutes per pound at 450 degrees. The foil keeps all the juices inside and basically steam-cooks the turkey without losing any moisture.

4. Uncover carefully (steam is hot!), peeling back most of the foil. Roast another 15 minutes to brown.

5. Remove from oven. Important: Let turkey sit for at least 20 minutes before carving, to let juices soak in and redistribute.

When people obstruct your path at the grocery store because they’re on their iPhones you may get, well, impatient. But consider cutting them a lot more slack now that they may be on this new app that scans bar codes to give the lowdown on everything from yogurt to shampoo (if you don’t have an iPhone, it offers a texting option). The application comes from the makers of the web site GoodGuide, which gives health and environmental info on 50,000 products and companies. Things the application considers: health performance (cancer risks, reproductive hazards, skin and eye irritation), environmental performance (emissions, natural resource impacts), and social performance (diversity, compensation, working conditions). Sorry fellow shoppers, if I’m in your way.

When your skin acts up, revising your product routine is a little bit like going grocery shopping when you’re famished. You know it’s not good for you, but you still want to try everything. You may even ignore your allergies and specific needs. Once your ravenous appetite subsides, you suddenly feel worse … What happened to that shopping list? What are the staples for each skin type, anyway? We should know this by now, yet sometimes you need it spelled out: What your skin really needs. In honor of November, National Healthy Skin Month, the American Academy of Dermatology has done just that, providing the simple top tips for every skin type. And what I want to know is what are you feeding your skin?

Sensitive skin: When you notice your skin appetite, you’ll be tempted to go for ingredients with sensory appeal, like rich aromas, but if you have sensitive skin, it’s important to avoid most products with strong fragrances (everyone should avoid irritating synthetic ones), soap, or alcohol. Instead, opt for calming ingredients like green tea polyphenols, chamomile, and aloe. And look at labels; as a general rule (just like with food) the fewer ingredients, the better–especially for those of you with sensitive skin. more