?

As part of an event that's been organised at work, one of the competitions is to have a baking competition. It can be anything - sweet, savoury, spicy, sharp... whatever, as long as it's BAKED. I'm not sure what the prize is - if there even is one, but hey - it's worth a try, no?

So I've decided to bake a cake for it. My repertoire is limited and my skills not much better (although I've not had any major disasters yet and I'm happy to try something different).

If you were judging the competition, what would you like to see? (and provide a recipe if possible, remembering the limitations above. I may even send you a piece :)

We are planning on throwing a small "NFL Opening Weekend" party this weekend coming and I'm looking for some healthy (ish) recipes for it.

There will probably be about 6-8 of us, so not too many. I don't want to do the usual pizza/fried chicken/beige pastry offerings that normally show up at parties.

What's your favourite (healthy) party recipe?

I tried making this recipe: http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/gennaros-apple-cake-... last weekend and it came out perfect.

So I thought I'd change up a few ingredients (well, two). I substituted the normal self-raising flour for the same quantity of wholemeal flour (I only have plain so had to add some baking powder too) and I replaced the sugar with the same volume of Splenda.

The cake has come up OK and has a beautifully crusty top but it's come out a bit dry.

Should I maybe change the butter for the same amount of oil (say sunflower oil)? Or maybe add half-a-cup of milk? I've never been much of a baker but I'm trying to stop myself buying the overpriced (and excessively sugary) muffins at work.

What would you suggest I do for dinner tonight? Just the wife and myself, normal midweek dinner - but we don't have anything out of the freezer so I'll have to go and buy it.

I would prefer it not to be full of fat and/or sugar.

We ate in and had butternut squash soup for starters;

monkfish with orange salsa and rice for main

mixed berry cake (no added sugar) for dessert

and washed it all down with a bottle (between 2) of good Alsace Gewürztraminer.

You?

What do you drink on a night out?

I've pretty much given up alcohol after my father made some pretty nasty comments at Christmas. It's had the fortunate side-effect (at least partly) of shedding some excess pounds.

So say you're going out for a night on the town with some friends - what do you like to drink if you don't drink alcohol? I'm fed up of the choice of coffee (often horrible, overpriced and contains caffeine), orange juice (on my banned list), Coke (also on my banned list), Diet Coke (again, contains caffeine, often watered down) or overpriced mineral water.

What do you drink, and what would you suggest?

OK. Here's my question.

The quarterback from team A throws a pass towards a receiver in the end zone. A cornerback from team B intercepts the pass in the end zone, but is then tackled while still in the end zone by another player from team A and goes down by contact, still in the end zone.

Safety, or interception?

Here's the deal. I have volleyball training 2 nights a week and work out at the gym 2-3 times a week as well.

I eat a normal breakfast/lunch/dinner combination and usually have fruit as snacks in between. Dinner is normally a couple of hours before training.

When I get home, I'm normally ok, but by about 11pm I end up feeling hungry.

How do I beat the hunger cravings?

Now, here's one for you.

My wife is a Red Sox fan, and like many Red Sox fans, she cannot stand the Yankees.

BUT with the Yankees playing the Rays, she is in a difficult situation. Does she stay with the Red Sox and hope that they get through, or does she - for one game and one game only - support the Yankees and hope they rain on Tampa's party?

She's already decided, but what do YOU think?

Exactly as it says on the tin...

What colors does your team play in?

Mine plays in red and white.

I am playing in a mixed volleyball tournament at the weekend. The games on Saturday are played 4-vs-4 and the games on Sunday are normal 6-a-side.

I'm OK with the 6-a-side but how do we go about playing on 4-vs-4?

I think we have to have a maximum of 2 males on court at any one time. Our only recognised setter is male (although we have one female who can set if required).

So, what should we do? Where should we all stand and where should we all be ready to cover? We are a team of very mixed abilities.

The guy needs a break... So far, he's gone:

25-2/3 IP

Hits against: 10

Earned runs: 4

ERA: 1.40

W-L: 0-3 and 1 no-decision (yesterday).

OK, it's only 4 games but that's quality by any stretch.

The problem has been that his team-mates have scored a grand total of one run when he's been on the mound.

Anyone else hoping this guy finally gets a W?

The obvious one is Aaron Rodgers vs Ben Roethlisberger. Or there's Clay Matthews vs Big Ben. You could also take Troy Polamalu vs.... basically the entire Green Bay offense. Or, to hell with it, Matthews vs Polamalu for best defensive player (or should that be biggest hair?) James Starks vs Rashard Mendenhall?

But my favourite is Dom Capers vs Dick LeBeau. I don't think there are two greater defensive minds in football at the momnt. Obviously, it helps that they have the personnel to go with it, but I think this game could well end up being decided on defense.

What are your thoughts?

In major league baseball, if a pitcher is ejected, how long/how many pitches does the reliever get to warm up? Does he get the standard 8 pitches or is it treated as though a player had been injured and he can take as long as he thinks he needs?

OK, this is where I need your help.

It's time I bought some knee pads for my volleyball practice/games - which ones should I get?

What do you use, and would you recommend them?

I've been prescribed diclofenac diethylammonium (aka Voltarol) for a knee complaint. It's a gel for local application.

Now I have a headache and feel like I'm getting a cold - can I take paracetamol as well?

I got my eyes tested yesterday and... I need glasses. So, how strong is my prescription?

Right: Sphere -0.50, Cylinder -0.00, Axis 0.0

Left: Sphere -0.25, Cylinder -0.50, axis 55.0

Nothing else.

When I went to a shop to buy glasses the guy reckoned my prescription was quite strong - how strong is it?

Thanks all!

Recently I seem to have developed pain in (especially my left) knee.

I have pain in the inside of my left knee.

I also have pain at the bottom of my kneecap, slightly to the inside. This is in both knees.

On a scale of 0-10 (0 is no pain, 10 is beyond morphine-grade) I'd say it's about a 2-3. It's worst after playing volleyball, and when I get up and move somewhere after sitting down for a while. Essentially when my knee's been bent for a while, basically. Once I'm walking it's not so bad, if it even hurts at all.

I have an appointment for the doctor's on Tuesday, but any thoughts in the meantime?

Thanks one and all.

OK, we've just had the Perseid shower, but the Leonids are due up in mid-November and I was wondering how well visible they'll be from Europe (specifically the UK)?

Any ideas out there?

Morning all,

I usually go to the gym in the morning because I don't start work till 10.

Should I have breakfast (50g porridge with semi-skim milk) first, or have something small like an apple first and then breakfast afterwards?

I'm not one of those that can leave eating food until later in the day, so I need to have something to get me started.

Thanks all!